Allendale Tar Bar'ling (Tar Barrels) New Year 2011

This is a fire custom welcoming in the New Year. A procession of Guizers in fancy dress parade through the village bearing aloft half-barrels filled with tar and flames which they then use to start a large bonfire on the stroke of midnight. The crowd join hands and sing Auld Lang Syne to the Brass Band then the locals go First Footing. It's quite a spectacle and there are often rumours that it will be suppressed for health & safety reasons but it hasn't happened yet -- long may it last! Find out more about this and other British Calendar Customs at calendarcustoms.com/

[@scottthomas2000]

For many years I've been interested in the folk customs of Britain. How wonderful to see this, and how delightful to see that the custom remains in practice.