Ottery St Mary Carnival - a tradition dating back 400 years.
I spent the weekend down in Devon in the small town of Ottery St Mary. Every bonfire night local people perform a bizarre ritual in which they run through the streets carrying lit tar barrels.
It's a pretty dangerous looking activity. There is a fire engine on stand by and a hoard of St Johns Ambulance people. I haven't heard of or seen anyone get seriously hurt. This year I saw one of the barrel rollers use his head to support the barrel causing his hair to catch fire. He didn't seem to notice but luckily his friends quickly patted it out!
It is a unique and fascinating experience. However, as the ominous yellow signs that dot the town say, you go at your own risk.
Below is a short video I found on YouTube, which gives a feel for the event:
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