My regular look ahead to events happening next month that would probably be in my events guide, if only they weren’t happening outside the psychological barrier of the M25 motorway.
| New Year’s Morning Wheelbarrow Race | 1st Jan |
| Two man teams race in wheelbarrows around the town in the morning in a tradition thought to date back to the 14th century. | Ponteland, Northumberland |
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| Lanark Het Pint | 1st Jan |
| 350 year old tradition as local pensioners are allocated a glass of mulled wine and a one pound note, courtesy of the Royal Burgh Community Council | Lanark, South Lanarkshire |
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| New Year’s Day Bath Race | 1st Jan |
| The Pirates of Poole take to the water in a variety of unusual craft for the annual New Year’s Day Bath Race. | Poole, Dorset |
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| The Mari Llwyd | 1st Jan |
| The ancient tradition sees a horses skull draped in a white shroud and paraded through the town. | Llangynwyd, Glamorgan |
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| Mapleton Bridge Jump | 1st Jan |
| Competitors start with a 700-metre boat race and then take the 30ft plunge off Mapleton Bridge into the River Dove. | Mapleton, Derbyshire |
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| The Icicle Balloon Meet | 4th-5th Jan |
| Informal hot air balloon meeting – with on average around 100 balloonists. | Marlborough, Wilts |
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| Bodmin Wassail | 5th Jan |
| Dressed in top hats, dickie bows, waistcoats and tails Bodmin’s wassailers visit homes, public houses and shops on the 12th day of Christmas. | Bodmin, Cornwall |
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| Wassail and Ashen Faggot | 5th Jan |
| Burning the Ashen Faggot on Old Christmas Eve, is one traditional custom which has not died out thanks to the Curry Rivel Wassailers. The ceremony is practised to ensure good health and good harvest. | Curry Rivel, Somerset |
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| Apple Howling | 5th Jan |
| The proceedings begin at 6pm with a torchlight procession, followed by a noisy racket created by the crowd. | Bolney, West Sussex |
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| Twelfth Night Wassail | 6th Jan |
| Traditional parade through the town centre by the local Morris Dancers after the crowning of the Lord of Misrule | Guildford, Surrey |
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| Land Letting auction at Hubberhome Parliament | 6th Jan |
| Ancient annual auction of "poor pasture" owned by the Church held in the pub which doubled up as the vicar’s meeting place — the timing of the auction is based on a candle burning down. | Hubberholme, North Yorks |
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| The Haxey Hood | 6th Jan |
| Every year, villagers in Westwoodside and Haxey dress up to compete for possession of ‘the Hood’. This 700-year tradition started when Lady de Mowbray was out riding and a sudden gust of wind blew her hat off. | Haxey, Nth Lincolnshire |
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| The Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival | 10th-12th Jan |
| A parade around the local villages by a man dressed as a straw bear. | Whittlesea, Cambs. |
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| The Burning of the Clavie | 11th Jan |
| 10 men will take turns to parade the burning clavie (a burning barrel) around the town in the evening. | Burghead, Scotland |
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| Coleby Plough Jag | 11th Jan |
| Annual Plough/Mummers Play performed in the town centre with traditional fool and characters. | Gainsborough, Lincs |
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| Plough Tour | 11th Jan |
| Ancient local custom of Plough Bullocks parading their decorated plough through the Leicestershire villages accompanied by Molly Dancers. | Sharnford, Leicestershire |
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| Blessing of the Sea | 12th Jan |
| Nearly a 50 year old tradition by local churches to ensure the success of the year’s fishing fleet. | Margate, Kent |
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| Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb | 21st-23rd Jan |
| The festival celebrates the traditional links with rhubarb growing in Wakefield, while offering the finest and tastiest regional produce and showcasing the most talented local chefs. | Wakefield, Yorkshire |
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| Holly Holy Day | 25th Jan |
| For over 40 years the faithful troops of The Sealed Knot have gathered in the historic town of Nantwich, Cheshire to re-enact the bloody battle that took place almost 400 years ago and marked the end of the long and painful siege of the town. | Nantwich, Cheshire |
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| Katharine of Aragon Festival: Service of Commemoration | 31st Jan |
| This annual Commemorative Service features music by Tudor musicians Hautbois. The event will be attended by city dignitaries and local school children. | Peterborough, Cambs. |
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A correction on the 6th Jan 12th Night Wassail in Guildford you listed. It is a Mummers Play, not a Wassail, and there isn’t a parade. The play is performed in 5 of the town centre’s oldest pubs by Pilgrim Morris Men. Hope this helps.