The UK, steeped in history, has inherited some bizarre traditions over the years. There are numerous strange events celebrated in towns and villages across the country from scarecrow festivals to Morris dancing dance offs with plenty in between so here’s a selection of some of the weird and wonderful festivals and events in the UK….
Cheese Rolling Festival
You may or may not heard of the annual Cheese Rolling Festival which sees men and women attempt to beat, or rather chase, a giant wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire. Around 15,000 spectators showed up to watch the last bizarre act of cheese-chaser’s on the 100ft steep incline.
World Toe Wrestling Championships
Get your socks off and let the battle commence! Watch out for broken toes and sprained ankles though. It might not sound particularly blood thirsty, but a lot of damage can be done during a toe wrestling match apparently, although the World Toe Wrestling Organisation Rules have been tightened to minimise injuries these days. A pub on the outskirts of Ashton in Derbyshire hosts the annual event which sees competitors sit opposite each other with their feet on a board, lock their toes and attempt to push the opponent’s foot down. Get ready for a toe-down!
Burning Tar Barrel Festival
The Burning Tar Barrel festival is certainly bizarre. Thought to have originally occurred back in 1688, the reason for this strange tradition is long lost; nowadays though, it’s the only way to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night in Devon. Various pubs in the town of Ottery St. Mary sponsor a tar barrel and each barrel is lit outside the corresponding pub. The first participant has the barrel loaded onto his back and is allowed to run about the town as he wishes. Once he’s had enough, or presumably burnt the skin from his back, the barrel is handed on to another and the running around continues.
World Bog Snorkelling Championships
If you want to spend your August Bank Holiday weekend getting down and dirty, the World Bog Snorkelling Championships in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales is the place for you. Aim of the game is to complete two consecutive lengths of a 55 metre long peat bog as quickly as possible but without swimming…you have to use flipper power alone. It’s apparently so popular that other bog festivals are springing up elsewhere including Australia, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Flippers and snorkel compulsory, wetsuit highly recommended.
Have you been to any of these festivals? If so, share your experience in the comments below.
