The Survival of The Survival of Traditional Sports & Traditional Sports & Festivals in Britain.Festivals in Britain.

Mr. Leighton

Sport and Culture.

What do you think of?What do you think of?

Morris dancers?Morris dancers? Toe wrestlers?Toe wrestlers? Pancake racers?Pancake racers? Wife carriers?Wife carriers?

– What about hanging up mistletoe?What about hanging up mistletoe?– Going to a Halloween party?Going to a Halloween party?– Eating hot crossed buns at Easter?Eating hot crossed buns at Easter?

The British Isles are rich in The British Isles are rich in surviving festivals &customs.surviving festivals &customs.

Many are linked to the seasons & the rhythm of Many are linked to the seasons & the rhythm of country life.country life.

Many are medieval or pagan(religious) In origin, Many are medieval or pagan(religious) In origin, as the country itself came from tribal societies.as the country itself came from tribal societies.

They did, however draw criticism and attack for They did, however draw criticism and attack for reasons such as…reasons such as…– The reformation (which took power from the The reformation (which took power from the

church to the crown)church to the crown)– The second world war, followed by modern The second world war, followed by modern

technology improving.technology improving.– Concern over danger to participants.Concern over danger to participants.

Activities such as;Activities such as; Tossing the caberTossing the caber Throwing the hammerThrowing the hammer Putting the stonePutting the stone Foot (fell) runningFoot (fell) running WrestlingWrestling The festivals also involve bagpipe The festivals also involve bagpipe

music, drinking & sword dancingmusic, drinking & sword dancing

•They are grand social occasions as well as a display They are grand social occasions as well as a display of athleticism in keeping with the needs of a hardy of athleticism in keeping with the needs of a hardy lifestyle & sometimes severe conditions.lifestyle & sometimes severe conditions.

The Highland Games.

Some other examples…Some other examples…

Cheese Rolling- done on Coopers Hill in Cheese Rolling- done on Coopers Hill in Gloucester- it happens every spring bank Gloucester- it happens every spring bank holiday and is now a major attraction for holiday and is now a major attraction for spectators and the media. The cheese spectators and the media. The cheese rolls at around 70mph!rolls at around 70mph!

Clip...Clip...

Robert Dovers’ Cotswold Robert Dovers’ Cotswold OlympicsOlympics

A multi-sport occasion A multi-sport occasion established during the reign of established during the reign of James 1 in 1605 & was annual James 1 in 1605 & was annual until hooligan behaviour until hooligan behaviour disrupted it. disrupted it.

The events included throwing The events included throwing the sledgehammer, sword the sledgehammer, sword fighting and wrestling.fighting and wrestling.

Revived in 1963 it still Revived in 1963 it still continues today… including continues today… including shin kicking!shin kicking!

The Characteristics of surviving ethnic The Characteristics of surviving ethnic sports & why they survive…sports & why they survive…

LocalLocal Traditional – Traditional –

celebrates the pastcelebrates the past Social – very imp Social – very imp

soc occasionsoc occasion Ritualistic – Ritualistic –

frequent, evidence frequent, evidence of medieval ritual in of medieval ritual in costume etc.costume etc.

Occasional/annual – a Occasional/annual – a desire to escape from desire to escape from the pressures of the pressures of modern living & go modern living & go back to a simple way back to a simple way of lifeof life

Tourism – always Tourism – always popular with people popular with people initially walking to the initially walking to the festivals, then with festivals, then with technology & technology & transport people flock transport people flock to watch such events. to watch such events.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics (cont) (cont) Relatively isolated – the Relatively isolated – the

inaccessibility of some rural areas inaccessibility of some rural areas allows local customs to prevail.allows local customs to prevail.

Rowdy – traditionally these Rowdy – traditionally these occasions were associated with occasions were associated with drink, singing & celebrations of drink, singing & celebrations of lower class people- the pub is lower class people- the pub is usually the focal point or the usually the focal point or the birthplace of some of the games.birthplace of some of the games.

Group Project…Group Project…

In small groups complete a short In small groups complete a short detailed presentation on one ethnic detailed presentation on one ethnic festival that still exists today. 4 sides festival that still exists today. 4 sides maximum that can be used by other maximum that can be used by other members of the class for reference members of the class for reference purposes.purposes.

Consider the use of PowerPoint to Consider the use of PowerPoint to assist you/ worksheet etc.assist you/ worksheet etc.

To help you…To help you…

Haxey hood gameHaxey hood game Highland games Highland games Lakeland gamesLakeland games Obby Oss festival PadstowObby Oss festival Padstow Doggett coat & badgeDoggett coat & badge Hallaton Bottle kicking & hare pie Hallaton Bottle kicking & hare pie

scramblescramble The Corff Castle game The Corff Castle game

To help you…To help you…

www.chipping www.chipping campden.co.uk./doversflyer.htmcampden.co.uk./doversflyer.htm

www.albagames.co.ukwww.albagames.co.uk www.derbyshireuk.net/dcustom4.htmwww.derbyshireuk.net/dcustom4.htm

ll http://englishculture.allinfoabout.comhttp://englishculture.allinfoabout.com

/features/shrove3.html/features/shrove3.html www.visitbritain.com/uk/www.visitbritain.com/uk/

outdoorbritain/outdoorbritain/very_british_activities/very_british_activities/cheese_rolling.htmcheese_rolling.htm