They say you should not air your dirty laundry in public, but residents of a village in Derbyshire have made it part of their annual carnival celebrations.
No, the people of Bonsall have not got their knickers in a twist - the quirky bunting made up of lines of underwear is hung up as part of a week-long series of events, which began in 1927 and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
People hang underwear out during the carnival in Bonsall
photo credit - Louise Stevenson
The display was originally started by an elderly resident and the village followed suit.
Louise Stevenson, secretary of the carnival committee, said: "I have a string of underpants on the front of my house and people will stop me and ask me why they're there... to be fair, I'd be asking the same question."
Various events including a fun run and a nature walk have been held as part of the carnival, which ended on Saturday 1st August.
The committee had to make a decision to cancel the usual firework display due to the risk of wildfires, which has now been rearranged for September along with its lantern display.
The unusual bunting was started by one local and others followed suit
photo credit - Louise Stevenson
In a cheeky twist while taking part in the "best dressed house competition" which dominated the village each year, Phillips and his late wife began stringing a line of bunting across the high street full of ladies corsets and old-fashioned underwear.
Phillips has been doing the undergarment arrangement for more than 30 years but it did not catch on until more recent times.
The wider change began three years ago when the carnival committee met to decide who would open the week-long celebration.
It chose Phillips and to honour him, it asked people who lived in the village to swap their regular bunting in order to hang out their smalls and the tradition stuck.
On her own underwear display, Stevenson said: "People think my husband's gone commando for weeks.
"We do have a gentleman who has the largest pair of pants you've ever seen... maybe someone can up that?
"We did think of having people match the bra to the lady but that hasn't happened yet."
She said the reaction had gone down well with tourists who visited the village and often had no clue what was going on.
"We do all things quirky here," she said.
"You see people from elsewhere taking photographs and I think it's one of the lovely things about this village."
Stevenson said the pants were being pulled down on Sunday evening to return next July for the carnival's 100th anniversary.
The Bonsall Carnival is held yearly starting on the last Saturday of July ... why not put it in your diary for next year!
Words and images from article seen here
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I've seen scarecrow festivals, cheese rolling championships, well-dressing and seaside and town carnivals, even worm charming championships but never an underwear carnival!
Have you experienced anything like this? Do please share your thoughts in the comments.
All the best Jan
28 comments:
That is too funny! This town has a great sense of humor!
Very interesting! Thank you for sharing, Jan! I hope you have a lovely week ahead.
Genial. Te mando un beso.
A fun tradition!-Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
...different!
That's just fun!
I remember seeing a 'bra fence' years ago when we went away on holiday but someone took offence and it was removed. It was all just a bit of fun. I'd love to see this carnival.
Very interesting, Jan... I wish you a nice Monday!
Strange but amusing tradition of hanging underwear like bunting. lol
That is quite something to be known for and to celebrate! Thank you for sharing this story!
Ha! The idea grew and along with it others things came into being. It shows Jan, how one person can make a difference. Thanks for the link which I've visited, and I wondered how that car got there under the bras!
This is great!
In the neighboring town, there’s plenty of that sort of thing at the carnival parade, too—it surprised me as well, but it’s just a bit of carnival fun!
People come up with such funny ideas *laughs*—thanks for posting this.
Have a great start to the week! Hugs Elke
That is funny! Take care, enjoy your day and the new week ahead.
That sounds such a lot of fun and a very different approach to bunting.
Interesting! Happy August to you.
Great idea. We should all do the same.
God bless.
Very interesting. Never heard of anything like that!! Thanks for sharing it.
I love that. Cute.
Only in the UK can this take place. I don't think it will catch on here Jan, Good fun though.
Hi Jan,
What a funny and interesting tradition for Carnival celebrations.
Have a great week
Warm regards and all the best!
This is a very quirky custom and would be surprising to come across unawares.
That is delightful and quirky.
Unusual but funny.
I've never seen an underwear bunting before, but it would certainly make a visit memorable. :)
i agree with last comment hehehe
I will have to say I have never heard of anything like that, sounds like they are a fun group of people.
This is really funny -- you wouldn't likely forget it!
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