Midwinter Folk Tales

Midwinter Folk Tales gathers traditional stories shaped by the cold, darkness and customs of the winter season. Taffy Thomas includes accounts such as the Legend of Tinsel, the Christmas Cat and the New Year’s Bell, placing familiar festive themes alongside older local traditions and storytelling lore.

The collection also includes winter riddles and tales connected with customs across Britain, from the Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels in Devon and Shetland’s Viking Up Helly Aa to Tom Bawcock’s Eve in Cornwall and the Haxey Hood Game in Lincolnshire. The result is a seasonal mixture of fireside stories, regional celebrations and playful puzzles, rooted in the folklore of midwinter.