Burry Man covers himself in 13,000 'sticky burrs' in bizarre pub crawl tradition to ward off evil spirits
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The unusual tradition, captured in the video report (click to play above) shows council worker Andrew Taylor, 37, dressed as the "Burryman" as he walks through the village - apparently warding off evil spirits.
Traditional village parade
Andrew has been covered from head to toe in "burrs" - the sticky flowerheads of burdock plants in a nearly hour-long process to prepare for the parade.
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The parade will see Andrew march seven miles through South Queensferry stopping off at each pub on the route - with each pub traditionally providing the Burryman with a free drink of whisky and a straw to drink through.
Andrew said: “There's around 13,000 to 14,000 burrs, give or take, but I haven't counted them individually."
A few whiskies for burr-covered man
Traditionally, the Burryman will collect his burrs himself, before attaching them to panels and wrapping them around his body - wearing several thick layers of clothing and balaclavas to protect himself from their hooks. Only men born in South Queensferry in Scotland can take on the role of the Burryman - with one Burryman taking on the role for 25 years in a row.
Andrew said: "I really love the tradition. It’s a tradition from Queensferry, which means a lot to me and I really enjoy doing it. I'll definitely be having a few whiskies today - I don't know how many though!"
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