Entertainment show: “Mining traditions – Jump the Leather”
MINING TRADITIONS - JUMP THE LEATHER
Mining traditions - Jump the Leather
„The jump over a leather apron” is an initiation rite for young miners (foxes) accepted into the Miners’ Guild. It took place in a pub during a beer shift. The neophytes were led, singing, by a “fox-major” before a committee of experienced diggers, or “old thatches”.
After an examination the candidate performed a jump over a leather apron and was dubbed a miner. He was then led to the feast table by a “beer father”. The leather apron was the most important symbol of, and attribute to a miner’s outfit. The miner would kneeled on it, when he had to work in such position; he covered himself with it when water poured from the roof; sat on it when he was eating and even his wages were placed on the leather. 
“The leather” became the symbol of the mining profession. The ceremony of dubbing novice miners has always been a very solemn one. The tradition has been cultivated and, nowadays, the rite is performed as part of the St Barbara Day Festivities (their patron’s feast day).
In the Copper Basin, the rites are usually performed at Beer Festivals or street performances taking place in mining towns. The ceremony ends with the singing of the Miners’ Anthem.
