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Home > Archives for New Year events

Archives for New Year events

Photo by LoboStudio Hamburg on Unsplash

Ringing in the New Year with phone box artwork

This New Year’s Day, Pick Me Up (& hold me tight) will be aiming to make every phone box in the UK ring at the same time, at 11am…

Stonehaven Fireball Ceremony (Photo copyright: Stonehaven Fireballs Association)

The best alternative ways to bring in the New Year

Why not bring in the New year with one of the many quirky customs that take place in the UK? If you’re stuck for ideas, why not read our pick of events?

MagicFest 2019, Edinburgh

Edinburgh brings in the New Year with a festival of magic

MagicFest takes place in Edinburgh between Christmas and New Year, with talent from the world of magic offering entertainment for all ages…

The Ba' game, Kirkwall, Orkney (Photo: Charles Tait)

Ball game takes over the Kirkwall streets

The Ba’ is a traditional game played every Christmas Day and New Year’s Day on the streets of Kirkwall, Orkney’s largest town…

Burning Of The Clavie (Photo: Anne Burgess - From geograph.org.uk. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)

Burghead’s New Year fire festival

The Burning of the Clavie is a unique fire festival held annually on 11th January in Burghead, Scotland…

Twelfth Night - Bankside London

A unique and lively Twelfth Night celebration in London

On Sunday 6th January, the Bankside area of London will come alive with singing, dancing, plays and storytelling for a unique Twelfth Night celebration…

First Footing - Door - Visit Britain

First Footing

As it is New Year, for our latest Curiosity of the Week we are looking at the tradition of First Footing, and why it is carried out in the UK…

Burning Of The Clavie (Photo: Anne Burgess - From geograph.org.uk. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)

A unique fire festival in Scotland with Burning the Clavie

The Burning of the Clavie is a unique fire festival held annually on 11th January in Burghead, Scotland, with a parade and burning staves…

Bolney Apple Howling 2017 - Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men

Ancient trees, torchlight processions and plenty of noise at Bolney’s Apple Howling

Take along an old saucepan and make some noise at Bolney’s Apple Howling ceremony in West Sussex and celebrate a quirky Twelfth Night…

Haxey Hood 2018 - Lincolnshire

Boggans get ready to play the Haxey Hood Game

The Haxey Hood Game is a unique 700 year old tradition, played on the 12th day of Christmas.  It is the second oldest surviving tradition in the UK and still attracts a large crowd to the Lincolnshire village…

Stonehaven Fireball Ceremony (Photo copyright: Stonehaven Fireballs Association)

Alternative ways to bring in the New Year

If you fancy doing something a bit different this New Year, here are a few of the more quirky ways to celebrate in the UK…

The Ba' game, Kirkwall, Orkney (Photo: Charles Tait)

A competitive Christmas in Kirkwall as quirky games take over the streets

The Ba’ is a traditional game played every Christmas and New Year by ‘uppies’ and ‘doonies’ on the streets of Kirkwall, Orkney…

Twelfth Night - Bankside London

Wassailing and cake at London’s Twelfth Night celebrations

Twelfth Night is celebrated every year in the Bankside area of London with wassailing, dancing, folk plays, cake and storytelling…

Haxey Hood 2018 - Lincolnshire

Follow the Fool to Lincolnshire’s Haxey Hood game

The Haxey Hood Game, a 700 year old quirky British tradition, is played annually on the 12th day of Christmas in Lincolnshire…

Stonehaven Fireball Ceremony (Photo copyright: Stonehaven Fireballs Association)

Stonehaven swings fireballs to bring in New Year

The Stonehaven Fireball Ceremony takes place annually in Scotland, with a procession of swinging fireballs bringing in the New Year…

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Curiosity of the Week

Woodhenge, Stonehenge’s lesser-known neighbour
Woodhenge - ©English Heritage, Historic England Photo Library

You have heard of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, but have you heard of its lesser known neighbour, Woodhenge? Find out more in our latest Curiosity of the Week…

Top Story

Fakes, forgeries and misinformation at Royal Society Late
Dragon Fish - The Royal Society Lates in March

Next month, the Royal Society’s Late event mixes tomfoolery with science as it tackles fake news and hoaxes…

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