In the neighbourhood of Burnley there still lingers a curious idea that it is wrong for an engaged couple to "court" on Friday night, and in former times public opinion upon the subject was expressed in a very unpleasant manner. The offending pair were treated to what was called "Ringing the Pan." A band of young people, chiefly young men, armed with frying pans, pokers, tongs, shovels, and pieces of tin, formed a procession, and, headed by a pretended bellman, proceed to the house where the couple were "courting," the bellman calling out at intervals-
"Oh, dear a me! AB and CD (mentioning the names of the couple) Court six neets out o' seven, Un corn'd let Friday neet olooan."
Arrived at the house, the unfortunate pair were treated to a serenade- a deafening din- upon the frying-pans and shovels, etc.
Stories and Tales of Old Lancashire by Cliff Hayes.
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