

29 April 2025
May Traditions: From Fires to Fairies
As the landscape shifts from the pale green mist of April into the frothy bloom of May, nature enters a crescendo. This is the season of Beltane — a time…

7 April 2025
Easter Traditions Through Time
Easter has long been a time of celebration, blending deep Christian traditions with lively folk customs. At the Weald & Downland Living Museum, where history comes to life, we look…

19 March 2025
Old New Year: Lady Day
Did you know that New Year’s Day wasn’t always celebrated on 1 January in England? For nearly six centuries, the year began on 25 March, a day known as Lady…

17 March 2025
Wellbeing in the Weald, Downtime in the Downland
In today’s fast-paced and often stressful world, finding moments of peace and tranquillity is essential for maintaining good mental health. Many of us spend our days in front of screens,…

25 February 2025
Fasting until Easter: Shrovetide & Lent
What does your preparation for Easter look like? Gathering the chocolate eggs; planning the roasts or the walks; figuring out which church service you’ll attend on Easter Sunday; plotting the…

11 February 2025
There’s No Place Like Home: Homes through History
From the thatched dwellings of the Saxons to the grandiose Edwardian townhouses, the story of homes in England is as varied as it is fascinating. Our homes are more than…

27 January 2025
The Light of a New Year: Candlemas
How long do you leave your Christmas decorations up for? Do you have people jibing about how it’s bad luck to leave them up past Twelfth Night? Scoffing at how…

15 January 2025
Drinking with the Trees: The Tradition of Wassailing
At the heart of English tradition lies wassailing, an ancient and joyful custom that marks the New Year with blessings, music, and communal cheer. Rooted in folklore and evolving through…

9 January 2025
Plough Monday: Welcoming in the Agricultural Year
Marking the beginning of the agricultural year, Plough Monday - celebrated on the first Monday after Epiphany - is a fascinating glimpse into England's rural past. Dating back to the…