Northern Ireland loyalists are a stubborn lot. Lesser mortals would get bored with re-enacting the same battle year after year when everybody already knows the outcome.
It's like watching a football match over and over again and knowing who will score and when. But such is the devotion of the loyal sons and daughters of Ulster that they never tire of repeats - not when it's a re-enactment of the Battle of the Boyne in the annual sham fight at Scarva.
Thousands flocked to the Co Down village yesterday to watch the pageant organised by the Royal Black Preceptory.
About 60 preceptories and bands from Co Armagh and south Down marched to Scarva House. The Royal Black is the Orange Order's aristocracy. It is only for Protestants who have excelled in biblical studiousness.
They wear black, the colour of mourning, to remind themselves of their own mortality. They greet each other as "Sir Knight". They favour accordion over blood and thunder bands. Their shoes are gleaming. They carry perfectly furled umbrellas and unsheathed shining swords. Yesterday, there wasn't a tattoo or earring in sight.
"Repent Ye and Be Converted" said the sign leading to the fields beside Scarva House where the Battle of the Boyne was reenacted. Not that it was all doom and gloom. It could have been a carnival in any middle-England village.
There were merry-go-rounds, gun and ball games, hoopla, candy floss, yellowman, and honeycomb ice-cream available from dozens of stalls.
Children ran through the fields proudly clutching the goldfish and cuddly toys they had won. While the Twelfth is very much an alcoholic affair, this was more sober. There was pavlova, trifle and apple pie on sale.
At one stall, more serious business was taking place. It was set up by FAIR, Families Acting For Innocent Relatives, which represents those bereaved by the Provisional IRA in south Armagh.
On display were pictures of various bombing and shooting scenes. Cars blown to smithereens. People screaming after an explosion.
Much space was devoted to the Kingsmill Massacre in 1976 when 10 Protestant workers were taken from their minibus, lined up on the road and shot dead. Their lunch-boxes were strewn over the ground.
Photographs showed IRA men crouching in fields with AK47s and Sinn Fein leaders carrying Tricolour-draped coffins. There were other pictures too - of victims in happier days. On their birthdays, at their weddings or children's graduation.
"We thought it important to come here. We don't want to make it a sad day but we want to ensure victims aren't forgotten," said Brian McConnell of FAIR.
Back up the field, proceedings were under way. The sovereign grand master, Mr William Logan, said he was delighted the Twelfth had passed off peacefully.
Resolutions were passed pledging loyalty to the English throne and calling for more emphasis on Christianity in the millennium celebrations.
It was raining heavily as the Battle of the Boyne began, but there were still loud cheers when King Billy appeared on his white steed and equally enthusiastic booing for King James.
Didn't anybody feel just a little sorry for the latter? "James deserves to lose because he is dirty and he is a Roman Catholic," said a 14-year-old Portadown boy.
Both kings were accompanied by soldiers in the appropriate red and green coats. After a few skirmishes, the red soon triumphed over the green and King Billy put his sword to his rival's throat. The crowd applauded, secure in the knowledge that, once again, their side had won.