From 'Pace Egging' to gravy wrestling to the World Black Pudding Throwing Competition, we've got you covered
As a county, Lancashire may have changed in size over the decades and centuries, but its traditions, customs and beautiful landscapes are a constant in an ever changing world.
Pace egging A day of entertainment around Easter time, this was a custom practised all over Lancashire which saw people getting up and eating boiled eggs for breakfast before giving the discarded egg shells for games, or to local people known as the ‘pace eggers,’ according to writer Alexander Tulloch. This unusual team would dress up in exotic fancy dress like animal skins and paint their faces, before performing a parade of dance and traditional song and plays through villages.
Similar to rushbearing which survives in Cumbria, a modern day version of rushcart racing was revived in Saddleworth, near Oldham, historically Lancashire, in the1970s. Saddleworth Rushcart Festival takes place every year over a weekend in August, and is based around the old tradition of laying rushes on the floor of St Chad’s Church in Uppermill to keep it warmer in winter.
The rules of the game are, according to author Alexander Tulloch in 'The Little Book of Lancashire', ‘pretty strict,’ stipulating that participants have to throw underarm and even stand on a designated place, dubbed ‘the oche.' Typically, all black puddings are wrapped in tights to keep the delicacy together and it traditionally takes place every year in Ramsbottom, on the second Sunday in September.
Known as ‘Wakes Weeks,’ they became an opportunity for workers to rest, or for better off workers to down tools and head en masse to Lancashire’s littoral resorts like Blackpool, Southport and Morecambe, thanks to the expansion of railways. The ‘Wakes weeks’ were dubbed a ‘merry, happy time’ by Droylsden poet Elijah Ridings, although cash strapped families used to scrimp and save throughout the year to afford the unpaid leave.
Conservative MPs have recently voted against a bid to keep employment protections from the EU, including the right to paid holidays, rest breaks at work, limits on the working week and maternity rights, according to the Mirror. If you were a member of the Guild, you had to swear loyalty to the Mayor and the Guild in a public court, be vetted, and pay a fee to be a Guild Merchant, so it was a way of operating a kind of ‘closed shop’ policy within Preston. But a membership renewal event was only needed once every two decades, so from the year 1542, the Preston Guild only took place once every twenty years, followed by feasting, processions and celebrations.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Concern growing for missing woman who may have travelled to LancashireAn appeal has been launched to find a missing woman who may have travelled to Lancashire.
Read more »
Preston’s Jean is the oldest woman in Lancashire as she celebrates her 108th birthdayJean with her daughters Christine and Pam The oldest woman in Lancashire, who made bombs during the Second World War, has celebrated her 108th birthday.
Read more »
Lancashire houses overpowered by 'eggy' smells coming from tapsResidents in Leyland and wider areas have complained of peculiar smells coming out of their taps over the past few weeks
Read more »
1,390 knives were recovered in Lancashire during a week-long crackdown on crime1,390 knives were recovered throughout Lancashire after police took part in Operation Sceptre, a national crime initiative.
Read more »
Rare chairs offered free-of-charge to person with a special connection to historic Lancashire factoryA special offer of rare chairs from Britain’s oldest chair maker is being made to someone with a special connection to the Lancashire factory.
Read more »
'Worst road in Lancashire' leaves Preston dad 'living in hell''It's been three months of hell now and that's just in its current state, we've had closures and disruptions for 18 months'
Read more »