7 festive traditions from across the UK

Across the UK, winter has long been a season rich with ritual, storytelling, and communal celebration. While Christmas dominates the modern calendar, many older traditions continue to shape how people mark the darkest months of the year. These customs, often rooted in pre-Christian beliefs or centuries-old local practices, reveal a tapestry of regional identity and a shared desire to welcome light, warmth, and good fortune into the new year. Below, we explore 7 of these enduring and enchanting festive folk traditions from across the country.

Mari Lwyd (Wales)
One of Britain’s most striking midwinter customs, the Mari Lwyd involves a horse’s skull mounted on a pole, decorated with ribbons, baubles, and a white cloak. This eerie yet beautiful figure is carried from house to house by a group who challenge residents to a battle of improvised verse. These lively poetic duels, known as pwnco, decide whether the Mari and her entourage gain entry for food and drink.
Rooted in pre-Christian rites of the New Year, the Mari Lwyd embodies the blurred line between the living and the otherworldly during midwinter, as well as the Welsh love of humour, wordplay, and community gathering.

Christingle Candles
The Christingle, made from an orange decorated with sweets, a red ribbon, and a small candle, was first introduced to Britain by the Moravian Church in the 18th century. Today, it is a familiar part of Advent services, especially those involving children. Each part of the Christingle symbolises a different aspect of spiritual life or the natural world, but beyond its symbolism, the event itself fosters a sense of warmth, community, and shared reflection. The glow of hundreds of small candles held in a darkened church remains one of the most atmospheric sights of the season.

Plough Monday (First Monday of the New Year)
Historically marking the end of the Christmas period and the resumption of rural labour, Plough Monday was once a practical necessity; farmers would parade their ploughs through local villages to collect money for communal feasts or to maintain equipment. The day often featured folk plays, dances, masked performers, and the humorous “Bessy” characters who demanded coins in exchange for entertainment. Though less widespread today, communities across England have revived Plough Monday to honour agricultural heritage and bring life to the quiet days of early January.

Mistletoe and Ivy
Long before their Christian associations, mistletoe and ivy held deep significance in winter rituals. Mistletoe, revered by Druids for its healing and protective qualities, was believed to bring luck, fertility, and harmony. Ivy symbolised resilience and eternal life, surviving even as other plants withered in the cold. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe likely traces to Norse mythology, where the plant represented peace and reconciliation.

Together, these evergreens speak to humanity’s ancient desire for hope and renewal during the darkest days of the year.

Montol Festival (Penzance, Cornwall)
The Montol Festival, revived in the early 2000s, celebrates Cornwall’s rich midwinter heritage. Rooted in the traditions of guise dancing, solstice bonfires, masks, and lanterns, Montol has quickly become a major cultural event. Each Winter Solstice, Penzance glows with processions, fire rituals, music, and elaborate costumes, culminating in the lighting of the Montol fire. The festival is both a reimagining and a revival, offering a communal reminder of Cornwall’s distinct identity and the ancient connection between fire and the turning of the year.

Hoodening and Mummers’ Plays (Kent and Beyond)
In Kent, Hoodening was traditionally performed by farmworkers at Christmas time using wooden hobby horses. The troupe would visit households, offering songs, jokes, and blessings in exchange for food or drink. Closely linked are Mummers’ plays, performed across Britain in winter. These comedic folk dramas typically involve themes of death, rebirth, trickery, and good fortune. Characters such as St George, the Doctor, the Fool, and the Horse often appear, blending humour with ritual symbolism.

Wassailing
Wassailing is a spirited orchard-blessing ritual most commonly associated with the West Country. Taking place around 12th Night, roughly 5th January, villagers gather in apple orchards to sing, drink warm spiced cider, light fires, and make noise to wake the trees from winter slumber. Bread soaked in cider is placed in the branches as an offering, and libations are poured onto the roots. The goal is to ensure a healthy apple harvest for the autumn ahead.