2. Up Helly
Aa, Lerwick, Shetland
Largest fire
festival in
Europe, celebrated
on the last
Tuesday of
January every
year. Torch-light
procession
through the
streets of
Lerwick, followed
by the burning of a
full-size replica
Viking longship.
3. Wassailing the Apple
Tree, Carhampton, Somerset Wassailing
the apple
tree is one of
the oldest
traditions at
Christmas
time. Cider
and cake is
offered to
tree feted as
guardian of
the orchard.
Mid January
4. Straw Bear Festival
Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire
Weekend
near Plough
Monday
The Whittlesea
Straw Bear is
maintaining the
folklore tradition
of parading a man
dressed in straw
around the streets
near to Plough
Monday. Molly
Dancers and
Morris Dancers
dance in the
streets
5. Twelfth Night
Celebrations
Twelfth Night is an
annual seasonal
celebration held on
the Bankside by
Shakespeare's
Globe, in London. It
is a celebration of
the New
Year, mixing ancient
Midwinter seasonal
customs with
contemporary
festivity. It is
free, accessible to all
and happens
whatever the
weather.
6. Haxey Hood
Game, Haxey, Lincolnshire In the 13th
century a gust of
wind whipped off
the hood of the
Lady de
Mowbray.Farm
workers chased
and retrieved the
hood, so delighting
her that she
ordered the
pursuit be
repeated.
