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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Video Archive
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![The Wife Carrying Races at Dorking are a relatively recent addition to the calendar and have apparently spread to the UK from a long-established Scandinavian tradition -legend has it that […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_8239-115x115.jpeg "Dorking Wife Carrying Races")
Dorking Wife Carrying Races
Posted on January 24, 2011 | 2 CommentsThe Wife Carrying Races at Dorking are a relatively recent addition to the calendar and have apparently spread to the UK from a long-established Scandinavian tradition -legend has it that […] -
![Up Helly Aa is the biggest fire festival in Europe and takes place on the last Tuesday in January each year, celebrating the Viking heritage of Shetland . Groups of […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/IMG_7965-115x115.jpeg "Lerwick Up Helly Aa")
Lerwick Up Helly Aa
Posted on December 20, 2010 | 4 CommentsUp Helly Aa is the biggest fire festival in Europe and takes place on the last Tuesday in January each year, celebrating the Viking heritage of Shetland . Groups of […] -
![This is definitely not to be confused with the American holiday with the same name! Every year, the black poplar in the centre of Aston-on-Clun is decorated with flags which […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/IMG_8315-115x115.jpg "Aston-on-Clun Arbor Day")
Aston-on-Clun Arbor Day
Posted on December 13, 2010 | 6 CommentsThis is definitely not to be confused with the American holiday with the same name! Every year, the black poplar in the centre of Aston-on-Clun is decorated with flags which […] -
![Grasmere celebrates its rushbearing festival currently in mid-July (it was formerly held on the Saturday nearest August 5th). Rushbearing is a ceremony whereby the floor rushes in church were renewed […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/IMG_8849-115x115.jpg "Grasmere Rushbearing")
Grasmere Rushbearing
Posted on December 3, 2010 | 2 CommentsGrasmere celebrates its rushbearing festival currently in mid-July (it was formerly held on the Saturday nearest August 5th). Rushbearing is a ceremony whereby the floor rushes in church were renewed […] -
![The Britannia Coco-Nut Dancers of Bacup are a uniquely dressed male folk- dance side who perform every Easter Saturday all around their town. They have blackened faces to conceal their […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/IMG_8145-115x115.jpg "Bacup Britannia Coco-Nut Dancers")
Bacup Britannia Coco-Nut Dancers
Posted on December 1, 2010 | 1 CommentThe Britannia Coco-Nut Dancers of Bacup are a uniquely dressed male folk- dance side who perform every Easter Saturday all around their town. They have blackened faces to conceal their […] -
![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 […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_8393-115x115.jpg "Castleton Garland")
Castleton Garland
Posted on November 30, 2010 | 5 CommentsCastleton 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 […] -
![Workington hosts a trio of mass-football games each year, all starting off at 6.30 with the ball being thrown from Long Bridge, the footbridge over the Beck, in the Cloffocks […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_8123-115x115.jpg "Workington Football")
Workington Football
Posted on November 29, 2010 | No CommentsWorkington hosts a trio of mass-football games each year, all starting off at 6.30 with the ball being thrown from Long Bridge, the footbridge over the Beck, in the Cloffocks […] -
![Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival is a modern revival (from 1980 so now well established!) of the ancient fenland custom of making a straw bear for Plough Monday – a man […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_7900-115x115.jpg "Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival")
Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival
Posted on November 29, 2010 | 5 CommentsWhittlesea Straw Bear Festival is a modern revival (from 1980 so now well established!) of the ancient fenland custom of making a straw bear for Plough Monday – a man […] -
![Ponteland Wheelbarrow Race is a charity fundraising event for teams of two (one in the wheelbarrow and the other pushing it, who have to swap positions halfway around). It lasts […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_7866-115x115.jpg "Ponteland Wheelbarrow Race")
Ponteland Wheelbarrow Race
Posted on November 29, 2010 | No CommentsPonteland Wheelbarrow Race is a charity fundraising event for teams of two (one in the wheelbarrow and the other pushing it, who have to swap positions halfway around). It lasts […] -
![The Poor Old Hoss of Richmond is a hobby horse with a real horse-skull on a pole as his head. He is accompanied by a group of mummers in huntsman […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_7796-115x115.jpg "Richmond Poor Old Hoss/ T’owd Hoss")
Richmond Poor Old Hoss/ T’owd Hoss
Posted on November 28, 2010 | No CommentsThe Poor Old Hoss of Richmond is a hobby horse with a real horse-skull on a pole as his head. He is accompanied by a group of mummers in huntsman […]