Thanksgiving Morning in Aiken is a special day. Many of the townspeople flock into our Hitchcock Woods for the Blessing of the Hounds. Held every Thanksgiving morning at Memorial Gate. This year marks the 94th year of the Aiken Hounds :)
My daughter and I experienced it together this morning. It was indeed a beautiful day. The foxhunters drink wine from stirrup cups before the hunt. I don't know the significance of this - but it is something that foxhunters do before they head out on the hunt.
We do not hunt live foxes here in Hitchcock Woods. A scent is layed out and the hounds follow that. (Do not call them dogs, lol - you will be corrected and corrected and corrected until it is drilled into your head that these are hounds)
Father Garrett Clanton prepares for the blessing.
Happy Hounds - ready to hunt :)
Happy Faces:
We are a horse town and many of the Realtors are equestrians. Riding in the hunt today I saw the following Realtors: Susie Huiet, Kristy Summer and Billy Benton. (there were probably others - I just didn't see them!) Even some Realtors on the ground helping out. I saw Mark & Jane Page Thompson, Randy Wolcott and Cissie Sullivan. Many different companies represented!
Did I say that a lot of people come out for this -- here is the crowd ahead of us as we walk down the road after coming out of the woods.
Here is the crowd behind us, lol.
Did I mention it was a beautiful day?
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"Blessing for the Aiken Hounds"
Dear God, Creator of all creatures, Lord of all Men,
Mindful, we are gathered here, beside this gate,
Symbolic entry to the Hitchcock Woods.
Our horses are restive, our spirits are joyful.
We are deeply grateful to be here to give praise and Thanksgiving
For all our gifts and blessings on this,
The true Thanksgiving Day in this true Free land.
We thank you for these Woods, saved for us by the infinite wisdom
And prescience of our forebears, loving of sport and understanding
Of Nature's irreplaceable healing beauty.
Bless us all, especially our honest hounds, and our horses,
Keep us safe in our communion with these Woods.
Bless the creatures which fly, run, slither and scurry
Beneath this blessed canopy of trees.
Bless those who lay the scented line;
Those who lead and those who follow
And those who love and care for this sport of fellowship
Which harms no being.
Finally, we beseech you to bless our Aiken Hounds
In these hallowed Hitchcock Woods.
Keep forever safe the souls of those
Who have galloped these forgiving trails in the past,
In the present, and in the years to come.
Amen
2003 M. Warfield
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Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
