What is Wakes?

Historically the Wake was a vigil or watch, kept on the eve of the Feast of the Patron Saint of the Parish Church. From a simple service the village wake evolved into a week of celebration. In 1250 the neighbouring village of Tideswell gained the right to hold a two day fair at the decollation of St John the Baptist. Over the centuries the custom became widespread, many Peak District villages including Litton, incorporated annual well dressings into the festivities, whilst sideshows would be setup, streets and houses decorated and the schools and mills closed for a holiday. By Georgian times entertainment included bull, bear or badger baiting, organized cockfights, bare-knuckle boxing matches and freak sideshows. The occasion earned the disapproval of the upper classes, who noted that their normally hardworking employees ran up such large debts during Wakes Week that they were barely solvent before it came round again!