Bowling under way at an English village fête in Longdon, Staffordshire

Bowling for a pig was a traditional British competition, usually held at country fêtes, fairs, and carnivals. It was a form of bowling as a test of skill, with the highest scorer(s) winning the prize. The traditional prize was a live pig to take home.[1] The game traditionally used nine wooden pins at the end of an alley, and a solid wooden ball.[2] It was common through the 19th[3] and 20th centuries. Some fêtes retain the name for their bowling sideshow, but no longer offer a live pig as a prize.

Prize

The traditional prize was a piglet for the winner to take home and raise.[4][5] The pig was seen as a very valuable prize, given the importance of fresh meat in contemporary diets,[6] and pork being the only meat that most families would ever eat.[7]

The practice of winning a live pig led to the phrase "bringing home the bacon", relating to winning bacon, and latterly to gaining things of value.[2][7]

Some fairs used other animals, such as bowling for a lamb.[8] As fewer people kept livestock, some fairs started to offer joints of pork as the prize instead of a live animal,[1][9] and some fairs continue the name today but have substituted other prizes.[10][11]

References

  1. 1 2 Bringing home the bacon and cutting the mustard. Past Times. 2000. p. 31.
  2. 1 2 Room, Adrian (1988). Dictionary of confusing words and meanings. p. 37. ISBN 9780880292658.
  3. ↑ "Brierley Hill". Worcestershire Chronicle. 25 September 1850.
  4. ↑ Titchmarsh, Alan (2011). The complete countryman: rediscovering lost crafts and traditional skill. BBC, London. ISBN 9781846073939.
  5. ↑ Fry, Stephen (2004). Moab is my washpot. p. 41. ISBN 9780099457046.
  6. ↑ Buchan, William (1982). John Buchan: a memoir. Toronto: Griffin House. ISBN 978-0-88760-108-8.
  7. 1 2 Chadlington, Peter (2005). The real McCoy: understanding peculiar English. p. 53. ISBN 9781840466843.
  8. ↑ The history of Widecombe Fair. Widecombe and District Local History Group. 2007. ISBN 9781898964797.
  9. ↑ "Old game of bowling for a pig brought back for 100th show". Salisbury Journal. 16 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "It's On!". Beaulieu Village fete.
  11. ↑ "Theale Summer Fete to return in June". Newbury Today. 11 May 2023.
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