We enjoyed an ancient New Year’s Eve (or Old Year’s Night) custom for the first time in several years, finding ourselves in Allendale, home of Grandma and the pagan Tar Bar’l celebrations. Local men dress up as “guisers” and process around the village, carrying flaming tar barrels on their heads, accompanied by an eclectic mix of musicians. As midnight approaches, the barrels are thrown into the fire in the village square to “burn the old year out”. Luckily, it was a still night. When it’s windy, everyone holds their breath that the roof of the Co-Op doesn’t catch fire again!
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