Source: Wikipedia |
As cheese
lovers, we can´t let pass the chance to talk about a festival that occurs in UK
every Summer; The Cooper´s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake Festival, in
Gloucestershire.
As its very
own name says, it´s all about a race down the hill in which the people chase
after a big cheese that has been
also sent down the hill just one second before. The prize will be the very same
cheese that the fastest racer gets to take.
Source: Wikipedia |
The Cooper´s
hill is so steep that the cheese (7
lb) reaches a speed of around 65 mi. per hour. It becomes a real danger if anyone
gets in its way and it has been since 20 years ago the same kind from the same local
artisan; a double Gloucester cheese.
There are several
races along the day; 4 or 5 down the hill and other 4 or 5 up the hill. Is in
these last ones when children under 12 can take part in the “game”.
At the lower
slope there are catchers, strong men who are in charge of grasp and stop the
participants with too much inertia. You can also find ambulances and health
workers to assist the injured people.
Some of the
injured get to cross the winning post
the first, but they end up so tired and with so many bruises that they can´t
even rise the cheese they´ve just
won.
Anyway, what´s
sure is that all the people have lots of fun either way; participating or just watching.
Is a day of joy and laughter.
What would
you think if we import this celebration into our village Albarracín? We also
have a great and steep hill. It´s even surrounded by the medieval wall.
Shall we
start a new tradition? Which of our cheeses would we throw downhills?