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HistoryExtra podcast

Cheese-rolling, horse skulls & morris dancers: Britain's strange folk customs

HistoryExtra podcast

HistoryExtra

History

4.34.7K Ratings

🗓️ 10 March 2025

⏱️ 30 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

From green men and jolly horse skulls, to chasing cheese down hills and morris dancing, Britain has a rich tradition of folk customs. Some are strange, some downright silly. But, as Liz Williams tells Ellie Cawthorne, some of these traditions can also have a darker aspect, based on shame, judgement and social conformity. (Ad) Liz Williams is the author of Rough Music: Folk Customs, Transgression and Alternative Britain (Reaktion Books, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Frough-music%2Fliz-williams%2F9781836390602. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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1:04.7

Welcome to the History Extra podcast.

1:07.9

Fascinating historical conversations from the makers of BBC History Magazine.

1:14.3

From green men and jolly horse skulls to chasing cheeses down hills and burning effigies,

1:22.1

Britain has a rich tradition of folk customs. Some estranged, some downlight silly. But as Liz Williams explores

1:30.8

in her book, Rough Music, some of these traditions can also have a darker aspect, based on shame,

1:38.1

judgment, and social conformity. I spoke to Liz to find out more. Let's start with the title of the first chapter of your book, Rough Music, which is,

1:49.5

What is Folklore?

...

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