Discovering English customs and traditions - Margaret Gascoigne

Tip-toeing at Gittisham, tree-dressing at Aston-on-Clun, coconut dancing in Bacup and clipping-the-church at Painswick are all rituals peculiar to their localities, annual contributions to the extraordinary fabric of English social life. Dozens of quaint traditions that continue in England are described in this book, which also explains the origins of customs like maypole dancing, well-dressing and rush-bearing. Not all these customs go back to pagan origins: some are comparatively recent, though based upon more ancient traditions, and some are modern developments formulated to add colour to modern life.