To think more should be made of our local myths, folklore and traditions

[Feelingathomenow]

Britain, and indeed the whole of the western world, seems to be becoming increasingly divided. Political ideologies v political ideology, Religion against religion, race against race, sex against sex.

For a society to be strong, it needs common values, common beliefs and common rituals. It needs shared stories we can relate to and make reference to.

This is where myths and traditions have always played a vital part. Britain is full of local stories that people have all eagerly shared, stories everyone knew that brought people together. story telling is so very important to humanity and always has been. Traditions where everyone played their part either as participator or spectator, either way it brought a community together, these kinds of rituals have proven benefits for all.

People in Devon and Cornwall always knew about the pixies and people round here often blame/thank the Pixies for good/bad luck. We have the Tar barrels every November which provides a focus for people, newer traditions referencing the old, like the pirate festival, celebrations around the landing of William of Orange etc. People talk about hairy hands grabbing the steering wheel of your car on a certain road, people know about Kitty Jays grave where fresh flowers appear on the grave of a suicide victim buried at cross roads even if your back is turned for a second or the Devil riding out across the moors with his hell hounds.

Many of these myths and legends have made it into some of the most popular stories, The hell hounds on Dartmoor made it into the hounds of the Baskerville (thanks to Doyle’s coach driver (a mr Baskerville) when he visited Dartmoor.obviously the Fantastic JK Rowling has introduced Dobies and Boggarts to children far beyond Scotland/East of England respectively. People across the world read these stories

So should we be talking about these things more, esp in schools to give common stories of Britain (or wherever you live) not so tied to the big religions or political ideologies, things that do however, fulfil the need for common stories and rituals based in the landscape of where people live? Should more be done to encourage everyone to take part in local traditions to bring communities together? Also interested to hear of any local legends/traditions etc.

As teachers we should really be linking our curriculum to the local area. My class are reception and we love a local folk story and song. We also go wassailing! I was questioned about it but because I knew the links, I was ‘allowed’ to do it.
@Feelingathomenow I am the same as you. I’ve lived in many places and now I’m here, I finally feel home! We really do have some amazing local legends and some wonderful local musicians! The Lakeman’s are superb and have many links with some of my favourite artists.

Firstly, your case isn't helped by raising straw man arguments.

I haven't called you racist. I've been very careful not to. I have no reason to think you are.

Some of your arguments and language are shared by right-wing xenophobes, ethno-nationalists and racists, though. That includes phrases including "globalisation is a danger to humanity" and "we are a tribal species", as well as accusing others of "shouting you down". No-one's shouting. We are having a polite and civil conversation. And no-one is shouting down anyone who "mentions" British traditional stories. Where has that happened? I don't think it has.

To respond to your questions of substance:

Of course the world isn't entirely homogeneous. But it's more homogenous than it was 100 or 50 or 10 years ago. Technology makes further homogeneity inevitable to every society that embraces capitalist modernity. Which is every society.

The most significant cultural imposition that Britain made on the world is industrialisation. Modern global trade. And that's the thing we've left behind in India and Africa and the Americas. You can't uninvent it.

So, no, Peruvian culture is not Thai culture is not British culture, but all are affected and changed by the modern interactions of global trade, movement and communication. Where we differ is that you seem to fear this and I see the value in it.

I'm very British. Mostly English. And recognise that some of the richest areas of historic British cultural achievement are a directly result of cross-cultural pollination, whether that's Victorian architecture being influenced by the Italian renaissance, The Beatles (a British take on US RnB) or Anglo-Indian cuisine (a British takeaway on sub-continental cooking).

These British things are more interesting and relevant to me as a 21st century Briton than Morris dancing.

I haven't called you a racist either.

That’s fine. But you are on a thread about local myths and legends, which you blatantly have no interest in and instead seem keen to create argument and ill feeling on a thread that was quite joyful. Bravo.

Well, the original post makes a lot of societal and political claims which are a lot more questionable and provocative than just "anyone know any fun local myths and legends?"

I had a huge fear of spontaneous combustion for years after seeing an episode of Ripley's Believe It or Not.

Not me personally, no. But people with my interests, certainly, you have implied would be right wing and nationalistic.

I think, unfortunately, you have taken a thread and read into it things you have a bee in your bonnet about.

Seeing the numerous downsides of globalisation( and there are so many most noticeably mental health issues) is not “right wing”. Humans are a tribal species, there’s nothing wrong with that. Trying to fudge calling someone racist by saying you share views with right wingers is so thinly veiled as to be laughable.

We can all appreciate cross cultural influences, it’s not an either/or situation. I really deplore the modern perchant for black and white thinking like that.

Given your comments, this thread probably isn’t something that you’re interested in. Might I suggest starting your own to discuss the matters that concern you rather than derailing such a positive feel good thread with your misplaced political agenda. Thank you.

Well said!

It seems to have provoked you, yes. I recommend reading up on the contemporary struggles of indigenous populations before adopting a condescending position and making claims such as conversations about indigenous peoples and traditional cultures are quaintly redundant. It is ironic you came into this thread making thinly veiled accusations of xenophobia and racism, when you yourself have shown outstanding ignorance of other cultures! Projection much.

I’m sorry you read it that way, no one else has. We often see reflections of our own desires and become fixated on them to such an extent reality no longer matters - no if only there was a myth about that

I do think that's true, and in fact as much as certain people seem to scoff at the idea of English culture and traditions say they appreciate other culture's traditions, in my experience they often don't really respect the substance of those traditions much either.

I think it's nasty to say that people who want to protect folklore against what they see as frightening racist incursions, somehow have less right to invest in folklore.

In my view, everyone has the same rights to identify with folk myths. You don't get to gatekeep and say it's only for people who agree with you. And you don't get to say that folklore can only be interpreted one way.

I feel the same about Dickens, took me several goes to read Great Expectations.

I like Pratchett's characterisations and the way you recognise familiar places and cultures and stories. The Tiffany Aching/ Ramtop witches books are very much about folklore, spirituality and people's connection to nature and place. They even have Morris dancers.

Have you seen worth watching if only for the exploding sex doll

They have everything I love - mist give them another go

Oooh blimey you can open a can of worms if you're not too careful; apparently there were still 'cannibals' around Hartland, wreckers maybe, but I don't really (want) to think they also ate the people too. Easy to get things wrong though when even the BBC's "Coast" locates Hartland in Cornwall.

Slavery has been written out in the local history although some credence is given to the Spaniards who marauded but that wouldn't completely explain 'everything' evident in the local population.

But totally true, the last 'witches' burned in England was just up the road; and I feel the heat from that 'fire' to this day. Wrapped up into the existent male mysogyny that still prevails to this day.

I enjoyed the Charlie Cooper series about British folklore recently

Good Lord!

yes I love folklore and our heritage and traditions but no matter what I try it always seems out of reach. I live in Nottinghamshire and I daydream about cosy pubs with a fire in the hearth, horse brasses hung up around the bar, real ale and folk music and traditional storytelling, wassailing, celebrating the seasons etc but where is this stuff?

i definitely think there’s a connection between the mental health issues in this country and how much we’ve become severed from our roots.

I think the lyrics to ‘Roots’ by Show of Hands sums it all up perfectly.

Roots actually sums it up very well

Notification came up today on FB was watching Show of Hands this time last year. I can't remember what they said but I think they're not touring together this year, maybe some solo stuff.

I was also going to say, as others have mentioned, Charlie Cooper's series on mythology on BBC, Sharon Blackie's If Women Rose Rooted - full of Celtic myths and Legends, particularly from a female slant, relating to place. Amy Jeff's Storyland, full of Medieval stories and legends from around Britain.

Also to add to this, Neil Oliver's Hauntings: A Book of Ghosts and Where to find them, linking place to Historic/Legends around the British Isles. I'm currently reading Ghostland by Edward Parnell, which links weird/horror/ghost literature to geography - with mentions of Susan Cooper, Alan Garner and The Golden Dawn. Suranne Jones' documentary on Witches on Channel 4 is also v good.

I completely agree that folklore and place can help you feel tethered in a time of instability. The above recommendations have really helped me at a time of great change in life.

A quick Google for Nottinghamshire Folk Music has turned up these, maybe attending one or two will lead to finding what you would like. Fingers Crossed 🤞

https://poppyfolkclub.co.uk/

https://folkbeeston.club/

https://www.folkandhoney.co.uk/rest-of-the-uk/the-carrington-triangle-folk-club-e1583/

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--nottingham/folk-music/

There’s quite a bit of stuff in Derbyshire which I’m a lot more familiar with than Nottinghamshire. Try out some of the village pubs in the peaks.

Ghost walks are good places for story telling , Richard someone used to do a few round Derby

But I know what you mean - used to live in Birmingham- it was spiritually dead and sucked the spiritual life force out of you

@Pearmain apparent Derbyshire has wassailing too -who knew
https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/derbyshire/22566638.apple-wassailing-derbyshire-became-new-year-tradition/

You might also be interested in some of these courses many are online. they update their courses all the time.

https://www.treadwells-london.com/events

Theres also a long running thread on the religion and philosophy boards for witches, they might be able to point you in the direction of celebrating the seasons