OT: The Brits are a little strange

Kismet

Kismet

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Jan 30, 2002
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http://www.cheese-rolling.co.uk/index.htm

What happens?

There are 4 downhill races (one is for ladies).
At the top of the hill, competitors (any number from 2 to a maximum of about 20) sit in a line and wait.


The Master of Ceremonies escorts an invited guest to the start line and helps him (or her) to sit on the precipitous slope, holding a 7-8lb. Double Gloucester cheese.
At the command (given by the M.C.) of....
'ONE to be ready!'
'TWO to be steady!'
'THREE to prepare!'......


....the guest 'roller' releases the cheese, which rolls down the hill,
The M.C. continues ...
......'and FOUR to be off!'


At this point the competitors hurl themselves down the slope after the cheese.
The first person to arrive at the foot of the hill wins the cheese.
Those who come second and third receive a small cash prize.


The slope has a gradient that is in places 1-in-2 and in others 1-in-1, its surface is very rough and uneven and it is almost impossible to remain on foot for the descent. Many minor injuries are incurred, but competitors (particularly the successful ones) enter again year after year.


There are 4 downhill races held at twenty-minute intervals, one of which is a ladies race.
Between the downhill races there are also uphill races, one for boys of 12 years and under, one for girls and an open race.
Obviously no cheeses are rolled, but a small cheese is the first prize for the winner of each race.


At the end of the proceedings, sweets are scattered on the hill for a children's 'scramble'.
In the past, buns, biscuits and cake have been used.


During the day, there is a box-collection among the public in aid of the year's nominated charity.


REAL CHEESES ARE USED!
(During the rationing period of 1941-1954 a wooden substitute was used, this had a small niche that contained a token piece of cheese.)
 
I'm there, one of these years. That's great. I hope tourists can enter.

Brian
 
Seems to rate about the same as Easter egg rolling on the strangeness scale, and with a great prize for the winner.
 
..and it is sabout as ancient a prectice. Most "rolling things down really big hills" rituals usually occur in spring, or between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It is an ancient European (peraps not exclusive to Europe, tho) ritual to celebrate the sun's turning, and the return of good weather. (the observable cycles of nature.

Common objects to roll down hill (sometimes with or on them) are wheels, cheese, logs, flaming wheels or logs (actually used to some extent in warfare), people, wicker balls or cylinders, and just about any other thing you can shove down a hill.

Easter eggs, wel that is a different but related mantter...

Keith
 
We might be mad,But we will always be there for our Yanky pals!!!:D :D.Not like the rest of europe ;) ;)
 
Kismet: The British are no stanger than some of the Fruitjob idiots here in America. Before our Nation becomes a morally absent, tacky example of all the worst behaviors, we should look to our British brothers for guideance on some things we dont care about any more...........
 
Ya mean like the old gods of our folk? I'm in!

Western culture is a blight to the east, but eastern relgion is a blight to the west, ifn ya ask me. Don't play well together.

Keith
 
Look here, ya talked about the feller who rolled the cheese down the hill, and the folks that chased madly after it, but the age old question still stands, "WHO CUT THE CHEESE?":eek: :rolleyes: :p

Sarge

p.s.: I have to agree with Pipey and Keith, when traditions are lost, often values are lost with them. Values and wisdom hard won by those who went before.
 
Heard on the radio last night - - - -

The Cheese rolling event for this year has been canceled.

The medical personnel who normally monitor this event due to the numerous injuries are not available for the event. They are in Algeria assisting with earthquake victims.
 
Bloody wanker poms... What kind of a daft git would toss a perfectly good gouda down a muddy embankment?

This is an outrage!! The Dutch should be up in arms over this mistreatment of one of their national symbols!

The cheese wheel deserves more respect!

:D :D :footinmou :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
rial this one. How about Grounhog's Day? This held in Punxatawney, PA each year, and folks turn out to observe the reactions of a groundhog (named Punxatawney Phil) to his shadow. This is a bizarre way of scrying the time at which spring will come.

Actually not so bizarre. Before techno gadgets were used for weather determination, one could observe the actions of animals to scry the weather conditions, and a great deal more, like food and water sources, etc. Tribal man knew all the tricks, he wasn't as silly as society would have you believe...

keith
 
and stopped off at a pub called "Ferret and Trouserleg". It celebrated the accomplishment of some lonely Englishman that walked quite a distance between towns with a live ferret down his pants. He had a belt around his waist and his trousers tied off at the ankle to insure that he was kept honest in his endeavor. Boy would PETA be after that daft bastard if he was alive today.
 
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