St Swithins Day - July 15th
This isn't actually a festival, or a custom as such. However it is interesting
for the folklore that surrounds it.
1. The famous saying goes that if it rains on St Swithin's Day, it will rain
continuously for 40 days. And if doesn't, then there will be clear skies for
40 days.
2. Which means that whatever happens, it will end on St Bartholomew's Day.
3. St Swithin, the Bishop of Winchester, died in 862.
4. On his deathbed, he asked to be buried in a humble grave outside the north wall of his cathedral so that the "sweet rain from heaven" could fall on his grave.
5. But the monks felt it wasn't a fitting resting place. So on July 15, 971, they decided to move his grave to an ornate shrine they built for him.
6. Legend has it that torrential rains poured down on that day and every one after for the following 40 days and 40 nights. Believing that it was St Swithin showing his displeasure by weeping in despair, the monks decided against moving his remains. Hence the rhyme.
7. While many hope it'll be sunny and bright, apple-growers hope for rain on July 15. It is seen as the saints watering the crops, in anticipation of the feasts of Saints Peter and Paul.
8. The city of Stavanger in Norway has a cathedral dedicated to the saint. Its most prominent relic was Swithin's arm.
9. To mark St Swithin's Day, you could read more international weather wisdom, featuring such gems as "snow is due when the cat washes behind both ears".
10. Or you could carry an umbrella around for the next 40 days just in case.
The Tolpuddle Procession - Third Week in July
In 1834 six trade unionists for the Dorset village of Tolpuddle were sentenced to be transported to Australia for attempting to demand higher wages for farm labourers. Although trade unions had been legal since 1824 the harsh sentence was a reaction to the fear of organised labour and trade unions. One of the leaders, George Lawless, wrote the following song.
God is our guide through field and wave,
By plough by anvil and by loom,
We come our country's right to save,
And speak the evil factions doom.
We raise the watchword Liberty, We will, we will, we will be free.
We raise the watchword Liberty, We will, we will, we will be free.
God is our guide no sword we draw,
We kindle not wars battle fires,
By reason, union, justice, law,
We claim the birthright of our sires.
We raise the watchword Liberty, We will, we will, we will be free.
We raise the watchword Liberty, We will, we will, we will be free.
George Loveless
The law said it was because they had taken an illegal oath under the Mutiny Act of 1797, but after their imprisonment in Dorchester and their sentence of transportation there was a huge outcry and the campaign to free them attracted thousands from across Britain. More than 30,000 people marched through London and over 800,000 signed petitions to demand their release. The protests grew and in 1836 the men were granted a full pardon and returned to England, however continuing pressure caused most of them to seek asylum elsewhere.
Today in commemoration of their suffering a wreath is laid at the Tolpuddle church and this is followed by a parade of union flags through Tolpuddle by union members led by a Silver Band. Speeches by leading national figures in the union movement and the Labour Party follow.
You can read more about the Tolpuddle Martyrs here.
Royal Garden Parties - Throughout July
Over 30,000 people attend the Royal Garden Parties each year. They are used today as a way to enable Her Majesty to reward public service and outstanding contributions to the community in a way which the former Coming Out parties did not.
Admission is by invitation only, and all invitations are sent out by the Lord Chamberlain on behalf of The Queen, in fact all the arrangements are planned by the Lord Chamberlain's Office. One of the characteristics of these parties is the long queues, if you thought the queues for the Millenium Dome were bad wait until you are invited to a Royal Garden Party.
Eventually you hand in your invitation and then seemingly in the Palace garden itself, the sense of over-crowding disappears. Uniformed Yeomen of the Guard, Gentlemen at Arms and Gentlemen Ushers are responsible for overseeing the guests and bringing some of them (not all) forward to speak to the Queen. When the members of the Royal Family emerge from the Palace, the Lord Chamberlain walks beside the Queen and the other members take separate routes so that they come into contact with as many people as possible. After meeting several members of the public, the Queen has tea in the royal tent, then meets distinguished Commonwealth visitors and begins a slow progress back to the Palace.
The dress code for these events is very strice, gentlemen are expected to wear morning dress, lounge suits or uniform, whilst ladies wear afternoon dress (usually with hats). However, national dress can also be worn.
Click here to see more about the Royal Garden Parties.
Rushbearing Ceremonies
(Throughout July/August/September)
In the Middle Ages, nobody had carpets - they used rushes as a floor-covering instead. Many places held a special summer ceremony when the rushes were harvested. In some villages, they made special rush sculptures, called bearings, and carried these in a procession. Rushbearings are still popular in Cumbria and other parts of north-west England.
