This is a ceremony shrouded in history but related to Rogation week which historically can be traced back to AD 470 but earlier ceremonies were held by the Romans. As practised in Tetbury it is basically an Anglo-Saxon ceremony originally associated with harvest time but then more importantly used to establish the Parish boundaries on an annual basis. Boys were beaten at various points of the promenade to make them remember the boundary. The terms "banging their heads together" and "stripping the willow" (prior to a beating with said willow) originate with this ceremony.