Rough Music: Folk Customs, Transgression and Alternative Britain
Taking in a range of traditions from ancient Britain to the present day, a revealing look at the bristly underside of British folkloric culture.
 
Rough Music explores transgression and shame in British folklore and customs. It takes in a wide array of examples including Bonfire Night, Wassail, Morris dancing, Mari Lwyd, and Twelfth Night, along with happenings like Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, and street football. Liz Williams explores the roots and roles of violence, mockery, protest, and public shaming. She also addresses alternative culture and modern protests, such as the Battle of the Beanfield and the Stonehenge Free Festival. The interaction between racism and traditions involving blackface, alongside the emergence of all-female Morris sides, is also examined. Finally, Rough Music looks at folklore’s evolution in the digital age, highlighting new developments such as ghost bikes. This engaging book offers an entertaining yet rigorous look at British folklore and culture.
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Rough Music: Folk Customs, Transgression and Alternative Britain
Taking in a range of traditions from ancient Britain to the present day, a revealing look at the bristly underside of British folkloric culture.
 
Rough Music explores transgression and shame in British folklore and customs. It takes in a wide array of examples including Bonfire Night, Wassail, Morris dancing, Mari Lwyd, and Twelfth Night, along with happenings like Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, and street football. Liz Williams explores the roots and roles of violence, mockery, protest, and public shaming. She also addresses alternative culture and modern protests, such as the Battle of the Beanfield and the Stonehenge Free Festival. The interaction between racism and traditions involving blackface, alongside the emergence of all-female Morris sides, is also examined. Finally, Rough Music looks at folklore’s evolution in the digital age, highlighting new developments such as ghost bikes. This engaging book offers an entertaining yet rigorous look at British folklore and culture.
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Rough Music: Folk Customs, Transgression and Alternative Britain

Rough Music: Folk Customs, Transgression and Alternative Britain

by Liz Williams
Rough Music: Folk Customs, Transgression and Alternative Britain

Rough Music: Folk Customs, Transgression and Alternative Britain

by Liz Williams

eBook

$27.50 

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Overview

Taking in a range of traditions from ancient Britain to the present day, a revealing look at the bristly underside of British folkloric culture.
 
Rough Music explores transgression and shame in British folklore and customs. It takes in a wide array of examples including Bonfire Night, Wassail, Morris dancing, Mari Lwyd, and Twelfth Night, along with happenings like Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, and street football. Liz Williams explores the roots and roles of violence, mockery, protest, and public shaming. She also addresses alternative culture and modern protests, such as the Battle of the Beanfield and the Stonehenge Free Festival. The interaction between racism and traditions involving blackface, alongside the emergence of all-female Morris sides, is also examined. Finally, Rough Music looks at folklore’s evolution in the digital age, highlighting new developments such as ghost bikes. This engaging book offers an entertaining yet rigorous look at British folklore and culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781836390596
Publisher: Reaktion Books, Limited
Publication date: 04/12/2025
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 336
File size: 734 KB

About the Author

Liz Williams is a writer and journalist. She lives in Glastonbury, where she co-owns a witchcraft shop and lectures in creative writing. Her books include Miracles of Our Own Making: A History of Paganism, also published by Reaktion Books.

Table of Contents

Cover Half-title Page Title Page Copyright Contents Introduction One: What Is Folklore? Two: Jacks in the Green Three: The Mari Lwyd and Animal Figures Four: Wassail, Wassail, All Over the Town Five: Morris and Molly Six: Mystery Plays Seven: Bonfire Night: Gunpowder, Treason and Plot Eight: All the Fun of the Fair? Nine: Cheese Rolling Ten: Street Football Eleven: Up Helly Aa Twelve: Trick or Treat Thirteen: Skimmity Riding Fourteen: The Future of Folk Practice References Bibliography Acknowledgements And Permissions Index
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