Swearing of the Horns

I am now a Freeman of Highgate people!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swearing_on_the_Horns


Last night John and I participated in the ceremony at the Wrestlers in Highgate.


It is a great old pub located right next door to Charles Dickens' house. In signing up we donated five pounds to Children with Leukemia. We had to stand in the centre of the pub with a group of people also taking the oath. Two men came out dressed as judges with full on white hair wigs, one holding a scroll with the oath and the other holding the horns. As the judge with the scroll read out the oath in parts, we had to answer as instructed by the horn judge when to respond with 'I do Father' It is quite a humorous oath and received many laughs and hoots from participants and witnesses throughout the ceremony. It was good fun. Once done we were called forth by name to receive our official Freeman of Highgate certificate and to kiss the horns as a sign of our oath.

My only complaint would be that only the men got to drink out of metal tankards for the occasion. I took the oath too people!!!!!

Now our names will be down on the 400 year old list for posterity and our money has gone to a good cause. We are part of a long and fun tradition. Woo hoo!!!!