Wakes week
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The wakes week (or Wakes Week for specific usage) is a holiday period in England.
Wakes were originally religious festivals that commemorated church dedications. During the Industrial Revolution the tradition of the wakes were adapted into a regular summer break in the mill towns of Lancashire, where each locality would nominate a Wakes Week during which the cotton mills would all close at the same time. This week then became the focus for fairs, and eventually for holidays where the workers would go to the seaside, eventually on the newly developed railways.
In Lancashire, this tradition still exists, although the importance is declining.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ "Final Wakes Week marks end of an era" Craven Herald & Pioneer article
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