Some of the Strange and Eccentric Festival and Events of January in the UK

I recently wrote an article about some of the oddities of the UK, so to continue with this theme I will month by month inform you of some of the strange events that occur within this small island nation.

January starts with the ancient custom of wassailing on the first Saturday of the month. Also known as apple howling, it is believed to drive the evil spirits away and thus produce a good harvest of apples for the coming year's production of cider. This strange event occurs in the southern County of Sussex, and if this is not enough they continue one week later with a torchlight procession, before arriving at a bonfire and a dance complete with Morris dancers.

Twelfth night (5^th January), there are many traditions that take place on this evening to celebrate what should be the night that all Christmas decorations are removed, if they are not removed on this night then by tradition they should be left up all year, to remove them after this date it was believed would bring disaster upon the house or its inhabitants.

Another tradition from the twelfth night is celebrated at the Drury lane theatre in London, the cast of the play that is currently showing will eat Baddeley cake and drink to honour an actor from the 18^th century that bequeathed money to the theatre.

In Haxey, Lincolnshire a game called Haxey Hood is played, in the 13^th century a strong wind whipped the hood off the head of the Lady de Mowbray, the farm workers ran after it to catch the hood, it became an annual event to catch the hood.

Plough Monday, is traditionally the Monday after the twelfth night, this would be the day the farm workers would return to work after their Christmas break, a ceremony called blessing the plough would be performed by the local clergy to safeguard a good year.

In Somerset, in south west England a different apple wassailing event in mid January would be held, in this ceremony cider and cake would be offered to the tree that would be given the honour of guardian of the orchard.

On the 11^th of the month, in the village of Burghead in the north east of Scotland an ancient festival called 'Burning the Clavie' would be held, it is held on this date as this was according to the Norse calendar the date of the new year. The Clavie is a barrel of burning tar which is carried around the village by some of the local families and to receive a piece of the 'Clavie' is said to bring luck and good fortune for the coming year.

January the 25^th is Burns Night, in celebration of the Scottish poet Robbie Burns, celebrated throughout Scotland by piping in the haggis and then the haggis is blessed before you are allowed to eat this Scottish delicacy.

Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, Shetland Isles to the north of Scotland. This is the largest fire festival in Europe, celebrated on the last Tuesday of the month of January annually, a torchlight procession goes through the streets of Lerwick, followed by the burning of a replica Viking longship.

So these are some of the strange events that take place throughout the British Isles, just in the month of January. So nobody can say there is nothing to do here, just that what there is to do may be considered a little strange or eccentric.