UNUSUAL BRITISH TRADITIONS and CUSTOMS

Every country has its own traditions and customs. The British are very proud of them and keep them very carefully. Some of them are rather strange and unusual.

Uniforms are characteristic of the traditions. The Lord Mayor of London rides through the streets of the city with his robe and gold chain in his medieval carriage.
Cambridge and Oxford students wear the mantle sample of the XVII century.
The warders at the Tower of London dressed in costumes of the times of the Tudors.
Judges and lawyers at the hearings certainly present in wigs sample of the eighteenth century.

Ravenmaster
The Ravenmaster is one of the Warders who has to take care of the Ravens at the Tower of London. Ravens have been living in the Tower of London since at least the time of King Charles II and legend says that the tower and the monarchy will crumble if these ravens ever leave the tower. In order to prevent the ravens from flying away, their wings are clipped slightly.

Town Crier’s Rivalry
Town criers from all parts of the country gather for the National Town Crier’s Championship. For the contest they wear their traditional ceremonial uniforms and carry their handbells. To enable the judges to determine who possesses the most powerful voice the competitors are rowed to a small island about 75 yards from them. From this little island they one by one make their cries and declaim a 150- word test piece.

Swan Upping
The census of swans takes place annually during July on the River Thames in a ceremony known as Swan Upping. Swans are counted and marked on a 70 mile, five day journey up the River Thames.

Veteran Car Run.
The veteran cars are set out on the London — Brighton run each November. There is a condition — every car taking part must be at least 60 years old. The London — Brighton ride is not a race. The main things in this tournament are the cars that represent the history of the country.

Ladies Day in Ascot
The Ascot is a famous English Racecourse. In each of the five days of racing weeks the lady supposed to wear a new hat, and the most extravagant of them on Thursday which is called as Lady's Day, the most popular day at Royal Ascot.

Straw Bear
The Straw Bear is the folklore tradition of parading a man dressed in straw around the streets. The Straw Bear Festival takes place every January.

Cheese Rolling
Cheese rolling is probably the strangest – and certainly the most spectacular of all Britain’s famous customs and traditions.
A group of brave (and crazy) people roll a large cheese down the hill, and then run down after it.

Pancake Day
Once a year it is a custom for women to cook flat cakes in a frying pan, and run down the street, throwing the pancakes into the air, and catching them in the pans. A pancake must be tossed three times during the race. The winner is a woman who comes first and doesn’t drop the pancake.

Red Nose Day
For one day Britain goes crazy. People all over the country (even police officers and teachers) wear red noses and do silly things. It’s the day when doing really stupid can raise loads of money for charity.

"Gurning World Championship"
Contestants put their heads through horse collar and create the ugliest, most grotesque faces they can manage.

Swimming in the swamp
Every year in August in the UK is the world championship of swimming in the swamp. Participants in the fins and breathing tubes for diving must swim through the swamp 60-meter distance. Proceeds go to charity.