Whaddon has a Whitsun tradition seemingly unlike any other in the UK
At some point in the past, a practice developed of men going round the village singing a special song on and around Whitsun time. These men held aloft oak branches, and waved them at various points.
This tradition fell out of use in the early 20th century. However, knowledge of it was kept alive in the village, and it was revived in a slightly updated form in 2005. For readers not accustomed to the British term Whitsun, it is a name used to refer to the Church festival of Pentecost, seven weeks after Easter Sunday. Whitsun comes from White Sunday, which has several possible origins, one of which is that white vestments were worn by the clergy on that day.
The date of Whit Sunday varies each year, as it is tied into Easter and Lent. It is very important to remember that it is NOT necessarily the late May Bank Holiday weekend (still erroneously called Whitsun by many). In 2025, it’s Sunday 8th June.
Events taking place in Whaddon this year:
Friday 6th–Sunday 8th June: Beer festival,Whaddon Golf Centre
Saturday 7th June: Folk evening, Whaddon Village Hall 7-11pm – Folk music, ceilidh dancing and Morris dancing, and a performance of the unique Whaddon Whitsun song!
Tickets £16 Adults £14 concessions, to include all food and drink
Sunday 8th June:
10.15am Whitsun processions around Whaddon with Morris dancing at six locations by five different Morris teams
12.30pm Pentecost service at St Mary’s church Whaddon, with Morris dancing in the church and singing of the Whitsun song
1.30pm Dancing at the Whaddon Golf Centre
