A Treasury of British Folklore: Maypoles, Mandrakes and Mistletoe

A Treasury of British Folklore gathers British customs, superstitions and legends, linking inherited beliefs to the landscapes and communities that shaped them. Dee Dee Chainey ranges from fairy lore and folk healing to witches, alchemy and seasonal customs, with examples including trousers hung from a bed to deter fairies, ash-tree wart cures and the belief that green wedding clothing brings bad luck.

Alongside familiar figures such as King Arthur and St George, the book considers the Green Man and reports of Black Shuck, the ghostly dog associated with East Anglia. It also points to traditions still practised today, including the Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival, Abbots Bromley Horn Dance and cider-orchard wassailing in Somerset.