“Wayzgoose, n: Originally, an entertainment given by a master-printer to his workmen ‘about Bartholomew-tide’ (24 August), marking the beginning of the season of working by candle-light. In later use, an annual festivity held in summer by the employees of a printing establishment, consisting of a dinner and (usually) an excursion into the country.”
After the success of the Centre for Printing History and Culture's 'Winter Wayzgoose' on 2 February, we are running a similar event on Wednesday 4 May between 6 and 7.30pm, also to be held at the Woodman Inn. For this event, we will continue with the format of five minute 'lightning talks', but on this occasion contributors will speak on a printed object rather than their research. The object may be anything that relates to or sheds light on printing history and culture, from a book or newspaper to ink or type.
Objectifiers include: Jenni Dixon, Andrew Kulman, Jessica Glaser, Naomi Midgley, Graham Dallas, Georgina Grant and Ben Archer.
“PRINTER’S WAYZGOOSE: The derivation of this term is from an old English word, ‘wayz’, stubble. A stubble goose is a known dainty in some places in our days. A wayz goose was the head dish at the annual feast of the forefathers of the fraternity of printers. These wayz-gooses were formerly kept for Bartholomew-tide; and, till the employer had given the feast, the journeymen did not work by candle light. ”