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The United Kingdom is far more than just tea, crumpets, and royal weddings. It is home to a range of truly bizarre and spectacular festivals that will leave you wondering.
To the untrained eye, the British might appear stiff, formal, and overly serious. However, a closer inspection reveals a rich tapestry of festivals. From age-old pagan ceremonies to quirky modern events, this small island offers a mix of charm, awe, and sometimes disgust, but it’s always entertaining.
10. The Summer Solstice at Stonehenge
Every year, thousands flock to the ancient stone structure in Wiltshire to celebrate the summer solstice. As the Sun rises, it aligns perfectly with the Heel Stone, the ancient entrance to the site, casting beams of light over the revelers gathered there.
Stonehenge is regarded as a sacred place by the pagan and druid communities in Britain. Normally, visitors are not allowed to approach the stones, but an exception is made for the solstice event. The exact origins of the monument remain a mystery—when, how, and why it was built is still unknown, though numerous theories abound, each more intriguing than the last.
9. The Tar Barrels of Ottery St. Mary
On every November 5th, the usually peaceful streets of Ottery St. Mary in Devon come alive with the glow of blazing tar barrels. Men and women run through the packed streets, carrying these fiery barrels on their shoulders. Weighing up to 30 kilograms (66 lbs), the carriers wear thick gloves to protect their hands, braving the intense heat with determination and courage.
Generations of families have proudly participated as barrel rollers. The true origins of the festival, however, remain a mystery. Some link it to the infamous gunpowder plot, while others believe it is an ancient pre-Christian pagan ritual aimed at driving away evil spirits.
8. The Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival
In the small town of Whittlesea, located in eastern England, the harvest is celebrated in a wonderfully unique manner. A man completely covered in straw, known as the 'straw bear,' is paraded through the streets. Accompanied by musicians and led by a 'keeper' or 'driver,' the bear dances in front of houses and inns, collecting gifts such as food, money, or beer.
The festival temporarily ceased in 1909 when a local police inspector deemed it a form of begging. However, the Whittlesea Society revived it in 1980, and it has since been held annually on the second weekend of January.
7. The Egg Throwing World Championships
According to legend, the egg throwing tradition in the English village of Swaton dates back to the 14th century. In an effort to increase attendance at church, the abbot began giving away free eggs to those who came. In 1322, a flood blocked the locals from reaching church, so the monks threw eggs across the river, marking the beginning of this quirky tradition.
The first Egg Throwing World Championship was held during the 2005 Swaton Vintage Day, with the grand prize claimed by an 'eggstatic' team from New Zealand. Teams of two compete to see who can toss an egg the furthest without breaking it.
Additional activities include the 'Russian egg roulette,' where participants smash eggs against their own heads. Of the six eggs, five are hard-boiled, and one is raw. The contestant who picks the raw egg loses and ends up with egg on their face.
6. The Burning the Clocks Festival
In the coastal town of Brighton, the shortest day of the year is celebrated with the 'Burning the Clocks' festival. Thousands gather to watch a procession of people carrying homemade fire lanterns. After parading through the town, the lanterns are ceremoniously burned on the beach.
The organizers of the event explain, 'Burning the clocks serves as a remedy to the over-commercialization of Christmas. People come together to create paper and willow lanterns, which they carry through the town before burning them on the beach to symbolize the end of the year.'
5. The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
Originally performed in 1226, the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is one of the oldest surviving traditions in Britain. The procession features six men wearing reindeer antlers, two musicians, a man dressed as a woman, an archer, and a fool who strikes anyone who gets too close with an inflated pig’s bladder.
The origins of this unusual event have been lost in the annals of time. Some believe it was performed to mark the start of the hunting season and ensure a bountiful year, while others think it may have roots in ancient fertility rituals. Regardless of its purpose, there’s no doubt: this ancient tradition is truly peculiar!
4. The Maldon Mud Race
The Maldon Mud Race takes place annually on the River Blackwater in Essex. At low tide, participants race across the extremely muddy riverbed and back, ensuring their shoes are firmly taped on to avoid losing them in the thick mud.
The event began in 1973 when the landlord of the Queens Head pub was dared to serve a meal on the riverbank while dressed in a tuxedo. The following year, a bar was set up on the riverbank for the day, and around 20 people competed to race across the river, drink a pint of beer, and return. Thus, the Maldon Mud Race was born.
3. The Haxey Hood
First played in the 14th century, the Haxey Hood is held annually on the 12th day of Christmas. Locals from the town’s four pubs compete to push the 'hood'—a leather tube—to their respective pub, where it will stay until the next year.
Legend has it that in the 14th century, the wife of local landowner John de Mowbray was out riding when a gust of wind blew her hood off her head. Amused by the sight of 13 farmhands chasing after it across the fields, she rewarded the parish with 13 acres of land, on the condition that the chase be reenacted every year.
The event, often said to focus more on drinking than the game itself, starts when the hood is tossed into the air, and a rugby-style scrum (known as the 'sway') forms around it.
There are no formal teams, and the only rule is that the hood cannot be thrown or carried. As many as 200 participants may be involved at any given time. The goal is to move the hood to one of the local pubs, and the game concludes when the pub’s landlord touches the hood while standing on the front step.
2. The World Toe Wrestling Championships
Founded in Staffordshire in 1976, the World Toe Wrestling Championship is now an annual event held at the Bentley Brook Inn. Similar to arm wrestling, but with feet, participants lock toes and try to pin their opponent’s foot for a count of three seconds. Rest assured, each competitor's feet are thoroughly inspected by a podiatrist before they’re allowed to compete.
1. ‘Obby ‘Oss
Possibly the oldest dance festival in the UK, the ‘Obby ‘Oss takes place every May 1 in the Cornish fishing village of Padstow. Believed to have roots in the ancient Celtic Beltane festival, the main event kicks off with two parades featuring male dancers dressed as hobby horses (hence ‘obby ‘oss) moving through the town.
The ‘Obby ‘Oss is a large oval frame wrapped in black oilskin, with a peculiar horse mask and snapping jaw. This strange figure is accompanied by other dancers and musicians and is led through the streets by a teaser, who prods the ‘Oss with a painted club.
As the ‘Oss parades through the town, it tries to capture young maidens and pull them beneath its cloak. Being caught by the ‘Oss is considered a sign of good luck.
