Whitby & Blakeney Greasy Pole Competitions
The Greasy Pole is a long-established and well known concept but surprisingly few competitions take place nowadays, with two well-loved contests held as part of the Regatta in each of [ ]
Calendar Customs
A guide to British Calendar Customs and local traditions
Latest posts
Berwick Minden Day Parade
Minden Day is 1st August and it s the anniversary of the Battle of Minden in 1759, in the Seven Years War against the French; the battle was a significant turning [ ]
Norwich: Snap the Dragon
In medieval times, an integral part of the elaborate pageants held in the city of Norwich was Snap, an appropriately named dragon with hinged jaws associated with the Guild of [ ]
Annan Border Gathering and Fun Day
Gatherings don t only happen in the Highlands, and the event at Annan is a good example of a lowland version, with a Parade of the Clans with their flags, a [ ]
Brixham Orange Parade
Brixham in Devon is the site of King William III s unopposed landing on English soil with his Dutch army in the Glorious Revolution of 1688; William of Orange and his [ ]
Anne Boleyn Commemorations- Blickling and Tower of London
In 1536 on 19th of May, Queen Anne Boleyn was executed at the Tower of London, the first Queen of England to be beheaded. A French executioner struck off her [ ]
Dunfermline: St Margaret Pilgrimage
Saint Margaret of Scotland was the Queen of Malcolm III; she s known as the Patroness or Pearl of Scotland, and is the only female Scottish saint. Born into the English [ ]
Canterbury St Augustine’s Day Pilgrimage
Augustine was a sixth century monk who was appointed by the Pope to lead the mission to Christianise Britain, and became the very first Archbishop of Canterbury in 597. Augustine [ ]
London: St Giles-in-the-Fields Oak Apple Day
Oak Apple Day on 29th May commemorates the Restoration to the throne of King Charles II who evaded capture after the Battle of Worcester by hiding from the Parliamentarian troops [ ]
Glastonbury Zombie Walk
There are many opportunities to dress up for Hallowe en all over the country, with fancy dress parties, trick or treating and costume competitions galore, but as far as I know [ ]