Spaw Sunday

[1][2][3] It is focused on local holy wells or spas whose spring waters are believed to have restorative or healing properties only on that day.

Celebrations usually include a short pilgrimage from the local church to the spring, and a blessing of the waters by the clergy, after which the crowd take turns to smell or taste the usually highly sulphurous waters.

Traditionally liquorice was steeped in a cup of collected waters, or shaken in a bottle of same, to sweeten the taste.

Though it is not officially recommended to drink the waters, watching others react to the strong taste is part of the spectacle.

In a few places it has been successfully revived in recent years and the day's events are accompanied by brass bands, long sword dancing, or similar traditional displays, at: There may once have been similar festivities around St Helen's Well, Holywell Green, Calderdale, West Yorkshire.