Video: Straw Festival has Bear essentials
HUNDREDS of people lined the streets of Whittlesey on Saturday (14 January) to watch one of the strangest and most colourful Fen traditions.
The 33rd annual Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival took place at the weekend, with crowds flocking from across the country to watch the traditional day of dancing.
The festival, which has its earliest origins in the 19th century, sees a man and boy dressed in straw bear costumes parade through the streets of the town to the sound of traditional folk music, while Morris and Molly dancers take part in various other displays dressed in colourful costumes.
The streets were packed with hundreds of people, young and old, for the start of the parade at 10.30am on Saturday.
Christian Cornell (20) of Plough Road, Whittlesey, was one of the two men to don the bear costume on Saturday.
He said: “I think it is a big honour to wear the costume. It is a big thing for Whittlesey - where else will I be able to have 2,000 people watching what I do?
“It is the second time I have done it, although I also wore the smaller bear costume when I was younger, and it is something I always look forward to.
“It is heavy work, as I think the costume weighs about five stone, but it is a really enjoyable weekend, as everyone gets in the spirit of the event.”
Along with Morris and Molly dancing teams with historic traditions, school children also joined the parade.
Richard and Allisa Hunt travelled from Ely to watch the festival for the first time.
Richard (25), said: “It is the first time I have experienced anything like this. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I have really enjoyed it so far.
“There are a lot more people and groups here than I thought there would be.”
Allisa added: “It is really nice to see so many children taking part.”
One of the most popular dance teams were Tyler’s Men, who entertained the massed crowds with their Morris dancing displays.
Chris Pitt, one of the members of the team, said: “We have done the Straw Bear festival a few times, and it is one of only three performances we do every year.
“It is a very enjoyable festival, as there are so many people here, and there is also a lot of good pubs and beer.”
Tyler’s Men are also one of several teams to take part with blackened faces.
Mr Pitt said: “It is traditional around here to do it. I think it goes back to the old days, when young lads used to go into pubs on Plough Monday begging. They used to blacken their faces to keep their anonymity.”
Following Saturday’s festivities, which went on late into the night, the two bear costumes were burnt on Sunday morning in keeping with tradition.
Paul Baldwin, programme seller for the event said: “This is a very important festival, and has put Whittlesey on the map really. It is full of traditions that are really important.
“On the Saturday night the bear visits three pubs, and dances at each of them to a special straw bear tune. It is then ceremonially burnt the following morning to welcome in the new spring. The festival is also used to raise money for local charities.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.