British folklore

Once a year in the village of St Margaret's Hope in South Ronaldsay, Orkney, young girls gather at the local school for a contest. Their costumes glint and jangle as they circle the square dressed as working horses, complete with collar and headdress in costumes handed down through generations. Boys and girls compete in a match at the Sands O' Wright - a beach just outside the village. They use their miniature ploughs to draw lines in the sand, learning the craft of the finely tilled…

The Green Man of Bankside at Hastings May Day in East Sussex | photograph by Joe Charrington | British Folklore

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Trees in Britain have long been considered sacred with special powers. Here are some common British trees and the folklore and mythology behind them.

The Green Man of Bankside at Hastings May Day in East Sussex | photograph by Joe Charrington | British Folklore

In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London

The British Isles are a handful of islands that make up the Isle of Great Britain, the Island of Ireland, and a host of smaller islands in that vicinity (Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, and the like). The culture of the Isles stretches back to the days of the ancient Celts and is amazingly rich

Buy Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain Second Edition by Russell Ash et al (ISBN: 9780340165973) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Luke Edward Hall.I have been obsessed with magic since childhood.I'm not quite sure where the interest stemmed from, although I am certain that I cannot be alone in having fond memories of tearing around the house as a youngster, dressed in a makeshift cape (a towel and a few clothes pegs...

Asrai- Scottish myth: water fairies that must always stay underwater. If it is captured or a single ray of sunlight touches it, it would melt into a pool of water. Their beauty is so great that if a man saw one, they would have a need to capture it. Their touch is so cold it could burn skin. They feed on moonlight.

The English Folk Dance and Song Society introduces you to the wonderful world of British folk customs by delving into their photographic collection From its abundance of traditional songs, tunes and dances, to its strange but locally revered calendar customs, English communities...

Wirt Sikes, US consul to Cardiff from 1876 to 1883, describes the mythology and traditions of Wales, a land steeped in folklore.

The idiosyncratic English rituals that mark the changing seasons are captured on camera.

The future of folklore is bright, says David Barnett. It might not be all about fairies and goblins, but the art of story telling and traditional legends is alive and the country’s best-loved tales are rebooted for the 21st century

Wild Man

The history of the Oak Apple Day in England. English traditions and customs.

Celebrate the great British apple with West Country wassailing Today is the day to go a wassailing. Oh yes. My West Country upbringing is shining through on what is, according to the pre-Gregorian calendar, twelfth