Top Ten Forgotten North East Traditions

Durham Miner's Gala, by paul-simpson.org [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Durham Miner’s Gala, by paul-simpson.org [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

From the annual Durham miner’s gala to egg jarping in Peterlee, the North East has several old customs and festivals that are celebrated to this day. However, many other regional traditions are now forgotten. Here is a list of the top ten North East traditions and events from the past that you may not have heard of before, as uncovered by the project:

  1. Dancing with Oxen
  2. Durham’s Boy Bishops
  3. Mother Naked
  4. Rotten Ridiculous Robes
  5. Slaying the Sockburn Worm
  6. The Big Minstrel Gig
  7. The Dance of Death
  8. The Hell Mouth
  9. The Man-Eating Dragon of Durham
  10. The Oldest Play from Britain