Pixie Day in Ottery St Mary

The annual Ottery St Mary Pixie Day will be taking place on the 23rd June and Gilbert Stephens Solicitors are honoured to sponsor this event. Pixie Day is an annual fixture in the Ottery St Mary calendar and is a tradition revived in 1954 that dates back to events which are said to have occurred in 1454.

Legend has it that the town was once occupied by Pixies, but that they were ousted by the building of the church and the (to them intolerable) noise of the church bells. Since then the town has lived with the possibility of the return of the Pixies and, once a year, children from the Guides and Scouts groups of the town enact this by playing the part of the Pixies and inflict their revenge on the community by ‘imprisoning’ the bell ringers.

The event will consist of an afternoon fete with stalls and entertainment at the Land of Canaan, then at 6.30pm, the ‘Pixies’ Revenge’ takes place in the town square followed by an evening of food and entertainment back at the Land of Canaan. In previous years this entertainment has included displays of Morris dancing, a coconut shy, tombola and skittles.

The day is a vital part of the Ottery St Mary cultural calendar. Pixie Day, combined with the Tar Barrels in November, are two signature events during which the rich history and mythology of the town is evocatively celebrated, both bringing local children and the activities of the Guides and Scouts to the fore. Gilbert Stephens Solicitors understands how significant this event is to the fabric of the local community and is pleased to be a part of its continued success.

Acknowledging the importance of this annual event, Terry Bastyan, managing partner at Gilbert Stephens Solicitors, notes that “Pixie Day is more than just an opportunity for a party, it is an important day in the calendar of the town bringing together residents both young and old whilst recognising the rich traditions of the town. We are proud to sponsor this event and look forward to another successful day of celebration and food.”

The day will begin in the early afternoon at the Land of Canaan and festivities will continue from there.

More information about the Pixie Day can be found here