Curious customs

Royal Mail has revealed eight colourful and engaging illustrations, depicting and capturing the spirit of well-known, and some not so well-known, annual customs that take place around the UK.

Many of these customs involve dancing, singing, dressing up and – literally – playing with fire.

The curious customs depicted on the stamps are:

•             Burning the Clocks, Brighton

•             ‘Obby ‘Oss, Padstow

•             World Gurning Championship, Egremont

•             Up Helly Aa, Lerwick

•             Cheese Rolling, Cooper’s Hill, Brockworth

•             Halloween, Derry/Londonderry

•             Horn Dance, Abbot’s Bromley

•             Bog Snorkelling, Llanwrtyd Wells

Some customs are often geared to natural stages of the year, or seasons, while others are linked to religious festivals and saints’ days, sporting events or specific occupations.

Due to a remarkable renaissance in the second half of the 20th century, communities began taking renewed pride in their colourful folk heritage. Defunct customs were revived, while others adapted or created events to produce new traditions – for fun and for good causes.

Philip Parker, Royal Mail, said: ‘Communities throughout the UK have been coming together for centuries to share distinctive traditions and mark key dates of the year. These customs continue to evolve, and our new stamps celebrate their diversity and the communities that maintain them.’

The stamps are available from www.royalmail.com/curiouscustoms by phone on 03457 641 641 and in 7,000 Post Office branches throughout the UK.