DESCRIBING
TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS
Weighing in the
Mayor
A strange ceremony marks the beginning
of the civic year in High Wycombe. The town has had mayors since 1285 and the
custom of weighing the mayor has survived. At 6.30 on a Thursday evening
towards the end of May a procession of dignitaries goes along the High Street to
the Town Hall where the new mayor takes office. Immediately afterwards they
assemble outside where a comfortable looking chair is attached to a fine old
scale which is suspended from a brass tripod.
The mayor is weighed first, followed by
the mayoress, the ex-mayor and so on. The weights are checked and recorded, and
announced by an official. Each announcement of the weight is followed by the
words ‘and no more’ or ‘and some more’, depending on whether the official has
lost or gained weight in the past year. A loss of weight signifies hard work
over the past year, a gain, laziness. Consequently, he or she is cheered or
booed as appropriate.
Watch the video: Mayor weighing
in May 2013
Write a description of a custom in
your own country. (120-180 words)
Make
sure that you
-
describe the event in sequence by using time words and
phrases
-
use the present tense where appropriate
