From its religious roots to Georgian excess and then the parade which we all know that started in the late 1970s.

The love of a Fine City has always been at the heart of the Lord Mayor's Procession.

For centuries the idea has been a notable feature of civic life in Norwich and the earliest recording of 'old Snap', the dragon who leads the procession, was from 1408.

The earliest history was as a celebration of the feast of St George, a largely religious event which the people of the city would enjoy.

It developed into an annual procession of civic pageantry for the new Lord Mayor being sworn into office.

The Georgian era was famous for the frivolity of the upper classes and the pomp and splendour of the events was demonstrable.

Norwich's population boomed during the industrial revolution when the textiles industry brought factory to the city and a need for labour.

It was known as Guild Day and was a mark of Norwich's power as the former second city of England and was supposed to rival the City of London's Lord Mayor's Day.

The event dwindled after the passing of the Municipal Reform Act in 1835 which did away with the unchecked power of many boroughs in England.

It was not until 1976 that the Procession as we know it was reborn.

In 1971 a proposal for a 'Grand Norwich Festival' was put forward by a former colleague of the Evening News, the then advertising manager of Eastern Counties Newspapers, Harry Boreham.

His vision was for a festival of pageants, displays and activities which widely resembles the weekend we know and love today.

Mr Boreham wrote in a committee paper that he wanted to see a gala: 'matching in brilliance the wine festivals and Mardi Gras known on the continent.'

Years of planning went into the eventual recommencement of the procession in 1976 – and since then it has evolved into the carnival atmosphere of today.

Despite its different guises and continual development, it is – and always has been – a spectacle that celebrates all the best things about our city.

Are you entering a float this year? Email george.ryan@archant.co.uk