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…
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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…
Twelfth Night has been celebrated for centuries as the joyous conclusion to the Twelve Days of Christmas. Rooted in medieval customs and immortalised in literature, it is a night rich…
What are your plans for New Year’s? Watching the fireworks? Counting down the year with a glass of champagne in hand? New Year’s celebrations have changed dramatically over the centuries,…
How do you celebrate Christmas? Most, if not all, families will have their Christmas traditions; the food they eat, the family members they see, the church services they attend, the…
In the Ritual Year, the year is divided into the four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn. This roughly maps onto the monthly divisions too. Winter is December, January, February; Spring…
As December dawns, our eyes will naturally turn to Christmas, if they haven’t already. We will be looking forward to the food, the gifts, the family gatherings and the flowing…
Every December, communities around the UK come together for Tree Dressing Day, a celebration of the cultural, spiritual, and practical significance of trees. Revitalised in 1990 by the environmental arts…
How do you celebrate Christmas? You might have traditions that are unique to you and your family, your cultural heritage or national identity. In Britain, Christmas as we know it…
For our ancestors, the harvest was not just a period of gathering crops—it was the lifeline that ensured survival through the harsh winter months. The harvest season was the pinnacle…
In times when a good harvest and the successful rearing of farm animals was essential to survival, ceremonies like wassailing were held to ensure the health of crops, animals and…
Plough Monday With references dating back to the late 15th century, Plough Monday was generally the first Monday to fall after Epiphany on the 6th January. Following the close of…
