The festival is based on an old legend, with tales of smuggling, barges, whisky, canals and customs officers that took place in the early 1800s in the valley.
Moonrakers? What's it all about?
Well, in 2005 the people of Slaithwaite, got together to celebrate for the 21st year in succession, an event that first took place in 1802. This was just after the canal between Huddersfield and Upper Mill had become a major trade route.
A couple of entrepreneurs from Slaithwaite had established a successful smuggling business, dealing in rum and whisky. The bargees used to bring the spirits up the canal by barge, and hand them over to their customers at the end of the day in exchange for payment.
One day, the meeting was disturbed by soldiers on patrol, so our smugglers quickly slipped the barrels into the reeds at the side of the canal, and went on their way.
Later that night, they were retrieving the goods from the canal, using large garden rakes. It was a bright moonlit night, and again their work was interrupted by the soldiers. "Wats ta doin’? "("What are you doing?”) asked they. Quick as a flash, came a slurred reply "Cans tha noon seah? T'mooins fell int watter an we'ar rekking er aht? ("Can't you see - the Moon has fallen into the water and we are raking her out" ).
"Silly mooinrekkers!" (Silly moonrakers) said one soldier to the others, and they walked off laughing at the apparent stupidity of the Slaithwaiters.
Our pair waited until the coast was clear, and hoisted their ill gotten gains out of the water.
A simple tale, to be often repeated on many a frosty February evening.
Their is a web site is to record the event and all that lead up to the modern Moonraking Festival. In other words, we are 'arking back! Go to: http://www.arkingback.org
The event is celebrated in just the way that you would expect a group of Slawiters to do. In February, people in the community are invited to be creative by being taught to make lanterns, using withy, tissue and glue. For the last festival, 1,500 individual sessions in lantern making were organised. It usually takes at least two sessions to make a lantern.
On the last Saturday of half term all assemble in the village centre with their lanterns. The Moon, which is around 2.5 metres tall, comes floating down the canal on his Moon Barge, and is hoisted out onto dry land by a huge crane, to music and fireworks. He is carried round the village by his gnomes, accompanied by assorted street bands and a large crowd, many carrying lanterns. The parade then heads back to the canal, where the Moon is celebrated by a Finale and Fireworks show.
Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival week - from Sunday February 20 to Saturday 26, 2011.
Lantern Workshops will be held from February 20 to 24 at the Community Centre.
Other creative workshops include – animation – music – hats and clog dancing from Monday February 21 to Wednesday February 23 at the Watershed in Bridge Street.
There will also be storytelling, music and radio events – lots of them all round the village.
Moonraking Raffle tickets for super prizes are now on sale at O Blackburn's in Carr Lane at £1 each. Prizes include £700+ Crombie coat, vouchers from O Blackburns and the Handmade Bakery, and a Spa Day for two at Titanic Spa, Linthwaite.
