January

The first month hosts many events associated with welcoming in the New Year and ensuring prosperity in the months to come. Fire, feasts and wassailing help to brighten the long nights and remind us of lighter times ahead.


Some events take place on exactly the same date every year, regardless of which day of the week they fall upon. The following table shows events which are fixed in this way:

DayEventArticle
1Andrews DoleArticle
1First FootingArticle
1Kirkwall BaArticle
1Lanark Het PintArticle
1London New Years Day ParadeArticle
1Mapleton Bridge JumpArticle
1New Years Day CelebrationsArticle
1New Years Day DipArticle
1Ponteland Wheelbarrow RaceArticle
1Winsbury DoleArticle
5Curry Rivel Wassail and Ashen FaggotArticle
6Baddely CakeArticle
6Bodmin WassailingArticle
6Guildford Twelfth Night WassailArticle
6Haxey HoodArticle
6Laymore Burning the Ashen FaggotArticle
11Burghead Burning the ClavieArticle
13Llangynwyd Mari LwydArticle
17Carhampton WassailingArticle
25Burns NightArticle
29Peterborough Katharine of Aragon FestivalArticle
30Whitehall Charles I CommemorationArticle

Some event dates differ from year to year in order for them to fall on a weekend or during a particular week of the year, for example the 3rd week in January. The following table shows events where dates may vary in this manner:

DateEventArticle
Late December to mid-JanuaryWassailingArticle
Most of MonthPantomimeArticle
January or FebruaryLondon Trial of the PyxArticle
1st trading day in yearDriffield Penny ScrambleArticle
Saturday early in MonthQueen's College Needle & Thread GaudyArticle
1st SaturdayBolney Apple HowlingArticle
1st SaturdayMuskham Pinkies Plough PlayArticle
Sunday early in monthDurham Plough SundayArticle
Monday early in MonthHubberholme Parliament Land LettingArticle
Near 6thLondon Bankside Twelfth Night CelebrationsArticle
Saturday near 6thSherwood Twelfth Night & Fools ParadeArticle
Saturday near 6thMuch Marcle WassailArticle
Saturday nearest 6thWaldron WassailArticle
6th (if a Sunday) or Sunday followingMargate Blessing the SeasArticle
Sunday after 6thBlessing the River ThamesArticle
Monday after 6thNorthwold Plough Monday ProcessionArticle
Monday after 6thPlough MondayArticle
Monday after 6thRamsey Straw BearArticle
Thursday, Friday & Saturday early to mid MonthCalverton Plough PlayArticle
Saturday early to mid MonthColeby Plough JagArticle
Saturday early to mid MonthHinckley BullockersArticle
Weekend early to mid monthNottingham Plough Play & DancingArticle
Sunday early to Mid MonthMorton Plough SundayArticle
Sunday early to mid MonthPickering Road Community Orchard WassailArticle
2nd Saturday in MonthLlandysul Calan HenArticle
2nd Saturday in MonthStroud WassailArticle
Saturday mid MonthGoathland Plough StotsArticle
Saturday mid MonthSt Nicholas at Wade Bell Inn WassailArticle
Sunday mid MonthCoventry WassailArticle
Sunday mid MonthOvingham Community Orchard WassailArticle
Mid Month WeekendChepstow Wassail and Mari LlwydArticle
Mid Month WeekendWhittlesea Straw Bear FestivalArticle
3rd Thursday of monthShave Cross Inn Ash FaggotArticle
Saturday nearest 17thFalkirk Battle Commemoration 1746Article
Sunday before 25thSelkirk Haggis HuntArticle
21 (earliest possible date)Lunar New YearArticle
Saturday nearest 25thNantwich Holly Holy DayArticle
Last Tuesday Lerwick Up Helly AaArticle