Full Description
On any given week, somewhere in Britain, you will find people gathering - to mark a traditional moment in the agricultural year, to commemorate a particular event in local history, or 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 religious beliefs, and some have been carried from other cultures and taken root here.
From wassails and plough blessings to cheese rolling and well dressings; from Chinatown's Lunar New Year and Bradford's Mela to the Notting Hill Carnival; and from autumnal bonfires to festive sword-dancing, this is a fascinating journey through the customs, rites and traditions that mark our contemporary cultural calendar, and shape (and sometimes challenge) our sense of who we have been and who we are.
