Not Everything is in London – December Outside the M25
With so much going on in London, it can be easy to forget that it’s not the be all and end all of the social world. If you venture outside the M25 this month, you might be lucky enough to catch one or two of these rather eccentric events.
At the Harbour Inn at Axmouth, the traditional Burning of the Ashen Faggot takes place every Christmas Eve. A hazel twig bundle six feet long and three feet wide is brought to the Inn by a procession, before being placed inside the traditional open fire. Once the bundle has been set alight, the gathered crowd indulges in some carol singing and poetry. The event has been a tradition in the Devon town for hundreds of years and still provides some fantastic, if somewhat unusual, festive entertainment.
This is definitely not one for the faint-hearted! Join the Hunstanton Round Table by donning your wackiest fancy dress costume and taking the plunge into the sea off Hunstanton Promenade. Taking part is free of charge and there’s even a prize for the best outfit. If you don’t quite fancy a dip in a December sea, spectating will let you enjoy the atmosphere and sights without risking hypothermia.
What better way to refresh yourself after a day of excess by racing yellow rubber ducks down a stream in Kenilworth? Approximately 1,500 of the bath toys are set free into Finham Brook every Boxing Day, with cash prizes on offer to the winners.
The oldest pram race in the world takes place in Pagham each Boxing Day. The race has been run by ex-servicemen for over sixty years, with one of each pair pushing a pram and the other sitting inside it, dressed as a baby. The three-mile course is undertaken by dozens of competitors, each doing their bit to raise essential funds for a variety of causes.
This unique festival draws thousands of visitors to the Scottish town of Stonehaven each Hogmanay, when up to forty-five men take part in the annual procession, parading around the streets swinging blazing fireballs above their heads. There are several explanations as to the origins of the festival, one of which is that fire festivals were created to encourage the gods to provide enough sunshine to guarantee a good harvest and strong animals. However it came about, the Stonehaven Fireballs Festival is an incredibly popular tourist attraction for very good reason.
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