Ely in East Anglia once held a Fair in St Audrey’s chapel to celebrate the Feast of St Audrey in mid October. A lot of cheap bobbin lace was sold on this day and this eventually came to be known as ‘tawdry’, a term still used for cheap and tatty items.
St Audrey’s Fair was originally celebrated on 23rd June (her Saint Day is still celebrated in Ely where she was Abbess on this day) but was later moved to the 17th October, although there is no documented reason for this change of date.. St Audrey (sometimes also known as St Etheldreda) died of a throat tumour, which gave rise to the tradition of selling lace and silk throat covers (scarves) and necklaces, often called St Audrey’s ribbons or tawdries.