The Ritual Year
A New Calendar of Britain's Feasts, Festivals and Folklore
Will be published approx. on 13. August 2026
Book
Hardback
416 pages
978-1-80351-286-0 (ISBN)
Description
Wassails and plough blessings, cheese rolling and well dressings, Bradford's Mela and the Notting Hill Carnival, summer hen races and festive sword-dancing...
On any given week, somewhere in Britain, you will find people gathering - to mark a moment in the agricultural year, to commemorate an event in local history, to herald the beginning of a new season or bid farewell to the old. Some of these rituals have been passed down through the centuries; some are newer or recently revived; some have a deep connection to the British landscape or folklore, and some have been carried from other cultures and taken root here.
In this revelatory and beautifully illustrated guide to a living tradition of rites and rituals, we journey through some of the gatherings that shape our year, challenge our understanding of the past, and give pattern and meaning to communities across Britain today.
On any given week, somewhere in Britain, you will find people gathering - to mark a moment in the agricultural year, to commemorate an event in local history, to herald the beginning of a new season or bid farewell to the old. Some of these rituals have been passed down through the centuries; some are newer or recently revived; some have a deep connection to the British landscape or folklore, and some have been carried from other cultures and taken root here.
In this revelatory and beautifully illustrated guide to a living tradition of rites and rituals, we journey through some of the gatherings that shape our year, challenge our understanding of the past, and give pattern and meaning to communities across Britain today.
Reviews / Votes
Fascinating, funny and fabulously folky -- Bryony Kimmings, author of Bog Witch This is less a guide to "Merlin's Isle of Gramarye" than to the messy, and sometimes contentious business of communities coming together, or pulling apart, in an attempt to a make some noise, have some fun, and assert their right to be -- David Hopkin * Professor of history at the University of Oxford * A magnificent folkloric feast of a book filled to the brim with joy and wonder. I defy anyone who reads it not to want to get in and amongst the folklore of Britain -- Lally MacBeth, author of The Lost FolkMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Illustrations
b/w line illustrations for chapter headings
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-80351-286-0 (9781803512860)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
KIERA CHAPMAN is a political ecologist and nature writer.
LULAH ELLENDER is an author (Grounding and Elisabeth's Lists) and copywriter.
REBECCA WARREN is an historian and illustrator.
LULAH ELLENDER is an author (Grounding and Elisabeth's Lists) and copywriter.
REBECCA WARREN is an historian and illustrator.