' FT ' ​:  Folklife Traditions pages in our Folklife West magazine include articles and news about  Seasonal Local Celebrations
         above: UP-HELLY-AA, Lerwick, Shetland, Last Tue in Jan © Doc Rowe, see full picture below

Folklife Members' online DIRECTORY; non-Members are also listed in this section

​Folklife Traditions pages in FOLKLIFE WEST
We seek to raise awareness of relevant Societies, Institutions, Researchers, Publications
•    We welcome your learned articles for interested readers, but note we’re not a peer-reviewed journal.  See this website, FT archive, for past articles.

CONTRIBUTIONS WELCOME for FOLKLIFE TRADITIONS pages of FW      
For appropriate articles; contact us first, please.   See Contact & Contribute webpage on this site.
Substantial articles (over 600 words) - check first if timely, as might be held over; shorter articles/news of 1/2 page or less (up to 600 words), we can usually fit in if recieved by deadline.
We welcome:
•    Information about relevant Societies & Institutions & Researchers 
•    Relevant books announced or reviewed (exceptionally CDs eg traditional singers) 
    • word limits, per publication: 200 words, more if advertising, or at editor’s discretion
•    Songs & tunes collected 
•    Seasonal Local Celebrations, based on Doc Rowe’s listings, additions welcome
•    Conferences & Talks 

Contact details, ad rates, etc - see Contact & Contribute webpage on this site
SEASONAL LOCAL CELEBRATIONS

​Notes: a Britain & Ireland list follows our Cymru - Wales list.
Photos from Folklife West - hence some black and white. These will be replaced by colour ones later.
Cymru   --   Wales

⊕   a summary  from our website
      
      www.bywyd-gwerin.cymru

     for Folklife Traditions Wales
​
⊕  The site has full details, and also articles,
      on Folklife Traditions in Wales
Bywyd Gwerin Cyfeiriadur
​
Folklife Directory

Rhestriadau ar-lein am ddim ac erthyglau
i hybu gwybodaeth
am draddodiadau gwerin iaith Gymraeg

Free online listings & articles to promote the knowledge of Welsh-language folk tradition
Ionawr / January
• Hen Galan, Calennig / Old New Year, New Year gifts    Cwm Gwaun    Sir Benfro / Pembs    13 Ionawr / 13 January
• Dydd Santes Dwynwen  / St Dwynwen’s Day    ...............    Cymru    25 Ionawr / 25 January
Mawrth / March
• Dydd Gŵyl Dewi (dathliadau, digwyddiadau ysgol) / St David’s Day (celebrations, school events)   Cymru    1 Mawrth / 1 March
Mai / May
• Gŵyl Cadi Ha     / Cadi Ha Festival    Treffynnon / Holywell    Sir y Fflint / Flints   Sad / Sat,  Mai / May
Mehefin / June
• Gŵyl Ifan, Codi’r Pawl Haf / St John’s Day Festival, Raising the Summer Pole    Caerdydd / Cardiff    Mehefin / June
Gorffennaf / July 
• Eisteddfod Gerddorol Gydwladol / International Musical Eisteddfod    Llangollen    Sir Ddinbych / Denbs    Gorffennaf / July
Awst / August
• Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Eisteddfod Of Wales   Meifod  Sir Drefaldwyn / Montgom.    Awst / August 
• Ras Cwragl  /  Coracle Race    Cilgerran    Sir Benfro  / Pembs    Awst / Aug
Rhagfyr / December
• Mari Lwyd  …………...  Lleoliadau gwahanol - gwahanol ddyddiadau    De Ddwyrain Cymru    Cyn y Nadolig hyd at Ddydd Calan
  Mari Lwyd  …………...  Different places - different days        South-East Wales             Before Christmas to New Year’s Day
• Plygain  ......…………...   Ardal Sir Drefaldwyn; a thu hwnt erbyn hyn    ...............……………....    Cyn y Nadolig gan amlaf
  Plygain  ......…………...  Montgomeryshire & nearby; now also elsewhere    .......................    Mostly pre-Christmas
• Cystadleuaeth Rholio Casgen    Dinbych    Sir Ddinbych    Dydd San Steffan  
  Barrel Rolling competition         Denbigh     Denbs             Boxing Day 

Dyddiol / Daily
​• Clychau Bore a Nos, Eglwys Sant Andreas    Llanandras     Sir Faesyfed    Bob bore a nos
  Rising and Curfew Bells, St Andrew’s Church    Presteigne     Radnorshire     Every morning and evening    ​
The Britain & Ireland List - mainly from Doc Rowe

copyright © Doc Rowe, most entries; others as noted

Below arranged by 4-month periods, as FW covers 4 months.
Please see Folklife & FW for publication & deadlines dates.
listings in January FW:  January, February, March, April

​⇒     FOLKLIFE WEST, 1st JAN  edition, deadline 19th NOV for your additions & updates to this list
The cover of the Jan 2016 Folklife Quarterly shows 
UP-HELLY-A,  Lerwick, Shetland, Last Tue in Jan; photos © Doc Rowe
          (the bottom right photo is of a Cormish session © Sue Terry)

All listings © Doc Rowe except any in italics.  
*** listings from Eds.
​For listings in green:
​see our Folklife Wales Directory, http://bywyd-gwerin.org.uk

All photos © Doc Rowe unless otherwise credited  
LISTINGS IN CAPITALS = see photos
We are very grateful to Doc, who has generously provided detailed listings, with photos.  The Doc Rowe Collection Support Group, www.docrowe.org.uk, has been set up to support the Archive of Doc’s unique collection.
JANUARY 
MARI LWYD  Different places - different days        South-East Wales             Before Christmas to New Year’s Day
Wassailing    Combe in Teignhead    Devon    January
Wassailing    Churchstanton    Somerset    January   ……  and now in many places in England West & Mid-West
Mummer's Day    Padstow    Cornwall    1st January
Haxey Hood Game    Haxey    Lincs    6 January
Bodmin Wassailers    Bodmin    Cornwall    6 January
Twelfth Night Revels    Southwark    London    near 6 January
GOATHLAND PLOUGH STOTS    Goathland        North Yorks   1st Sat after Plough Mon
Straw Bear Day     Whittlesea    Cambs    Sat nr 6 Jan
Hen Galan [old New Year], calennig [New Year gifts]  Cwm Gwaun  Sir Benfro /Pembs  13 Ion/Jan *** 
Apple Tree Wassail    Whimple    Devon    17 January
Wassailing    Carhampton    Somerset    17 January
Dydd Santes Dwynwen  / St Dwynwen's Day      Cymru/Wales     25 Ion/Jan **
UP-HELLY-AA   see photos on front cover (above)    Lerwick    Shetland    Last Tue in Jan

FEBRUARY, MARCH, including Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wed. (day after)
Carlows Charity    Woodbridge    Suffolk    2 February
Cradle Rocking    Blidworth    Notts    Sunday near 2 February
CHINESE NEW YEAR   various    UK    February
Quit Rents Ceremony    Royal Courts of Justice    London    February
Trial Of Pyx    Goldsmiths Hall    London    February (and May)
Red Feather Day: Sir John Cass Service     Aldgate    London    Friday near 20 February
Westminster Greaze    Westminster School    London    Shrove Tuesday
Sedgefield Ball Game   Sedgefield    Co. Durham    Shrove Tuesday
Football    Alnwick                   Northumberland    Shrove Tuesday
Football    Atherstone    Warks    Shrove Tuesday
Ashbourne Royal Football    Ashbourne    Derbys    Shrove Tuesday and Wednesday
Hurling the Silver Ball    St Columb Major    Cornwall    Shrove Tuesday and Saturday following ϖ
Cakes And Ale Ceremony    St Pauls    London    Ash Wednesday
Dame Elizabeth Marvyn Charity    Ufton Nervet    Berks    Mid Lent
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi (dathliadau, digwyddiadau ysgol) / St David’s Day (celebrations, school events)  Cymru  1 Mawrth / 1 Mar
Kiplingcotes Derby    Market Weighton    Yorks    Third Thursday in March
Tichborne Dole    Tichborne    Hants    25 March
ϖ​ Hurling the Silver Ball    St Columb Major    Cornwall    Shrove Tuesday and Saturday following:       ϖ    Unique in being a Shrovetide football where the ball is hurled, not thrown.  Hundreds of hurlers turn up, the two teams being the Townsmen and the Countrymen. Goals are about two miles apart, but a goal can also be scored by being carried over the parish boundary. There is an afternoon and an evening game.  Youngsters get ‘silver cocoa’ and the silver ball goes round the pubs being submerged in beer to provide ‘silver beer’.  Based on information from ® Chris Ridley.

MIDGLEY PACE EGG PLAY (above left)  Good Friday © DOC ROWE 
BRITANNIA COCONUT DANCERS (above right)  Easter Sat. © DOC ROWE 
APRIL, MAUNDY THURSDAY, PALM SUNDAY, GOOD FRIDAY, EASTER
​Sir John Stow Quill Pen    St Andrew Undershaft    London    5th April or near
Palm Sunday Cakes    various (esp. Herefordshire)    Palm Sunday
Henry Travice Charity    Leigh   Manchester    Maundy Thur
Skipping    Alciston    Sussex    Good Friday
Uppies And Doonies     Workington    Cumbria    GF/Tues & following Sat
MIDGLEY PACE EGG PLAY    Calder Valley    Yorks    Good Friday
Heptonstall Pace Egg     Heptonstall   West Yorks    Good Friday [from Gary Gary Heywood-Everett]
Widow’s Bun Ceremony    Bow     London    Good Friday
BRITANNIA COCONUT DANCERS ​    Bacup    Lancs    Easter Saturday
Brighouse Pace Egg Play    Brighouse    W. Yorks    Easter Saturday
Easter Parade    Battersea Park    London    Easter Sunday
Church Clippyng    Radley    Oxon    Easter Sunday
Maypole Lowering    Barwick-in-Elmet    W Yorks    Easter every 3 years
Harness Horse Parade    Regents Park    London    Easter Monday
Egg Rolling    Preston    Lancs    Easter Monday
Orange Rolling    Dunstable Down    Beds    Easter Monday
Chulkhurst Charity Dole    Biddenden    Kent    Easter Monday
HARE PIE SCRAMBLE & BOTTLE KICKING   Hallaton    Leics    Easter Mon
Tupenny Starvers    St Michaels    Bristol    Tuesday after Easter
Maidservants Charity    St Mary’s Church House    Reading    Thursday after Easter
Hungerford Hocktide    Hungerford    Berks    2nd Tuesday after Easter
St Georges Court    Lichfield    Staffs    23rd April
HARE PIE SCRAMBLE & BOTTLE KICKING  (two photos above)  Easter Monday

All listings © Doc Rowe except any in italics.   
​All photos © Doc Rowe unless otherwise credited .    
listings in May FQ:  May, June, July, August

​⇒     FOLKLIFE WEST, 1st MAY  edition, deadline 19th March for your additions & updates to this list
All listings © Doc Rowe except any in italics.   
​All photos © Doc Rowe unless otherwise credited .    
PADSTOW MAY DAY  (2 photos above)  1st May  © DOC ROWE 
MAY,   &   WHIT,   &   ASCENSIONTIDE  (Ascension Day is 40 days after Easter)
Well Dressing    various    Derbyshire    From Ascensiontide - Sept
May-Pole Raising    Barwick In Elmet    Yorks    Whit/May
PADSTOW MAY DAY     Padstow     Cornwall    1st May
Minehead Hobby Horse    Minehead    Somerset    1st-3rd May
Jack In The Green    Hastings    Sussex    May Bank Holiday wk’end
Well Dressing       Malvern                          Worcs          May BH weekend  ***
Randwick Cheese-Rolling  Randwick     Glos    1st Sun in May
Randwick Wap   Randwick     Glos    Sat after Cheese-rolling
       ϖ Audrey Smith reported: Cheese-rolling, 1st Sunday in May.  The Wap (a fair),the following Saturday
Knutsford Royal May Day    Knutsford    Cheshire    First Saturday in May
Ickwell Green May Day   Ickwell    Beds    Saturday / Monday
Helston Flora Dance    Helston    Cornwall    8th May
Abbotsbury Garland Day    Abbotsbury    Dorset    13th May
Etwell Well Dressing    Etwell    Derbys    2nd week in May
May Festival    Hayes Common    Kent    2nd Saturday in May
Dunting The Freeholder    Newbiggin by the Sea    Northumberland     Wed near 18th May
Cyclists Memorial Service    Meriden   West Midland    Sunday near to 21st May
Mayoring Day/Hot Pennies    Rye    E. Sussex    23rd May
Blessing The Sea    Hastings    E. Sussex    End of May
CASTLETON GALA DAY    Castleton    Derbys    29th May
Grovely Rights    Wishford Magna    Wilts    29th May
Founders Day    Chelsea Royal Hospital    London    29th May
Arbor Tree    Aston on Clun    Salops    29th May
Bampton Morris Dancing    Bampton    Oxon    Spring Bank Holiday
Headington Quarry Morris    Headington    Oxon    Spring Bank Holiday
Hunting The Earl Of Rone    Combe Martin    N Devon    Spring Bank Holiday
    ϖ Custom reintroduced in 1974, which includes Hobby Horse and Fool, 'Grenadiers', music, drums and dancers and the Earl of Rone character.  Processions take place throughout the weekend, culminating in full pageant on the Monday evening.          ϖ Tom & Barbara Brown  www.earl-of-rone.org.uk
Cheese Rolling    Cooper’s Hill, Birdlip    Glos    Spring Bank Holiday
Maypole Raising    Barwick-in-Elmet  W. Yorks    Spring BH every 3 yrs 2014
Dicing For Maids Money    Guildford   Surrey    Mid-May [was late Jan]
Dovers Games    Chipping Campden    Glos    Friday after Bank Holiday
Scuttlebrook Wake    Chipping Campden    Glos    Sat. after Bank Holiday
Planting the Penny Hedge    Whitby    Yorks    Ascension Eve 
Beating The Bounds    Tower Of London     London    Ascension Day ev.3yrs 2014
Bisley Well Dressing    Bisley     Glos    Ascension Day
     ϖ  Audrey Smith reported:- Children from the Bisley Bluecoat School lay flowers at the Village Well.   
Wicken Love Feast    Wicken    Northants    Ascension Day
Well Dressing    Tissington    Derbys    Ascension Day
St Mary Redcliffe Rush Sunday    St Mary Redcliffe    Bristol    Whit Sunday
Bread & Cheese Throwing    St Briavels    Glos    Whit Sunday
Dicing For Bibles    St Ives    Cambs    Whit Monday

JUNE
Thaxted Morris Festival    Thaxted    Essex    June / July
Blessing the Boats    Whitby    N. Yorks    June
Appleby Fair    Appleby    Cumbria    2nd week June
Border Riding    Hawick     Borders    Fri after 2nd Mon in June
Gŵyl Ifan, Codi’r Pawl Haf / St John’s Day Festival, Raising the Summer Pole    Caerdydd / Cardiff       Mehefin / June***
Election Of Mayor Of Ock Street   Abingdon    Berks    Saturday near 19th June
Selkirk Ridings    Selkirk    Borders    Third week in month
Midsummer Fires    various    Cornwall    23rd June
Youlgreave Well Dressing    Youlgreave    Derbys    Saturday near 24th June
Tideswell Well Dressing    Tideswell    Derbys    Saturday near 24th June
Winster Wakes    Winster    Derbys    Sat following Sun after 24 Jun
Cakes And Ale Ceremony    Bury St Edmunds    Suffolk    Last Thursday in June
Rushbearing    Warcup    Cumbria    28th June
Walking Day    Warrington    Cheshire    Friday near 30th June
JULY
Horse Fair    Seamer    Yorks    July
Kilburn Feast - Mock Mayor & Mayoress     Kilburn    Yorks    July
Rushbearing    Gt. Musgrave & Ambleside  Cumbria  1st Saturday in July
Grand Wardmote of Woodmen of Arden   Meridan   Warks    July/August 
Orange Parades    various  N. Ireland  12th July
Vintners Street Sweeping to St James Garlickhythe church   London    2nd Wednesday July
Holsworthy Pretty Maids    Holsworthy    Devon    2nd Wednesday in July
John Knill Ceremony    St Ives    Cornwall    25 July (every 5 yrs) 2016
Honiton Fair    Honiton    Devon    Tu. before Wed. after 19th Jul
Italian Festival    Clerkenwell    London    3rd Sunday in July
Swan Upping    The Thames    various    Usually third week in July
Doggets Coat and Badge Race    London Bridge to Chelsea   London    Late July

AUGUST
Gooseberry Contest    Egton Bridge    N. Yorks    First Tuesday in August
Rose Queen Ceremony    Little Beck    N. Yorks    First Tuesday in August
Feast of St Wilfrid    Ripon    N. Yorks    First Saturday in August
Knighthood of Old Green    Southampton    Hants    1st full week in August
Rushbearing    Grasmere    Cumbria    Saturday near 5th August
THE BURRY MAN     South Queensferry    Lothian    2nd Friday in August
Burning The Bartle    West Witton    Yorks    Saturday near 24th August
Notting Hill Carnival     Notting Hill    London    Bank Holiday Sat to Mon
Football in the river   Bourton-on-the-Water    Glos    Bank Holiday Monday  [Bill Pullen]
       ϖ Bill Pullen reports: for over 100 years, on [what is now] August Bank Holiday Monday, Bourton-on-the-Water, Glos., had “Football In The River (Windrush)” - not mass participation but organised by Bourton Rovers Football Club (1st play 2nds or 2 mixed teams) to benefit themselves and local charities; it is run alongside a Fete on the Green and draws huge crowds. www.soglos.com/sport-outdoor/28383/Bourton-Football-in-the-River
Eyam Plague Sunday    Eyam    Derbys    Last Sunday in August
listings in September FW:  September, October, November, December

​⇒     FOLKLIFE WEST, 1st SEPTEMBER edition, deadline 19th JULY for your additions & updates to this list
ABBOTTS BROMLEY HORN DANCE, Sept., photos above & below
SEPTEMBER
St Giles Fair    Oxford       Mon+Tue of 1st full week in Sept
ABBOTTS BROMLEY HORN DANCE Abbots Bromley    Staffs    Mon after 1st Sun after 4th Sept
Sheriff’s Ride    Lichfield    Staffs    Saturday nr 8th Sept.
Widecombe Fair    Widecombe    Devon    2nd Tuesday in September
Church Clipping    Painswick    Glos    Sunday nearest 19th Sept
Bluecoat March    City of London    London    21st September or near
LONDON PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS  SOCIETY COSTERMONGERS HARVEST FESTIVAL PARADE  [‡]  Last Sun in Sept 
     ϖ Carole Jolly writes ~  We have two events: the first is on the last Sunday in September - this is a very big event with over twenty Mayors from all over London and home counties, Country dancing, maypole dancing, marching bands, donkeys and carts and many other things. It starts at Guildhall Yard from 1.00pm,  after the entertainment there is a parade down to St Mary Le Bow Church in Cheapside for the Harvest Festival service and all produce goes to the Whitechapel Mission.  The other event is at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden on the 2nd Sunday of October, it starts from 10.00am when we all gather outside the church then the service starts at 11.00am, All the produce is sent to St Martin’s homeless centre.   Our website is  www.pearlysociety.co.uk
The Doc Rowe Collection Support Group   --  www.docrowe.org.uk
has been set up to support the Archive of Doc’s unique collection.
DAILY or WEEKLY
Ripon Hornblower    
  Ripon    N. Yorks    Daily
Ceremony Of The Keys    
  Tower of London    London    Daily
Wayfarers Dole    
  Winchester    Hants    Daily
Farthing Bundles    
  Bow    London    Rarely held
John Sayer Charity    
​  Woodbridge   Suffolk Every Sat
Above left: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS © Carole Jolly  …………….  Above right: KAKING NEET, November © Doc Rowe
All listings © Doc Rowe except any in italics.   All photos © Doc Rowe unless otherwise credited
[§] Original Pearly Kings and Queens Association  [‡] LPKQ London Pearly Kings and Queens Society

OCTOBER               LISTINGS UNDERLINED = see photos
Nottingham Goose Fair    Nottingham    Notts    Last 3 days of 1st week in Oct
Billingsgate Harvest Festival    Billingsgate    London    1st Sunday in October
Pearlies Harvest Festival    [§]    St Martins in the Field    London    1st Sunday in October
Bellringers’ Feast    Twyford (nr Winchester)    Hants     7th October
Pearlies Harvest Festival    [‡]    St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, London     2nd Sun in Oct [LPKG]
Goozey Vair    Tavistock    Devon    2nd Wednesday in Oct
Court Leet    Clifton, York    N. York    October
Bampton Pony Fair    Bampton    Exmoor    Last Thursday in October
Punkie Night    Hinton St George    Somerset    Last Thursday in October
Quit Rents Ceremony    Royal Courts of Justice    London    Late October
Antrobus Soulcakers    Antrobus    Cheshire    31st October and on
Trick Or Treat    various    UK    31st October

NOVEMBER      
Kaking Neet    South and West of Sheffield    1st November or near
Guy Fawkes    various    UK    Up to & inc. 5th Nov
Lewes Bonfire    Lewes    Sussex    5th November
Hatherleigh Fire Carnival    Hatherleigh    Devon    2nd Saturday of November **
Bridgwater Carnival    Bridgwater    Somerset    1st Saturday in November **
Tar Barrel Rolling     Ottery St Mary    Devon           5th Nov
Wroth Silver Ceremony     Knightlow Cross    Warks    11th November
Firing The Fenny Poppers     Fenny Stratford    Bucks    11th November
Armistice Day    various    UK    11th November
Yorkshire Carols    various    Yorks    From 11th November
The Lords Mayor’s Show    City of London    London    2nd Saturday in November
Laxton Jury Day    Laxton    Notts     Late November
Wall Game    Eton    Berks    Late November
Court Leet    Fylingthorpe    N. Yorks    December
             ** date changes as advised by ® Sidmouth Information Centre, www.visitsidmouth.co.uk

DECEMBER including  CHRISTMAS, BOXING DAY, NEW YEAR'S EVE
Tin Can Band    Broughton    Northants    Sunday after 12th Dec
Plygain singing         Montgomeryshire & nearby; now also elsewhere    Mostly pre-Christmas [Eds]
Tup Plays    Sheffield and Chesterfield area    Christmas
Burning Ashen Faggot    Dunster    Somerset    Christmas Eve
Tolling The Devils Knell    Dewsbury    W Yorks    Christmas Eve
Mummers    Bampton    Oxon    Christmas Eve
Feather Guisers    Uttoxeter    Staffs    Christmas Eve and Day
Crookham Mummers    Crookham    Hants    Boxing Day
Flamborough Sword Dance    Flamborough    Yorkshire    Boxing Day
Greatham Sword Dance Play    Greatham    Co. Durham    Boxing Day
Straw Boys/ Mummers    Fermanagh    Ireland    Christmas
Barrel Rolling competition     Denbigh    Denbs    Boxing Day [Eds]
Wren Boys    Dingle    Ireland    Boxing Day
Mummer's Day    Padstow    Cornwall    Boxing Day & New Year’s Day
Handsworth Sword Dancers    Handsworth    S. Yorkshire    Boxing Day
Grenoside Sword Dancers    Grenoside    S. Yorkshire    Boxing Day
Monkseaton Dancers    Monkseaton    Tyne-Tees    Boxing Day
Marshfield Mummers    Marshfield    Glos    Boxing Day
Ripon Sword Dancers    Ripon    N. Yorks    Boxing Day
Tewkesbury Medieval Play [Mummers]   Tewkesbury Glos  Boxing Day [Simon Hopkins]
Annual Dip    Whitby    N. Yorks    Boxing Day
Symondsbury Mummers    Symondsbury    Dorset    Christmas
Fylingdale Guisers    Fylingthorpe    N. Yorks    Christmas
Flambeaux Procession    Comrie    Tayside    New Year’s Eve
Swinging The Fireballs    Stonehaven    Grampian    New Year’s Eve
Mari Lwyd different places - different days    South-East Wales    Before Christmas to New Year’s Day

Folklife Traditions Wales:  bilingual listings appear in our website     www.bywyd-gwerin.cymru
The Doc Rowe Collection Support Group   --  www.docrowe.org.uk
has been set up to support the Archive of Doc’s unique collection.