Judas Burning - The Liverpool Good Friday tradition

[Sloyne]

It was only applicabale to the south end of the city and only around Toxteth and predominantly the

dock area. Few people living outside had ever heard of it.

Not quite so Waterways, we kids in my neighbourhood (bottom end of Scotland Road) would,

starting on the Monday of Holy week, parade an effigy of Judas, just like a "Guy" on Guy Fawkes night and beg a "Penny for his soul, Judas!". Or, "A penny

for the soul of Judas". We would share out the money on Goodfriday afternoon at 3:00pm, the supposed time that Christ died on the cross, and burn "Judas" in

effigy on a bonfire. The time frame would have been the late forties and early fifties. I will assume that we got the tradition from the generation before

mine, where they got it from I don't know.

[marky]

I wonder if this tradition will ever be revived...there are enough candidates for the Judas effigy. The latest Easter bonfire I heard about was '75/76 by kids in the Dingle Blocks.

[Ged]

Phew, just got in after being legged by the bizzies....

hang on a mo (the scouse Indian Chief) - till I get my breath back....


Yeah, just back from the oller behind Bleak House

Gizza glass o'water will yer.

[verdi]

No Judas burnings here? Long since died away, smoke free!! In the Readers Digest book of Folklore and Myths, it says Liverpool is the only city in Britain that did this, it says the Catholic areas, but we were Proddys! Hey up here's the fire brigade! ' now dodge the army!'

[Roscoe]

As a Dingle lad I remember staying up all night as with bonfire night to save other kids nicking our wood the eve before Good Friday. As the area was slowly "decanted" in the mid 1970's the tradition faded away, but not the memories.

My belated apologies to the residents of the Dingle for nicking a bottle of their milk from thier door steps in the early morning after staying up all night.

Roscoe

[ChrisGeorge]

As a Dingle lad I remember staying up all night as with bonfire night to save other kids nicking our wood the eve before Good Friday. As the area was slowly "decanted" in the mid 1970's the tradition faded away, but not the memories.

My belated apologies to the residents of the Dingle for nicking a bottle of their milk from thier door steps in the early morning after staying up all night.

Roscoe

Hi Roscoe

A great memory. Thanks for sharing it with us. Also thanks for the belated apology, you bad lad.

Chris