Customs

Saturday 21 August

Sat 21 Aug from 14:00
Custom

Cilgerran Coracle Races

Sets off from River Teifi at Dolbadau, Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire
- Custom game
- Sports and Games

Tuesday 24 August

Folklore from the old calendars

The Croyland Knives No longer kept LincolnshireBecause St Bartholomew was flayed alive, a knife became his emblem.
Strewing Rushes at Dorrington No longer kept LincolnshireOn St Bartholomew's Day at Dorrington, near Sleaford, maidens in their best clothes used to walk in procession to a small chapel in the parish and strew its floor with rushes.
The Scholars’ Disputation on Bartholomew Eve No longer kept London, YorkshireA correspondent from Morley, near Leeds, reminded Hone of a custom little noticed by antiquaries: on the eve of St Bartholomew scholars from different schools met for disputation, to try their proficiency in learning, as Stow and the astrologer Lilly both mention.
Rabbits for the Boys at Bartholomew-tide No longer kept LondonThe German traveller Hentzner, in England in 1598, wrote that every year on St Bartholomew's Day, when the fair was held, the mayor with the twelve principal aldermen walked in a neighbouring field, in his scarlet gown with a gold chain about his neck.
Bartholomew Pig and Fairings No longer kept LondonBy the time of Ben Jonson's comedy of 1614 Bartholomew Fair had lost nearly all its trading character and was given over to eating, drinking and amusement, and it had become an established custom to eat roast pig there.
St Bartholomew’s Dusty Mantle Lore and belief EnglandSt Bartholomew's Day falls forty days after St Swithin's, when the forty days of rain promised by a wet St Swithin's Day should be over.
Shooting at the Standard in Finsbury Fields No longer kept LondonStow wrote that before his time the lord mayor, sheriffs and aldermen of London used to go out at Bartholomew-tide into the fields at Finsbury, where the citizens had gathered, and shoot at the standard with broad and flight arrows for games.
Beggar’s Bush Fair at Rye No longer kept SussexRye held a small pedlars' fair at Beggar's Bush on St Bartholomew's Day, and chose its mayor on the same day.
Lee Fair and its disputations No longer kept YorkshireThe great fair at Lee, in Woodkirk parish near Leeds, ended on St Bartholomew's Day.
The sunflower, a star for Bartholomew Lore and belief EnglandThe sunflower, in full bloom by late August, was given to St Bartholomew as his star.
Butter and cheese at Bartlemytide No longer kept CambridgeshireAt Bartholomewtide, or at Stourbridge Fair near Cambridge, the farmer bought what his house needed for repairs and sold his butter and cheese.
Jack Pudding and gape-seed at Bartholomew Fair No longer kept LondonAt Bartholomew Fair in Smithfield, crowds watched Jack Pudding the clown do his tricks while cutpurses went through their pockets.

Wednesday 25 August

Thursday 26 August

Saturday 28 August

Sat 28 Aug All day
Custom, day 1 of 4

Ould Lammas Fair

Sets off from The Diamond, Ballycastle, County Antrim

Sunday 29 August

Sun 29 Aug Ould Lammas Fair day 2 of 4 · All day

Monday 30 August

Mon 30 Aug Ould Lammas Fair day 3 of 4 · All day

Tuesday 31 August New moon

Tue 31 Aug Ould Lammas Fair day 4 of 4 · All day

Wednesday 1 September

Thursday 2 September

Friday 3 September

Saturday 4 September

Sat 4 Sep 10:00 18:00
Custom, day 1 of 2

Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing

St John the Evangelist Church, Warley, West Yorkshire

Sunday 5 September

Sun 5 Sep Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing day 2 of 2 · 10:00–18:00

Monday 6 September

Mon 6 Sep 08:00 16:00
Custom

Abbots Bromley Horn Dance

St Nicholas Church, Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire

Wednesday 8 September

Wed 8 Sep 09:00 22:00
Custom, day 1 of 4

Neath Fair

Sets off from Queen Street, Neath, Neath Port Talbot
- Fair or wakes

Thursday 9 September

Thu 9 Sep Neath Fair day 2 of 4 · 09:00–22:00

Friday 10 September

Fri 10 Sep Neath Fair day 3 of 4 · 09:00–22:00

Saturday 11 September

Sat 11 Sep Neath Fair day 4 of 4 · 09:00–22:00

Monday 13 September

Mon 13 Sep 09:00 16:00
Custom

Conwy Honey Fair

Sets off from Lancaster Square, Conwy, Conwy
- Fair or wakes

Tuesday 14 September

Folklore from the old calendars

Nutting on Holy Rood Day No longer kept EnglandHoly Rood Day, the feast of the Holy Cross, was the day for going out to gather nuts in the hazel woods.
The Eton Nutting Holiday No longer kept BuckinghamshireAn old manuscript about Eton recorded that on a certain day in September, most likely Holy Rood Day, the scholars had a holiday to go out and gather nuts.
The Rood of Grace No longer kept KentThe crucifix at Boxley Abbey, the Rood of Grace, drew pilgrims because its figure of Christ moved its eyes, lips and head.
The Holy Rood Buck in Richmond Park No longer kept SurreyOn Holy Rood Day the king's huntsmen hunted their free buck in Richmond New Park with bloodhounds.
Fools Fair at Lincoln No longer kept LincolnshireA cattle fair held in the Broad Gate at Lincoln on 14 September was known as Fools Fair.
The stag at Durham on Holy-rood Day No longer kept County DurhamA stag was once offered at the high altar of Durham Abbey on Holy Rood Day while horns were wound in the church.
The passion flower for Holy Rood Lore and belief EnglandThe passion flower, blooming about Holy Rood Day, was taken to show the signs of the Cross whose feast fell on 14 September.

Wednesday 15 September Harvest Moon

Thursday 16 September

Friday 17 September

Saturday 18 September

Sat 18 Sep All day
Custom

Egremont Crab Fair

Sets off from Main Street, Egremont, Cumbria

Customs

Saturday 21 August

Cilgerran Coracle Races

Tuesday 24 August

Wednesday 25 August

Thursday 26 August

Saturday 28 August

Ould Lammas Fair

Sunday 29 August

Monday 30 August

Tuesday 31 August New moon

Wednesday 1 September

Thursday 2 September

Friday 3 September

Saturday 4 September

Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing

Sunday 5 September

Monday 6 September

Abbots Bromley Horn Dance

Wednesday 8 September

Neath Fair

Thursday 9 September

Friday 10 September

Saturday 11 September

Monday 13 September

Conwy Honey Fair

Tuesday 14 September

Wednesday 15 September Harvest Moon

Thursday 16 September

Friday 17 September

Saturday 18 September

Egremont Crab Fair

Sunday 19 September

Image credits

Saturday 21 August

Cilgerran Coracle Races

Tuesday 24 August

Wednesday 25 August

Thursday 26 August

Saturday 28 August

Ould Lammas Fair

Sunday 29 August

Monday 30 August

Tuesday 31 August🌑 New moon

Wednesday 1 September

Thursday 2 September

Friday 3 September

Saturday 4 September

Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing

Sunday 5 September

Monday 6 September

Abbots Bromley Horn Dance

Wednesday 8 September

Neath Fair

Thursday 9 September

Friday 10 September

Saturday 11 September

Monday 13 September

Conwy Honey Fair

Tuesday 14 September

Wednesday 15 September🌕 Harvest Moon

Thursday 16 September

Friday 17 September

Saturday 18 September

Egremont Crab Fair

Sunday 19 September

Image credits

Tuesday 31 August New moon

Wednesday 15 September Harvest Moon