Dubman Do you know the history behind it
This ceremony originally took place each Whit Monday, before it later was moved to the Spring Bank Holiday. Two possible origins have been proposed for the ceremony. The first is said that it evolved from a requirement for maintaining grazing rights on the common.[4]
The second proposal is pagan origins for the custom of rolling objects down the hill. It is thought that bundles of burning brushwood were rolled down the hill to represent the birth of the New Year after winter. Connected with this belief is the traditional scattering of buns, biscuits and sweets at the top of the hill by the Master of Ceremonies.[5] This is said to be a fertility rite to encourage the fruits of harvest.[4]
The first written evidence of cheese rolling is found from a message written to the Gloucester town crier in 1826; even then it was apparent the event was an old tradition.[6] Each year, the event becomes more and more popular, with contestants coming from all across the world to compete, or even simply to watch.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper%27s_Hill_Cheese-Rolling_and_Wake
