Unusual festivals and traditions in Britain

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The Bognor Birdman The Birdman is a flight competition for human

powered flying machines held each summer. It is on 1 October. Many flyers take part to raise money for

charities, other design complex machines to for the distance prizes. The first rally in that area was held in 1971 in Selsey.

World Bog Snorkelling Championship

World Bog Snorkelling Championship is a sporting event where more than 200 entrants swim 60 yards through stinking black water.

It takes place on 28 August. It consists of competitors completing two different

lengths of water filled trench cut through a peat bog, in the shortest time as possible.

World Gurning Championship

The annual World Gurning Championships take place in a small fishing village in Cumbria at the Crab Fair.

It is held on 17. September. The tradition began in 1267 in the town of

Egremont. The main aim is to accomplish a ‘full face

inversion’, which is when the lips completely cover the head.

World Tin Bath Championships

Being the only race of its kind, the event draws eager tin bath racers into cold harbour waters.

The races are connected with the Castletown Ale Drinkers Society, who are dedicated to raising money for local charities. The money raised from the small entry fee to the World Tin Bath Championship is donated to a local charity.

Straw Bear (Strawboer) Day

Straw Bear Day is an old English tradition held on the 7th of January.

This day is believed to be traditional start of agricultural year in England.

Worm Charming Worm charming is a way to of attracting

earthworms from the ground. The village of Willaston, near Cheshire is the

place where since 1980 the annual World Championships have been organized. The competition was actually initiated by local man Tom Shufflebotham who on the 5th of July, 1980 charmed 511 worms from the ground in only half an hour.

Used sites http://

www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/aug/12/weird-festivals-local-traditions-uk

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/curious/calendar.htm

http://listverse.com/2010/04/02/10-very-strange-british-traditions/

http://www.allaboutyou.com/country/day-out/unusual-UK-festivals