page_title: Pace Egg play
section_title: Background
hierarchical_section_title: Pace Egg play / Background
caption_attribution_description: English: St George slays Bold Slasher - Heptonstall Pace Egg Play The Pace Egg Play is acted out every Good Friday in Weavers Square, Heptonstall. The Heptonstall Players give the following description "Originally an adult rebirth ceremony for a good new season The Pace Egg Play is perhaps the world's oldest drama and can be traced back through English and European Mummers' plays to ancient Egypt and Syria. A mixture of a pagan rebirth ceremony with the later influences of Christianity and the Crusades." This account of the plays origins is disputed by some researchers who suggest it may be more recent in date. The Heptonstall version was revived in 1979. More information about the play and its origins: http://www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/features/pace-egg.html
context_page_description: The Pace Egg Plays are an Easter tradition in rural English culture in the tradition of the medieval mystery plays. The tradition was once widespread throughout England, but is now only practised in a few areas, particularly Lancashire and West Yorkshire.
context_section_description: The name pace is derived from Latin pascha ('Easter') (c.f. the adjective paschal). The drama takes the form of mock combat between the hero and villain, in which the hero is killed and brought back to life, often by a quack doctor. In some plays the figure of St George smites all challengers, and the fool, Toss Pot, rejoices.  
  Many Pace Egg plays died out after the Great War, when many of the men who took part in them were killed in action. In  Middleton, North Manchester, Pace Egging (performing the Pace Egg Play) was revived in 1967. The  Bury Pace Eggers were revived in 1970, and still perform in pubs and squares around the town and surrounding villages in the week before Easter.
  Midgley Pace Egg was performed by children from the village's primary school, but in recent decades older children from the nearby Calder High School took over. That school is no longer interested in such things, but ex-pupils maintain the tradition, performing in the original Midgley, West Yorkshire location as well as at the tourist magnet, Heptonstall.
  The plays enjoyed a renaissance in Heptonstall, West Yorkshire in recent decades. The origins are uncertain, but appear to be based on the Midgley tradition. Some versions of the plays have undoubtedly been performed over many hundreds of years. It has become an established Good Friday tradition, and hundreds come to Weavers Square to watch.
caption: St George slays Bold Slasher
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