Great Britain, famous for its pomp and ceremony, will always hold the rest of the world in fascination with its love for grandeur and traditional customs. Some customs, dating back to many, many centuries ago are still practiced and carried out in style and, despite their eccentricity to the outside world, are much adored and anticipated by both the British people and the millions of tourists to the country each year. Swan Upping is one such ceremony, taking place each summer along the stretches of the Thames.
Swan Upping is the annual survey of mute swans found on the river Thames along the counties of Surrey, Middlesex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. In the 12th century, swans were considered a source of food for the Royal Family. Today, they are no longer consumed as food, but the British Monarchy continues to claim ownership to all unmarked swans on the Thames. This ceremony serves mainly as a swan census as well as check up on the general health of the swans. The two companies Dyers' the Vintners', have also been given the right of ownership under a Royal Charter in the 15th century.
Every July, the Swan Uppers of the Queen, the Vintners' and the Dyers' Companies cross Thames to carry out the Swan Upping ceremony over a period of five days. If a swan is caught by the Swan Uppers of the Queen, it remains unmarked. A swan caught by the Dyers' Swan Uppers is looped on one leg whilst a swan caught by the Vintners' are looped on both legs. During the ceremony, the swans are also weighed and measured in order to determine the swans' growth rates and overall health status. The swans are marked and given numbers by the Queen's Swan Warden. After the ceremony is completed, a report on all the swans examined is released in order to help and enable conservationists to protect the swans.
The Swan Upping Ceremony attracts hundreds of spectators every year, including little children who are invited from local schools. If you are a bird enthusiast or are simply intrigued by the many traditional ceremonies of Great Britain, you must witness this annual ceremony. There are many
UK hotel special offers that you can grab while you stay to watch the ceremony. Details of such offers are found in any
England hotels guide. The Millennium Copthorne Hotels UK is a luxurious chain of hotels that are excellent choices for accommodation in Great Britain.
