Ancients and Horribles, What Does it Mean?

As the 86^th annual Arnold Mills July 4^thParade steps off on Wednesday at 11:00 am, the parade judges will have finished giving out awards for the best floats, walkers, and decorated bicycles taking part in the parade.  As a judge for the past several years, I have admired the results of hard work by many dedicated and patriotic parade participants. 

During the presentation of the awards to the walkers and bicycle divisions, I often encounter a dumbfounded expression from the recipients.  “Why does the plague say Walking Horribles?”   “What does Ancients and Horribles mean?”  My response has been, “don’t worry about it, that is what the parade was originally called, it’s a good thing!” 

I always knew my answer was less than comforting and not very accurate.  So why are the parade awards named “Horribles”?  The answer to that question lies in the history of the Ancients and Horribles parades.  Apparently, the Parade of Ancients and Horribles name started as a spoof of the Massachusetts Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.  http://www.ahac.us.com/index.htm

 Members of the Honourable Artillery Company, incorporated in London, England, in 1537, founded the Artillery Company in Massachusetts in 1637.  The Massachusetts Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company headquartered in Faneuil Hall in Boston, is the oldest military organization in the United States and, and is still active today. 

During the middle nineteenth century in towns across New England, the Ancients and Horribles parades were quite popular with participants dressing in satirical costumes portraying political figures.  The Arnold Mills parade has long since left its  “Ancients and Horribles” roots behind, although you may see a couple of satirical figures sprinkled throughout the line-up, but still honors the past with the “Horribles”  awards.

If you are interested in attending a true Ancients and Horribles parade, be sure to check out Glocester, Rhode Island http://www.glocesterri.org/parade.htm  on the 4^th, one of the last towns to carry on the tradition.