![Every 5th November the streets of Ottery St Mary are lit by blazing tar barrels, carried by the residents of the town; the barrels weigh 30kg and are carried at […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_9214-426x250.jpg "Ottery St Mary Flaming Tar Barrels")
![This is an ancient custom dating back hundreds of years -nobody knows exactly how long but it’s reputedly one of the oldest traditions in Europe. It starts with a simple […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_7518-480x250.jpg "Abbots Bromley Horn Dance")
Welcome to Calendar Customs!
This site aims to list the wide variety of traditional and unusual events that take place each year in the UK and to help visitors take part in them. Each event has its own page giving details of its timing and location, as well as a very brief history and notes on what to expect. Enjoy!
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![Haxey Hood is one of the ancient mass-participation festival games and is the earliest in the year, sometimes taking place in snow. Instead of a football, the players use “hoods” […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/The-Fool-is-Smoked-640x250.jpg "Haxey Hood")
Haxey Hood
Haxey Hood is one of the ancient mass-participation festival games and is the earliest in the year, sometimes taking place in snow. Instead of a football, the players use “hoods” […]
Featured Stories
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![Organised by the community group Fleet Folkloric Forum, the May Mares is a modern joyful celebration in the long tradition of May games and frolics. The Forum mark the cycle […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG_7400-195x110.jpeg "Belper May Mares")
Belper May Mares
Organised by the community group Fleet Folkloric Forum, the May Mares is a modern joyful celebration in the long tradition of May games and frolics. The Forum mark the cycle […]
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![There seems to have been a resurgence of Easter Bonnet making in recent years, and all over the country making and displaying them is a popular activity, especially but not […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_8958-195x110.jpeg "Easter Bonnets and Parades including Hexham")
Easter Bonnets and Parades including Hexham
There seems to have been a resurgence of Easter Bonnet making in recent years, and all over the country making and displaying them is a popular activity, especially but not […]
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![The revived but ancient custom of Dolly Dunking takes place each Good Friday at the sacred waters of Fenton Bebibell (sometimes spelled Venton Bebibell). Organised by CASPN (the Cornish Ancient […]](https://calendarcustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_4359-195x110.jpeg "Fenton Bebibell (Near Morvah) Dolly Dunking")
Fenton Bebibell (Near Morvah) Dolly Dunking
The revived but ancient custom of Dolly Dunking takes place each Good Friday at the sacred waters of Fenton Bebibell (sometimes spelled Venton Bebibell). Organised by CASPN (the Cornish Ancient […]
Averil's Picks
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Dance
Chepstow Wassail and Mari Lwyd
6 Comments -
Ancient Custom
Dunmow Flitch Trials
2 Comments -
Dance
Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival
5 Comments -
December
Chester Saturnalia
2 Comments