HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome 2012!!

All over the world, people hold celebrations to welcome in the New Year. Some of the most crazy are to be found here in good old Britain. Many feature fire prominently as a sign of welcoming back the sun and looking forward to the Spring and Summer and are a relic of our folklore.
One such ritual is the Tar Bar'ls of Allendale in Northumberland. As midnight approaches, 45 folk from the town parade around the streets in fancy dress. Nothing unusual there, you might think - except they carry this on their heads.
Yup, half barrels of flaming pitch are carried aloft, all around the market square in a big parade. The marchers end up by a huge bonfire in the middle then one by one, they hurl the barrels onto the mound of wood.  Needless to say, the fire instantly leaps into life - no firelighters needed here!!

It's so exciting to watch, really gets the adrenalin flowing - it's a direct link back to our pre-Christian past. Very like Up Helly A in the Shetland Islands, linking back to the Vikings.
I'd love to see the Temporary Event License application form, especially the Risk Assessment - LOL!!!
Wishing you all the very best for a happy, healthy and exciting 2012,
Much love,
LLJan xxxx

7 comments:

Julia Dunnit said...

Great pics, can only imagine the excitement it generates..and the pitchy smell...lovely! Can you imagine the Elfin Safety guy..he must need defib when the forms arrive!
I am lucky enough to have seen you to wish you a Happy New Year...but I really do...all of us To all of you. Normal families together.

Hettie said...

Elf and Safety would have a little heartburn thinking about this one ey!!

Carmen said...

Oh my! That looks an amazing sight!

Happy New year LLJ :)

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Wow! What an amazing spectacle to behold! Happy New Year to you and yours Jan xx

Angie said...

Wow ...amazing ...love to hear about old traditions.
All the best for 2012. xx

Scrappekatten said...

Happy new Year. The bike was awesome

Anonymous said...

This is a new one on me. My relatives used to live in Allendale between 1745 - 1765ish.... no wonder they left, lol!!

Hugs
Brenda

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