Calendar of unusual Customs and Traditions in England, Scotland and Wales DECE;BER

December A long time ago the year was marked out with special days which marked the passing year. These were days of celebrations where people would do things, eat things or make things which they would not normally do. See also folklore, facts and sayings about December Mummers Plays Mummers' Plays are one of the oldest surviving features of the traditional English Christmas. Mumming in England goes back for over a thousand years. Mumming is best described as early pantomime. The plays are based loosely on the legend of St. George and the dragon. The plays are intended to show the struggle between good and evil. Click here to find out more about Mummers Plays Winter Solstice Burning the Clocks, Brighton Annual lantern parade held on 21 December, the shortest day. www.visitbrighton.com 25 December Christmas Day Christmas Day Morning Hundreds of British swimmers get into the festive spirit and dress up in fancy dress for a bracing Christmas swims. Peter Pan Swim Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park - 9am This event dates back to 1864, when the author of the children’s classic, J M Barrie presented the Peter Pan Cup. Dozens of men and women swim the 100 yards in temperatures just above freezing and spectators are welcome on the banks. Only members of the Serpentine Swimming Club may take part in the race. Brighton beach swim - 11 am More than 700 spectators gather on Christmas morning to watch 100 brave souls plunge into the icy surf for up to 15 minutes off the South Coast. Fancy Dress is optional. The Christmas morning swim has been an annual event for the Brighton Swimming club since 1895. Sandy Bay in Porthcawl, South Wales christmasswim.org Around 1,000 people brave the icy cold waters of Sandy Bay in Porthcawl for the annual Christmas Morning Swim. The Sandy Bay Swim tradition started in 1964. 26 December Boxing Day Tenby Boxing Day Swim, Dyfed, Wales www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk Tenby Boxing Day Swim started in 1970 and has snowballed into Tenby's main Christmas attraction. With around 600 swimmers with most in fancy dress and thousands of onlookers each year, this fantastic spectacle is not to be missed. The charity event takes place on the North Beach, and the swim itself is at 11.30am. Nippy Dipper Boxing Day Dip, Aberdeen More than 100 swimmers – usually in fancy dress, from Santa suits to mermaid costumes – take to the sea for a Boxing Day dip. It starts at Beach Esplanade, opposite Beach Leisure Centre, at 10am. Grantchester barrel rolling, Cambridgeshire The tradition of Boxing Day barrel rolls dates back to the 60s, but was revived in 2003. Four teams compete from Grantchester, just outside Cambridge The races start at midday and last around 40 minutes, with prize-giving taking place at the Rupert Brooke pub.   The Keynsham Mummers, Somerset Every Boxing Day the streets of Keynsham, between Bristol and Bath, you can watch the Keynsham Mummers Play, which has been performed in the town since the beginning of the 19th century. It's performed at 11.30am at the Keynsham Centre and at noon at the New Inn. Haslemere run, Surrey www.boxingdayrun.org A three-and-a-half-mile fun run with a pint of winter ale for each runner two miles into the race. The race begins at 11am at the Crown & Cushion pub on Wey Hill. Beach football, Scarborough, North Yorkshire The traditional Comedy Football Match on Scarborough Beach dates back to the late 19th century, when the game was first played as a charity fundraiser for the wives and children of fishermen who went down in a serious storm. Today players are in fancy dress and forced dunkings in the sea afterwards. After the final whistle, there's a raft race in the harbour 27 December Maldon mud race, Essex www.maldonmudrace.com Hundreds of people wading through muddy lagoons and marshes around Maldon. The event takes place at Promenade Park, at 1pm, with all money raised going to local charities. 31 December New Year's Eve Swinging the Fireballs, Stonehaven, Grampian. "The Fireballs" is a colorful annual festival, unique to Stonehaven. The ceremony isStonehaven's way of welcoming the New Year in. www.stonehavenfireballs.co.uk Tar Barrels, Allendale, Northumberland At 11.30pm on New Years Eve, 30 or so men in costume carry burning tar barrels on their heads to the bonfire in the market square where they are thrown at midnight.

Calendar of unusual Customs and Traditions in England, Scotland and Wales NOVEMBER

November A long time ago the year was marked out with special days which marked the passing year. These were days of celebrations where people would do things, eat things or make things which they would not normally do. See also folk, facts and sayings about November 1st and 2nd November Soul-caking Soul Cakes would be taken door to door by children, who would exchange them with householders for gifts of sweets, pennies, and this would be good luck for both parties. Soul-caking has survived throughout the west midlands, from Coventry to Manchester to Sheffield Find out more Bonfire Night 5 November Fireworks can be hward all over the UK on and around the 5 November. The most famous Bonfire Night celebrations take place at Lewes East Sussex, where there is a torch light procession bfore the lighting on the bonfire. Tar-Barrel Racing Ottery St Mary, Devon Ottery St. Mary is internationally renowned for its Tar Barrels, an old custom said to have originated in the 17th century. The annual event involves people racing through the streets of the town, carrying flaming wooden barrels of burning tar on their backs.   Turning the Devil's Stone - Shebbear, near Holsworthy On Guy Fawkes night, the villagers of Shebbear in Devon, turn over a six feet long stone under an ancient oak tree. While it is not known for how long the practice of turning the stone has been going on, there is a wealth of legend surrounding it and as to how it arrived. One theory is that it was dropped by the Devil himself when he was cast out of heaven by St Michael. 23 November Old Clem's Night The traditional blacksmith's day Held in honour of St Clement, patron saint of Blacksmiths.

Calendar of unusual Customs and Traditions in England, Scotland and Wales OCTOBER

October A long time ago the year was marked out with special days which marked the passing year. These were days of celebrations where people would do things, eat things or make things which they would not normally do. See also folk, facts and sayings about October First Sunday Pearly King Harvest Festival Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Dating from the 19th century, the Pearly Kings & Queens are a much-loved Cockney tradition. It started when a young boy covered a suit with pearly buttons to attract attention and to raise money for the poor at charity events and fairs. Other boroughs were so impressed that they got their own Pearly King or Queen. The tradition continues to thrive today and Pearly Kings and Queens can be seen in their full spectacle at the annual Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival. The annual Harvest Festival Service at the church of St. Martin-in-the Fields offers a spectacular display of historical London in all its glory. Second Sunday World Conker Championship Ashton, Northamptonshire Information about the game of conkers 4th Thursday Punky Night Traditionally on this night, children in the South of England would carve their ‘Punkies’,(pumpkins) into Jack O'Lanterns. Once carved the children would go out in groups and march through the streets, singing traditional ‘punky’ songs, calling in at friendly houses and competing for best lantern with rival groups they meet. The streets would be lit with the light of the Punkies. Today, in Hinton St George, Somerset, the children still carry candle-lanterns made from hollow out pumpkins through the streets in the evening. Michaelmas Fair, Abingdon, Oxon The Michaelmas Fair (also known as the Ock Fair) was originally a 'hiring mart' for those seeking employment. October Plenty Bankside outside Shakespeare's Globe "October Plenty is an Autumn harvest celebration held annually in Southwark. Beginning on the Bankside, by Shakespeare's Globe, October Plenty mixes ancient seasonal customs and theatre with contemporary festivity, joining with historic Borough Market, Southwark." The LionsPart The Berry Man The Berry Man is the Lions Part Autumn incarnation of the original Green Man. The berry man is coverd with wild fruits and foliage. The Corn Queene effigy The Corn Queene effigy A Corn Queene effigy made from wheat, barley and other grains, and apples, root vegetables and foliage from the Borough Market, is paraded

Calendar of unusual Customs and Traditions in England, Scotland and Wales SEPTEMBER

September A long time ago the year was marked out with special days which marked the passing year. These were days of celebrations where people would do things, eat things or make things which they would not normally do. See also folklore, facts and sayings about September The Horn Dance Abbots Bromley in Staffordshire The ancient Horn Dance is an annual event held traditionally on the first Monday after the first Sunday after September 4th! The famous Horn Dance is performed by six Deer-men who wear reindeer horns. The dancers follow a 10 mile course and perform the ritual in 12 different locations in and around the village, whilst the musician plays tunes such as “The Farmers Boy” and “Uncle Mick” on a melodeon, with accompaniment from a triangle. More information Church Clipping It involves surrounding a Church by holding hands. The custom is supposed to be an outward display of affection by the parishioners, for their church. Its origins are unknown. Painswick Church Clipping, Painswick, Gloucestershire 3rd week in September Wirksworth Clipping the Church, Peak Districton Sunday nearest to the 8th of September. Hop Hoodening - Canterbury Kent - Early September The county of Kent was the main hop growing area in the country. Hop Hoodening celebrates the harvesting of the hops. The celebration begins with a Procession through the shopping precincts into the Cathedral by the Hop Queen in a Hop Bower, followed by country dancers and Morris Men. The procession is usually accompanied by two Hooden Horses . Horseman's Sunday - Hyde Park Church - Third Sunday The vicar of St John's Church appears before his congregation on horseback and blesses a hundred or so horses. He then leads a cavalcade of over 100 horses and riders to the church to celebrate horse riding in the heart of London. At noon the horses begin to arrive in procession, lining up along the forecourt of the church and on Hyde Park Crescent for a blessing, before taking part in a ride-past and a presentation of rosettes.

Calendar of unusual Customs and Traditions in England, Scotland and Wales AUGUST

August A long time ago the year was marked out with special days which marked the passing year. These were days of celebrations where people would do things, eat things or make things which they would not normally do. See also folk, fact and sayings about August Scarecrow Festival, Kettlewell, Yorks Life-size scarecrows are made and displayed around the village by local people in early to mid-August. A hugely popular event. St Bartholomew's Bun Race St Bartholomew's Hospital, On St. Bartholomew's Day, 24th August, children run around the church of St. Bart's. After completing the circuit they are given a bun and the adults are given a biscuit especially baked for the occasion. Faversham International Hop Festival, Faversham, Kent A celebration of the hop harvest when thousands of Londoners went to Kent for a working holiday. Bank Holiday Monday (Last monday in August) Bog Snorkelling Championships, Waen Rhydd peat bog, near Llanwrtyd Wells in mid Wales The aim is to swim two lengths of the 60-yard Waen Rhydd peat bog with flippers and snorkel in the fastest time. There are different categories including juniors, fancy dress, women's and men's. Throughout August Well-Dressing Derbyshire May - September Well dressing is one of Derbyshire's and the Peak District's best known, most popular and colourful customs. It dates back hundreds of years, and though there have been religious associations, the true origins remain unknown. Click here to find out more

Calendar of unusual Customs and Traditions in England, Scotland and Wales JULY

July A long time ago the year was marked out with special days which marked the passing year. These were days of celebrations where people would do things, eat things or make things which they would not normally do. See also folk, facts and sayings about July Whitstable Oyster Festival and Blessing of the Waters Whitstable, Kent. Held over the period which includes St James Day (25th July) - St James being the Patron Saint of Oysters and Oyster Fisheries. More information Swan Upping (last Monday) River Thames The Dyers and Vintner's Companies have the right, established in medieval times, to keep swans on the Thames River. Every year the Queen's Swan Keeper and Swan Markers from the two livery companies row in skiffs along the river to mark the cygnets (baby swans). Find out more about Swan Upping World Toe-Wrestling Championships Held at the Bentley Bridge Inn in Derbyshire every July Well-Dressing Derbyshire May - September Well dressing is one of Derbyshire's and the Peak District's best known, most popular and colourful customs. It dates back hundreds of years, and though there have been religious associations, the true origins remain unknown. Click here to find out more

Calendar of unusual Customs and Traditions in England, Scotland and Wales JUNE

June See also folk, facst and sayings about June Well-Dressing Derbyshire May - September Well dressing is one of Derbyshire's and the Peak District's best known, most popular and colourful customs. It dates back hundreds of years, and though there have been religious associations, the true origins remain unknown. Click here to find out more Dickens Festival. Rochester, Kent A festival to celebrate the life and work of the great novelist Charles Dickens. Find out more about the Dickens Festival Midsummer Bonfires Cornwall A chain of bonfires is lit one after another on hilltops from Lands End in the far South West to Kithill on the border with Devon in the East. They are a celebration of summer, lit on the eve of longest day (the evening being the start of the celtic day). Click here to find out more about Midsummers Day Nettle Eating Contest Marsham, Dorset Held as part of a charity beer festival at the Bottle Inn in the village of Marshwood near Crewkerne, the event attracts entrants from around the world. Challengers attempt to out eat the current champion nettle-eater.