The Mr and I took ourselves off to a local village a few weeks ago to take a look at their well dressing offerings. Well dressings have a history deeply rooted in the tradition of honouring water sources and their natural world. Originally a pagan ritual and in my opinion it still is a pagan offering to the water gods. Large scale pictures entirely made of nature's bounty, what's not to like?
I think the Jane Austen well dressing is the best I have ever seen, absolutely wonderful in it's detail.
These particular dressings were in the village of Eyam, which is known nationally as a plague village. It is a well known story of the villagers cutting themselves off from contact with other folk during the worst of the bubonic plague, to halt the spread of the terrible disease. Very noble people. The village is considered almost as a 'museum' village with lots of interesting stories about the individuals who lived there at the time. It's no wonder they keep the well dressing tradition going.
Lovely photographs from the well dressing ... there are some wonderful traditions around and it's so lovely that people keep them going.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Yes it is Jan. And people visiting can make a donation to the village charities which is wonderful.
DeleteThese are incredible! I've never heard of this practice (I know, I know...you always are teaching me something new!) I thought they were amazing when I was looking at your photos but when I read that they were made of natural materials, I was doubly amazed. Wow! What a fascinating tradition and the village and its history sound equally so. (But I have to say, I think those old wells themselves - and those cats on the window ledge - stole my heart...)
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it's obvious from the pics but the dressings are about 8-10 feet high and 5-6 feet wide. The Austen one stopped me in my tracks. Lovely tradition.
DeleteI'd never heard of well dressing, what a wonderful tradition!
ReplyDeleteThe Jane Austen one is my favourite too! xxx