Traditions Collection

Opening of the Anglesey Hunt
An opening custom of the Anglesey Hunt, whereby hot coppers or small change (heated in a bucket by the fire) are thrown from the balcony of the Bulkeley Arms Hotel following the hunt ball

Fox hunting - riders and their dogs
Fox hunters in traditional red jackets ride out on a hunt, accompanied by their hounds. Painting by Malcolm Greensmith

Old English Proverbs and Sayings by Pauline Baynes
A staggering 149 sayings illustrated on one page by Pauline Baynes, all played out by a huge cast of medieval characters

New Year fireworks, Funchal harbour, Madeira, Portugal
An impressive firework display at Funchal harbour, Madeira, celebrating the arrival of the New Year

1930S Snooker Game
A snooker player prepares to play a shot as his partner looks on. Their smart attire reflects the gentlemanly traditions of the game

Pragues Old Town Square Christmas Market viewed from the Astronomical Clock during blue hour, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Prague, Czech Republic, Europe

Rachenitsa Dance, 1894 by Ivan Mrkvicka (1856-1938). National Gallery Kvadrat 500, Sofia. Bulgaria

Spectacular New Years Eve Fireworks and London Eye, London
New Years Eve Fireworks, London

The Rynek (Market Square) and the Old Town Hall. This medieval market square is one of the largest in Europe. Wroclaw, Poland

African warrior at ngoma, Mombasa, Kenya, East Africa
African warrior at a ngoma (traditional music and dance festival) in Mombasa, Kenya, East Africa. 1924

Picture No. 10921789
Christmas Pudding Cat - Exotic short-haired tortoiseshell. Cat made to look like a traditional Christmas Pudding Digital Manipulation.. Date:

Guard wearing a bearskin hat at the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, London
Pageantry of guardsmen on parade at the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II during the Celebrations in London

Will Mellor at the World Custard Pie Championships 2012

Longest Day at Stonehenge, Wiltshire
People gathering at Stonehenge, Wiltshire on the longest day of the year, on or near 21 June 1912. This photograph shows a daybreak pilgrimage by members of The Universal Bond of the Sons of Men

Golf Clubs and Golfers - Royal Blackheath dinner
Annual dinner of the Royal Blackheath Golf Club by Mel; the club was founded in 1608. Date: 1938

Snake charmer playing flute-like instrument, snake emerging from basket in front

India, Kerala, row of elephants decorated with golden headdress and umbrella for the Pooram Festival, low angle side view

Doggetts Coat and Badge Race, River Thames, London
Watermen on duty at the end of Doggetts Coat and Badge Race on the River Thames. They are wearing the livery of the Fishmongers Company

Christmas Cookery C1905
Preparing the Christmas dinner for all the family, not forgetting the kitten and the Household Gnome

First Authenticated Christmas Tree - Strasbourg
Christmas Tree in History and Legend: The Earliest Authenticated Christmas Tree in Strasbourg (at this time in Germany). A merchant of Strasburg (a Mr Forbes)

Horse, Irish Cob (Gypsy Pony), pulling traveller caravan, heading towards Appleby Horse Fair, along A683 between Sedbergh and Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, England, June

Maypole dancing in the village of Paul, Cornwall
Adults and children dancing round a maypole in the village of Paul, near Penzance in Cornwall, with the tower of the parish church on the right. A crowd of people stand watching them

George V presenting colours to Irish Guards
King George V presenting new colours to the Irish Guards at Buckingham Palace

Will Mellor at the World Custard Pie Championships 2012

French Basque wedding
The delivery of the future spouses furniture to the Bridegrooms house. Date: circa 1908

Royal visit to Henley Regatta by State Barge
King George V, Queen Mary and Princess Mary attending the Henley Regatta in the Royal Barge. The barge was built in 1689 by William III for his Consort, Queen Mary

Hanging Stockings
Three girls take off their stockings and hang them on the mantelpiece for Santa to fill

Chester Town Crier, Mike Chittenden, at his first cry of the season. 2nd April 1991

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II rides on horseback through The Mall in Central London during the annual Trooping of the Colour Ceremony. 14th June 1969

Ken Dodd with his Diddymen after after switching on the Christmas lights in the centre of Liverpool. 26th November 1970

Screen with spring and summer flowers, 1701-1749
7202682 Screen with spring and summer flowers, 1701-1749 by Shiko, Watanabe (1683-1755); 173, 5 x 62 cm; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, UK; (add.info.: Screen with spring and summer flowers)

Screen with spring and summer flowers, 1701-1749
7202681 Screen with spring and summer flowers, 1701-1749 by Shiko, Watanabe (1683-1755); 173, 5 x 62 cm; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, UK; (add.info.: Screen with spring and summer flowers)

The Christmas tradition in England is stronger than the crisis (colour litho)
2778113 The Christmas tradition in England is stronger than the crisis (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

Nigerian women, wearing feathered headdresses and traditional costumes, perform at Enugu Stadium for Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh during their tour of Nigeria

A candle-lit dinner for two at the Martini International Restaurant in Holloway Bank, Wednesbury, west Midlands. 6th February, 1979

A typical gypsy family at the door of their caravan at the 700 year old fair at Yarm. 20th October 1936

Beating of the bounds of the Manor and Parish of Hendon. 7 year old Adrian Reid being bumped on stile at boundary of Totteridge, hub and the Old Parish and Manor of Hendon. August 1946 P005015

Churchkhela, a traditional Georgian sweet candy made from grape must, nuts and flour, Tbilisi (Tiflis), Georgia

Easter Egg decorated with beads, folklore, traditional Hungarian

Royal Family at Christmas Service, 1969
Members of the Royal family leave St. Georges Chapel, Windsor after attending the Christmas service there. In the foreground is Queen Elizabeth II holding the hand of her youngest son

Greenwich from Blackwall Reach, c.1830-40 (oil on canvas)
7337801 Greenwich from Blackwall Reach, c.1830-40 (oil on canvas) by British School, (19th century); 55.9x77.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Thousands of villagers line the streets of Atherstone for the traditional Shrove Tuesday ball game. The 700-year-old game, which has often been marred by jostling and shoving

Dr. Thomas Maughan, Chief Druid at the dawn ceremony of the summer Solstice celebrations at Stonehenge. June 1968 P004977

Handmade wooden polish jews in Krakow. Poland

Illuminated cherry blossom Sakura along the Meguro River in Tokyo, Japan
Illuminated cherry blossom Sakura along the Meguro River at night in Tokyo, Japan

Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree, fountain and reflection, London
Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree and fountain, Trafalgar Square, London

Two Young Jewish girls play cards - Christmas Eve - Russia
Two Young Russian Jewish girls spend christmas Eve (Epiphany Evening) playing cards. With Torah study off the table for the evening, a number of traditions developed as to how to spend ones night

Banquet des Chevaliers de l Ordre du Saint-Esprit donne au chateau de Fontainebleau le 14 mai 1633, French School. The Knights of the Order of the Holy Spirit sit at two long tables

Mistletoe Christmas Decorations in Covent Garden, London
First sight of the new Covent Garden Mistletoe Christmas Decorations in London as they are installed in the market. The hanging boughs of mistletoe make a nice change to the giant xmas tree baubles

Lanterns and candles reflected in a pool with a Buddha stature for the Loy Krathong Festival at Wat Phan Tao Temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Covent Garden Market Christmas Decorations and Lights, London, England
Xmas Tree at the Covent Garden Market Christmas Decorations and Lights, London, England

Blind Mans Buff
Children playing Blind Mans Buff at a Christmas party

BLACK WOMAN, 1875-1876 (oil on canvas)
7215227 BLACK WOMAN, 1875-1876 (oil on canvas) by Repin, Ilya Efimovich (1844-1930); State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia; (add.info.: Late 1875--early 1876 Oil on canvas L This painting)

Pearly King, Pearly Queen and daughter, North London
Pearly King, Pearly Queen and daughter, riding in a cart drawn by a mule, North London. Date: 1922

A gaucho of the Estancia Bonanza looking at Mount Fitz Roy, El Chalten, Argentina. (MR)

Pets at Herne Bay carnival. The Daily Mirrors Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. Herne Bay, Kent. 25th August 1922

Cilla Black outside the Birmingham Hippodrome theatre, where she was performing in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk. 18th October 1983

Arthur Askey and Dickie Henderson appear in Cinderella at the Birmingham Hippodrome. 3rd January 1973

Beheaded Guy at the Tower of London. The only place where a Guy with such a head is appreciated is outside the Tower, well thats their story

Town Criers - Town Crier Championships Llandovery. Graeme Smith, Town Crier for Llandovery practising his cry. 29th April 1995

Jack Wilding, head cheesemaker at Minsterley Creameries, 12 miles from Shrewsbury, who gains the MBE for boosting production 35% in the 12 Years he has held his position

Tatler front cover, Fourth of June at Eton, 1955
Tatler front cover featuring an illustration of the traditional Fourth of June celebrations at Eton College with parents and siblings gathered for the speeches, food

Dean and Adams Revolving Rifle (engraving)
7181498 Dean and Adams Revolving Rifle (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dean and Adams Revolving Rifle)

Hawick Common Riding 1947
The ceremony of Hawick Common Riding, showing horses in procession at St Leonard s, where dish of curds and cream is taken 1947

Boy and girl in paper hats pull a cracker at the party table Date: circa 1929

Horn Dance, Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, England, UK

Facade of a restaurant in the Old Town Market Place (Rynek) in Warsaw, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Poland

Picture No. 11675818
Local Dancers performing a traditional dance with Virunga Mountains in the background. Date:

Guardsmen marching at the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, London
Pageantry of guardsmen marching and on parade at the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II during the Celebrations in London

Proposal on a leap year
A woman proposing to her boyfriend on Valentines Day during a leap year - the only occasion by tradition that this is allowed !

George V presenting new standards to Household Cavalry
King George V presenting new standards to the Household Cavalry on Horse Guards Parade, Central London

Oak Apple Day at Chelsea Hospital
Lord Roberts takes the salute of the Chelsea Pensioners as they march past the statue of Charles II, which is covered with oak branches in honour of Oak Apple Day

Girl & Grandfather Clock
Is it Christmas yet ? - an impatient girl inspects the grandfather clock with her candle

Frances Densmore, US anthropologist
Frances Densmore (left, 1867-1957), US ethnologist, using a phonograph (left) to record the voice and stories of Mountain Chief, a Native American from the Piegan tribe

Recipe for Pudding
Recipe for Christmas Pudding using McDougalls Flour

Caravan of life
Trevor Cole

The wedding procession by Pieter Brueghel II the Young known as Brueghel d
JLJ4602647 The wedding procession by Pieter Brueghel II the Young known as Brueghel d Enfer (Breughel, Bruegel or Breugel) (1564-1638) 17th century by Brueghel

The Dunmow Flitch of Bacon Custom, Examination of Candidates in the Town-Hall, at Great Dunmow (engraving)
1608063 The Dunmow Flitch of Bacon Custom, Examination of Candidates in the Town-Hall, at Great Dunmow (engraving) by English School

Jewish market on the East Side, New York, c. 1890-1901 (b / w photo)
862678 Jewish market on the East Side, New York, c.1890-1901 (b/w photo) by Detroit Publishing Co. (1880-1920); Private Collection; American, out of copyright

The Communion of the Virgin, 1663 (oil on canvas)
JEB4882123 The Communion of the Virgin, 1663 (oil on canvas) by Gimignani or Gemignano, Giacinto (1611-81); 221x172 cm; Palais de Longchamp, Marseille, France; eJean Bernard; Italian, out of copyright

Fashions at Henley Regatta. Woman in a punt, smoking a cigarette. 1926

Mayor Leonard D. V. Wordingham and lady mayoress ride the dodgem cars at the Reach Fair, May 18th 1959 In 1201 King John granted a charter for the holding of a fair in Reach

A view of a village pancake race in action. February 1951 P005030

A group of French actresses enjoy a performance by a local belly dancer during a night out in Marrakech, Morocco December 1952 C5929-027

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"Preserving the Essence: Celebrating Timeless Traditions Around the World" The thrill of tradition echoes through the English countryside as riders and their loyal dogs embark on a spirited fox hunting adventure. Immerse yourself in Bulgarian culture as you witness the captivating Rachenitsa Dance, an ancient folk tradition that has mesmerized generations. Prague's Old Town Square Christmas Market comes alive with twinkling lights and joyful laughter, enchanting visitors from all corners of the globe. Welcome the New Year with a bang. Marvel at the breathtaking fireworks illuminating Funchal harbor in Madeira, Portugal, creating a dazzling spectacle for all to behold. Uncover wisdom passed down through generations with "Old English Proverbs and Sayings, " beautifully illustrated by Pauline Baynes – timeless words that still resonate today. Step back in time to 1930s elegance as snooker players engage in a thrilling game, showcasing both skill and camaraderie amidst billiard halls' nostalgic ambiance. London bids farewell to another year with a grand display of fireworks against the iconic backdrop of the London Eye – an unforgettable celebration marking new beginnings. Witness history come alive as guards donning bearskin hats stand tall during Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, symbolizing centuries-old traditions upheld by British royalty. Lose yourself in Krakow's vibrant Rynek (Market Square) where history intertwines seamlessly with modern life; explore its charming streets while admiring its majestic Old Town Hall standing proud amidst it all. Journey into East Africa's heartland and be captivated by Mombasa's ngoma ceremony—a powerful display of African warrior traditions celebrating strength, courage, and unity. Mesmerized by his melodic tunes, watch in awe as a snake charmer weaves magic through music while coaxing serpents from their baskets, an ancient art form that continues to intrigue.