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englandexplore.com http://englandexplore.com/10-weird-english-village-rituals/

10 Weird and Wonderful English Village Rituals

Whether you are visiting England for the first time or you are a regular vacationer, you should do more than pass

through the villages. They have some rituals that may seem silly, but are often centuries old.

1. Straw Bear Festival, Whittlesea

Every January in Whittlesea is the Straw Bear Festival. Traditionally, a man dressed in straw entertained the

villagers by dancing through the streets. Today, it has become a weeklong event with dancers and concerts. At the

end of the week, an anxiously awaiting crowd watches as the Straw Bear is burned in celebration.

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2. Worm Charming Willaston

In the large village of Willaston, Cheshire, a heavy competition takes place annually. Players use a garden fork and

music to entice worms out of the ground. The competition is 30 minutes long with strict rules. The individual with the

most worms receives a gold trophy in the shape of a rampant worm.

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3. Cheese Rolling, Cooper’s Hill

At Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire, the locals have a Cheese -Rolling and Wake race. Crowds of people come to

watch and participate. A traditional Gloucester cheese is rolled down the steep hill while competitors race after it.

The first to the finish line will win the 9 lb. roll of cheese.

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4. Egremont Crab Fair

Egremont Crab Fair and Sports is in Egremont, Cumbria. It is where the magic of gurning happens. Participants

compete to see who can make the most distorted face. Other activities include, but are not limited to clay pigeon

shooting, horse and pony leaping, and pipe smoking. A midday Parade of the Apple Cart is the pride of the fair.

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5. Jack In The Green, Hastings

In Hastings, Sussex, the May Day Parade is celebrated with a Jack-in-the-Green. Jack-in-the-Green is a person

covered in garlands, leaves, and other foliage from head-to-toe. This coverage is usually in the shape of a pyramid.

The festivities last for several days leading up to and after the first of May.

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6. Ottery Tar Barrels

Everyone is welcomed to watch as the townspeople of Ottery St Mary uphold their annual tradition of carrying

flaming tar barrels through the streets. This event is preceded by a week of carnival activities and ending with a

bonfire and fireworks display.

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7. Wife Carrying Race, Dorking

The Annual Wife Carrying Race in Dorking, Surrey hosts hundreds of couples from all over the globe. Women are

carried for 380 meters on the backs of or in the arms of their husbands. The race is an homage to the Viking warriors

that raided villages and carried wenches and maidens out of the town.

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8. Hurling The Silver Ball, Cornwall

Also known as Cornish Hurling, Hurling the Silver Ball is a sport unique to Cornwall. The ball is made of sterling

silver and weighs approximately 20 ounces. It is thrown from one goal to the next, which are two miles apart. The

crowd is allowed to touch the ball, which is supposed to bring luck and fertility.

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9. Souling Or Soulcaking

Souling in Cheshire is a tradition that has been around for centuries. Groups of Soulcakers perform plays on All

Souls Eve (November 1). This performance is intended to protect the town from evil spirits by helping the dead on

their journey to Purgatory. Money and Soul Cakes are given away. Eating a cake is a way to devour the sins of the

dead.

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10. The Burning Of The Clocks, Brighton

Brighton celebrates the longest day of the year with The Burning of the Clocks. At the beginning of the winter

solstice, locals support the making of lanterns with a different theme every year. Included in the festival is a parade

procession with the lanterns, a bonfire, fireworks display, and musical entertainment.