Shrovetide!

Today is Shrove Tuesday. I have no idea what a shrove* is, so I'm just going to say it's Pancake Tuesday. I will be having pancakes for dinner. But back to Shrove Tuesday, it is the time in England for the traditional Shrovetide football matches. For those of you who don't know, which is, I'm assuming, most of you, considering the readership here, the Shrovetide football games are massive games between towns or villages that involve, potentially, hundreds of players. These games date back to the 12th century. The ball will, typically, begin at a centre point and players will attempt to move the ball to their own goal, which could be kilometres away, kicking or hitting it, though more likely passing it man to man, like a rugby scrum. Anything goes, so long as it doesn't lead to manslaughter or murder. The game resembles more a mob or riot than a modern football match, but these games are one of the precursors to what we now know as football. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to eat my pancakes. Down wi' it!

*I actually do know, I'm just not telling you.