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Hi Averil! Your website is really interesting and I will be looking at it again! Have you seen the Grace McCombie guides re Pevsner? She is in the Society of Antiquaries with me. If there’s a lecture you might like to come along? Also the Northern Architectural History Society is worth coming to as well.
My Grandmother was in service in the 1880’s and used to say a poem when making the christmas cake.
Stir up we beseech thee for granny made a pudding
Stir up we beseech thee for she made a jolly good un
Stir up we beseech thee for she put it the pot
Stir up we beseech thee for ate the jolly lot
Dear Averil!
First off many thanks for this; Its a brilliant idea.
My querry – are there Christmas traditions spesifically relating to Northumberland/Durham/Tyne Valley?
PJW
Hi Phillip!
Thanks for looking at my site – it’s got a long way to go as yet but I only thought of doing it properly about 3 weeks ago so am quite pleased with progress! The only specifically local things I can think of will be at New Year – Monkseaton Mummers are usually out at the Ship Inn, and there’s the Ponteland Wheelbarrow Race on Jan 1st as well as the Allendale Tar Barrels. Also there will be the Boxing Day Meet of Tynedale Hunt in Corbridge. And of course the Prudhoe Community Choir concert will be on Friday, weather permitting!! The meal was lovely on Friday – just a shame only 6 of us managed to make it – you were missed
Averil
Your website looks good. However, the Slaithwaite Moonraker Festival which is held in Feb half time is no longer held every year. Instead it is every alternate year – the ‘odd’ festival in the ‘odd’ year – so there won’t be one in 2012. I am just someone who visited it this year and picked up this information, but I am sure that the organisers will be able to confirm or have a look at the Moonraker website.
Sue
Many thanks for pointing that out, Sue! It’s a while since I checked out their website, and I think that the date must have been added since then so I’ve altered my post accordingly. Shame it’s not on in 2012 – I was hoping to get there and it looks really good. Never mind – better to know about it than turn up and find nobody else there….! Just an extra year to wait…
Averil
Hi Averil, What a fascinating website! Only had a quick look through, especially at Tar Barrels in Allendale – still hoping to go. Good recommendation about parking – will take that on board if we manage to get there this year. Will defo look at other info, using the useful calendar of events and the latest articles lists. Well done, you.Hope to see you soon.
Dear Averil
Please could you list this newish custom – The Barlaston Wassail
PRESS RELEASE – THE BARLASTON WASSAIL (31 December 2009, 9.30pm-12 midnight, Barlaston Downs Carpark, Barlaston Green)
A night of Anglo-Saxon revelry in Barlaston, Staffordshire, and on its Downs Banks. The Walk is in association with The National Trust, and culminates in a torch-light procession through the Staffordshire village of Barlaston. Verses are read to 12 Anglo-Saxon saints/ local worthies depicted on banner boards. There is the ceremonial placing of the banner boards at the Duke of York Inn, followed by a dance of olde lang syne round the Tree. It was founded in 2004 by Tim Cockin, and has continued ever since, growing year by year.
Dear Tim,
Thanks for drawing my attention to the Barlaston Wassail – sounds like just the sort of thing that belongs on Calendar Customs! Please bear with me for a little while as we’re having a bit of an elderly relative crisis at the moment and it might take some time to sort out. I’ll add it to the site asap – I may contact you for further details!
Averil
Many thanks Averil,
I can supply you or anyone else with many more details; anyone would be welcome, but you need to be a good walker for the walk (about 2 miles over heathland). The NT make a charge of £2, but some of this goes to costs and charity (& incls a raffle!).
Tim
Hi Tim!
I’ve finally got around to writing the post about Barlaston Wassail (plenty of time ’til it comes around, though!). It looks great fun – and different to anything else at New Year.If you visit the site you can either search for it by name or find it in the December table – if you think I should add anything or have got any facts wrong, just let me know and I’ll amend as necessary. Also, if you have any of your own photos maybe you could send one by email and I could add an image to the article, attributed to yourself of course!
Kind Regards,
Averil
Eyemouth Herring Queen Festival this year is 16th to 23rd July. Crowning ceremony is on 16th July at 4pm. Various events take place through the week ending on 23rd July with a pyjama parade & fireworks
Many thanks, Margaret, for letting me know! I’ll make contact earlier in the year during 2012 to get up to date info for next year now that I have someone to ask!
I think you will find Warrington Walking Day 2012 should be on 29 June, not 6 July. The date for 2012 has not yet been confirmed officially but it is usually the nearest Friday to 1 July rather than the first Friday in July.
Many thanks for letting me know – sometimes it’s tricky to work out the “formula” for setting dates for events. I know that many visitors turned up a week too early for this years Abbots Bromley Horn Dance because they’d read that it’s on the Monday after the first weekend in September (not on Calendar Customs, I hasten to add!!) when in fact it’s a little more complicated. I’ve amended my Warrington article accordingly -perhaps when the date is confirmed you’d be kind enough to let me know?
Averil
Hi Averill
I would love you to post details of our annual and ancient custom, which we are sure (supported by recent discoveries presented in the British Museum The Hallaton Treasures) it is the oldest and longest continous custom that still takes place every year. The Custom is “THE HALLATON BOTTLE KICKING” almost definetly the forerunner to Rugby and the whole event contains ancient and pagan rituals. Held every Easter Monday in Hallaton Leicestershire
Please feel free to contact me Phil Allan Chairman of the event, where I can talk you a lot more about the event and it is well worth a visit and a listing in your calender of events
Regards
Phil
Hi Phil,
Many thanks for your message! When you have a spare minute, check out my page on Hallaton on the website (you can find it easiest by putting Hallaton in the search box on the home page, or from the Easter lists that appear on the March and April pages). We were there in 2010 and thoroughly enjoyed the day – managed to get a few decent photos but sadly it was before we started filming events so there isn’t any footage. My husband John makes the videos and this Christmas was given a monopod which extended his view considerably- he was able to put it to very good use at Haxey Hood (the video is on Youtube and is viewable from the website page) which is perhaps the event most like Hallaton that we’ve been to so far. We’ll be in Lancashire for Easter in 2012 but would love to come back to Hallaton in the future and hopefully make a film for the website to give other folks a taster of the event. Long may it continue!
If I’ve made any errors on the article, please feel free to put me right! I’ve only been attending similar events for the last couple of years but I’ve really been bitten by the customs bug and thought that there are probably other like minded people out there who’d appreciate a website devoted to attending such things.
Kind Regards,
Averil
Hello Phil.
Has anyone from BBC Radio Leicester contacted you about this Monday’s Hallaton/Medbourne Bottle Kicking event yet? If not I’d love to chat to you about it myself after 1pm on my lunchtime show, if possible?
If so, please email me asap via graham.wright@bbc.co.uk with a number I could call you on (mobile?) at that time.
I hope to hear from you!
Many thanks,
Graham Wright.
You have created here a rather unusual and entertaining site, I am the Curator at Ferniehirst Castle, south of Jedburgh and have bookmarked your informative info re the Callants Festival 2012, perhaps you would like a link once the ‘links’ page is set up at clankerr.co.uk. My site went live in December last year and although there is a great deal yet to add we have had 30,000 hits from Kers, Kerrs and Carrs from all over the world, have a look and if you have a day in July come and visit this wonderful little fortress first built in stone around 1470. Keep up the good work. Bob Lawson
Dear Bob,
Thanks for making contact! I’m pleased you enjoy the site – I had great fun making it and continue to enjoy visiting the events (I’ve got a long list still to attend!). Thanks also for the link offer, which I’ll gladly accept – I should do a links section for the Calendar Customs site. When I do, would you like a reciprocal link to be addded for clankerr? My site went live December 2010 so it’s still a work in progress,too – it’s quite exciting that people read it from all over place. It’s a long time since I visited Ferniehirst on a day out (maybe 15 or 20 years ago?!) so I think a revisit is probably long overdue – I’ll look forward to it.
Thanks again,
Averil
Dear Averil, Thank you for replying I am desperatley trying to contact the fortune teller whose caravan you have on your web site. I had a reading with her at Appleby fair in June, but I need to contact her. Would you be able to give me her tel no; or alternatively pass on mine to her. hope you can help me.Thanks Charlie & Fred
Hi Charlie and Fred!
I’m really sorry I can’t help you out but I haven’t any contact details for the fortune teller – I didn’t even meet her, just took a photo of her lovely caravan, so I don’t even know who she is! Good luck in trying to find out – hopefully somebody who knows might see your plea for help and get in touch. Fingers crossed!
Best wishes,
Averil
Perhaps you may want to take on Flamborough LongSword who dance out on Boxing Day if you contact Richard Traves at Flamborough he is the leader & will give you details. You may want to look at Firing the Stiddy @ Lythe near Whitby. I don’t know if you know Doc Rowe but he is the foremost person on Traditions in the country he lives near Whitby & has a web site hope this helps & why not put a link in to the Plough Stots web site?
FYI I am also President of the Plough Stots hope this helps
Hi Keith,
Thanks for getting in touch!Yes, the Flamborough Longsword is just the kind of thing for calendarcustoms so I’ll do a page for it next time I’m adding some in! I’ve met Doc Rowe a number of times since staying at the same B&B before Abbots Bromley Horn Dance a few years ago – what he doesn’t know about traditions isn’t worth knowing!! Last saw him at October Plenty at Southwark this year, busy filming as usual. I’ve got a link to the Plough Stots website from my article for the day of dance in January; over the winter I’m planning on adding a special links section to the calendarcustoms site and will include it on there too along with Doc’s website. Just been reading up about Firing the Stiddy – sounds interesting. As it’s only done for special occasions (like the bun throwing at Abingdon, which you may have come across)I’m not sure where it would fit in the calendar (maybe I’ll have to make a separate section for occasional customs!)
Best Wishes,
Averil
Nailsea Wassail will take place this year on Saturday January 19th from 5pm, meeting at the Old Farmhouse Pub, Chelvey Rise, Nailsea. Lantern light procession to community orchard, apple howling, singing of wassail songs by Barley Rye choir, mulled cider and a childrens’ event too. Butler, Green Man and Wassail Welcomer.
More details from Anne on 07954 617954
Thanks Anne – sounds like it has everything you’d want in a wassailing night!
Averil
Came across your site by chance. What about the Trevithick Day in Camborne every April. Commemorates Richard Trevithick who invented the steam engine .They have built a replica engine which they drive through the town. Details from the Trevithick Society.
Thanks for the recommendation, Janet – I’ll look it all up and add the event to the site asap. Sounds like fun!
Averil
Hi Averil I found your site when looking for information on Carlin peas. My mum was from Sunderland and I remember having these peas when I was very small, we stayed in Gloucestershire then, now I am in Greece.
I think the information for different events through the year really good and when I return to the UK next year to visit I will look up to see what we can see on our trip around UK. Thankyou. Liz
Hi Liz,
Thanks for getting in touch – hope you managed to track down some Carlin peas ( I got some on ebay)!There’s much more going on in the UK than I realised at first, so with any luck you’ll be able to find something to fit in with your trip as there seems to be something happening somewhere just about every day. Everything I’ve managed to get to so far has been well worth visiting.
Best Wishes,
Averil
This is a fantastic site! I’ve only just come across it looking for information on scouring the White Horse, as I was just on the Ridgeway and saw a poster for it.
Two events you don’t have yet take place in York–the Assize of Ale in August, and the Sheriff’s Riding on 21 December:
http://www.york-united-kingdom.co.uk/assize/
http://www.whitecottagewebsites.co.uk/waits/notes%26queries/riding.html
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for getting in touch and for your kind comments!I’ve had a quick glance at the links you sent and they look just like the kind of traditions that will fit perfectly into the site – and I haven’t come across either of them before so that’s great! I shall add articles on them to the site asap – probably can’t get them sorted before the later part of the month as I’ve got lots on over the next couple of weeks – and will fit them also into my “to-do” list.
Thanks again,
Averil
🙂 well the Assize was last weekend (I missed it this year as I was at a festival) and there’s a few months to the Sheriff’s Riding, so you’ve got plenty of time! I’ve been in the UK for something like 11 years now, and I love this stuff–I can’t believe I’ve only just found a general listing for these kinds of traditions, and will certainly be checking in every month from now on. BTW I second the recommendation for Trevithick Day in Camborne–I went a few years ago and had a great time.
Funnily enough I was very near York last weekend at my nephew’s wedding (so couldn’t have gone to the Assize this year either!). The reason I started writing the website was because I couldn’t find a list of such events, so that’s what set me off. There are lots of enthusiasts out there – the more things I go to, the more I meet so look out for me, I’ll probably bump into you at something fabulous one of these days!
Best wishes,
Averil
‘Spaw Sunday’, near Penistone, South Yorks.
This event dates back centuries and occurs on May Day. Gunthwaite Spa lies about 2 Miles North of Penistone (OS: SE 2431 0614). Its waters are supposed to have miraculous healing powers, if taken in the morning. The history of this annual event is lost in the mists of time but it continues to this day, regardless. There are old reports of it being a meeting of ‘gentry and peasantry’ in the middle ages. It was common for a band to turn up and people would sit around on the bank enjoying the grimaces of others. It was on occasions so boisterous that the event was actually banned for a while.
The water used to come from a spring, emerging by a little stream and rough undergrowth bordering the road. That was later improved with an iron pipe sticking out of a surrounding wall, with a metal cup hanging on a chain. Below the pipe was a pool that the visitor had to stand in to gain a taste of the spa water. With time the pipe became corroded and the cup battered and worn. It is now in a tidy setting, set apart from the road. Here is a quote from an unspecified old book:
‘From time immemorial the first Sunday of May was called Spa Sunday, when people came from far and near to drink the water at Gunthwaite Spa. Stalls were set up to feed the people, and it must have been a gay and lively sight to see them singing and dancing by the water’s edge. Little is known of its origin, but people in the district had wonderful faith in the spring water, and looked upon it as a “cure all.” Other days the spring was just “water” but the first Sunday in May it assumed miraculous properties. Pilgrims brought bottles or cups, and “supped” the water, supposed to come from a nearby silver mine. An old work records that the Spa was good for “scurvy,” inflammations, liver complaints and other disorders.’
A newspaper report in the 1980s said that a grandmother with arthritis and a spinal disease had made a great improvement after taking the Spa water over a two-week period. Within three years she was ‘Fit as a fiddle’.
Actually the water is very clear and pure. It is usually described as having a hint of ‘rotten eggs’ in its flavour, with a mildly sulphurous smell. It is quite drinkable without a strong flavour. As a communal event it was well supported in 2011 with perhaps fifty people, with Thurlstone Brass Band. It was also the perfect excuse for a pleasant walk from Penistone in sunny weather.
I made a small error, it should read ‘Spa Sunday is always the first Sunday of May’. It ought to be mentioned that it was often a rather drunken and boisterous affair in the olden days.
The Flour Ceremony, Good Friday, Penistone, South Yorks. From old bequests.
This old Good Friday tradition continues to this day. Bags of ordinary flour are handed out to the ‘Poor of the Parish of Penistone’, in Penistone Church’s ‘Sensory Gardens’, following a family service in Penistone Parish Church. It was originally ‘one quarter of rye’ and these days is performed by the current Mayor of Penistone.
In 1559 William Turton (landowner of Denby) bequeathed a legacy of ‘One Quarter of Rie to the Poor of the Parish of Penistone’ every Good Friday from the church porch, presumably by the Reverend. This is written on a large panel within Penistone Church.
The West Riding Directory of 1837 has some details:
‘Three Yearly Doles belong to the poor of the parish, viz., one quarter of rye, left by Wm. Turton, in 1559, out of a farm in Hoxley Gate, in Denby; 26s. 8d. left by Edward Booth, out of lands at Dean Head, near Hunshelf; and 20s. left by Wm. Rich, in 1673, out of lands at Hornthwaite.’
It continues:
‘The poor of Penistone township have the rents of three cottages, purchased with £25 left by Fras. Burdett, Wm. Sotwell, and Joanna Swift. They have also two yearly rent charges, viz., 20s. left by Sir Thurston Bycliff and Alderman Micklethwaite, out of a farm at Silkstone; and 3s. left by John Wordsworth, out of Water Hall estate’.
Mr Turton’s rye was changed to flour in 1905 (Penistone Almanac 1907) and given out in the porchway of Penistone Church. After the Town Hall was built in 1914, large bags of flour were given away on the Town Hall steps by the Council Clerk. After 1973/4, Penistone Urban District Council became a Town Council under ‘Local Government Reorganisation’ and acquired a Mayor.
Following improvements to the lower end of the graveyard around 2008, to make it a ‘Sensory Garden’ the Flour Ceremony moved there and became a mayoral duty, with the reverend providing spiritual support.
In the Flour Ceremony of 2011, the Mayor Carol Bradbury was accompanied by the Bishop of Wakefield, Rt Rev Stephen Platten.
Dear Jack,
Many thanks for all the helpful information – the Good Friday Flour Ceremony is a new one for me so thanks for drawing it to my attention – when I’m writing up new posts I’ll add that one to the site!
Best wishes,
Averil
The jethart callants festival 2017 is actually Friday 7th July
Thanks Kev!
What a splendid resource. Thank you for the time it’s taken to put it together and keep it updated. Do you have any favourite or not to miss customs you can recommend?
Glad to hear you’re enjoying exploring the site! As for favourites, Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, the Cotswold Olympicks, Haxey Hood and Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels have to be up there, but I can honestly say that I’ve found all my visits to events so far have been enjoyable. I particularly enjoy fire festivals and watching unusual sports (the Sheep Racing at Moffat was great fun) and the Helston Flora Day is a really full day out..so picking favourites is quite difficult! Up Helly Aa is high on my “to-do” list – still plenty of new events to explore and others to revisit 🙂
could you please let me know who to contact to update the information on Camborne Trevithick Day for 2018- I can’t seem to find who to contact on your site
hi there
would you be able to alter the wording in connection to the riding of the bounds please
the ride is now scheduled to take place on the saturday of the first may bank holiday, this decision was taken to boost numbers and hopefully create an all inclusive event
this year will take place Saturday 5th may thanks
Hi Jude,
Thanks – I’ve just checked and that info was already up there on the site re 5th May 2018. I’ve altered the wording to make it even plainer that it’s the Saturday of the early May Bank Holiday weekend!
Hope it goes well again this year,
Averil
Dear Mr and Mrs Calendar Costumes.com,
You inspire me to the visions most quaint, through the divine twinkling in (and all about therefore) your non existent eye. I dance in your shadow and prance in the noon day sun; please allow me to be the first to assure you that all the most honourable guests (and their creeping servants) dance with me. Ye! It is so that I was born from the meeting of the east and west winds, such celestial alchemy cannot help but result in a sight so uncanny that none may gaze upon me. I deliver upon to you my most august blessings and may your loins be filled with fruit.
I am etc.
Old Uncle Pennyfarthing
Hi Averil. Thank you for the hard work that has clearly gone into putting together this useful resource. Looking at London, I see that your list concentrates quite heavily on the north of the river; had you thought about including the monthly Cross Bones vigil in Southwark on your list? Or the Apple Day that takes place every October in Borough Market? Both may be of interest to many of your readers.
H Ethan,
Thanks for getting in touch and for your kind comments!
With the Apple Day at Borough Market, I agree it’s a marvellous event (we went with the October Plenty event one year and thought it was very well done) so it’s got a mention on the general Apple Day post as well as that for October plenty but as you’ll appreciate, I can’t keep track of all the apple day events around the country as there are so many of them!
I think that the Cross Bones suggestion is a really good one for the site so I shall add it soon – might take a little while as I have a trip away with work this next week but shouldn’t be too long in coming.
Thanks for taking the trouble to make contact – good suggestions like these are gratefully received!
Averil
Please note that the Panama Swimming Club DOES NOT RUN OR ORGANIZE A New Year’s Day SWIM ANY MORE. We will not be open. However, people gather on the beach below the Rendezvous cafe at 10.45 am on New Year’s Day ready to go in at 11 am
Thanks for the update Alison – I’ve removed the link to the Panama Swimming Club on the website.
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi Averil
Many thanks for all your work in keeping your fantastic website up to date. I attended one custom a month in 2015 and again in 2018 and gave calendars with photos to family and friends at Christmas which went down well. This has got me to parts of the UK I might otherwise have missed, I have met some fantastic people generally raising a whole heap of money for charity and had the best fun ever. I am keeping going in 2019. Great idea. Thank you. If I find a custom down in South London that you don’t have recorded I will pass details on. Thanks again. Happy New Year
Best wishes
Gill
Hi Gill,
Many thanks for taking the trouble to tell me about your custom project – it’s lovely to hear that the website is being used for the purpose it’s intended and I’m really pleased you’ve been enjoying it.Maybe we’ll bump into each other at one of the events – I’m forever whizzing around the country to see what happens and as you’ll realise I’m frequently adding new bits to the website. By all means pass on details of anything you think might be useful and in the meantime, I hope you continue to have fun with your calendar. Happy New Year!
Averil
Hi there, I am doing an article (unpaid) for the Lincolnshire Poacher magazine on the villages of Oasby and Heydour and the story of the Culverthorpe Monkey. I cannot find any Other pictures of the baboon night ceremony that you reported on a few years aback and the Houblon Arms have not replied to any enquiries. I wondered if you grant me permission to use any of the pictures of the ‘Baboon night’ celebrations you use on your website. I would be happy to include an acknowledgement for pictures in the article. Many thanks. Stay safe
Mark
Hi Mark – will email you direct!
Averil
Have you thought about adding the Herne Bay Cartoon Festival to this site? Many exhibitions and events leading up to the main event – live cartooning on Herne Bay Pier from the country’s leading cartoonists and caricaturists: https://www.facebook.com/HBCartoonFest
Thanks Karol- I’ve emailed you,
Best wishes,
Averil
Love your website.
One typo noted – Penistone Turton Flour Dole has “In 2023 Good Friday is on Friday 17h April.” It’s the 7th.
[Wish I only made one mistake in how many pages??!!]
Ooops- thanks for spotting that Ron. The 1 must have missed getting deleted when I changed the date for this year- all fixed now 🙂 and thanks again for letting me know!
Best wishes,
Averil