This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-20692608
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Burning barrels for the Tar Barl Festival | Burning barrels for the Tar Barl Festival |
| (2 days later) | |
| By Francesca Williams BBC News | By Francesca Williams BBC News |
| While most will be sipping Champagne on New Year's Eve, 45 men spent the night with burning barrels filled with tar, sawdust, kindling and paraffin on their heads. | |
| The Tar Barl Festival has been Allendale's way of welcoming the new year for at least 160 years. | The Tar Barl Festival has been Allendale's way of welcoming the new year for at least 160 years. |
| The normally quiet village heaves with people - locals, visitors and the barrel-carrying "guisers" wearing fancy dress or a disguise. | The normally quiet village heaves with people - locals, visitors and the barrel-carrying "guisers" wearing fancy dress or a disguise. |
| A fiery procession swarms round the Northumberland village, returning to the square just before midnight to throw its barrels on to the waiting bonfire, setting it alight. | A fiery procession swarms round the Northumberland village, returning to the square just before midnight to throw its barrels on to the waiting bonfire, setting it alight. |
| Rod Milburn, who has been a guiser since he was 17, admits there is a level of fear. | Rod Milburn, who has been a guiser since he was 17, admits there is a level of fear. |
| "You're probably scared every time you do it," he said. "But the more years you do it the less scared you are. | "You're probably scared every time you do it," he said. "But the more years you do it the less scared you are. |
| "I wouldn't be anywhere else at new year." | "I wouldn't be anywhere else at new year." |
| Mr Milburn's father did it, his father-in-law and brother-in-law both do it and, he says, his son might take up the tradition. | Mr Milburn's father did it, his father-in-law and brother-in-law both do it and, he says, his son might take up the tradition. |
| Sylvia Milburn, his mother, is half hoping her grandson will not, just yet. | Sylvia Milburn, his mother, is half hoping her grandson will not, just yet. |
| 'Quite staggered' | 'Quite staggered' |
| Over the years she has watched her men anxiously, but would not dream of trying to stop them. | Over the years she has watched her men anxiously, but would not dream of trying to stop them. |
| "I find it quite emotional. It's a spectacle that you should see. To see all these men carrying blazing barrels - it's quite something." | "I find it quite emotional. It's a spectacle that you should see. To see all these men carrying blazing barrels - it's quite something." |
| Originally from Newcastle, she was "quite staggered by what happened" when she first saw the event. | Originally from Newcastle, she was "quite staggered by what happened" when she first saw the event. |
| "I couldn't believe it," she said. | "I couldn't believe it," she said. |
| Being a woman, she was destined to be a spectator - the guisers are always men. | Being a woman, she was destined to be a spectator - the guisers are always men. |
| In the 1950s, after great debate, special dispensation was granted to "one of a pair of maiden sisters" who had made a collection of guising costumes, some of which are still worn. | In the 1950s, after great debate, special dispensation was granted to "one of a pair of maiden sisters" who had made a collection of guising costumes, some of which are still worn. |
| "It was a serious business, having a lady carrying a barrel," said former committee chairman Hilton Walker. | "It was a serious business, having a lady carrying a barrel," said former committee chairman Hilton Walker. |
| No woman has been allowed to do it since. | No woman has been allowed to do it since. |
| Now 84, Mr Walker carried a barrel every year since 1946, and only recently swapped it for a lighter, but still flaming, torch. | Now 84, Mr Walker carried a barrel every year since 1946, and only recently swapped it for a lighter, but still flaming, torch. |
| "Once the barrels are alight the whole village is illuminated," he said. | "Once the barrels are alight the whole village is illuminated," he said. |
| Distillery cast-offs | Distillery cast-offs |
| The origins of the festival are unclear, with claims for both pagan and Christian roots. | The origins of the festival are unclear, with claims for both pagan and Christian roots. |
| Mr Walker said they can only definitively date it back to the mid 1800s, though some say it harks from the Middle Ages. | Mr Walker said they can only definitively date it back to the mid 1800s, though some say it harks from the Middle Ages. |
| Bah'l, Bahl, Bar'l and Baal - the spellings are various - is a contraction of 'barrel'. | Bah'l, Bahl, Bar'l and Baal - the spellings are various - is a contraction of 'barrel'. |
| The yearly need for these barrels for the festival meant that people took to "borrowing" them, said Mr Walker. | The yearly need for these barrels for the festival meant that people took to "borrowing" them, said Mr Walker. |
| Barrels used for tar, water, washing - even flowers - were "vulnerable" to theft. | Barrels used for tar, water, washing - even flowers - were "vulnerable" to theft. |
| In the mid 1950s, a large number were stolen from the site of road repairs in nearby Alston, attracting attention from police. | In the mid 1950s, a large number were stolen from the site of road repairs in nearby Alston, attracting attention from police. |
| "An awful lot of barrels were parked by the side of the road, empty of tar of course, and they mysteriously came across to Allendale," said Mr Walker | "An awful lot of barrels were parked by the side of the road, empty of tar of course, and they mysteriously came across to Allendale," said Mr Walker |
| He said the police had a "shrewd" idea where they had gone and made it known they must be returned or there would be consequences. | He said the police had a "shrewd" idea where they had gone and made it known they must be returned or there would be consequences. |
| A committee was formed to co-ordinate a search for a legitimate supply and they discovered the bounty of whisky distillery cast-offs. | A committee was formed to co-ordinate a search for a legitimate supply and they discovered the bounty of whisky distillery cast-offs. |
| 'Very responsible' | 'Very responsible' |
| The festival is held in all weathers. | The festival is held in all weathers. |
| "Come wind, snow or hail, you've just got to do it," said Kevin Lee, a guiser for about 25 years. | "Come wind, snow or hail, you've just got to do it," said Kevin Lee, a guiser for about 25 years. |
| "It takes a bit of skill and getting used to." | "It takes a bit of skill and getting used to." |
| He has only been burned once - when a spark fell on an ill-judged synthetic costume. | He has only been burned once - when a spark fell on an ill-judged synthetic costume. |
| Potential candidates to carry the barrels are vetted by the committee for "suitability" and receive training to make sure they are strong enough. | Potential candidates to carry the barrels are vetted by the committee for "suitability" and receive training to make sure they are strong enough. |
| "They're pretty heavy these things," Mr Walker said. "And on fire at the time." | "They're pretty heavy these things," Mr Walker said. "And on fire at the time." |
| A few years ago the festival attracted attention from health and safety officials. The bonfire is now fenced off and the parade has marshals with fire extinguishers. | A few years ago the festival attracted attention from health and safety officials. The bonfire is now fenced off and the parade has marshals with fire extinguishers. |
| Northumberland Fire and Rescue are on standby just in case, but they say they have never once been called to an incident at the event. | Northumberland Fire and Rescue are on standby just in case, but they say they have never once been called to an incident at the event. |
| "Everyone behaves in a very responsible manner," said Mr Walker. | "Everyone behaves in a very responsible manner," said Mr Walker. |
| In all the years the festival has been going, no-one has been hurt. | In all the years the festival has been going, no-one has been hurt. |