The Performing Folk Arts

Under the topic of ‘marriages’ (mentioned previously) a performing folk art which still lingers on in the area is discussed. This art form is generally known as ‘strawboys’ but locally known as ‘bacachs’. Nowadays the bacachs perform on the night of the return of the newly weds from their honeymoon. Sixty-five years ago they performed before the wedding for the ‘Ricking of the Gander’ (p. 319). ‘A crowd of bacachs come in and dance their enough and then they go away again. Some of them have their coats turned inside out and more of them have big long dresses down to the ground on them and their faces covered. Some of them often bring the girl that is getting married, dancing.’ A second writer on the subject of bacachs (p. 320) states that ‘when they would be going they would either get money or meat.’ This writer also mentions (p. 321) that ‘pipers and fiddlers would be invited to the house and they would play tunes until morning.’