Legend has it that in 1802 a group of local vagabonds had established a healthy trade in smuggled whiskey which they transported to the village by barge up the canal. One night the group were disturbed in their endeavors by a passing patrol of soldiers, and to avoid detection the smugglers threw the barrels into the canal and snuck away.
Returning later that night, the smugglers retrieved the barrels from the water by using large garden rakes to draw them into the side. Unfortunately they were once more disturbed by the soldiers, who saw them with the rakes in the water and asked them what on earth they were up to.
“Well, we saw that the moon had fallen in the canal” replied a quick witted smuggler, pointing to the moons reflection in the water, “and so we’re trying to get it out”.
The soldiers laughed at the smugglers stupidity and went on their way. Leaving the smugglers to retrieve their booty in peace.
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Of course everyone knows the legend is a load of old bollocks. But that doesn’t stop our village having a mighty fine festival dedicated to it.
All week long there have been workshops taking place in the local community center. People have been creating elaborate lanterns made out of a framework of willow and covered in tissue paper. And tonight they all paraded through the village holding them suspended from long poles. Marching alongside them were drummers, jazz bands, and various people in fancy dress. It was great, especially for the kids who loved every second of it.
Amy was just that bit too young to participate in it this year so we were just spectators. But I think we may have a bash at it next year.
You can see more photos here
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In July of this year I shall be walking 78 miles in 6 days in aid of the Joseph Salmon Trust, a charity founded by my close friends in memorial to their son Joseph who died aged 3 in April of 2005. Please look here for further details and consider sponsoring me. Thank you.
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Any excuse for a party, right?
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The lanterns are gorgeous! Great photos.
DrunkenHoney~BlogHoppin’
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That is one of the coolest things…!
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Wow, an outdoor festival in February. That’s cool—literally.
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Looks like great fun as usual – shame I didn’t make it this year.
Did any lanterns catch fire this year? If it’s windy, a couple of them will have to be “returned to the water” for safety, with the only remains being a charred stick and a few tears.
very nice!!!
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Great photos. Sounds like a great festival.
Off to Flickr, then – I love local folklore.
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Well, that sounds interesting. We don’t have any local legends that colorful.
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Balancing Hops – Indeed, a week long one at that.
Honeybell – Yeah I was pretty pleased how the photo’s turned out. It was all down to my super doper new lens
Tracy – It is one of the many reasons we don’t really want to ever move out of the village.
Ed – It was a bit nippy
Oli – I didn’t see any flaming lanterns, but that isn’t to say it didn’t happen.
Arjan – Thank you
Jason – It is a great festival. And I shall hopefully be reporting from the Marsden Cuckoo festival shortly too.
(un)relaxeddad – I think there are about twenty villages in the UK with that same legend.
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Avitable – Just the one about the Florida crocodile that ate a pirates arm and they threw a clock into it to track it by it’s ticking.
Oh wait, that’s Peter Pan. I allways get you two mixed up.
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Oh – is it that time of year again?
Now I know why it took me so long to drive through Slawit on Saturday night.
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Rol – You old grump.
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A festival centered around a tale of whiskey smugglers outsmarting the authorities has got to be a lot of fun. What a funny story.
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