Thousands of people will be filling up the streets across towns and villages in Tameside and Saddleworth in Greater Manchester to celebrate brass band music.
Whit Friday’s events will begin on Friday, May 24 and end on Saturday, May 25.
But what were the origins of Whit Friday and which towns are taking part? Here’s what you need to know.
What is Whit Friday?
Whit Friday is observed on the first Friday following Pentecost, a feast day that marks the 49th day after Easter when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles.It was a common period for young people to wear white for baptisms.This eventually became known as Whit(e) Friday, a chance for church congregations and recently baptised youngsters to demonstrate their faith by parading through the streets in procession.Brass band music and banners would lead the marches.
Throughout the Industrial Revolution, festivities lost significance in many places as people migrated away from the countryside, but in North-West England's manufacturing cities, they were welcomed as a diversion from labour in the factories and mills.
What happens on Whit Friday?
The Whit Walks are held in the morning from 10am and 1pm, when a number of villages carry church banners and march into Uppermill, followed by their village band, to gather for a combined church service.
Then the brass band performances begin and could go on until the next day.
Ten locations in Tameside are hosting the competitions, including Denton, Ashton-under-Lyne, Mossley, Dukinfield and Hyde.There are 11 locations in Saddleworth, which include the settlements of Delph, Uppermill, Diggle and Dobcross.
The criteria, structure, and rewards of each competition vary but bands that participate in six or more of them are qualified to win one of the much sought-after Saddleworth and Oldham Whit Friday Band Contest Area Prizes.
Bands usually compete for monetary awards, which are frequently greater than £1,000, while touring between each location.
Since they are accessible to everyone, the young bands from the area can compete with the best bands in the nation. The bands only receive points for the songs they perform because the judges, who frequently travel in caravans, sit with their backs to the stage.With their instruments in hand, the contestants race from one competition to the next, entertaining thousands of onlookers.
BrassPass.tv will be live streaming Greenfield's event.While Dobcross has announced that its competition would be streamed live on its Facebook page, Dobcross Whit Friday United Effort.
How to get around on Whit Friday
During the competitions, there are temporary no-parking zones and road closures all over the place, severely restricting motorised vehicle access.
The Visitors Map includes a proposed walking/cycling route that circles the settlements via roads and canal pathways.
Saddleworth can easily be reached from Manchester and Huddersfield by train, and Oldham and Ashton Under Lyne by bus.
