What’s on: folk sessions, morris, customs and folklore

Friday 25 December

Happy birthday to Jacqui McShee (83 today)

Born on this day: Shane MacGowan (1957) and Trevor Lucas (1943)

• Fri 25 Dec from 06:00

  Custom

  Pontrobert Christmas Morning Plygain

  Hen Gapel John Hughes, Pontrobert, Powys

  • Ceremony
  • Christmas and New Year
  Save this custom: Pontrobert Christmas Morning Plygain
• Fri 25 Dec from 09:00

  Custom

  Peter Pan Cup Christmas Day Swim

  Serpentine Lido, London, Greater London

  • Custom game
  • Christmas and New Year
  • Sports and Games
  
  Save this custom: Peter Pan Cup Christmas Day Swim
• Fri 25 Dec from 10:00

  Custom

  Kirkwall Ba’ Game

  Sets off from Mercat Cross, Kirkwall, Orkney

  • Custom game
  • Christmas and New Year
  • Sports and Games
  
  Save this custom: Kirkwall Ba’ Game

Saturday 26 December

Boxing Day

Born on this day: Seán McGuire (1927)

• Sat 26 Dec 10:30 12:00

  Custom

  Hunt the Wren

  The Woodbourne, Douglas, Isle of Man

  • Dance
  • Procession
  • Boxing Day
  • Animal Customs
  
  Save this custom: Hunt the Wren
• Sat 26 Dec 11:00 12:00

  Custom

  Marshfield Paper Boys

  Sets off from Market Place, Marshfield, Gloucestershire

  • Mumming play
  • Procession
  • Boxing Day
  • Christmas and New Year
  Save this custom: Marshfield Paper Boys
• Sat 26 Dec from 11:00

  Custom

  Grenoside Sword Dance

  Old Harrow Inn, Grenoside, South Yorkshire

  • Dance
  • Boxing Day
  • Christmas and New Year
  
  Save this custom: Grenoside Sword Dance

• Sat 26 Dec 11:00 16:00

  Custom

  Handsworth Sword Dance

  St Mary’s Church, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

  • Dance
  • Boxing Day
  
  Save this custom: Handsworth Sword Dance
• Sat 26 Dec 11:15 14:15

  Custom

  Headington Quarry Boxing Day Mummers

  Masons Arms, Headington Quarry, Oxfordshire

  • Dance
  • Mumming play
  • Boxing Day
  Save this custom: Headington Quarry Boxing Day Mummers
• Sat 26 Dec 12:00 14:30

  Custom

  Crookham Mummers

  The Exchequer, Crookham Village, Hampshire

  • Mumming play
  • Boxing Day
  Save this custom: Crookham Mummers
• Sat 26 Dec 14:00 15:00

  Custom

  Boxing Day Cammag at St John’s

  Tynwald Hill, St John's, Isle of Man

  • Custom game
  • Boxing Day
  • Sports and Games
  
  Save this custom: Boxing Day Cammag at St John’s

Thursday 31 December

New Year's Eve

Happy birthday to June Tabor (79 today)

Born on this day: E. J. Moeran (1894)

• Thu 31 Dec from 15:30

  Custom

  Nos Galan Road Races

  Sets off from Oxford Street, Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf

  • Custom game
  • Procession
  • New Year's Eve
  • Sports and Games
  Save this custom: Nos Galan Road Races
• Thu 31 Dec 21:15 16:00

  Custom

  Biggar Hogmanay Bonfire

  Corn Exchange, Biggar, South Lanarkshire

  • Fire
  • Procession
  • New Year's Eve
  • Fire Customs
  
  Save this custom: Biggar Hogmanay Bonfire
• Thu 31 Dec from 22:00

  Custom

  Llanwrtyd Wells Mari Lwyd

  Neuadd Arms Hotel, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys

  • Hobby horse or beast
  • Procession
  • New Year's Eve
  • Animal Customs
  Save this custom: Llanwrtyd Wells Mari Lwyd
• Thu 31 Dec 23:00 00:30

  Custom

  Allendale Tar Bar’l

  Sets off from Market Place, Allendale, Northumberland

  • Fire
  • Procession
  • Christmas and New Year
  • New Year's Eve
  • Fire Customs
  
  Save this custom: Allendale Tar Bar’l
• Thu 31 Dec 23:00 00:30

  Custom

  Stonehaven Fireballs

  Sets off from Mercat Cross, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

  • Fire
  • Procession
  • Christmas and New Year
  • New Year's Eve
  • Fire Customs
  Save this custom: Stonehaven Fireballs
• Thu 31 Dec 23:30 00:30

  Custom

  Comrie Flambeaux

  Sets off from Melville Square, Comrie, Perth and Kinross

  • Fire
  • Procession
  • New Year's Eve
  • Fire Customs
  
  Save this custom: Comrie Flambeaux