The Folklore Society (FLS) is a learned society, based in London, devoted to the study of all aspects of folklore and tradition, including: ballads, folktales, fairy tales, myths, legends, traditional song and dance, folk plays, games, seasonal events, calendar customs, childlore and children's folklore, folk arts and crafts, popular belief, folk religion, material culture, vernacular language, sayings, proverbs and nursery rhymes, folk medicine, plantlore and weather lore.
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Royal Funerals: A History A Folklore Society online talk by Helen Frisby Tuesday 4 March 2025, 19:00 GMT This talk with Dr Helen Frisby, author of the Shire book Traditions of Death and Burial, explores the funeral customs of English/British monarchs from Anglo-Saxon times to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. Some of...
In Charlie Cooper’s new series Myth Country (streaming on BBC I-player), the actor and writer reveals his passion for folklore and how the peculiar rituals and traditions of this country ‘bring people together’. Far from being outdated and trivial, folklore is, he says, ‘very much alive and thriving on social media’. The National Folklore Survey funded by UKRI...
Folklore Society council members Dr Matthew Cheeseman and Dr Paul Cowdell have been funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council to run a research network through 2024. The network aims to understand how to embed greater equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within UK folklore. It hosts an international knowledge exchange on folklore theory, method,...
Announcing the recently launched Fionn Folklore Database. The hero Fionn mac Cumhaill is said to have defended Ireland and Scotland from foreign and supernatural threat during a legendary third-century Golden Age. The stories and songs about him and his warrior band, the Fianna, form the most prolific body of narrative in the Gaelic tradition, spanning...
Ethical guidelines for good practice in collecting, archiving and sharing folklore material. Folklore collection originally developed and flourished at a time when research ethics, and questions about intellectual property, were given little thought. Contemporary expectations demand that folklorists (and other researchers) pay attention to such matters. With this in mind, the Folklore Society suggests the...
Here’s a selection of courses and classes on folklore studies at various different levels, ranging from learning for fun to Masters and PhD. A History of Folklore: an online course from The Folklore Society Ever wondered where ‘folklore’ comes from? Who were the founders of our subject and how does their influence still shape what...
Following our move to 50 Fitzroy Street, the Society’s annual costs for office accommodation have significantly increased, so we are inviting all members and friends of The Folklore Society to support us by making donations via our Charities Aid Foundation page at CAF Donate: https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/11322
February 24, 2025
Folklore Reimagined: 2025 events at The British Academy April-May 2025 British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace London SW1Y 5AH How have global folklore traditions, stories, and customs shaped our identities? And what does contemporary folklore look like? Delve into fascinating topics like the lore of our landscapes, the importance of sung history, and how crafting...
February 24, 2025
Estella Canziani Post-graduate Bursary for Research 2025 We are very pleased to announce that three post-graduate applicants received bursaries for their research projects in 2025: Rawan Alfuraih (University of Oxford): ‘The Epic of Najd: Rebirth of Bodies in the New Environment of Saudi Arabian Urbanisation.’ Maximilian Bowden (University of Essex): ‘Mapping the Deadverse: Worldbuilding and Narrative...
February 17, 2025
Call for Papers: ‘Revisiting Oral Narrative: Anthropology, Folklore and History’ Ninth ‘Folklore and Anthropology in Conversation’ Joint Seminar The Folklore Society and The Royal Anthropological Institute Date: Thursday 23 October, 2025. Time: 10 AM to 5 PM. Location: 50 Fitzroy Street, London W1T 5BT and online via Zoom The annual seminar series ‘Folklore and...
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Step into the enchanting world of Cicely Mary Barker (1895 - 1973), the creator of the much-loved Flower Fairies, in this playful exhibition. Experience the timeless appeal of Cicely Mary Barker's creation, the Flower Fairies. First published in 1923, these botanically accurate fairies were inspired by real children that Cicely knew. See a selection of the original Flower...
Call for Papers: Magic and Witchcraft Conference 2025 24th – 25th June 2025, University of York Theme: What is a Witch? The CREMS University of York Magic and Witchcraft Conference invites paper proposals for the Magic and Witchcraft Conference 2025. This year’s theme is inspired by conversations begun at a conference on Witchcraft and Authority, held in Copenhagen in Octob...
Song and a sense of place CALL FOR PAPERS A one-day in-person conference organised by the Traditional Song Forum in association with the Centre for Contemporary Folklore Date: Saturday 26 April 2025; 10am – 5pm Venue: Council Room, Firth Court, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN Admission free, but prior booking essential Contact: Steve Roud...