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Customs

Ben Edge - the earl of rone photograph taken in Combe Martin

Customs uncovered: The Hunting of the Earl of Rone

Once a year, over the long Spring Bank Holiday weekend, the occupants of Combe Martin, the Earl of Rone Council, and a fair number of spectators enact this fascinating tradition. Alex Hurr takes a deep dive into its history, but warns of distinct fever-dream vibes along the way.

Customs

Customs Uncovered: The Tichborne Dole

Discover the enduring tradition of the Tichborne Dole, a charitable act dating back to the 12th century, offering blessed flour (and curses) to Hampshire locals.

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 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.

A woman kisses a tutti man outside a shop in Hungerford at Hocktide.

Customs

Tales of a Tutti Man: Hocktide Customs Uncovered

To the woefully unaware, the West Berkshire town of Hungerford may seem like a quaint spot on a pretty canal. But beware: Tutti men are known to prowl at Hocktide.

Customs

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.

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.

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’,...

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.

White Rose Morris dancing at dawn on May Day, 2011, at Castle Hill in Almondbury - Photo credit Bryony Griffith

Customs Morris Dancing Performance

May Day Morris Call Out 2025

Better late than never, they always say, don’t they? Well it MAY be late, but we were feeling too sad...

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.

A Bampton side dancing in a local garden on Whit Monday

Customs The Merry Month of May

Traditional May events to add to your calendar

Why is the month of May so important to the folk world? Here's our list of what to do, where to go, what to see, and what it all means.

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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

Customs Uncovered: Atherstone Ball Game

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

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

The best traditional Christmas songs, as chosen by traditional singers

A Beginner’s Guide to the Sheffield Carols

Young folk musicians you need to hear

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

Myth Country – the Charlie Cooper Interview

Customs

Customs uncovered: The Hunting of the Earl of Rone

Customs Uncovered: The Tichborne Dole

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

Guise Dancing: the Christmastime mumming tradition of West Cornwall

Tales of a Tutti Man: Hocktide Customs Uncovered

This is England [Folk Roots, 1997]

Customs Uncovered: The Maypole

Customs Uncovered: Twelfth Night

Golowan – Penzance’s midsummer celebration

May Day Morris Call Out 2025

The return of the Stonehenge Dahlia Shows

Traditional May events to add to your calendar

The best traditional Christmas songs, as chosen by traditional singers

A Beginner’s Guide to the Sheffield Carols

Young folk musicians you need to hear

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

Goblin Band: The Tradfolk Interview