Nippy hug, anyone?
Bottle kicking, Leicestershire.
Every Easter for the last 200 years, the villagers of Hallaton and neighbouring Medbourne have squared off across a field for the prize of a barrel (called a “bottle” here) of ale.
Each team kicks a bottle towards its village, hoping to cross the far stream before their rivals and win all the booze for themselves. Apparently, while the gouging of eyes is forbidden, practically every other dirty fighting trick is allowed, and broken bones are a regular occurrence.
Flickr: 16904102@N02 / Creative Commons
The Nutter's Dance, Lancashire.
The men of Bacup have been blacking up, pulling on skirts and strapping bells to their legs since 1857. This odd parade is led by a whip-wielding man called the “Whiffler” or “Whipper-In”, and takes place every Easter Saturday. Its purpose is to drive out evil spirits – and the blackface is meant to protect the dancers from demons.
Simnel cake, nationwide.
Simnel is a light fruit cake decorated with 11 or 12 marzipan balls to represent the 12 apostles, excluding Judas.
Christians in the UK and the Republic of Ireland have been serving Simnel cake on the middle Sunday of Lent, when the fast is broken, since medieval times (although it may have been around in another form since long before that).
Flickr: akane86 / Creative Commons
Egg jarping, North East England.
Egg jarping is the art of tapping one hard-boiled egg against another to see which one survives intact. If you think you have what it takes to win, you should head down to the egg jarping world championships in Peterlee, County Durham this Easter Saturday.
16 Simply Splendid Easter Traditions From Around Britain
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