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This is England [Folk Roots, 1997]

As Boss Morris help to reignite the country's interest in traditional culture, we dig into the fRoots archive to see how these things are cyclical. Back in 1997, Colin Irwin celebrated a culture every bit as exotic as the most distant of World Music destinations.

The Cornmarket Revellers guise dancers ‘guild’ in 2014. Upon entering a pub they played a game called “Spy the Market” that nobody understood, let alone them. Photo by Peter Carter.

Beasts and Giants Christmas Customs

Guise Dancing: the Christmastime mumming tradition of West Cornwall

Tom Goskar, a born-again guise dancer in southwest Cornwall, explores the little-known Cornish tradition that is guise dancing.

Painting of King Charles II hiding in an oak tree, aided by a companion, after the Battle of Worcester. The dense foliage and dark forest setting emphasize the secrecy and danger of his escape.

Customs

Customs Uncovered: Shit-Sack Day

Happy Shit-Sack Day to one and all! Join us as we dive nose-first into what is perhaps the best-named of all English traditions.

Customs

Customs Uncovered: Twelfth Night

Dusk falls in the village of Bêlý in the uplands of Czechia’s Hradec Kralove region. Hradec Kralove means ‘King’s Castle’,...

Customs Interviews Morris Dancing

Ellie Gowers: Morris dancing, Saddleworth Rushcart, and the Dwelling by the Weir

Jon Wilks chats to folk singer and Morris dancer, Ellie Gowers, about her close encounters with history in the making.

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

Customs

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.

A woman leaps between rocks on Dartmoor. She is wearing a cardigan and knee-high boots.

Customs

Customs uncovered: Leap Year

It’s not every year you get to write about leap years, for rather obvious reasons. So we thought we ought to jump on the chance in 2024.

The end of the torchlit procession on St John’s Eve. The Golowan Band play the final tune of the night.

Customs

Golowan – Penzance’s midsummer celebration

Following on from his article about Penzance’s Midwinter festival - Montol - and the Christmastime mumming tradition called ‘guise dancing’, Tom Goskar turns his attentions to Midsummer and the Cornish festival of Golowan.

Christmas Customs

Childermas: If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all

One of the consequences of researching and writing folklore and history books is that bits of arcane trivia lodge in...

A traditional maypole dance at Whitchurch, Hampshire, Silk Mill

Customs The Merry Month of May

Customs Uncovered: The Maypole

Everything you ever wanted to know about the maypole tradition, but were too uncomfortable to ask.

Three women in orange aprons carry dahlias away from stonehenge. They are wearing dahlia headdresses.

Customs News

The return of the Stonehenge Dahlia Shows

Rediscover the 19th-century dahlia craze at Stonehenge. Dive into its history and the grand return of the Stonehenge Dahlia Shows in 2023.

The folk artist Lucy Wright is dressed in rags, dangling two sacks from her outstretched arms, preparing to morris dance in the Dusking way.

Customs Morris Dancing Writing

What is Dusking?

“We’ve come to dance the Dusking and we’ll dance the old sun down” - artist, Lucy Wright wants to invite you to join her in a new tradition this October! But what is ‘Dusking’?

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Alien Water by Ian A. Anderson – a book review

Photos of Annual Affairs with Homer Sykes

Clog-making – and why we should cherish it

May Day Morris: Where to find Morris dancing near me

May Day Morris Call Out 2025

Dancing on the Fringe: Max Reeves on Photographing the Evolving World of Morris

May Day Morris: Where to find Morris dancing near me

May Day Morris Call Out 2025

Customs Uncovered: Atherstone Ball Game

The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep10 – ‘The New Bury Loom’, ft. Jennifer Reid

The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep9 – ‘Lord Douglas’, ft. Jim Moray

The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep8 – ‘Princess Royal’, ft. John Spiers

Customs Uncovered: Midsummer Rituals

The Best British folk songs, as chosen by British folk singers

Who are the Morris dancers dancing with Wet Leg at the Brits?

Customs uncovered: Beasts, Hobby Horses and ‘the suspension of the normal’

The Queer Folk Interview

Customs

This is England [Folk Roots, 1997]

Guise Dancing: the Christmastime mumming tradition of West Cornwall

Customs Uncovered: Shit-Sack Day

Customs Uncovered: Twelfth Night

Ellie Gowers: Morris dancing, Saddleworth Rushcart, and the Dwelling by the Weir

An interview with the Whittlesea Straw Bear

Customs uncovered: Leap Year

Golowan – Penzance’s midsummer celebration

Childermas: If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all

Customs Uncovered: The Maypole

The return of the Stonehenge Dahlia Shows

What is Dusking?

Customs Uncovered: Midsummer Rituals

The Best British folk songs, as chosen by British folk singers

Who are the Morris dancers dancing with Wet Leg at the Brits?

Customs uncovered: Beasts, Hobby Horses and ‘the suspension of the normal’

Customs uncovered: the Cooper’s Hill cheese rolling contest