| Where: | Castleton, Derbyshire - village centre, ceremony starting outside the Cheshire Cheese pub |
| When: | 29th May (if 29th is a Sunday, Garland Day will be held on Saturday 28th or on Monday 30th!! - see Helpful Hints) |
| Time: | Garland making from noon, ceremony at 6.30 pm |
Castleton Garland is a flower-covered framework covering the Garland King, who leads a procession on horseback around the village accompanied by his Queen. It is over 3 feet high and weighs around 30 kg! Spectators are given sprigs of oak to adorn themselves (even dogs take part in this!). The band plays a special tune and the procession includes children who perform the Garland Dance at stops en route before gathering at the maypole for a ribbon dance. Afterwards the garland is winched up the church tower, until the flowers have wilted. The origins of the custom are obscure and go back centuries but the King and Queen wear Stuart costume and 29th May is Oak Apple Day (commemorating the retoration of King Charles II) so there may be a link with a Seventeenth Century revival.
Helpful Hints
The village museum has a display of Garland memorabilia. If a man with oak fronds approaches you, he may ask if you want “some oak” – John was really puzzled because he thought he was being asked for a smoke!!
In 2024 it should be on Wednesday 29th May.
When May 29th falls upon a Sunday the Garland Ceremony may move either to the preceding Saturday or the following Monday (both have happened in earlier years).
Click here for the event website: https://sites.google.com/view/castleton-garland
Click here for the local Facebook page (details about the Garland appear here): https://www.facebook.com/visitpeakdistrict
I enjoyed the video very much hope to attend this years garland day
Hi just seen this on Channel 5 tonight with Larry and George Lamb who had taken part in the Garland. Sure looks a fun and exciting day, thoroughly enjoyed seeing this and the beautiful colourful flowers. Would love to come and visit next year, so would be grateful for the actual date it will be held on so we don’t miss it.
Also would like a recommendation of a cottage to rent nearby not too expensive, but with a warm welcome.
Many thanks Chantal Gould
Hi Chantal,
It’s a great event and well worth going! You mustn’t have read all of the Helpful Hints section – it’s on Wednesday 29th May 2019. Sorry I can’t help though with the cottage rental recommendations though as we live many miles away from Castleton- try following links on the village website? It’s a popular destination so there’ll be plenty of choice. Hope you find somewhere good!
Best wishes
Averil
It’s on Monday May 30th 2022.
Fwiw the Lambs didn’t take part – they did a short piece to camera then left before the procession started.
http://www.castleton-garland.com
Many thanks – it hadn’t been decided last time I checked so that’s very useful. I’ll get it up on the site today 😀