Castleton Derbyshire Peak District Garland Ceremony Day Oak Apple

Castleton - Garland Day
Garland Day in Castleton is May 29th. On this day each year a huge garland of wildflowers is created and the 'Garland King and Queen' parade around the village on horseback wearing 17th century dress. The 'King' wears the Garland. Maybe 'wears' is the wrong expression, because the Garland is large and shaped like a cone, so it obscures the 'King' from the waist up - see the picture below. Typically the Garland weighs 25-30kg so the Garland King's task is quite an ordeal. The royal couple parade slowly around the village, stopping at every pub (of which there are many, though fewer than there once were). As they process, schoolchildren perform country dances in the procession.	Garland Day in Castleton
The Garland King	The parade eventually reaches the main square, where the garland is hoisted up to be placed on top of one of eight pinnacles on top of the church tower. May 29th is the anniversary if the Battle of Worcester, when Charles II hid in an oak tree, and it is traditional for the audience to wear sprigs of oak leaves in their lapels. However, the Garland tradition long pre-dates the Civil War period and is probably some sort of ancient fertility rite, though its exact origin is obscure. During the Commonwealth of 1650-60 the Garland Ceremony was proscribed, but was revived at the Restoration, which may explain the period dress and the oak leaves.

Castleton Chamber of Commerce

Castleton - Garland Day