The Ritual Year

Wassails and plough blessings, cheese rolling and well dressings, Bradford's Mela and the Notting Hill Carnival, summer hen races and festive sword-dancing… On any given week, somewhere in Britain, you will find people gathering – to mark a moment in the agricultural year, to commemorate an event in local history, 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 folklore, and some have been carried from other cultures and taken root here. In this revelatory and beautifully illustrated guide to a living tradition of rites and rituals, we journey through some of the gatherings that shape our year, challenge our understanding of the past, and give pattern and meaning to communities across Britain today.