Britain’s Folklore Year : A Seasonal Journey Through Our Customs, Celebrations and Rituals | Mark Norman

Season by season, explore the colourful events, customs and rituals of Britain's folklore and discover where you can experience many of them today. Mark Norman, curator of the Folklore Library and Archive, traces how this nation's rich folklore connects us with nature and our history. He reveals the origins of some of our best-known customs, such as April Fool's Day, maypole dancing and wassailing. And he introduces us to many lesser-known ones, such as Beating the Buns, Sanding the Streets and Bawming the Thorn. There are entertaining (and sometimes perilous) sporting traditions too, from worm-charming to wife-carrying, from nettle-eating to cheese-chasing. The book is studded with traditional spells and charms and has original linocut illustrations throughout, making it both a beautiful and useful guide to this fascinating subject. Size: 198 x 144 x 24mm (hardback) Pages: 224 Publisher: National Trust