Churches used to be a centre for the community. They were open to all classes of society, and through their association with births, marriages, and deaths, often had links to each stage in an individual’s life. Add to that their open commemoration of the dead, and churches became a clear focal point (Simpson 2003: 67). […]
folklore
Folklore About Pubs: Murderous Landlords, Famous Crimes & Ghosts
As we saw last week with the folklore of pub names, the pub is a familiar part of British life. As such a hive of activity, it stands to reason that there would also be plenty of folklore about pubs around Britain. After all, the more activity there is in a place, the more opportunity […]
The Last Drop & The Bucket of Blood: The Folklore of Odd Pub Names
The pub is well entrenched in the cultural life of Britain. As a hub of social contact and often a provider of decent food, pubs offer a central meeting point for many groups of people. Yet how often do we think about pub names and what they tell us about local history, famous figures, or […]
Lady Godiva: The Naked Horseback Rider of Coventry
Lady Godiva has been immortalised in some strange ways, giving her name both to a brand of chocolates and a line in Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’. Yet it’s fascinating that the star of an 11th-century story continues to have an impact even now. For some, she’s simply the woman who rode naked through the […]
Boudica: The Legends of a Celtic Warrior Queen
The name ‘Boudica’ conjures up a range of associations, but most often we perhaps think of a flame-haired warrior standing up to the might of Rome. Freedom fighter, warrior queen, Celtic icon—she’s perhaps all of these things and more. But the length of time between her lifetime and the general lack of primary evidence about […]
New Year’s Day Folklore: Rituals & Superstitions For Good Luck
New Year’s Day is perhaps one of the longest-running days to be celebrated since we’ve had a calendar. Marking the end of one year and the beginning of another, it offers a secular reason for people to celebrate together. It’s been a time associated with gift-giving, visiting friends, and attempting to predict the fortunes of […]
