Everyday Folklore: An Almanac for the Ritual Year

I read the Kindle version of this book and it was a wealth of information. A mix of folklore from around the world, traditions, customs and some right oddities. The book has some wonderful illustrations and prints adding to the overall charm of this almanac.It includes so many different things that seem bizarre and quirky but also things that will have been passed down by older generations, the things we refer to as "old wives tales", but as we know some of these do have usefulness to them.Working through this book day by day and month by month you can if you so wish, try some of the activities or follow some of the suggestions. I do think I will be more inclined to try some of the planting advice rather than maybe trying fire jumping though!If you are interested in how many sneezes you have and what this means on whatever day you happen to sneeze. How about joining in a tomato food fight, (which sounds like great fun)? Would you like to know when Nettle Day is, or Dotterel Day is?The book brings together lore from around the world and this means you get a plethora of information and it makes you realise that customs and traditions are still practised based on lunar phases, star signs, weather lore, plant lore and also magical, supernatural and mystical dates. If you think this is all about things from the past, then you would be mistaken as the author has brought her research up to date with mentions of Twitter and one of my favourite days, Star Wars Day!this is a fabulous book and it is one that you could try to dip in and out of but you will soon find yourself engrossed in it.As I mentioned I read this on Kindle but I think I will be buying a hardback copy as I had so much fun with it. I would definitely recommend this book for those who like almanacs that are well-researched, full of information and unusual things.

Beautifully produced. A lovely book to give as a present - attractive to look at and great fun to read. Ms. Frank must have a good sense of humour as I certainly laughed at some of the does and don’ts she has itemised. I bet you turn to your own birthday date first!Suitable for all ages.

The book:Spanning the ritual year, and born from a project the author began in 2020 to write about folklore every day for a year (The Everyday Lore Project), this book joyfully shares a snapshot of folklore from around the world for each day of the year. Whether you want to know how to divine what the weather will be like on Christmas Day, how to cure a hangover after the excesses of Twelfth Night, or why you should avoid hares, this book has a fascinating story to share!My thoughts:“Everyday Folklore”, by Liza Frank, subtitled “An Almanac for the Ritual Year”, is a fascinating, fun and hugely detailed book, and beautifully illustrated by Amberly Kramhoft, adding to the pleasure of leafing through the pages.This isn’t a typical almanac, in that it isn’t tied to a specific year; rather, there is information for each date suggested by the folklore of that day, month or season, meaning it can be enjoyed whenever you happen to pick it up. Some days obviously have a lot to say for themselves, such as Halloween, Christmas, or New Year — although it turns out there are quite a lot of these! But the author has something interesting to say for them all.And folklore isn’t confined to hundreds of years ago. The author also includes more modern traditions, many of which I’m particularly fond of, such as Star Wars Day, Star Trek Day (I was pleased to see both acknowledged!), Eurovision and Towel Day (in memory of the late, great Douglas Adams).There is really something here for everyone, and alongside a mix of the more modern, the author includes fascinating information on traditional folklore from around the world, each marked with a useful Folklore Key to indicate a rough category — including animal lore, apotropaic magic and the supernatural (fairies, dragons, etc.), and celebrations and festivals.Of course you can read this book cover-to-cover, or read at random as the mood takes you, but I think it will be particularly enjoyable to read each day’s entry as it arrives, to keep in tune with the ritual year and enjoy some interesting stories along the way!

Tried To like this book, but found that the voice of the writer over-powered the details of each date.It spoiled it for me.