2. Viking heritage
The fire festival of Up Helly Aa takes takes place in Lerwick, Shetland, on the
last Tuesday in January every year to celebrate Viking heritage. It includes a
torch lit procession and the burning of a replica Viking ship.
Picture: CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images
3. The Straw Bear Festival
The Straw Bear Festival is held every January in Whittlesea, Cambridgeshire. A man dressed
in straw is led through the streets followed by dancers and musicians. It's unclear when the
tradition began, but the bear's original mission appears to have been to entertain the
townsfolk in return for gifts of money and food for the local ploughmen.
Picture: BRIAN HARRIS
4. Pearly Kings and Queens
Pearly Kings and Queens, known as pearlies, are a famous charitable organisation in London.
The practice of wearing clothes decorated with mother-of-pearl buttons originated in the
19th century and is first associated with Henry Croft, an orphan street sweeper who
collected money for charity.
Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
5. The Haxey Hood
The Haxey Hood is a large rugby-style game that takes place in the village of Haxey in North Lincolnshire, England,
each January. A scrum of people, called the "sway", pushes a leather tube called the "hood" into one of the four
public houses in the parish. It's thought to have originated centuries ago when an aristocratic woman's riding
hood was whipped off by the wind and local farm workers chased after it.
Picture: Christopher Furlong
6. Chimney sweeping
Traditional chimney sweeping is celebrated in Rochester, Kent, each May with
three days of Morris dancing, music and entertainment on the streets. The
festival marks the sweeps' traditional May 1 holiday.
Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
7. Dancing with ribbons
Traditional dancing with ribbons around a may pole is performed in
many villages to celebrate the arrival of spring.
Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
8. World Worm Charming Championships
Tap dancing for worms takes place at the World Worm Charming Championships in
Willaston, Cheshire, each June. Charmers are also allowed to entice the creatures
out of the ground through patting the soil and playing music - but digging is not
allowed.
Picture: John Robertson
9. Summer solstice in Stonehenge
Pagans gather at the ancient Stonehenge site in Wiltshire to celebrate
the summer solstice each June.
Picture: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
10. Swan Upping
Swan Upping is a traditional census of the Queen's swans on certain stretches
of the River Thames each July. It dates back to the 12th century.
All swans belong to the monarch.
Picture: Paul Grover
11. A penny for the Guy
Collecting a penny for the Guy - an effigy made out of stuffed clothes - is part of the
commemoration of the Gunpowder Plot, marked each November 5. It celebrates the
survival of King James 1 after Catholic plotter Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the House
of Lords in 1605. The effigy is later burned on a bonfire, accompanied by fireworks.
Picture: Fox Photos/Getty Images
12. Burning the clocks festival – winter solstice
Paper lanterns are burnt on the beach as part of the burning the clocks
festival each December in Brighton, England, to mark the winter solstice.
Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
13. Wassailing – blessing the orchards
Wassailing is a traditional pagan celebration to bless the orchards to bring good apples for
the new season. One of the most famous examples is pictured here in Hartney Witney,
Hampshire, where the Hook Eagle Morris Men read a toast to the apple trees, accompanied
by traditional songs.
Picture: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
