“In a paper belonging to the Spectator there is a short description of a country wake. "I found," says the author, "a ring of cudgel-players, who were breaking one another's heads in order to make some impression on their mistresses' hearts."…to this he adds another curious pastime, as a kind of Christmas gambol, which he had seen also; that is, a yawning match for a Cheshire cheese; the sport began about midnight, when the whole company were disposed to be drowsy; and he that yawned the widest, and at the same time most naturally, so as to produce the greatest number of yawns from the spectators, obtained the cheese.”

— Joseph Strutt

pg. 369
The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England (1801), Country wakes

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Joseph Strutt 65

British engraver, artist, antiquary and writer 1749–1802

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pg. 360
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Joseph Strutt 65

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