Our famously sunny island has a long and rich history dating back thousands of years. First, the Romans, who took advantage of the strong agricultural opportunities, and other ancient civilizations, followed by the Vikings, the French, and finally the English. A unique county lying just off the southern coast of England, over the centuries these various cultural influences have borne a rich set of traditions ranging from horticulture to music festivals to sailing. Here we will explore some of our Isle’s most famous traditions.
Festivals
Thanks to the good weather (on average 37 hours of sunshine per week!) the Isle of Wight is has a tradition of putting on a range of world-class festivals and fêtes. The Isle of Wight Festival is perhaps the most famous, dating back to a counterculture movement in the late 1960s. From its home at Seaclose Park, this legendary festival marks the start of the UK summer music calendar every year and has welcomed legendary artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, and American rapper Jay-Z throughout its illustrious history.
Gardening and horticulture
Again made possible by the clement weather, there is a strong gardening and horticulture tradition present on the Isle of Wight. Fun fact: the Isle of Wight is the UK’s biggest producer of garlic, with its bulbs in high demand around Europe. This tradition is celebrated by another famous festival, the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, held every year in late August. Native species of flora include colourful Windflowers and vibrant early Purple Orchids and Bluebells.
Walking
With miles of meandering walks and ambages, gratifying in both the summer and wintertimes, residents (known as ‘caulkheads’) and visitors to the Isle of Wight (known as tourists) love to get outside and enjoy the idyllic scenery. Famous adventurer and former resident Bear Grylls recounts how he spent a happy childhood exploring the island, learning his bushcraft and climbing trees. This tradition is celebrated by another festival, the Isle of Wight Walking Festival, taking place in May every year.
Gambling
Being a county of England after all, there is a long tradition of wagers and gambling. Whilst there are no casinos on the island, residents love to gamble online with games such as penny roulette with up to £200 bonus or take advantage of the many machines slot dotted around the island.
Sailing
The Isle of Wight is its own little island nation in some respects with around 57 miles (92km) of coastline. This has given rise to a long tradition of sailing and sailors, with Dame Ellen McArthur perhaps being the most famous. In true Isle of Wight style, there’s an annual sailing festival, the prestigious and longrunning Cowes Week, a week-long regatta taking place at the beginning of August every year.
Marmotinto
All that coastline and sandy beaches also engenders another Isle of Wight tradition- marmotinto or ‘sand painting’. Although, as the name would suggest, this style originated in Italy, thanks to the ready availability of sand in a rainbow different colours, this art form has been adopted and grown on the Isle. Normally depicting natural scenery, there are some fine examples available at Osborne House – Queen Victoria’s and Prince Albert’s former residence.
Morris Dancing
Another old English tradition kept alive on the island. Morris dancing is a form of a traditional form of English folk dancing characterised by the tintinnabulation of small bells, the clacking of sticks and colourful costumes. Closely aligned with estival celebrations, there are a number of morris dancing groups, or ‘sides’, on the Isle of Wight and it’s considered one of the UK strongholds.
