a different northern soul
December 28, 2017 10:47 PM Subscribe
No-one knows how, no-one knows why, but it's become a tradition in Wigan to take to the streets in fancy dress on Boxing Day night.
Some say it's a tradition started by German workers at the local Heinz factory, others claim a more ancient tradition derived from Elizabethan mumming. Regardless, costumes range from ridiculous to tasteless to downright clever.
2016 gallery
2013 gallery
2016 gallery
2013 gallery
Two Halloweens in one year? Sign me up!
posted by smallerdemon at 3:50 AM on December 29, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by smallerdemon at 3:50 AM on December 29, 2017 [4 favorites]
That Subbuteo costume is (very appropriately) asking for a broken ankle.
I love it.
posted by lmfsilva at 7:04 AM on December 29, 2017
I love it.
posted by lmfsilva at 7:04 AM on December 29, 2017
Mod note: A few comments removed, one link removed from the post. I'm going to split the difference here and both (a) acknowledge that the link to the person in the Nazi getup was quite probably a tasteless-as-advertised satirical dig at Prince Harry's own infamous Nazi cosplay dumbfuckery rather than someone being all gung-ho about Nazi cosplay on the face of it and (b) make the command decision to not have surprise links to jolly Nazi cosplay, however ambiguously rhetorically complicated, on the fucking front page. Carry on.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:10 AM on December 29, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:10 AM on December 29, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'd just like say as a former immigrant to England that a 'fancy dress party' invitation was the cause of some embarrassment. Once. And the source of teasing for about 5 years.
posted by srboisvert at 7:41 AM on December 29, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 7:41 AM on December 29, 2017 [4 favorites]
Why bring twelfth night into it? Have they never heard of Wren Boys? They have Irish people in Wigan too I assume?
posted by Iteki at 8:46 AM on December 29, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Iteki at 8:46 AM on December 29, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yep, the wran, the wran, the king of all birds, on St. Stephen's Day got caught in the furze.
Alternatively:
Dreoilín, dreoilín, dreoilín, dreoilííííín,
I'm begging of you please don't take my wran
It's a pretty universal thing - I was at a wedding in Latvia this year where they had a group showing up at the reception basically doing the same stuff. Same with mumming, guising, gombey etc.
posted by kersplunk at 11:47 AM on December 29, 2017 [2 favorites]
Alternatively:
Dreoilín, dreoilín, dreoilín, dreoilííííín,
I'm begging of you please don't take my wran
It's a pretty universal thing - I was at a wedding in Latvia this year where they had a group showing up at the reception basically doing the same stuff. Same with mumming, guising, gombey etc.
posted by kersplunk at 11:47 AM on December 29, 2017 [2 favorites]
Same with mumming, guising, gombey etc.
Now you’re just showing off! Thanks for posting that the wran, the wran link.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 5:56 PM on December 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
Now you’re just showing off! Thanks for posting that the wran, the wran link.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 5:56 PM on December 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by Bloxworth Snout at 2:29 AM on December 29, 2017 [1 favorite]