Celebrate Tom Bawcock’s Eve, where fish pies and folklore come together in a charming Cornish village Nestled on the rugged Cornish coastline, the fishing village of Mousehole (pronounced “Mowzel”) lights up on December 23rd for one of the quirkiest and most heartwarming traditions in the British Isles: Tom Bawcock’s Eve. This annual celebration honours the…

Gather ‘round the fire for an ancient West Country tradition of warmth, cheer, and just a dash of good old-fashioned superstition. If your idea of a good time involves roaring fires, hearty toasts, and a sprinkling of folklore, then make your way to Dunster or Axmouth for the annual Ashen Faggot ceremony. This centuries-old West…

As December creeps in, so too does the longest night of the year. For millennia, cultures around the world have marked the Winter Solstice—the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere—with celebrations that illuminate the darkness, summon the sun’s return, and see the dawn of a brighter new year. Here’s your guide to…

Celebrate the winter solstice with fire, folklore, and revelry at the Montol Festival—a modern revival of Cornwall’s rich midwinter traditions. Each December, the streets of Penzance come alive with the Montol Festival, a vibrant celebration of the winter solstice steeped in Cornish folklore and ancient customs. Combining music, processions, masks, and fire, Montol marks the…

Experience the pomp, pageantry, and political spectacle of the York Sheriff’s Riding—a medieval tradition of civic pride and power. Step back into medieval England with a visit to York during the Sheriff’s Riding, a grand ceremonial procession marking the authority of the city’s sheriffs. This annual event sees the city’s sheriffs parade through the streets…

Experience Yule, the Norse midwinter festival filled with feasting, fire, and festivities fit for gods and warriors alike. Before Christmas was the holiday of the season, the pagan Norse celebrated Yule, a midwinter festival steeped in ancient customs, symbolism, and communal revelry. Rooted in the winter solstice and marking the turning of the year’s darkest…