The Customs and Ceremonies of Britain: An Encyclopaedia of Living Traditions

Throughout the British Isles, hundreds of fascinating customs and ceremonies - many of them centuries old - continue to be observed. Charles Kightly, experienced traveler and well-known historian, unfolds a broad and colourful tapestry of those that survive to this day - folklore and calendar customs; royal ceremonies; remnants of life in the Middle Ages and of vanished farming ways; the proud observances of ancient towns and the less ordered merry-making of the countryside; the festivals of the Church and the relics of deep-rooted pagan beliefs; sporting traditions; commemorations of loved, hated or merely eccentric people; or celebrations of deliverance from plagues and perils past. Some have found national (and international) fame - changing the guard at Buckingham Palace, Burns Night, the Oxford and Cambridge boat race, Royal Ascot. Others are mysterious customs perpetuated in the remoter corners of Britain - Turning the Devil's Stone, 'Burning Bartle', the Mari Lwyd of South Wales and Lanark's 'Whuppity Stourie'. The origins of these traditions have frequently been obscured by fantastic tales of demons and spirits, by centuries of local gossip, or by glib interpretations which, though repeated from book to book, lack any real foundation in truth. With absorbing detail, Charles Kightly relates the myths but also examines the known historical facts and suggests convincing explanations. Arranged alphabetically by custom, his book gives the dates, times and locations of the ceremonies, and an extensive regional index of place names also pinpoints the events in a particular area. Here is a compelling text for everyone interested in British history, culture and tradition, as well as a unique guide for visitors in search of colourful and unusual events.