This book explores the folklore, ethnology and cultural history of the British Isles and Ireland in both urban and rural, historical past and present day contexts. It provides the general reader and students of folklore studies with a readable and informative guide to the subject as well as insight into some of the major themes, methodologies and theories which are applied in folklore studies. While it concentrates on the folklore of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales., it also discusses the folklore of diasporic British and Irish communities in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.
Key sections include the major folklore genres, such as folk custom, folk belief, folk music, folk drama, folk dance, folk narrative (legend and folktale), mythology, festivals and calendar customs, foodways, and material culture. A rich variety of subgenres is explored: witchcraft, charming, ghosts, fairies, folk religion, mummers or Pace Egg plays, Common Ridings, sport, folklore of the sea, contemporary legend, UFO-ology and crop circles, folklore of animals, film and media, the Internet, photographing and recording folklore, and tourism.
The result is an entertaining and informative companion to folklore studies, based on up to date research and scholarship.
