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The Loving Cup

The ceremony of the loving cup is a City tradition that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, when King Edward the Martyr was assassinated in 979 while drinking at a banquet. The cup passes round the table with each guest drinking to his neighbour. When the guest about to drink a Loving Cup stands up, those on either side of him also rise. The guest on one side stands with his back to the one who is about to drink so as to protect him from attack. The drinker and the guest on his other side bow to each other, the second guest removes the cover, the drinker drinks, and wipes the rim of the cup with a napkin provided, and the second guest replaces the cover and the two bow to each other again. The same procedure is then followed by the second guest with his next neighbour, the original drinker now mounting guard, and the one who was protecting him sits down again.