The Egremont Crab Fair – one of the oldest fairs in the world – takes place on the third Saturday in September on the Cumbrian coast in north-west England.
The fair was first held in 1267, to celebrate the generosity of the Lord of Egremont, who gave crab-apples to the poor. These are small and often sour-tasting wild apples. So the fair always starts with the Parade of the Apple Cart, and apples are thrown to the crowds.
There are various sporting events during the day, including Cumberland wrestling, an ancient and traditional local sport. Each wrestler locks his hands behind his opponent’s back and tries to lift him up and throw him to the ground to land face-up.
The events end with the World Gurning Championships where contestants compete to make the most grotesque and silliest facial expressions possible. ‘Gurning’ is the name for such face-pulling. It is thought the sport comes from the faces the locals made when they tried to eat the sour crab apples. Contestants frame their face with a horse collar known as a braffin.
This year’s Egremont Crab Fair takes place on 17 September. The World Gurning Championships start at 6pm.
Baybarrow Sports Field, Orgill, Egremont, Cumbria
Website: www.egremontcrabfair.com
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