Blessing of The Hounds
Throughout America and across Great Britain, hunters, hounds, and onlookers gather on Thanksgiving Day to celebrate the time-honored tradition known as “The Blessing of the Hounds.” With origins that trace back to the eighth century with St. Hubert of Liege, patron saints of hunters, the cherished bonds between humans and hounds are affirmed once again as enthusiastic viewers assemble to pay homage to this age-old partnership at the dawn of a new fox hunting season.
The heart of South Carolina’s thoroughbred country lies in Aiken, where sprawling fields, dense forests, and a deep love for equestrian and hunting traditions are as firmly planted as the live oak trees. This Thanksgiving Day tradition began in Aiken in 1914 when The Aiken Hounds was initially founded. For over a century now, this celebration marked so distinctively by the autumn season has an inexplicable tie to Aiken’s longstanding hunt culture.
With modern adaptations now the norm, the cunning fox can rest easy during this bustling event, where an artificial scent now takes its place. Recognized as the oldest drag hunt in the nation, hounds take to this fixating scent of a saturated cloth that has been dragged across the terrain to create a winding trail for the hounds. At the same time, riders outfitted in traditional clothing reminiscent of their 19th-century counterparts hark to the cry of the hounds and direct the chase atop their horses.
As Aiken approaches its 110th season, this historic chase is not to be missed for thrill seekers who admire such time-honored traditions. Although Black Friday sales have swept the nation to mark the day after Thanksgiving, this morning looks much different in Aiken, South Carolina, where loved ones huddle together in crisp November air to experience this priceless show.
