Push penny was a long-observed custom at
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, commonly known as Durham Cathedral and home of the Shrine of St Cuthbert, is a cathedral in the city of Durham, County Durham, England. It is the seat of t ...
in England which occurred three days in the year. During this tradition money was thrown into the crowd on the college-yard.
The event occurred annually on 30 January, 29 May, and 5 November, respectively the anniversaries of
King Charles
King Charles may refer to:
Kings
A number of kings of Albania, Alençon, Anjou, Austria, Bohemia, Croatia, England, France, Holy Roman Empire, Hungary, Ireland, Jerusalem, Naples, Navarre, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sardinia, Scotland, Sicily, Sp ...
' death,
Oak Apple Day, and
Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Fireworks Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain, involving bonfires and fireworks displays. Its history begins with the ev ...
.
They would throw out 20 shillings of copper to the people on the yard.
History
It is unknown when the tradition began but it was stopped by the Reformation and was continued after the Restoration of
Charles II. The Dean and Chapter of Durham were people who kept this tradition going over the years, but the custom was stopped again in the middle of the 19th century.
It is unlikely that this tradition will come back.
Influences
During the monastic period, roughly 300-600 people would gather by the Prior's Mansion and pennies were thrown out at them.
At
Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland () is a market town and civil parish at the confluence of the River Wear and the River Gaunless in County Durham, northern England. It is northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham.
Much of the town's early history surro ...
the Bishop would throw pennies on specific days of the year.
References
Durham Cathedral
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