English festivals are the Christian and secular festivals that are traditionally celebrated in England. Most festivals are observed throughout England but some, such as Oak Apple Day, Souling, Rushbearing, Bawming the Thorn, and Hocktide are local to certain regions. Guisers carry lighted tar barrels during the New Year fire festival, a tradition dating back to 1858. New Year’s Day is guy valentine gift baskets on 1 January.
The festivities begin a day before on 31 December where parties are held to bring in the new year. Public events are also organised where firework displays are arranged. 18th century, first footing was not known is the South of England. Instead, “glasses were raised at quarter to twelve to “the Old Friend-Farewell! New Infant” with three ‘ Hip, hip horrahs! Other customs included dancing in the New Year.
In the North of England, first footing has been traditionally observed involving opening the door to a stranger at midnight. In Allendale, the town’s New Year celebrations involve lighted tar barrels that are carried on the heads of revellers called guisers. This tradition dates back to 1858. Plough Monday is the traditional start of the English agricultural year. The day traditionally saw the resumption of work after the Christmas period in some areas, particularly in northern England and East England. The customs observed on Plough Monday varied by region, but a common feature to a lesser or greater extent was for a plough to be hauled from house to house in a procession, collecting money.
They were often accompanied by musicians, an old woman or a boy dressed as an old woman, called the “Bessy,” and a man in the role of the “fool. Plough Pudding’ is a boiled suet pudding, containing meat and onions. Instead of pulling a decorated plough, during the 19th century, men or boys would dress in a layer of straw and were known as Straw Bears who begged door to door for money. The tradition is maintained annually in January, in Whittlesey, near Peterborough where on the preceding Saturday, “the Straw Bear is paraded through the streets of Whittlesey”. Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. The day first became associated with romantic love within the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. Saint Valentine’s Day is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church.
Traditions include sending cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts. Valentine’s Day in England still remains connected with various regional customs. In Norfolk, a character called ‘Jack’ Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. Although he was leaving treats, many children were scared of this mystical person. The United Kingdom celebrates Mothering Sunday, which falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This holiday has its roots in the church and was originally unrelated to the American holiday.
The celebration of Easter Day is not fixed and is a movable observance. Easter Day, also known as Resurrection Sunday, marks the high point of the Christian year. In the United Kingdom, both Good Friday and Easter Monday are bank holidays. Traditions include going to Church, eating Easter Eggs and hot-cross buns. Hocktide a very old term used to denote the Monday and Tuesday in the second week after Easter. Tuesday and the preceding Monday were the Hock-days. At Coventry there was a play called The Old Coventry Play of Hock Tuesday.
In England as of 2017 the tradition survives only in Hungerford in Berkshire, although the festival was somewhat modified to celebrate the patronage of the Duchy of Lancaster. Although the Hocktide celebrations take place over several days, the main festivities occur on the Tuesday, which is also known as Tutti Day. The Hocktide Council, which is elected on the previous Friday, appoints two Tutti Men whose job it is to visit the properties attracting Commoner’s Rights. The proceedings start at 8 am with the sounding of the horn from the Town Hall steps. This summons all the commoners to the attend the Court at 9 am, after which the Tutti Men visit each of the 102 houses in turn. They no longer collect rents, but demand a penny or a kiss from the lady of the house when they visit.