Flitch Day
Flitch Day celebrates a quirky English ritual built on love and fun. Couples who can honestly say they haven’t wished themselves unmarried for a full year and a day stand before a mock court.
A jury of six maidens and six bachelors listens closely. If the couple passes this test, they receive a “flitch” of bacon—half a pig—as a reward.
The court asks playful yet thoughtful questions, and the entire event has a joyful, theatrical mood. Every part of the ceremony blends humor with a hint of heart, making the day feel both light and meaningful.
More About the Day
Flitch Day is celebrated in Great Dunmow, a town in Essex, England. The event takes place every four years and draws crowds from near and far.
It’s a local tradition with deep roots in the community, and the town fully embraces the festive spirit with a parade, costumes, and, of course, the famous bacon trial.
People gather from all over to watch the event unfold. A winning couple gets lifted into a carved wooden chair and paraded through the streets. The custom takes something as serious as marriage and wraps it in color, laughter, and the smell of bacon.
It’s not about being perfect—it’s about enjoying the bond. Flitch Day turns lasting love into something people can see, hear, and cheer for in real life.
How to Celebrate Flitch Day
Here are some lively and simple ways to celebrate Flitch Day:
Host a Mini Flitch Trial
Gather friends and family. Invite a couple to answer playful questions about their first year together. Award them a slab of bacon or a fun token. This mirrors the original custom.
Dress in Period Style
Dress up in mock‑Medieval or Edwardian outfits. Use simple props like capes or bonnets. Encourage light role‑play to add charm to your gathering.
Parade a “Flitch Chair”
Create or borrow a decorated chair. Let the chosen couple ride triumphantly. Walk with upbeat music along a garden or street. This nods to the Great Dunmow tradition.
Serve Bacon‑Theme Treats
Lay out bacon snacks like strips, bites, or sandwiches. Add toppings like maple, pepper, or cheese. Offer vegetarian alternatives (like smoky tofu) so all guests feel welcome.
Share Love‑Story Moments
Invite each couple to tell one short story about their first year. Keep tales light and honest. This echoes the original intent without formality.
History of Flitch Day
Couple first earned a flitch of bacon in Little Dunmow’s priory back in 1104. The lord of the manor, Reginald Fitzwalter, and his wife dressed as common folk.
They asked the prior to bless their marriage after a year together. Impressed, he gave them bacon. Reginald then donated land on the condition that any couple proving similar devotion could earn the same prize.
By the late 1300s, poets like Langland and Chaucer mentioned the flitch, showing the custom had spread.
The first official award in records comes from 1445, when Richard Wright claimed the bacon. After Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, local leaders continued the trials. By mid‑1700s, the game had moved to Great Dunmow.
Tradition faded until Victorian novelist William Harrison Ainsworth revived it in 1855.
He staged public trials in Great Dunmow, turning a private rite into a town festival. It’s been held every few years since. Couples still swear a playful oath before a mock court. Winners ride through town with bacon in hand.
Although it ordinarily takes place every leap year, in 2020 Flitch Day was postponed until 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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