Ottery Tar Barrels

[MrGladstone]

It will soon be Ottery Tar Barrels. The day of the year where the locals RUN through big crowds of people with large barrels of flaming tar on their backs. I'm looking forward to trying to improve on my last attempt at photographing it. Its pretty challenging!

[David995031]

As you say, difficult to photograph but looks like crazy event! Are you sure you haven't strayed on to the set of 'The Wicker Man'? You certainly have captured some of the excitement.

[Clicker]

 I'm all for maintaining traditions, be it historic or cultural but this looks like an accident waiting to happen...    your photo certainly captures the drama ...

Is it just me that thinks that this seems an insane thing to do?? 

 

[Guest]

6 hours ago, Clicker said:

 I'm all for maintaining traditions, be it historic or cultural but this looks like an accident waiting to happen...    your photo certainly captures the drama ...

Is it just me that thinks that this seems an insane thing to do?? 

 

Me too. Insane is better than boring Good luck MrG.

[Clicker]

Well just stay safe Mr G ... getting too close to barrels of burning tar would scare the bejeezus out of me.. ...as Bill says. ...  Good luck though .

[MrGladstone]

It is insane, no question of that. That said, it's also brilliant. Nobody really knows how long it's been happening or how/why it started, but it's been happening for hundreds of years. The authorities have tried to stop it by slapping ridiculous insurances on the event and such like, but the locals continue to find ways around it and keep the event going. Remarkably people are rarely seriously hurt. A few years ago an idiot decided to throw a deoderant can into a barrel. A few were burned, somebody's haircut was ruined, but the show goes on. You can stay out-of the way and watch from the relative safety of a wall or phonebox roof, or you can get right in the crowd and dive out the way when the barrels come. it's great.