![Every 5th November the streets of Ottery St Mary are lit by blazing tar barrels, carried by the residents of the town; the barrels weigh 30kg and are carried at […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_9214-426x250.jpg "Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels")
![This is an ancient custom dating back hundreds of years -nobody knows exactly how long but it’s reputedly one of the oldest traditions in Europe. It starts with a simple […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_7518-480x250.jpg "Abbots Bromley Horn Dance")
Welcome to Calendar Customs!
This site aims to list the wide variety of traditional and unusual events that take place each year in the UK and to help visitors take part in them. Each event has its own page giving details of its timing and location, as well as a very brief history and notes on what to expect. Enjoy!
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![Haxey Hood is one of the ancient mass-participation festival games and is the earliest in the year, sometimes taking place in snow. Instead of a football, the players use “hoods” […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/The-Fool-is-Smoked-640x250.jpg "Haxey Hood")
Haxey Hood
Haxey Hood is one of the ancient mass-participation festival games and is the earliest in the year, sometimes taking place in snow. Instead of a football, the players use “hoods” […]
Featured Stories
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![John Barleycorn is the personification of the barley crop and the beer brewed from it, who has been part of the song culture of the British Isles for centuries and […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_8282-195x110.jpeg "Whitby: John Barleycorn Must Die")
Whitby: John Barleycorn Must Die
John Barleycorn is the personification of the barley crop and the beer brewed from it, who has been part of the song culture of the British Isles for centuries and […]
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![The well known folk song about Widecombe Fair features Uncle Tom Cobley and his pals who borrow a grey mare and ride her to the fair (with unfortunate consequences for […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_0587-195x110.jpeg "Widecombe Fair")
Widecombe Fair
The well known folk song about Widecombe Fair features Uncle Tom Cobley and his pals who borrow a grey mare and ride her to the fair (with unfortunate consequences for […]
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![Crying the Neck is a West Country harvest custom where a corn dolly is made from the last sheaf and is hung in church for the year. The origins of […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/IMG_0340-195x110.jpeg "Cornwall Crying the Neck")
Cornwall Crying the Neck
Crying the Neck is a West Country harvest custom where a corn dolly is made from the last sheaf and is hung in church for the year. The origins of […]
Averil's Picks
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Dance
Chepstow Wassail and Mari Lwyd
6 Comments -
Ancient Custom
Dunmow Flitch Trials
2 Comments -
Dance
Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival
5 Comments -
December
Chester Saturnalia
2 Comments