Tutti Day tradition celebrated in Hungerford
Men and women, some in top hats and tails, have been handing out oranges in a town as part of a centuries-old tradition.Tutti Day, which is part of the Hocktide Festival, was traditionally a day when the "Tutti-men" would walk through Hungerford, in Berkshire, collecting rent from commoners.Over the years, the day - the second Tuesday after Easter - evolved into the Tutti men and also Tutti women collecting kisses in exchange for an orange instead.The tradition continues but residents no longer have to give the kiss in return if they do not wish to.
The festival dates back to when John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, granted commoners grazing rights and permission to fish in the Kennet.The oranges are a reference to the town's support for William of Orange who became King William III after negotiating the terms of his reign at Hungerford's Bear Hotel in 1688.Julie Lloyd, town constable and Manor of Hungerford, said: "It's quite a spectacle, we get people from all over, people come down from London, Portsmouth, just to see us do our stuff."I send the tithing men off from the town hall steps on their duty and they wander up and down with the orange man..."The trustees and constable are tasked to preserve the traditions for commoners rights. "It's absolutely imperative that this happens so that our wonderful common land and marsh land remains free for everyone to use."
Connor, who played the role of a Tutti man this year, said: "We keep this ancient tradition alive, spo we go around all of the properties. "We are very gracious to accept a drink.. and a kiss from the lady of the house is also an acceptable payment."Nigel, who took on the role of the "orange man", said: "My role is to look after the tithing men and make sure they don't get too drunk when we visit the commoners properties. "As I'm the orange man, I carry around a large sack of oranges and one is handed to the lady of the house of each property that we visit."
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