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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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wakes week
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Traditional term for holiday periods in northern industrial towns, deriving from the times when Victorian factories were closed during the annual local festivity or 'wake'. This meant originally just the eve of a saint's day, but it came to include the entire sequence of events celebrating the patron saint of the local church. The dates differed from parish to parish, so holidays were staggered within the region.
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