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Customs uncovered

Dig in to our selection of articles covering traditional British customs and the manner in which they survive and thrive today.

The Whittlesea Straw Bear dances through the streets, followed by a bear keeper, several onlookers, and two smaller bears.

An interview with the Whittlesea Straw Bear

Meet Douglas Kell, occasional Whittlesea Straw Bear and the latest director of the Straw Bear Festival, and find out what it means to be one of the UK's most-loved folk icons.

Handbags and Broomsticks: Molly Dancing for the uninitiated

Ever wondered where Morris Dancers go in the winter, when it's a bit chilly for standing outside a pub in shirt sleeves? Well, if they're based in East Anglia, there's a chance they'll change their kit and head to the Fens to partake in a spot of Molly Dancing instead. To save you from having to change out of your slippers, Rachel Wilkinson went to find out more about this traditional dance style from the East of England and the Midlands.

A woggle hopping obstacle in the wild. The picture is actually of a red postbox in Wiltshire on a pretty summer's day, but woggle hopping often involved postboxes

Customs uncovered: Woggle Hopping

Can woggle hopping be classed as a British custom? Probably not, but it still deserves a mention as an eccentric activity that briefly caught the public imagination.

The Old Songs Podcast

Exploring traditional folk music one song at a time.

Folk music reviews

Reviewing the latest releases on the traditional folk music scene. We focus on traditional music, or music that has been directly inspired by it.