Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Swing (seat)" in English language version.
An appeal by a Northamptonshire park to find play equipment made by its founder has discovered what is believed to be the UK's oldest working swing. [...] Charles Wicksteed invented the modern-day slide and swing and installed them at Wicksteed Park in Kettering before manufacturing and exporting them.
The symbolism of swinging on trees [...] has connections to the regeneration of life. Among young people, it was part of the courting ritual [...]. 'In Bulgaria the young men also scouted out sturdy trees from which to hang swings made from hempen ropes they had just twisted. Each marriageable girl, dressed in her best clothes so as to make a good impression on the bachelors and their mothers, and each bride in her full regalia sat down in turn on the wooden seat to be swung three times by the boys, while the other girls sang wishes for health and a good marriage. In some areas everyone, young and old got to swing, so as not to be left out of the fun. The higher the swing went, the taller the hemp would grow.'
Shrovetide ritual swinging to improve the fertility of hemp crops is known from Italy, Greece, Scandinavia, Albania , Bulgaria, Kosovo, and in Serbia [...]. During Shrovetide, Easter, and Pentecost (50 days after Easter), some young Slavs swing on hemp ropes, singing the traditional 'Big Hemp' song and shouting, 'So high, the highest hemp,' expressing their hopes for a tall crop of thin hemp stalks and hopes that the hemp plants would grow tall [...].
