The Straw Bears Festival makes a colorful return to Whittlesea Street

Whittlesea’s annual Straw Bear Festival made a colorful return on Saturday as people gathered to witness the famous parade through the streets of Cambridgeshire. Dancers and musicians in Whittlesey village braved the cold weather as the Straw Bear marched in procession accompanied by ushers. Crowds gathered and lined the streets of Whittlesea trying to catch a glimpse of the Straw Bear, while other festival goers were seen taking selfies with the star of the show. The straw bear paraded through the streets alongside members of Bourne Borders, a Morris dance group known for wearing bright yellow and green outfits, green face paint and colorful hats with different flowers. Other Morris dancers wore colorful jackets in shades of red, purple and blue, made up of different pieces of fabric. Meanwhile, the Pig Dyke Molly dancers took to the streets in bright face paint with dramatic black and white detailing, while the Old Glory Molly dancers wore gray face paint and crowns of green leaves. The tradition of carrying the Straw Bear around the village seems to date back to the 1880s, but the exact date of its origin remains uncertain. According to the custom, on the Tuesday following plowing Monday, one of the plowmen dressed in straw and, according to the organizers, was called the Straw Bear. The festival was stopped by the local police in 1909, who banned straw bears as a form of hunting, but was revived in 1980 by the Whittlesey Society. The annual procession now includes more than 250 dancers and musicians taking part in traditional performances, while crowds gather to catch a glimpse of the famous Straw Bear. The festival concludes on Sunday, where the image of the Straw Bear will be burned, leaving the way open for a new bear to be created during the following year’s harvest.