All about British culture! Here's the list of great British traditions and celebrations in the UK, from the Queen's speech to brewing the perfect tea.
Women swarm with flowers. Men hide beneath enormous feathered headdresses. These images look like something from a forgotten past – or a more surreal future – but they are all taken in modern day Britain
Ahead of a series of features exploring their collection, Museum Crush talks to the Museum of British Folklore about their plans to start a physical museum and the magic and ritual of our lives What is it about British folklore...
Ready to start wassailing? Not even sure what wassailing is? Here's everything you need to know to get a good wassail going.
Fowlers Troop Deptford/Greenwich Jack in the Green 2013 Copyright © Diane Hale dianajhale.wordpress.com/rel="nofollow">www....
Women swarm with flowers. Men hide beneath enormous feathered headdresses. These images look like something from a forgotten past – or a more surreal future – but they are all taken in modern day Britain
There’s a jovial atmosphere as a jolly man rings a bell and shouts, “Seven minutes to go!”. Excited, smiling faces surround me, but I am shivering slightly in the blazing midday sun. As he swings into full entertainer mode, making balloon animals for the children and doing some skilful juggling, I start scanning the rows of benches for my exit strategy.
The straw bear and handler
The girls come adorned with ribbons, trinkets and baubles and the boys with their colourful, gleaming miniature ploughs, all shone up for the day.
This project is a collaboration with a number of performance groups found in rural parts of Ireland. Using the standard formal portrait, this project records and celebrates this colourful traditional curiosity.
‘Jack is asleep, awaiting the next time he walks the land. The Morris men, and women, and dragons dance on. The Sweeps keep on sweeping, the Bogies are still drinking; and the Drummers play on.’ hastingsjack.co.uk Out came the green face-paint, giants, wicker-men, antler headdresses, ravens and pre-Raphaelite tresses of hair entwined with flowers and […]
Tudor re-creators parading in the Tudor May Day celebrations at the wonderful Kentwell Hall . Fly to this location using FlickrFly (Requires Google Earth)
Considering my Welsh blood it is no surprise that this is a tradition in South Wales... "'A Welsh language custom marking the darkest days of midwinter, the Mari Lwyd tradition of parading a horse’s...
Shrewsbury Folk Festival bosses said people wearing full black face paint would not be booked from next year. Dancers claim the make-up has no racial connotations and branded the ban 'PC nonsense'.
The English Folk Dance and Song Society introduces you to the wonderful world of British folk customs by delving into their photographic collection From its abundance of traditional songs, tunes and dances, to its strange but locally revered calendar customs, English communities...
For centuries in Ireland, mummers would arrive at homes unannounced in an age-old holiday custom. Now, after a long lull, these disguised revelers are back in force.
A multi-metered setting, a lilting piano accompaniment and interesting vocal writing combine to create a festive work that respects its traditional British folk roots while introducing a new musical feel to today's singer and audience. Features: 3-part Mixed Pages: 8 Instrumentation: Choral Voicing: 3PT MIXED
Beltain is the ancient Celtic festival held on the first of May. It celebrates the beginning of the pastoral summer season when the herds of livestock were driven out to the summer pastures. The lighting of bonfires on Oidhche Bhealtaine ('the eve of Bealtaine') on mountains and hills of ritual and political significance was one of the main activities of the festival. Human sacrifice was practised by ancient people at Beltaine to ensure fertility for the coming year and one of their customs was to build a giant man of wood, straw, etc. This huge wicker structure was then filled with offerings to the Gods including living people, often criminals and animals. The wicker man was set ablaze burning those inside him. The ceremony is held annually at Butser Ancient Farm. a replica of an Iron Age farm at Chalton near Petersfield
Of Shadows: One Hundred Objects from the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. Mummers, Maypoles and Milkmaids: A Journey through the English Ritual Year
Photographer Henry Bourne's new book shines a light on hyper-local traditions
Ben Myers: Thanks to the English folk revival scene, a younger generation is finding its way to the quirky past-time
