For those in Bedford looking for a Boxing Day treat, make your way to The Embankment Hotel at 10.45am and the Swan Hotel at 11.30am to see the annual Boar’s Head Ceremony.

The Feast of the Boar's Head is one of the oldest known customs of the Christmas period, one where traditional roles were reversed following the Christmas Day celebrations - and the servants were waited on by their Masters.

The Bedford Morris Men revived the tradition in Bedford in the 1970s, and the custom is now observed with riotous, festive dancing and a procession of the garlanded Boar’s Head. The boar's head, incidentally, spends the rest of the year hibernating in the cellar of The Swan Hotel - as far as we know, this is its only annual, outing!

Here's the schedule for Boxing Day 2025:

10.45 dancing opposite The Embankment Hotel, MK40 3PD
11.30 dancing outside Swan Hotel, MK40 1RW
12 noon The Boar's Head ceremony outside Swan Hotel

The Morris Men will then lead the crowds in the Boar’s Head Carol.

Click the image or download the attachment to see the full lyrics!