I adore the glorious strangeness of British celebrations. While our big, well-known holidays are peculiar enough—take Boxing Day, which for most of us is a national holiday dedicated to rubbing our overfull stomachs and finally tackling the unpopular chocolates left in the tin—it’s the niche, small-village traditions that are positively shocking and perfect for cozy mysteries. I often weave these peculiar events into my books, and I sometimes doubt my readers believe they are real. Trust me, the real ones I include are far stranger than anything I could possibly invent! For a mystery writer, these closed-off events, with their costumes, crowds, and distractions, are the perfect conditions for a murder. Take a look at some of my favourite British holidays below:
Boxing Day (December 26th; national)
The name Boxing Day is the first mystery for many, though its origins are less about fighting and more about charity and service. Historically, it was the day that tradesmen and servants received a Christmas Box (a cash gratuity or gift) from their employers. This old custom of charity has evolved into a public holiday celebrated across the UK. Today, it is largely spent walking off Christmas dinner, playing with your presents, or simply lounging at home. For the mystery writer, it’s a day when the usual social rules are relaxed, making strange behavior easy to hide, and the mandatory leftovers—such as that rogue slice of turkey—often feature as a side dish in the post-Christmas blues that descend on many a cosy village.
Bonfire Night (November 5th; national)
Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night, is a delightful, dramatic festival commemorating the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605, when Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The night is a spectacular celebration of failure, marked by brilliant firework displays and massive bonfires often topped with an effigy of “the Guy.” The traditional foods are warming, hearty, and easy to eat outdoors, such as baked potatoes, soup, and toffee apples. A less common element of the celebration, which is fascinating for its spooky potential, is Souling, an old tradition where Soulers would go door-to-door, singing in exchange for food, anticipating Halloween’s modern ritual.
Pace Egg Play (Easter; Haworth, Yorkshire)
The Pace Egg Plays are an ancient folk tradition performed in various parts of Northern England around Easter time. The term “Pace” is thought to derive from the Latin Pascha, meaning Easter. These are traditional mummers’ plays performed by local amateurs, featuring masked and comically costumed characters who engage in a stylized battle—typically a heroic St. George against a villain, with the defeated figure being “miraculously” brought back to life by a doctor. The plays are extremely quirky, with costumes ranging from military uniforms to blackface (now controversial and often banned). The Haworth performers near me are famous for their lively street performances, creating a crowded, chaotic scene where a body could easily be missed in the confusion. My Parchment Paper Mysteries are set in the fictional nearby village of Little Quillington, and I’m currently planning a book in which they’ll pay a visit to the Pace Egg plays.
Burning Bartle (around 24th August; West Witton, Yorkshire Dales)
Burning Bartle takes place in the tiny village of West Witton in the Yorkshire Dales on the Saturday closest to St Bartholomew’s Day (August 24th). The event involves parading a straw-stuffed effigy, often referred to as Bartle, through the village before it is taken to the edge of the woods and ceremonially set on fire. The legend behind the practice is murky but is believed to commemorate a local outlaw. The sheer strangeness of parading and burning a figure in effigy—complete with a formal route and a gathered crowd—makes it a highly memorable (if slightly disturbing) local custom, proving that the most unbelievable traditions are often the most real. However, I had to remove a scene involving this event from one of my books because it seemed to strange to be believed.
Cheese-Rolling at Cooper’s Hill (May; Gloucestershire)
This globally famous, yet completely unofficial, festival is a pure celebration of chaos. Competitors literally launch themselves down the precipitously steep Cooper’s Hill in pursuit of a 7–9 lb round of Double Gloucester cheese. The objective is to be the first to cross the finish line at the bottom. The event is notoriously dangerous, often resulting in injuries—a perfect distraction for a carefully planned murder! It takes place near the end of May and has been recorded as a tradition for centuries, proving that sometimes, the British are just desperate for some mild, cheesy danger. I’ve never seen the event live (I think I’d cover my eyes the whole time), but I have been to the hill, and it is incredibly steep!
Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival (January; Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire)
This is a charmingly bizarre tradition held in January, reviving an ancient custom of the Fens. The Straw Bear is a person completely encased in a heavy straw costume who is paraded through the streets of Whittlesey, dancing for gifts and donations. The Plough Monday festivities (the first Monday after Twelfth Night) traditionally marked the resumption of agricultural work. The appearance of a massive, dancing straw figure is unforgettable and provides excellent cover for a costumed killer or an obscured witness.
World Gurning Championship (September; Egremont, Cumbria)
If you are looking for a tradition purely based on competitive absurdity, look no further. The Egremont Crab Fair (which dates back to 1267) is held in September and includes the World Gurning Championship. “Gurning” is the act of contorting one’s face into the most grotesque expression possible—often while framed through a horse collar (or “braffin”). Imagine a suspect being questioned while trying to maintain the most dramatic facial contortion; it’s a distraction built for a mystery.
Keep an Eye Out for More Mysterious Traditions in my Culinary Cozies
This is just the start of a very long list of strange British traditions. If you want to learn more, look up the Haxley Hood Game, the Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary, or read my books. I love these unusual events and include plenty of them in my mysteries.