When: 11th – 13th January 2013
Where: Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire
£: Free to watch the procession and burning, some of the other festival events are ticketed.
What is it?
In Whittlesey (originally spelt Whittlesea) there is an unusual custom that traditionally takes place on the Tuesday following Plough Monday where a person is dressed up in straw and paraded around town. The procession with the straw bear has over 250 dancers, musicians and performers from various parts of the British Isles. There is also American style ‘Appalachian’ dancing, street performances, Mummers plays and a decorated plough pulled by a local Morris side. The procession heads around the town from 10.30am on Saturday 12th January. To complete the tradition the bear is burned at the Community College on the Sunday.
Other events take place during the festival including a concert, barn dance, storytelling sessions and a Cajun dance.
More info: www.strawbear.org.uk