How is the May Chimney Sweep Festival in England (Rochester). Rochester Chimney Sweep Festival - Magic Buttons of the Uniform Download about Chimney Sweep Day in England

One of the most extraordinary holidays in the world is the Chimney Sweep Festival, which takes place in the UK - in the city of Rochester every first of May.

The Chimney Sweep Festival is one of the most unique holidays. After all, this is not only a holiday of chimney sweeps, but also - that's strange! - and the Spring Festival. To understand this holiday, you need to know the attitude of the British towards chimney sweeps - and it is very specific.

Well, who is a trumpeter? Just a grubby worker with an immutable ladder, rope and whisk. However, in England, according to popular belief, it is considered a good omen to meet a chimney sweep, and therefore the British are always happy to meet a soot-smeared chimney sweep. Chimney sweeps were even specially invited to weddings and other important events to ensure their good luck.

And that is not all. After all, the craft of a chimney sweep has been shrouded in some strange mysticism, a mystery since ancient times. For example, in England, stories were often told about the missing children of rich and famous people, whom inconsolable parents searched for a long time and found among ... chimney sweeps. So the British treated chimney sweeps with respect - and suddenly it turns out that some significant person is hiding under the black soot, or the stepson of some wealthy lord or peer.

In addition, among ordinary people, it was believed that the hard work of a chimney sweep is a kind of test, after passing which, an ordinary chimney sweep can count on the favor of fate - the case will give the chimney sweep untold wealth or a high title.

In general, for the British, a chimney sweep is not just a profession, but a special sign of being chosen.

Unfortunately, at the present time, the profession of a chimney sweep has ceased to be relevant and important, and current chimney sweeps are not spoiled for work. Although there are still houses in England with stoves and fireplaces, which means that there is work for a chimney sweep. Nevertheless, there are at least six hundred chimney sweeps in the UK today.

Maybe even the British left the old houses with stoves and fireplaces solely so that the chimney sweeps had something to do, and ordinary people could please themselves with a happy omen - a meeting with a grubby chimney sweep.

And it’s understandable why the UK loves the Chimney Sweep Festival so much - after all, when else can you meet so many happy signs at once?

So May Day in Rochester is a special day, because it is here that the Chimney Sweep Festival takes place. On this holiday, a colorful procession with dances takes place in the city. “My lord” goes ahead, followed by a procession with “Jack-in-the-greens”, which personifies spring. With Jack-in-the-Green are teenagers dressed as clowns - they are somersaults and amuse people. Behind them come the lords and ladies, and the very last is the "milady", who collects the "treasury".

So if you want to visit one of the most unusual holidays and, in addition, receive a huge charge of happy omens, then it is better than Rochester on the first day of May, when the famous Chimney Sweep Festival takes place, it is better not to find a place.

"And unclean chimney sweeps - shame and disgrace," - that's, perhaps, all that comes to the mind of a modern person when mentioning representatives of this ancient profession. Meanwhile, the appearance and customs of mysterious people, literally laundering their money from soot, gave rise to many cultural responses. Chimney sweeps still live and work near us - and, of course, they are in the glorious traditions of England. Moreover: once a year they arrange a grandiose festival there!

"Twelve months in a year; but the most cheerful - May!", - so believed the careless robber Robin Hood. It is on the first of May, on the day of the so-called Jack-in-the-Green, that the streets of the city of Rochester, in Kent, are flooded with violent colors and cheerful exclamations: the chimney sweeps' holiday begins.

In fact, such festivals have existed for a long time. Even the old Dickens described these merry festivities in his "Essays of Boz" - but sadly stated that they were completely different: on the streets you will not meet real chimney sweeps at all; they are depicted by bricklayers, scavengers and other elements alien to the furnace business. Since then, there have been no more grimy cleaners, and in 1900 they stopped gathering altogether, and the festival somehow sunk into oblivion. But in 1980, in the old and venerable city of Rochester, it was decided to revive the tradition.

But now no one would complain about the fact that more than just chimney sweeps come to the festival. Revelers of all classes and professions gather from England and neighboring countries to look at people and show themselves: after all, now this is a festival folk costumes. A variety of outfits, dances and songs, orchestras of English folk instruments, from bagpipes to banjos - and, of course, fun drinking parties - that is the main essence of the festival today. And, what is especially gratifying, it is the costumed "chimney sweeps" that set the main note of the whole festival: mysterious, even mystical people in black bowlers and with grubby faces - but with a white-toothed smile and a carefree soul.

Rochester Chimney Sweep Festival: bright photos and videos, detailed description and reviews of the 2019 Rochester Chimney Sweep Festival event.

• Hot tours to the UK

Previous photo Next photo

Every year in the UK there is a noisy and fun party- Rochester Chimney Sweep Festival. It is celebrated on May 1 with a noisy and colorful procession with dances.

In medieval England, the profession of a chimney sweep was one of the most sought after - there are a lot of old houses, and in each of them the chimney must be cleaned regularly. Over time, a central heating system appeared, but chimney sweeps in this country are still treated with such respect that they even came up with a whole holiday in their honor.

In England, 600 chimney sweeps are still officially employed, who clean the pipes in the oldest houses.

The first festival of chimney sweeps was held in 1981. Then it was decided to start the procession at Rochester Castle - the highest in England, this tradition is still alive. The procession is certainly led by “my lord”, followed by “Jacks in green” - people with flowers and ribbons, dressed in all green, and immediately behind them are clowns and jesters who jump, grimace and amuse others. As you might guess, all this symbolizes the arrival of spring: greenery, the awakening of a new life, fun and joy. Following the jesters are "lords and ladies". They are dressed in chimney-sweep costumes and are always smeared with soot from head to toe. Well, the very last one is the “Milady” with a basket and collects change for donations to English chimney sweeps.

It is considered very good luck to tear off a button from a chimney sweep passing by, or at least touch it. This is a sure sign that fortune will soon turn around.

The procession ends with a big party with dancing at the maypole with beer and various delicious food.

There is still a legend in England that chimney sweeps are the lost children of very wealthy parents. Fate has prepared for them such a test - to work as a chimney sweep and learn hard work. However, in reality, homeless street children often became chimney sweeps in order to somehow earn a living. Therefore, special treats and entertainment are always prepared for all children on this holiday.

Practical information

Time: weekend in late April - early May.

Venue: Rochester, Kent, UK.

For a long time, the British believed that by tearing a button or a piece of fabric from a chimney sweep's clothes, one could find happiness in family life. To see a chimney sweep on the street or even in a dream is a great success. Therefore, even now, many newlyweds invite people of this old profession to their wedding.

The hard life of a chimney sweep

In medieval England, chimney sweeps were exclusively small children without parents. They were forced to climb into the chimney and brush the soot there with a brush. Falling down, the child could die or remain crippled. In the latter case, he was simply thrown out into the street. Chimney-sweep children were fed little to keep them thin and able to climb through the chimney, slept in attics and wore rags. They worked 6 days a week. It was only in the middle of the 19th century that the use of child labor to clean chimneys was prohibited at the legislative level. It was then that specialized teams of workers in this profession began to emerge.

Mysterious Chimney Sweeps

In ancient times, the profession of chimney sweeps was shrouded in some mystery. So, there were beliefs that noble lords and princes threw their unloved children into the street, where they became chimney sweeps. It was believed that such children were destined to go through many life tests in order to regain all their titles later. Therefore, in the old days it was not customary to treat such children impolitely or badly so that they would not retaliate later. True, this did not apply to the owners, who exploited their subordinates to the fullest.

Rochester Chimney Sweep Festival

On the first of May, many British and tourists come to the small town of Rochester for a festival dedicated to chimney sweeps. The meeting and the beginning of the exotic event takes place at Rochester Castle. On this day, a festive procession and folk dances take place along the main streets of the city. At the head of the whole procession is Milord, behind him is Jack-in-the-Green. It is so named for its bright green clothing made from leaves and tree branches. Jack symbolizes the spirit of spring and summer. Jesters and clowns rush after them, tumbling, followed by the lords and their ladies. Milady, who brings up the rear, collects the symbolic Treasury from donations.

Modern England and representatives of an unusual profession

Today in England there are only about 600 representatives of this profession. This is due to technical progress, because modern heating systems do not require cleaning pipes from soot and soot. But there are still many old houses in the kingdom that need the constant services of chimney sweeps. Their residents try to clean their chimneys as often as possible, thus paying tribute to the hard work of chimney sweeps in the past.

We always associate England with fog, many street lamps and a fireplace where firewood crackles! And here in the imagination there are pictures from the movie about the detective Sherlock Holmes, who, together with Dr. Watson, solve crimes, sitting by the fireplace.

In those days, the profession of a chimney sweep was very popular - all black and grimy, cleaning chimneys. With the development of modern heating systems, the need for the services of people in this profession has become unnecessary. But today in England chimney sweeps are treated with reverence and respect. Officially, 600 chimney sweeps are registered in the country, and today they clean chimneys.

There was a legend in England that chimney sweeps were the lost children of the rich people of the country, who had a difficult test of cleaning soot. Having passed which, chimney sweeps will find their family and happiness. It is considered a good omen to meet a chimney sweep in the English streets. They are even invited to weddings, so that they would give young people a happy and long life together!

That is why, every year in May, the Rochester chimney sweeps festival is held in England. Every year, crowds of tourists come here to watch this bright and unusual show, which lasts three days.

In terms of entertainment and brightness, this festival is in no way inferior to the holiday, or.

The celebration begins on the grounds of Rochester Castle. It is the tallest castle in England and was built during the Middle Ages. In those days, the castle was of particular importance in protecting the city and developing trade relations.

The most important event during the festival is a colorful procession along the main street of the city with songs and dances. This is not an ordinary procession and has a strictly defined structure. At first, the “my lord” passes, followed by the “green Jacks” - people dressed all in green with flowers and bright ribbons. These are symbols of spring, which people meet and rejoice in the renewal of nature.

And only after them do the jesters and dancing clowns rush to make them laugh. They tumble, sing songs and "infect" others with their positive.

Behind them solemnly come the lords and ladies. They are dressed in traditional clothes chimney sweeps and a mandatory attribute is soot on the face. And the more soot-stained the suit looks, the better next year will be!

There are so many chimney sweeps at this holiday that they made a separate parade for them, which stretches for many kilometers!

And the audience wants to touch the chimney sweep for good luck. And if you also tear off a button from him and pinch off a few bristles from a brush, then luck will never leave you.

Closes the procession of "milady", which collects symbolic donations to support the profession of chimney sweeps. Any person who chooses his own character can take part in this procession.

In addition to the procession and parade, various games are held at the festival and dancing around the May pole is a must.

It is known from history that small homeless children became chimney sweeps. Often at the age of four they climbed into the pipes, and clean them from soot. Therefore, children are not forgotten at the festival and separate entertainments and sweets are prepared for them.

When you travel around England in May, be sure to go to Rochester for the Chimney Sweep Festival. Maybe, touching a soot-stained person, happiness awaits you?