In the West of England, they wish for a good harvest for the coming year. Here, they produce cider so naturally they hope to grow good apples. People practice wassailing which involves drinking and singing to the health of the trees. By doing this they hope the trees will produce better. They believe wassailing can awake cider apple trees and scare away bad spirits.

Rolling cheese down a hill may sound strange, but in Gloucester they have turned it into an annual event. The tradition is over 200 years old and was started by a local village called Brockworth. At the top of Cooper Hill, a round of double Gloucester cheese is rolled down the hill and competitors chase it. The prize? The cheese of course!

Another event that’s celebrated in Gloucestershire is Woolsack Day. Hundreds of people turn out where they must carry a full sack of wool on their back and race up and down the Gumstool Hill in Tetbury. This tradition is believed to have started in the 17th century as wool was a big industry in Tetbury.

Celebrating chimney sweeps harks back to an era when children were still allowed to work as chimney sweeps. The tradition which ended in the early 1990’s as children chimney sweeps became illegal, was revived again the 80’s. Back then, it was a day that signified children having fun away from their low paid job. The events involve children dressing up as chimney sweeps and playing music.

On Boxing Day in Marshfield, The Marshfield Paper Boys perform a mummers play. The play consists of a sword fight where the characters are dressed in strips of paper. The tradition dates back to the 12th century while the tradition was revived in the 1930’s.

The Whittlesea Festival began in 1980, resurrecting the old tradition of dressing someone in a straw costume. In the 19th century, this person would be called a straw bear. They danced at various venues for people to come and watch. They were rewarded with money, beer or food. While the street parade has now grown to include many musicians and dancers, the main focal point still remains on the person dressed head to toe in straw.

All over the UK, people gather to celebrate Tree Dressing Day. It’s a time to look after and appreciate trees by putting ribbons and lanterns on branches. However, many still practice the old tradition of tying cloth on branches. Generally, the tree must be near a Holy well. Once you take water from the Holy well, you must tie a piece of clothing onto the tree. The tree symbolises long life and health.

In Charlton, the Duck Feast celebrates not the animal, but the poet Stephen Duck who is synonymous with the place. The tradition started when a yearly feast in a local pub was set up for Duck and 12 of his fellows. Today, local men dress up and re-enact the feast. A toast to the poet is made using a special Duck goblet.

Not the type of musical rapping seen in today’s charts, but a form of traditional dance in Northumberland and County Durham. Originally starting in the 19th century, it brought together the miner community to show solidarity. It has grown considerably and now competitions are held up and down the country.

The Pearly Kings and Queens tradition is an eye catching tradition. Should you see someone taking part, you’ll be sure to take a second look. It started in 1875 by an orphan named Henry Croft. As a young boy, he would sew many pearl buttons onto his clothes. His aim was to grab attention so he could raise money for charity. To this day, many people take part by sewing as many as 10,000 buttons onto their clothes.