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PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS AN OLD SITE!
To visit the new site for True Brits, with far more info and fun stuff, Click to visit the new True Brits site!
HOT PENNY THROWING
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Modern do-gooders could learn a lesson from the old sado-charities of yore: to get the rich to give, you have to make it fun.
Take the Hot Pennies tradition that used to be popular throughout Britain. In Beaumaris, Wales, the big-hearted English gentry would throw steaming pennies into the street on Boxing Day to see Welsh waifs fight for the money. and burn their little fingers.
In those days, it truly was better to give than receive.
Surprisingly, several places in England still re-enact this custom, most notably at Oxford University.
Famous alumni of Oxford's Lincoln College include John Wesley and Dr. Seuss, though it's unclear whether the preacher or the writer ever took part in hurling Hot Pennies.
On Ascension Day-that's 40 days after Easter-students stand on the roof of the college and pelt hot pennies at townie school kids. Nowadays, though, the children come prepared-they wear gloves.