Safe to say, we’ve got a soft spot for the strange, the muddy, and the magnificently bonkers. And so does resident writer Philip, who reckons nothing says “British culture” quite like chasing dairy and risking a broken ankle for glory. Here are ten interesting British folk traditions that may have to be attended to be believed...
It’s June 21st, 2025. 4:50 AM. I’m standing in a grassy field in Wiltshire with 25,000 people. We’re waiting.
Some are dancing or playing drums. Others are pressing their foreheads into the stones. But most of us have our eyes set on the horizon. We gaze longingly at that thin dark line as if it were the greatest stage in the world, and our favourite rock star is about to walk out.
Which, in a way, is exactly what’s about to happen.
I’m at the Stonehenge Summer Solstice celebration, and the Pagans have been partying hard. Most of us arrived about 8 hours ago. The sun went down to a chorus of cheers. Then the shortest night of the year began and we danced away the hours between the stones and underneath the stars.
As the sun rises, a wave of cheers, whoops and animalistic howls moves through the crowd. Strangers smile, hug, kiss in a state of wild excitement. It occurs to me that this is a little like watching the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
Then I realise it’s so much more than that, because unlike NYE, this event is rooted in the natural rhythm of the Earth. One way or another, everyone here is paying homage to the cycle of the seasons which allows all known life in the universe to flourish. If that isn’t a good excuse for a party, I don’t know what is.
Naturally, this revelation made me curious about the other wild British folk traditions that might hide in the quaint villages and quiet valleys, and how they might be bound up with the rhythms of the natural world.
The moment I got home, I sat down to make a list of the ten wildest (and weirdest) outdoor folk traditions in the UK.
Ancient, sacred, and downright strange – this is only a limited selection of a wide cornucopia of events that take place across these wild isles.
So, without further ado, let the revels begin:
- Cheese Rolling at Cooper’s Hill
- Up Helly Aa – The Faux-Viking Fire Festival
- The Haxey Hood
- Bog Snorkelling Championships
- Cotswold Olimpick Games & Shin-Kicking
- Padstow Obby Oss Festival
- The Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary
- Stonehenge Solstice Celebrations
- The World Gurning Championship at Egremont Crab Fair
- Beltane Fire Festival
- Conclusion: Why All the Song and Dance?
Cheese Rolling at Cooper’s Hill
Where: Gloucestershire
When: Late May
Image credit: Dave Farrance via Wikimedia Commons
Truly, is anything more fun than watching a massive cheese bombard down a hill at death-defying speeds while a bunch of willing lads and lasses attempt to catch it? I don’t think so. And neither do the fine folk of Brockworth, Gloucestershire, where the Cheese Rolling festival is held every year in late May.
Like many of these festivals, nobody knows the true origins of the tradition. It was first recorded in 1826, but likely stems from a much older medieval or Pagan rite. As to the goal of this rite? Your guess is as good as mine.
Perhaps it marked the return of spring or somehow functioned as a fertility ritual? Maybe it was just plane old fun.
Whatever the reason, you can visit and witness this wild tradition for free, but participants beware – it is not for the faint-hearted or moreso, the weak-ankled. Bruises, sprains and broken bones are all very common (though apparently there have never been any fatalities).
The good news? The winner takes the cheese!
Up Helly Aa – The Faux-Viking Fire Festival
Where: Lerwick, Shetland
When: The last Tuesday in January
Image credit: HelenL100 via Getty Images.
Shetland in Scotland is a fascinating place. Made of over 100 islands – only 16 of which are inhabited – it’s officially the northernmost part of the UK. It’s so north, in fact, that it was part of Denmark until the 15th century. And the Viking blood still runs thick.
Up Helly Aa translates roughly from Old Norse as ‘End of the Holy Days’ – and symbolises the end of the Christmas period and the start of lighter days.
Sometimes called the northern Mardi Gras, the spectacular festival sees around a thousand costumed marchers bearing flaming torches on a procession around town.
At the climax of the festival, a replica Viking longboat is set triumphantly ablaze.
While this is all very wonderful and exciting, it’s also relatively recent. Though stylized as an ancient Viking ceremony, it’s actually a Victorian invention (first parade was in 1881). Apparently the festival is a ‘tamer’ version of the original ceremony that involved carrying burning barrels through the streets.
If you wish to see it, be sure to check out the other islands beyond Lerwick which also offer their own local versions of Up Helly Aa.
It’s an excellent excuse to witness the unique beauty of Shetland while paying homage to the Norse bloodlines that shaped them. Skol!
The Haxey Hood
Where: Haxey, Lincolnshire
When: January 6
Image credit: Richard Croft via Wikimedia Commons.
The Haxey Hood is yet another bizarre but beautiful celebration of good old British eccentricity – best described as a cross between a medieval wrestling match and a riot.
To put it bluntly, the goal is to get to a pub: Your pub. There are four to choose from, all located around the centre of Haxey. To win, you must reach your pub while carrying the leather tube which could, with a fair amount of imagination or a slightly larger amount of alcohol, be called a hood.
On the way to the boozer, you and your mates will wrestle your way through the combined forces of rivals determined to see the hood taken to their pub instead.
The result is a massive scrum – full of violence and swearing – that can rage for hours, before ending with pints and smiles all round. Pure, British bliss.
Of course, there’s a lot more to the festival than this. The full schedule includes, traditional songs, children’s games, the ominous-sounding ‘Smoking the Fool’ (apparently abandoned after the Fool caught fire), and, naturally, a few more pubs.
Legend has it that one day in the 14th century (presumably January 6th), the Lady of Mowbray was riding past when a sudden gust whipped her riding hood away. A group of nearby farm-workers chased the hood and, afraid of a confrontation with the local gentry, passed it among themselves until someone eventually found the courage to hand it over.
It’s possible the story is an invention to cover up a much older Pagan ceremony, or – and this is my preferred theory – perhaps the whole festival was cooked up as an excuse to celebrate two of Britain’s favourite pastimes: having a bit of a fight, and getting drunk.
Bog Snorkelling Championships
Where: Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
When: August Bank Holiday
Image credit: Stephen Barnes via Getty Images.
Possibly the weirdest one on the list, the annual Bog Snorkeling Championship sees around 200 people from all over the world don snorkels, fancy dress and flippers to race 55 meters through a Welsh peat bog.
I wanted to include this tradition as it’s proof, if ever we needed it, that British people are mad. Brilliantly and bravely so, but mad nonetheless.
The tradition apparently started as a dare in the local pub, in 1976. But this quirky summer activity has slowly grown into a global event – now listed as ‘must-do’ on Lonely Planet even.
If you want to join in, you can choose from the ‘bog triathlon’ or stick to the traditional bog snorkeling race. There’s also a much-coverted award for best fancy dress, so don’t be afraid to look sharp while you dive deep.
What’s marvellous about this tradition is that it doesn’t have any greater purpose other than fun and silliness, and possibly a test of skill. Swimming through thick bog using only flippers can’t be easy, after all. And of course, any proceeds go to charity, so at least you know you’ll be getting down and dirty for a good cause.
Cotswold Olimpick Games & Shin-Kicking
Where: Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
When: Late May
Image credit: Philip Halling via Wikimedia Commons.
Ever dreamed of being an Olympian? Well, now’s your chance – as long as your tug-of-war game is up to scratch. Or, better yet, how’s your shin-kicking?
Yes, this is the Cotswold Olimpicks, held every late May on Dover’s Hill near Chipping Campden. This ‘rural parody of the ancient Olympics’ dates back to the 17th century and includes such games as Static Jump – jumping as far as possible from a standstill; and Spurring the Barre – tossing a heavy object as far as possible. There are also more familiar games like tug-of-war, fell running, and egg-and-spoon races.
But the event that always steals the show is the ever-popular and famously painful Shin-Kicking – which is exactly what it sounds like. Competitors stuff their trousers with straw and attempt to knock each other down with a flurry of below-the-knee kicks while gripping one another’s shoulders.
The game shares DNA with other traditional British pastimes, such as Cotswold and Cumberland wrestling, which have been around for centuries and were no doubt a popular way to blow off steam – and perhaps gain a bit of local authority. But while the sport was once bloodier (steel toe caps were common), there are now strict rules around clothing and conduct.
Speaking of rules, the referee in a shin-kicking game is historically called a ‘Stickler’, and it’s believed this is the origin of the phrase ‘a stickler for the rules’. Fancy that.
Padstow Obby Oss Festival
Where: Padstow, Cornwall
When: May Day
Image credit: Bryan Ledgard via Wikimedia Commons.
Back to the Pagan vibes now, with one the oldest and most colourful folk traditions in the UK. The Obby Oss parade takes place every year on May Day in the tiny Cornish town of Padstow.
Believed to be a pre-Christian fertility rite, the festival actually starts the night before, when the townspeople gather to sing the ‘Night Song’.
The next day sees a jubilant parade chock-a-block with songs, ribbons, flowers and colourful costumes, the highlight of which are the two ‘Obby Osses’ (hobby horses) made from wooden frames covered in fabric and adorned with horse-like heads.
These ‘Osses’ are brought out of their stables to dance and cavort through the streets, joined by groups of accompanying masked dancers called ‘Teasers’. The main aim of the dance is for the horses to capture maidens, presumably for fertility purposes.
At last, the horses and dancers all meet under a may pole and the festival comes to a joyful finish. The ‘Osses’ are ceremoniously returned to their stables while the crowd sings “Obby Oss death, Obby Oss death, until its resurrection the following May Eve!”
The Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary
Where: Ottery St Mary, Devon
When: November 5
Image credit: Lewis Clarke via Wikimedia Commons.
“Remember, remember, the fifth of November! Gunpowder, treason and plot… I see no reason, the fifth of November should ever be forgot!”
So goes the famous rhyme, and the folks of Ottery St Mary in Devon couldn’t agree more. At least, that’s the most common explanation for this bold and bright Guy Fawkes Night celebration – possibly the best in the country.
In case you’re not wholly familiar, Guy Fawkes Night – or Bonfire Night – marks the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators tried (and failed) to blow up Parliament.
To commemorate the day, cities and towns all over the UK (and even in the US, Canada, Australia and South Africa) burn an effigy of the ‘guy’ on a towering bonfire accompanied by plenty of fireworks.
So far, so normal, right? But at some point in the last four hundred years, the small town of Ottery St Mary apparently decided this wasn’t quite dangerous enough and added a new element: tar barrels. Carried on their backs. On fire.
This is only the most likely origin of the tradition. Other theories include a way to fumigate houses, warn of the approaching Spanish Armada, or – yes, you guessed it – an ancient Pagan tradition.
Whatever the truth, this unforgettable and free event has to be one of the best possible ways to celebrate Bonfire Night. Just be sure to read the safety guidance – and don’t do anything silly like touching the burning barrels!
If for some strange reason flaming tar barrels carried through tightly crowded streets don’t thrill you, there’s still plenty to enjoy: such as the funfair, the fireworks and of course the giant bonfire itself.
Note: Bear in mind Tar Barrels and Carnival Day are separate events, usually held a few days apart. So if you’re planning to catch either (or both!), do some research so you can make the most of this fiery festival.
Stonehenge Solstice Celebrations
Where: Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire
When: Approx. June 21 (summer) and December 21 (winter)
Image credit: Dyana Wing So via Unsplash.
One of the many remarkable things about Stonehenge is just how old it is. At approx. 5,000 years, the structure is older than the Great Pyramids of Giza and twice as old as the Roman Empire. Unfortunately, we have no idea what it’s original purpose was.
Actually, that’s a lie – we have plenty of ideas, most of which are pleasingly wild and grisly. Fertility rites, human sacrifices and alien landing sites have all been posited.
Actual evidence is thin on the ground, however. What we know for sure is that the stones were used to chart the seasons and the map of the stars, and were almost-certainly at the beating heart of the ceremonial cultures of their day.
In honour of this, the custodians of the stones (English Heritage), open the area up twice a year, to be trampled by a significant number of the hippy, Pagan and alternative community. These two ceremonies are, of course, the winter and summer solstices.
I’m happy to say that I’ve been to both over the years, and can promise you won’t be bored if you choose to attend these free events. Yes, they are chaotic and strange and somewhat messy gatherings of unconventional folk, but the community feeling is second-to-none.
As to what actually happens: well, you basically just sit in a field among the stones and wait for either a sunrise, a sunset, or both. There’s usually some shamans and priestesses on hand to lead a ceremony or two, and some drumming if you’re lucky.
At the summer event you’ll be able to get a coffee and a crepe from a man in a van, which is pretty surreal. The winter event is much more sombre and spiritual.
Out of the two, I’d recommend winter more – though it’s a long wait in the cold and the likelihood of a cloudy dawn is high. But hey, what’s more British than a cloudy day?
The World Gurning Championship at Egremont Crab Fair
Where: Egremont, Cumbria
When: Mid September
This British folk festival features ferret shows, greasy pole climbing, and gurning – a face-pulling contest so bizarre it could only be British!
Egremont Crab Fair in Cumbria dates back to 1267 and was originally a cattle trading fair granted by King Henry III. However, over the years it’s evolved into much more. It now boasts an impressive (and mostly-wholesome) list of activities; from dancing in the streets and hassling an apple cart, to watching horse shows, dog shows, ferret shows, and more physical pastimes like wheelbarrow racing and Cumberland wrestling.
But of course, the star of the show is the World Gurning Championship, where contestants stick their heads through a horse collar and pull grotesque, distorted and utterly ridiculous faces in a bid to win the title of the ugliest face!
The tradition dates back to at least 1852 and features separate events for men, women, and juniors. Contestants are judged on how dramatically they can transform their faces, with bigger changes earning higher scores.
No one knows how it began, but the fair itself was traditionally a time of great celebration, marking the end of the harvest, during which both food and, presumably, ale were plentiful. Soon winter would come, bringing months of cold weather and hard work.
In other words, this late-summer fair was the height of fun. And what could be more fun than pulling faces for your mates with your head stuck in a horse collar?
Beltane Fire Festival
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland
When: April 30
Image credit: Beltane1 via Wikimedia Commons.
Those interested in the resurgence and reinvention of Pagan practices in the UK and beyond may know that the Pagan calendar constitutes a ‘wheel of the year’, made of eight ‘spokes’ roughly six to eight weeks apart. Each spoke represents a different micro-season with its own characteristics and, crucially, its own festival.
Beltane is one of the four central quarters, and it falls in mid-spring, as winter fades away and the world wakes up. For this reason, it’s one of the most famous and joyous Pagan–Celtic celebrations, and by far the best place to experience it is at the Edinburgh Beltane Festival.
The modern festival began in 1988 and has since grown to be one of the biggest of its kind anywhere on these isles, and is arguably a lot more ‘authentic’ than the Stonehenge Summer Solstice. The celebration takes place on the night of April 30 on the slopes of the iconic Calton Hill, commemorating the turning of the seasons and the coming of the sun.
While the event is in no way ancient, it certainly fires the imagination as to what these celebrations might once have been like. I’d heartily recommend it to anyone interested in living a more nature-connected life – or who simply enjoys a really good show.
With over 1,000 performers and thousands more spectating, the festival takes place over a single night of ritualised dancing, singing, and chanting. Expect semi-naked, painted bodies leaping through fire in a theatrical fusion of ancient ritual and modern art. What a way to welcome summer back into the world – Pagan revelry at its finest.
Conclusion: Why All the Song and Dance?
I’ve been quite frivolous in this article, because being silly is part of what makes these UK folk events so wonderful.
Ceremonies and traditions are an essential part of being human. They bind us to the land and to each other. Especially events which focus on the wild and the changing seasons, as with the ones above. In today’s increasingly digital and disconnected landscape, they remind us what the real world looks like.
So the next time you’re craving some cultural immersion, take my advice – skip the dusty museums and go straight to the muddy heart of these local folk traditions.