I came across some photos online some time ago from British photographer Homer Sykes. They were taken in the early 1970’s and were images of traditional British countryside celebrations throughout the year. One in particular from Northumberland caught my eye. In black and white, it showed a group of people in capes and cloaks and all manner of costume carrying flaming short barrels as they marched. Without knowing anything about what or where it was from, you had the sense that this was derived from some sort of pagan ritual celebration. It piqued my interest.
Turns out it was from the village of Allendale and, while it has the appearance of some Norse festival of fire, dates back to 1858. It turns out that a band used to parade on New Years and used candles to light their music. But the winds of the season made this impractical and someone suggested using these tar lined barrels which would give off great light and be portable as well. Plus, it looked a pretty kickass thing to do to bring in the new year.
Over the decades it has turned into tradition. There are 45 marchers, called guisers, who maintain their positions hereditarily. They assemble early in the evening, adorned in all manner of costume,going from pub to pub in a Mummer-like procession. In the hour or so before midnight , they gather in the town square to have their annual roll call and prep their barrels. At 11:30, the barrels are lit and they begin their fiery march through the village, led by a small band of drums and brass. It is said to resemble a river of fire moving through the village.
They return to the town square and gather around a 14 foot mound of fir branches and with the words “Be damned to he who throws last” hanging in the air, they heave their 45 flaming barrels into it, setting it into a giant bonfire as the last seconds of the old year pass away.
Maybe this tradition doesn’t date back to the ancient times but the idea of of the old being burned away and the new rising from its ashes certainly is timeless. Set the past afire tonight. Have a happy New Year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtlWheActyQ
Redtree Times 
this would be a great tradition to witness in person! it makes our effigy-burning rituals seem quite tame! thanks! z
Yes, I think this must be quite remarkable to see.
What a great tradition, kind of a magical realism type celebration. It certainly makes us Americans seem quite tame gathered around a dropping ball.
In Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, they have a pickle that drops at midnight. Not too exciting either. Perhaps if it were a flaming pickle?
As wonderfully peculiar as this celebration is, it turns out not to be unique. There’s a very similar celebration held on November 5th in the Devon town of St Mary. Because of the date, it it may be linked to Guy Fawkes and the 1605 Gunpowder Plot but, like the Allendale event, the true origin may be lost to history.
Typo: The town’s name is Ottery St Mary.
Yes, I saw that celebration as well. They actually carry whole barrels and sometimes have incidents where the barrels fall from the shoulders of the carrier and roll into the crowd. The website warns potential onlookers about the dangers involved and tells them to stay home and keep their complaints to them themselves if a flaming barrel about which they are being warned frightens them.
I thought about Guy Fawkes Day, too. Those celebrations almost seem to be a combination of Z’s Ecuadoran traditions of effigy-burning and this barrel business.
I’m sure there’s no historical linkage, but there are some things which just seem to fascinate people – fire being one. The burning of the prairies in early America, the burning of the cane fields in Louisiana, the burning of rice fields in Liberia, the burning off of local wildlife refuges – all have a connection to renewal, and people seem to like to be involved, even as observers.