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Research Problems

edited August 2015 in - Writing Problems
Hi everyone.

My story is set in a village and I'm wanting to research activities and festivities that a village might hold during the course of a year. Does anybody know where I might find this information? I have tried researching on the internet and that hasn't led me anywhere. I thought there might be some books to read. If anyone has any links or ideas of what goes on in a village, please let me know.

Thanks.

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Comments

  • Why not select a real village of an appropriate size and google it? Most local communities have websites with events listed.
  • edited August 2015
    The village where my children live is full of activities - Google Hurstpierpoint Village Fair, Theatre, Film Club, Historical Society etc.

    ps - it's in West Sussex
  • edited August 2015
    Are you talking a contemporary setting, or historical?

    Some villages continue special days and festivals that relate to specific events in their history, or the founding of the village. You could make something up even.
  • I just typed 'Village calendar' into Google.
    This was the first result:

    http://www.ruralcc.org.uk/upcomingevents.html
  • edited August 2015
    Contemporary. I've googled the two vilages that I live closest to and can't find anything on them, specifically if they have a Christmas festival or not. Christmas is approaching in my story and my main character has just moved in with her cousin there. I thought she could be introduced to the villagers there.
  • If the village has a primary school they could be having a Christmas fete which is a great opportunity to meet villagers.
  • My small town (very small) has an event where the Christmas lights are switched on and the vicar hosts carols, says a few prayers etc. Santa arrives, shops stay open and serve nibbles and mulled wine. One shop even has a few reindeer outside.
  • My small town (very small) has an event where the Christmas lights are switched on and the vicar hosts carols, says a few prayers etc. Santa arrives, shops stay open and serve nibbles and mulled wine. One shop even has a few reindeer outside.
    Sounds like my village. That's what I was looking for, but I didn't know whether it existed or not.
  • Ours is held on the first Thursday in December.
  • I live in a village. There are 80 clubs and groups. From Church clock-winders to several women's groups, two book groups, sewing, choirs, (at least four) history, gardening, WI, group to look after the Old Schoolroom (which belongs to the village), just loads of them.

    We have a village society. The one in our village was formed to sustain a feeling of community and was set up in the 60s when people noticed that there were a lot of commuters into the cities and people weren't communicating and socialising with each other, and to stop it becoming the sort of place where people don't even know their neighbours.

    The society runs a fete or similar each year, fireworks display, various entertainments like barn dances, and a duck race which people pay a pound for a little yellow duck with a number on and then they are all tipped in the river. first wins a prize. You can also decorate your duck, and there are prizes for the best duck by each age group and by businesses as well. It raises the money to do the fireworks and other things as well.
  • Oh, yes forgot the Christmas fair. That is BIG. Big tree, all sorts of stalls, Father Christmas, all the shops 'do' something like roast chestnuts, we sing there (I'm in a choir) , everything is decorated and lit, the children have games...
  • I live in a village. There are 80 clubs and groups. From Church clock-winders to several women's groups, two book groups, sewing, choirs, (at least four) history, gardening, WI, group to look after the Old Schoolroom (which belongs to the village), just loads of them.

    We have a village society. The one in our village was formed to sustain a feeling of community and was set up in the 60s when people noticed that there were a lot of commuters into the cities and people weren't communicating and socialising with each other, and to stop it becoming the sort of place where people don't even know their neighbours.

    The society runs a fete or similar each year, fireworks display, various entertainments like barn dances, and a duck race which people pay a pound for a little yellow duck with a number on and then they are all tipped in the river. first wins a prize. You can also decorate your duck, and there are prizes for the best duck by each age group and by businesses as well. It raises the money to do the fireworks and other things as well.
    Oh, yes forgot the Christmas fair. That is BIG. Big tree, all sorts of stalls, Father Christmas, all the shops 'do' something like roast chestnuts, we sing there (I'm in a choir) , everything is decorated and lit, the children have games...
    This all sounds great, Liz.

    Thanks for all your suggestions. May I use some of yours and Baggy Books?

  • LizLiz
    edited August 2015
    Yes, to mine. Here is a link to the Society Duck Race page, on their website. You should be able to get all sorts of ideas from there.

    (Removed)
  • edited August 2015
    Thanks again, Liz.

  • Of course - that's why I shared it. Good luck.
  • Doglover, I am going to delete that comment above with the village name in, can you do the same once you have taken note of it please?
  • I've deleted it above.
  • I live in a small village - 80 houses, 250 people. We have the following:
    Village Pantomime (entirely people in the village and runs for 8 performances to packed houses)
    Annual Summer Fun Day (Egg throwing is a favourite / plate smashing / Children's games etc)
    10k race (with more entrants than live here - and taking a quarter of the whole village to marshall!)
    Juggling unicycle group (I kid you not)
    WI
    Chapel
    Scouts
    Village Hall with various events that we organise - Beetle Drive, occasional band, occasional dance, History Night, Treasure Hunt, etc
    We are having our first Easter Egg Hunt next year and a Pancake Race.

    We have had a Christmas Fayre but have dropped that. We do have Christmas Carols on the Green with Santa coming each year.

    We have a Facebook Group but no website (except the 10k race).

    If you want to know more then shout.
  • Oh! Forgot the village Drama society, who do a ridiculous play or panto, heavily laced with local jokes and double entendres very year.
  • This thread is really making me salivate. Now I KNOW I'm living in the wrong country! *sigh*
  • edited August 2015
    .
  • our phone box is a library too :)
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