One of the world's finest print history foundations, St Bride's of London, just off Fleet Street, is organising a global online 'Wayzgoose' to celebrate all things Letterpress.  ANZ Letterpress shops and museums are invited to post up on Instagram on Sunday 28th April between 11am and 4pm GMT and join in the fun!

 PMOP image5The Penrith, NSW, Print Museum's exhibits are sure to be popular at the April 28th Instagram 'Wayzgoose'

StBride facadeBut what is a 'Wayzgoose' we hear you ask? Wiki explains it as " A Wayzgoose was at one time an entertainment given by a master printer to his workmen each year on or about St Bartholomew's Day. It marked the traditional end of summer and the start of the season of working by candlelight. Later, the word came to refer to an annual outing and dinner for the staff of a printing works or the printers of a newspaper."

The origin of the word Wayzgoose is most like from the Dutch word "Weg(s)huis" (although some say is could mean 'fattened goose.') This word (literally, "way house") was one of wayzgoose feastA 16thC Wayzgoose feast - not a goose in sightseveral words meaning the English "Inn" and was figuratively used for "a Banquet". In modern times, the tradition has been adopted by printing, publishing and educational establishments in Australia, New Zealand, UK, Canada, the USA and other places, as a fun excuse for an outing, picnic, a few drinks and yarns.

 
Becky Chilcott of St Bride Foundation, London, has emailed, inviting Australian and New Zealand Letterpress zealots, on 28th April 2024, to post on Instagram examples of, photographs of our printing museums or institutions, printing presses, wood or metal type or anything relevant relating to printing by letterpress. By using the hashtag #SBFWayzgoose2024 and tagging @stbridefoundation on the post, you'll join in a global Wayzgoose right up there with today's technologies!
 
St Bride will repost as many posts as they can throughout the day and signpost  followers to the hashtag. Reminders will be send day before and on the day itself.  
 
To join in, drop Becky an email on: 
 
St Brides Foundation's website is well worth a visit (as is the place itself if you visit London) at:
 
 
Wayzgoose diner Leura
Trivia Footnote: For Letterpress aficionados near NSW's Blue Mountains, (not far from Penrith Museum of Print) in the lovely cultural town of Leura, is a cafe called the 'Wayzgoose Diner.' It's located on the site of an old printing works, hence the name. Why not celebrate your own Wayzgoose there?  https://www.thewayzgoosediner.com/
 

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