Blaise's Festival
A small group trying to revival a festival celebrating an Armenian saint reputed killed with woolcombs. The date is 3rd Feb. and up to 1825 the woolcombers of Bradford organised a procession of men and masters of all the wool trades through the town. Woolcombing was a skilled job and the woolcombers had been the aristocrats of labour, but Bradford already had a steam mill in 182
5, and new streets were going up weekly, and wages were falling. The woolcombers went on strike soon after the procession; they lost. St Blaise's Day was remembered, but there was never another procession. The revival is small scale, thus far, but with help it could be a chance to celebrate in grim times at a grim time of year. A weekend celebrating Bradford's forgotten saint and hidden histories. Sat 1st Feb. A guided Festival Walk through
Bradford's Hidden Histories.
11 am. Glyde House. Little Horton Lane. Leave by 11.30.
12.00 New Bradford Playhouse, Chapel St. Leave by 12.30.
1.30 pm. Sparrow, North Parade. Leave by 2 pm. for The Titus Salt. There'll be a talk and/or refreshments at each venue. Donations taken. Each part is a little over a mile. Some stairs, but no-step diversions available. You can walk any/all parts. Sun 2nd Feb. 8 pm.Pie, Poetry & Proud
of Bradford Show. Glyde House
Show with pictures, stories, anecdotes & opinions of Bradford; plus poems. Warning: the poems will rhyme, and pies will be available! £5. Call 01274 271111.
3rd Feb. Blaise's Day. Various events. Check website for more details. www.bradwan.com
Until 1825 Bradford's woolcombers organised a procession every
7 years celebrating Bishop Blaise, an Armenian reputedly murdered
with woolcombs. The 1825 procession was the biggest ever in Bradford,
and this year's walk follows part of the route. The verse at top is from the 1825 St. Blaise Day, picture below from 1811. Poster by bradwan.
