APPLETON Thorn’s Bawming Day returned for the first time in three years today.
The village ordinarily hosts the unique ceremony on the third Saturday of June each year in a tradition dating back to the 19th century.
But the event has not been held since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It made its return at midday today, Saturday, with scouts and brownie groups amongst those taking part in a procession around the area before primary school pupils danced around the thorn tree.
This was accompanied by an airing of the Bawming song, while a fair was also held in the village in order to mark the occasion.
A virtual Bawming was held online on Facebook during 2020 due to Covid-19, with a scaled-down event held in the grounds of Appleton Thorn Primary School last year as social distancing restrictions began to ease.
The tree is believed to be an offshoot of the Glastonbury Thorn, which was grown from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea.
Adam de Dutton, a knight of the Crusades, brought it to Appleton.
Bawming, which means decorating, involves adorning it with flowers and ribbons – with the village being the only place in England to hold such a tradition.
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