Only In England

Only in England....

....might a man be dressed from head to toe in straw and led through the streets to entertain the townspeople. Because 'tis an old tradition.

Only in England....

.....do men stuff pheasant feathers into their hats, wear jackets made of tatters and covered in badges, paint their faces red and drink beer in the streets. Because dancing is thirsty work.

Only in England.....

.....would ladies armed with sticks go out during the coldest month of the year to do old dances that most people have forgotten. Because it's good fun.

Only in England.....

....would people risk frozen toes and fingers to play fiddles and squeezeboxes. Because you can't dance without music.

Only in England....

....do men from London dress up like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins and perform dances that were collected in the borderlands of England and Wales. Because what else is there to do in a pub car park in the middle of January?

Only in England.....

....will you find young women waving handkerchiefs leaping high in the air. Because they have the energy to do so.

Only in England.....

....does St George, with something stuffed up his shirt, fight with the devil, get killed then be restored to life by the Doctor. Because that sort of thing has always happened in Mummers plays.

Only in England....

....will you find men from Coventry decorating their hats with flowers and doing dances which originated in the cotton towns of Lancashire. Because they enjoy coming down to the Whittlesey Straw Bear Festival too.

Only in England....

....are these traditions patiently passed down to the next generation. Because their day will come.

(in case anyone hasn't a clue what's going on I'd better explain that I spent yesterday at the annual Straw Bear Festival in the Cambridgeshire town of Whittlesey, where traditional dance enthusiasts from across the country gather to dance throughout the town. Some of you will remember this event from when I went there four years ago. For newcomers I'll explain more about it and show you some more photos next post).

In the meantime here's a video of the Procession that takes place before the dancing begins:

Take care.