*Ø* Baal fire day, Whalton, UK

In the Northumbrian village of Whalton today is traditionally the day for lighting the baal fire.

This bonfire's name comes from either the Celtic bel meaning bright, or Anglo-Saxon bael, fire. Or perhaps it comes from the old British sun god Belenus. At about 7.30 pm a bonfire is lit on the village green around which people make music, leap through the flames and perform traditional morris dancing around the fire.

In ancient times a select group of young people used to gather wood in the forest and cart it into the village to the sound of a cart horn.

The custom's ancient origins relate to the old date of midsummer, which was changed in 1752 when the English calendar was adjusted by eleven days to make up for discrepancies.

This is just a snippet of today's stories. Read all about today in folklore, historical oddities, inspiration and alternatives, with more links, at the Wilson's Almanac Book of Days, every day. Click today's date when you're there.