UK and Eire: Traditions and Festivals

-Have you ever read a book called 'The Customs and Ceremonies of Britain'? I did, several years ago, and found it entrancing. I could not help weaving some ancient British festivals into my stories.

Their names alone are seductive - 'Silver Arrow Contest', 'Kissing Friday', 'Up-Helly-Aa', Wassailing the Apple Trees', 'Forty Shilling Day', 'Peppercorn Rent', 'The Lord of the Hundred', 'Pancake Greeze', 'Oranges and Lemons Service', 'Bottle Kicking and Hare Pie Scramble', Whuppity Stourie', 'Hunting the Gowk', 'Penny Hedge', 'Swearing on the Horns', 'Wicken Love Feast', 'Court of Array and Greenhill Bower', 'Weighing the Mayor', 'Beating the Bounds', 'Dunmow Flitch', 'Trooping the Colour', 'Bawming the Thorn', 'Mineshead Hobby Horse', 'Pretty Maid's Charity', 'Swan Upping', 'Common Ridings', 'Knighthood of Old Green', 'Cow Head Wakes', 'Abbotts Bromley Horn Dance', 'Pig Face Sunday', 'Punky Night', 'Lost in the Dark Bells', 'Mop Fairs', 'Turning the Devil's Stone', 'Wroth Silver', 'Raisin Monday', 'Wild Horse of Antrobus', 'Longsword Dancing', 'Tolling the Devil's Knell', and 'Burning the Old Year Out'.

To name but a few.

(c) 2009 Cecilia Dart-Thornton