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London: Countries across the globe have events that might seem completely absurd to the rest of the world. In England, there is a competition aimed at charming worms out of the soil. Participants use all kinds of creative techniques to win the championship.
This bizarre competition takes place in Willaston, Cheshire. Though the idea of luring worms out of the soil may sound weird, the practice is believed to have been around for centuries. The championship is based on the idea that vibrations in the group sound similar to those of predators. The first-ever Worm Charming Championship took place in 1980 by a local man called Tom Shufflebotham after he set a record by charming 511 worms in just 30 minutes. Since then, the event has become an annual affair, with people participating in it every year
As per the rules of the game, each participant is handed a patch of soil and asked to charm worms for 30 minutes. The one who manages to charm the most worms will win the competition. However, participants are not allowed to dig. Instead, they can create vibration in the soil with music, garden forks, etc. Those contesting in the game also stomp on the ground, tap the soil with sticks, etc. To make the event more fun, participants also dress in costumes.
The event in England inspired many others to organise similar events in the US, Canada, etc. As of now, a 10-year-old girl named Sophie Smith is the record holder for charming the most number of worms. The record was set in 2009.
The competition attracts tourists every year. The quirky event has been showcased in documentaries and other TV shows. Meanwhile, the art of charming worms has been included in Science lessons.
Have you ever learned to charm worms?
