In Jacob's history he talks about being a "Barrel King". In fact, three times Jacob was the Barrel King. In the Middle Ages, every year the Danish people would celebrate a holiday called Fastelavn. They would raise a barrel 10 feet off the ground, on a tree, and inside they would put a live cat. The competitors mounted on fast steeds and would ride under the barrel at full speed and strike the barrel with a cudgel. The one who was successful at striking the barrel the hardest and thus letting the cat out of the barrel, was pronounced "Barrel King." His chosen lady would then advance and place the crown upon his head and decorate him with her colors. During the rest of the day he would act as master of ceremonies and at night he would lead all the dances. Jacob was a favorite Barrel King and was selected to dance in front of the crowned Prince of Denmark.
This picture is a copy of what Jacob would have worn and the bat looking object is what he would use to hit the barrel and let the cat out!
Even today in Denmark, a version of the Barrel King is still played out in february and March-- it includes slå katten af tønden ("hit the cat out of the barrel"), which is somewhat similar to using a piñata. The Danes use a wooden barrel, which is full of candy and oranges and has the image of a cat on it. (Historically there was a real black cat in the barrel, and beating the barrel was superstitiously considered a safeguard against evil.) After the candy pours out, the game continues until the entire barrel is broken. The one who knocks down the bottom of the barrel (making all the candy spill out) becomes kattedronning ("queen of cats"); the one who knocks down the last piece of the barrel becomes kattekonge ("king of cats")
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