Transcript The Survival of Traditional Sports & Festivals in Britain.

The Survival of
Traditional Sports &
Festivals in Britain.
Mr. Leighton
Sport and Culture.
What do you think of?
 Morris
dancers?
 Toe wrestlers?
 Pancake racers?
 Wife carriers?
– What about hanging up mistletoe?
– Going to a Halloween party?
– Eating hot crossed buns at Easter?
The British Isles are rich in
surviving festivals &customs.
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Many are linked to the seasons & the rhythm of
country life.
Many are medieval or pagan(religious) In origin,
as the country itself came from tribal societies.
They did, however draw criticism and attack for
reasons such as…
– The reformation (which took power from the
church to the crown)
– The second world war, followed by modern
technology improving.
– Concern over danger to participants.
The Highland Games.
Activities such as;
 Tossing the caber
 Throwing the hammer
 Putting the stone
 Foot (fell) running
 Wrestling
 The festivals also involve bagpipe
music, drinking & sword dancing

•They are grand social occasions as well as a display of
athleticism in keeping with the needs of a hardy lifestyle
& sometimes severe conditions.
Some other examples…

Cheese Rolling- done on Coopers Hill in
Gloucester- it happens every spring bank
holiday and is now a major attraction for
spectators and the media. The cheese rolls
at around 70mph!
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Clip...
Robert Dovers’ Cotswold
Olympics
A multi-sport occasion
established during the reign
of James 1 in 1605 & was
annual until hooligan
behaviour disrupted it.
 The events included
throwing the sledgehammer,
sword fighting and wrestling.
 Revived in 1963 it still
continues today… including
shin kicking!
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The Characteristics of surviving ethnic
sports & why they survive…
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Local
Traditional –
celebrates the past
Social – very imp
soc occasion
Ritualistic –
frequent, evidence
of medieval ritual in
costume etc.


Occasional/annual – a
desire to escape from
the pressures of
modern living & go
back to a simple way
of life
Tourism – always
popular with people
initially walking to the
festivals, then with
technology &
transport people flock
to watch such events.
Characteristics (cont)

Relatively isolated – the
inaccessibility of some rural areas
allows local customs to prevail.

Rowdy – traditionally these
occasions were associated with
drink, singing & celebrations of
lower class people- the pub is
usually the focal point or the
birthplace of some of the games.
Group Project…
 In
small groups complete a short
detailed presentation on one ethnic
festival that still exists today. 4 sides
maximum that can be used by other
members of the class for reference
purposes.
 Consider
the use of PowerPoint to
assist you/ worksheet etc.
To help you…
Haxey hood game
 Highland games
 Lakeland games
 Obby Oss festival Padstow
 Doggett coat & badge
 Hallaton Bottle kicking & hare pie
scramble
 The Corff Castle game

To help you…
 www.chipping
campden.co.uk./doversflyer.htm
 www.albagames.co.uk
 www.derbyshireuk.net/dcustom4.ht
ml
 http://englishculture.allinfoabout.co
m/features/shrove3.html
 www.visitbritain.com/uk/outdoorbrita
in/very_british_activities/cheese_rolli
ng.htm