Unconventional London Customs

London has an ancient history of over 2000 years. With a classic literary rich history naturally comes a unique sense of humour. The likes of creative geniuses who spend their time observing the people and culture as much as pondering over the thought behind it. It might only be fair to say that people with exceptional intellectual ability, either generally, or in some specific respect, exert a powerful influence around. Their natural abilities and intense observations give them an edge of being unconventional or even slightly strange at times.Once you are around the Hotels near the Oxford Street, you get an easy access to experience them first hand. For instance, when you are close to the Marble Arch by Montcalm London, you have a chance to get up close to see the bright and cheerful people from the traditional families from London’s past.

One of the popular and quirky traditions of London is that of the Pearly Kings and Queens. They are commonly known as the Pearlies. This tradition was started long ago in 1875 by a little boy named Henry Croft. Fascinated by the lives of the high status market traders that he too aspired for such a life. He picked up the pearl buttons fallen off the clothes of the traders to collect a large amount. He then sewed the pearl buttons on his cap and suit. This went on to become the first smother suit of London!

Following this tradition, the Kings of the Pearly families personally do all the designing and sewing of their clothes on their own. Some of the popular designs used on their attire are:

·         Horseshoe stands forLuck

·         Doves stands forPeace

·         Heart stands forCharity

·         Anchor stands forHope

·         Cross stands forFaith

·         Wheel stands for Circle of Life

·         Symbols of Playing Cards stands for Life is a gamble

Each outfit contains thousands of buttons sewed together to create different designs. It is not surprising that the clothes weigh 30 kilograms or even more! The pearly tradition is being ceremoniously followed since 125 years and will go on forever.

Today you can see the Pearly Kings and Queens easily in the back lanes of London. Keeping up with the tradition of the orphan boy who created visibility for himself for the purpose of raising funds for the poor, even the Pearly Kings and Queens do the same. They create glittering and attractive outfits for themselves and accept funds for charity. They use the money for various noble causes that help the needy in various ways.

This ritual of the Pearlies is quirky and does not conform to the general ways of charity and fundraising. However, this is a tradition London is proud of and should be for the very foundation laid by the orphan little boy, Henry Croft. His unconventional approach to life could have stayed as a legend. But due to the nobleness of his initiative, it has carried on for over a century.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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