Off the Shelf: The Ritual Year – Keira Chapman

Wassails and well dressings, hen races and sword dancing. On any week, somewhere in Britain, you will find people gathering – to mark a moment in the agricultural year, commemorate an event in local history, herald the beginning of a new season or bid farewell to the old. Some rituals have passed down through the centuries; some are newer or recently revived; some have a deep connection to the British landscape or folklore, and some have come from other cultures and taken root here. This revelatory and beautifully illustrated guide to a living tradition of rites and rituals journeys through some of the gatherings that shape our year, challenges our understanding of the past and gives pattern and meaning to communities across Britain today. 

The Ritual Year has been co-authored by the creators of the best selling Nature’s Calendar. Kiera Chapman is a political ecologist and nature writer. Lulah Ellender is an author (Grounding and Elisabeth’s Lists) and copywriter. Rebecca  Warren is an historian and illustrator.

This event is part of Off the Shelf: Festival of Words from the University of Sheffield. The full festival programme is available here: https://offtheshelf.org.uk/events/ 

The event is organised by the Off the Shelf Festival. Views expressed at this event do not reflect those of Sheffield Museums.