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Seasonal Customs England is the home of many diverse customs and traditions. From the Spring rites of May Day - hobby 'oss'es and floral dancing and May queens crowned. To peculiar village rights to gather wood, to the fire festivals of autumn, when the flaming tar barrels are hoisted on broad shoulders and the Guy is burned on huge bonfires and to the Winter festivals of mummers and the wassail of orchards. |
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May Day Frolics and Midsummer Rites |
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Seasonal Customs of England - The West Country Part 2 -
The moment Wessex Morris Men rise to dance at dawn on May Day to the waking of Jack-in-the-Green at Ilfracombe and the frolics of the Hobby Horses at Padstow in Cornwall and Minehead in Somerset you will be swept along by this colourful pageant of fantastic West Country customs.
Look out for the famous Helston Floral Dance, Abbotsbury Garland Day, the crowning of the Lustleigh May Queen and tap your toes to Maypole Dancing! Come Summer and towns are alive with unique fairs from Ale Tasting at Ashburton to the scramble for Hot Pennies at Honiton; while the end of harvest brings the mysterious Crying the Neck farming ritual. It's what makes England peculiar!
Great Extra Features:
Shrovetide to Easter - The Crying the Neck service - Morris Dancing - Pancake - Seasonal Calendar Map - Trailer - Ooser: Carnival Mask
DVD available Now (overall running time approx 70mins) |
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Blazing Barrels & Midwinter Masks |
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Seasonal Customs of England - The West Country Part 1 -
A celebration of some of the exciting customs you will only find in England. From the incredibly dangerous blazing tar barrels of Ottery St Mary to the turning of the Devil Stone, and the Punky Night custom forerunner of Trick or Treating to the Midwinter Mummers plays from Dorset and Devon. Rounded off with a Wassail and Faggot Burning. It's traditional fayre like this that keeps old England alive!
Great Extra Features:
The Original Welsh Border Morris Men on their annual (and only) tour before Christmas. Check out the ancient 'kissing the fish' initiation. Mummers Play with the Frome Valley Morris Mummers. Pumpkin Carving.
DVD available Now (overall running time approx 70mins) |