Val's Alentejo blog:: January 2012

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Just buttons!!!!!

Henry Croft. Its written, That he sewed pearly buttons on his coats to attract customers to buy his apples

After my little blog and photo of this morning and wishing you all a Happy New years day.. As usual, I continued with having my morning tea and toast and turned the tv on to watch the news.
I was just about to turn the tv news off , get myself ready to go into the village to see my friends . When the parade of the "Pearly King and Queens" came on he screen.Strutting through the streets of london in all their pearly refinery, they looked so grand and imposing, and very proud. I quickly sat down again, to watch the parade. A breed of people with longstanding traditions .. It was really great viewing . (I just had to share this with you all.. )

I haven't seen the "Perlies" or thought about them since i was a young girl, Not living in England, and it being an all English event. I actually thought that they had just died out. What a wonderful sight it all was, to see them again.

On thinking about it, I thought.. how can such a great event of pomp and ceromony die out. Not to mention the preperation it takes these "Perlies", and all their hard work.. an event for the whole City. I have made a note, to try and be there for the occasion next year.

So many traditions, have fallen by the wayside.. it would be a great shame If this tradition was to go too. I was delighted to see them once again it erased all my fears of them dying out.

I remember my mother describing the Perlies to me and telling me stories when i was little. Of how they sewed their buttons onto their clothes ..and walked through the streets of London, in all their finery, for the people to see. --I thought it was a fairy tale story!.. images of white pearly buttons sewn onto clothes and Kings and Queens walking through the streets Ohh ! the images were all to vivid.. .. I always thought there was only one Queen. How i lovley it was to know there are many- .