Folk Calendar

Monday 21 December

Folklore from the old calendars

Going a-gooding No longer kept Kent, Staffordshire, WarwickshireOn St Thomas's Day, the shortest day, poor women went round the parish begging money or food for Christmas, and gave sprigs of holly, mistletoe, palm or primroses in return.
Apple wassailing on St Thomas’s Day No longer kept Staffordshire, WorcestershireSt Thomas's Day falls on the shortest day, as the couplet has it, St Thomas gray, St Thomas gray, the longest night and the shortest day.
St Thomas’s onion Lore and belief EnglandMother Bunch's Closet Newly Broke Open, printed under St Thomas's Day, told a girl that this was the best time of year to learn who her husband would be.
Blowing the Yule-Girth at York No longer kept YorkshireAn old custom book of the city of York, printed by Leland, set down that on St Thomas's Day before Yule the sheriffs heard a mass of St Thomas at All Hallows on the Pavement.
Broughton for St Thomas’s night No longer kept NorthumberlandOn St Thomas's night the old Northumbrian dish of broughton came out again, as it did on Midsummer Eve.
St Thomas’s Day for killing fat swine Lore and belief Northern EnglandSt Thomas's Day, 21 December, was held to be a good day for brewing, baking and killing fat pigs.
Going a-Thomasing for wheat No longer kept YorkshireOn St Thomas's Day poor widows in the West Riding went round the farms asking for Christmas gifts, and were usually given a small measure of wheat.
Five shillings in the Thornton tombstone No longer kept DorsetBefore noon on St Thomas's Day the tenants of the manor of Thornton put five shillings into a hole in a certain tombstone in the churchyard.
A turf for Fingan’s Eve No longer kept Isle of ManManx people once went into the mountains before Christmas to catch deer and sheep, and in the evening lit a large fire on top of every cliff.
Doleing Day in Staffordshire No longer kept StaffordshireOn St Thomas's Day in a Staffordshire parish, old women, widows and someone from every poorer family went round asking for alms, and the clergyman gave each a shilling.
The St Thomas’s Day weathercock Lore and belief WorcestershireWorcestershire people looked at the weathercock at noon on St Thomas's Day, believing the wind would stay in that quarter for the next three months.
Mumping for wheat in Herefordshire No longer kept HerefordshireAt Christmas the Herefordshire poor went mumping, mostly on St Thomas's Day, and the farmers gave each a small dishful of wheat, with smaller gifts from other houses.
The St Thomas’s Day wardmotes No longer kept LondonOn St Thomas's Day every ward of the City of London held its wardmote to elect the inquest, the common councilmen and the other ward officers for the coming year.
The iron rattle at Guildhall before the St Thomas’s Day elections No longer kept LondonBefore the court of common council on St Thomas's Day, the members of the London council used to gather in the great hall of Guildhall until an officer of the lord mayor's household summoned them to their chamber with a harsh iron rattle.

Mon 21 Dec 12:30 14:30
Session

Hartlepool Folk Club

The Causeway, Hartlepool, County Durham
- Song
- Singaround
Mon 21 Dec 14:30 16:30
Session

The Company of the Blaxhall Ship

The Ship Inn, Blaxhall, Suffolk
Mon 21 Dec 14:30 16:30
Session

St Werburgh’s Informal Session

St Werburgh’s Parish Centre, Chester, Cheshire
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 18:45 20:30
Morris Practice

Step This Way practice

Nettlesworth Community Centre, Chester-le-Street, County Durham
Mon 21 Dec 19:00 23:00
Session

Folk Klub

The Cornish Bank, Falmouth, Cornwall
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 19:00 21:00
Session

Merchant Folk Session

The Merchant, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 19:00 21:00
Session

The Auckland Shanty Singers

Elm Road Social Club, Shildon, County Durham
- Song
- Shanties
Mon 21 Dec 19:00 21:00
Session

Warwick Folk Club Singaround

The Ale Hub, Warwick, Warwickshire
- Song
- Singaround
Mon 21 Dec 19:00 21:00
Morris Practice

Makara Morris practice

Wansford Village Hall, Wansford, East Riding of Yorkshire
Mon 21 Dec 19:00 22:00

Morris Practice

Dead Horse Morris practice

Swalecliffe Free Church Hall, Swalecliffe, Kent
Mon 21 Dec 19:00 21:30
Morris Practice

Holt Ridge Morris practice

Marsham Village Hall, Marsham, Norfolk
Mon 21 Dec 19:00 21:00
Morris Practice

White Hart Morris Men practice

Alcester War Memorial Town Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire
Mon 21 Dec 19:00 21:30
Session

London Cajun Jammers

The George Inn, London, Greater London
Mon 21 Dec 19:00 21:00
Session

Romford Ceilidh Band Session

The Golden Lion, Romford, Greater London
Mon 21 Dec 19:00 22:00
Session

Conwy Folk Club Singers’ Night

Conwy Comrades Sports and Social Club, Conwy, Conwy

Maintained
- Mixed
- Welsh
Mon 21 Dec 19:00 21:00
Session

Canu Cymraeg a Gwerin

The Anglesey Arms, Caernarfon, Gwynedd
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 22:30
Session

Zeal Session

Kings Arms, South Zeal, Devon
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 23:00
Session

Folk Session

Ashburton Arts Centre, Ashburton, Devon
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Session

Rumsey Wells Session

The Rumsey Wells, Norwich, Norfolk
- Tune
- Advanced Session
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Session

Stockton Folk Club

The Moline Cross, Norton Cricket Club, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Session

Crown Inn Session

Crown Inn, Humshaugh, Northumberland
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Thaxted Morris Men practice

Thaxted Church Hall, Thaxted, Essex
- Cotswold
- The Morris Ring
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Grimsby Morris practice

Park Congregational Church Hall, Grimsby, Lincolnshire
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Stroud Morris Dancers practice

Rodborough Tabernacle Church Hall, Stroud, Gloucestershire
- The Morris Federation
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

The Minster Strays practice

Sand Hutton Village Hall, York, North Yorkshire
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Treacle Eater Clog practice

Rimpton Village Hall, Rimpton, Somerset
- North-West
- The Morris Federation
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Quayside Cloggies practice

The Coach and Horses, Wimborne, Dorset
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Sheffield City Morris practice

Burton Street Foundation, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- Cotswold
- The Morris Federation
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:00
Morris Practice

Wakefield Morris Dancers practice

Kingsway Methodist Church Hall, Ossett, West Yorkshire
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Chapel-en-le-Frith Morris practice

Chapel-en-le-Frith Playhouse, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire
- The Morris Ring
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Jackstraws Morris practice

Hale Institute Hall, Farnham, Surrey
- Cotswold
- The Morris Federation
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Rutland Morris practice

Ashwell Village Hall, Ashwell, Rutland
- The Morris Ring
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Star & Shadow practice

The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Black Swan Border Morris practice

5th Sutton Scout Hall, Sutton, Greater London
- Border
- The Morris Federation
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Session

London Sacred Harp Covent Garden

Crown Court Church of Scotland, London, Greater London
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 22:00
Session

Mansfield Folk and Acoustic Club

Forest Town Arena, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Session

Edinburgh Slower Session

Bennets Bar, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Session

Three Horseshoes Tune Session

Three Horseshoes, Scotton, Lincolnshire
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 22:30

Folk club night

Melrose Quartet at Grayshott Folk Club

Grayshott Village Hall, Hindhead, Surrey

Maintained
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 22:00
Session

Saltburn Folk Club Singaround

Saltburn House, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire
- Song
- English
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 22:30

Folk club night

Four Gone Confusion at Tonbridge Folk Club

Ye Olde Chequers Inn, Tonbridge, Kent
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Southern Star practice

Corfe Mullen Library, Corfe Mullen, Dorset
- Longsword
- The Morris Federation
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:30
Morris Practice

Wessex Morris Men practice

Charminster Village Hall, Charminster, Dorset
- Cotswold
- The Morris Ring
Mon 21 Dec 19:30 21:00
Session

Seil Hall Slow Session

Seil Island Community Hall (Small Hall), Isle of Seil, Argyll and Bute
Mon 21 Dec 19:45 22:45

Session

General Townshend Monday Session

General Townshend British Legion Club, Fakenham, Norfolk
Mon 21 Dec 19:45 21:15
Morris Practice

Rattlejag Morris practice

Grove Street Methodist Church Hall, Retford, Nottinghamshire
- Open Morris
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 19:45 21:45
Morris Practice

Fenstanton Morris practice

Fenstanton Church Centre, Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire
Mon 21 Dec 19:45 21:45
Morris Practice

Moonrakers Morris practice

Mount Pleasant Centre, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
- Border
- The Morris Federation
Mon 21 Dec 19:45 21:45
Morris Practice

Ripon City Morris Dancers practice

Bishop Monkton Village Hall, Bishop Monkton, North Yorkshire
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 23:00
Session

Americana Session

The Weavers Inn, Bodmin, Cornwall
- Mixed
- Americana
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 23:00
Session

Singer’s Session

The Fortescue Inn, Plymouth, Devon

Maintained
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

New Wheel Acoustic Singaround

The New Wheel Inn, Pennington, Hampshire
- Song
- Singaround
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 23:00
Session

Godalming Session

The Star Inn, Godalming, Surrey
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Red Dog Acoustic and Folk Night

The Red Dog, Cloughton, North Yorkshire
- Song
- Singaround
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Brighouse Folk Session

Commercial Railway Inn, Brighouse, West Yorkshire
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Elm Tree Monday Session

Ye Olde Elm Tree, Durham, County Durham
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Bridge Folk Club

The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
- Song
- Singaround
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Acoustic Mondays

The Ring O’ Bells, Kendal, Cumbria
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

The Edinburgh Monday Session

The Edinburgh, Liverpool, Merseyside
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Guesthouse Music Session

The Guesthouse, Southport, Merseyside
- Tune
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Fox Acoustic Nights

The Fox Inn, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
- Mixed
- Singaround
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Folk at The Club

Churchdown Club, Churchdown, Gloucestershire
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Old Time and Bluegrass Session

The Star, Oxford, Oxfordshire
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Half Moon Euro Session

The Half Moon, Oxford, Oxfordshire
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 21:30
Morris Practice

Pig Dyke Molly practice

Fletton Club, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Ouse Washes Molly Dancers practice

Wimbotsham Village Hall, Wimbotsham, Norfolk
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

St Albans Morris practice

Scout Hut, St Albans, Hertfordshire
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 21:30
Morris Practice

Kingston Spring Grove Morris practice

St John’s Church, Kingston upon Thames, Greater London
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Silurian Border Morris Men practice

Lyttleton Rooms, Malvern, Worcestershire
- Border
- The Morris Ring
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Hastings RX Morris practice

Ore Community Centre, Hastings, East Sussex
- Cotswold
- The Morris Federation
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

England’s Glory Ladies Morris practice

Innsworth Infant School, Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Belfagan Women’s Morris practice

Eaglesfield Village Hall, Cockermouth, Cumbria
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

East Suffolk Morris Men practice

Gosbeck Village Hall, Gosbeck, Suffolk
- The Morris Ring
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Mersey Morris practice

Thornton Hough Village Hall, Thornton Hough, Merseyside
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Chingford Morris Men practice

Waltham Abbey Community Centre, Waltham Abbey, Essex
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Kennet Morris Men practice

St Mary’s Church Hall, Shinfield, Berkshire

Maintained
- Cotswold
- The Morris Ring
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Shakespeare Morris practice

The Rosebird Community Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Earlsdon Morris practice

Broomfield Tavern, Coventry, West Midlands
- North-West
- The Morris Ring
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Enigma Border Morris practice

Stoke sub Hamdon Memorial Hall, Stoke sub Hamdon, Somerset
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Green Dragon Morris practice

Westbury Centre, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Mayflower Morris practice

St Mary’s Church Hall, Ash Vale, Surrey
- North-West
- The Morris Federation
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Plum Jerkum Border Morris practice

Northgate Methodist Church Hall, Warwick, Warwickshire
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 21:45
Morris Practice

Etcetera Morris Men practice

St Michael and All Angels Church Hall, Enfield, Greater London
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Winterbourne Down Border Morris practice

All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down, Gloucestershire
- Border
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Marlings Morris practice

Edenbridge Scout Hall, Edenbridge, Kent
- North-West
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Masons Apron Morris practice

Long Hanborough Recreation Hall, Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 21:30
Morris Practice

Garston Gallopers practice

Hungerford Youth and Community Centre, Hungerford, Berkshire
- The Morris Federation
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 21:30
Morris Practice

East Surrey Morris Men practice

Christchurch Hall, Sutton, Surrey
- Cotswold
- The Morris Ring
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

First Class Stamp practice

Attleborough Baptist Church, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
- Appalachian
- The Morris Ring
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Herga at the Castle

The Castle, Harrow, Greater London
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Swinton Folk Club Singers Night

White Lion, Swinton, Greater Manchester
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Salutation Monday Folk Session

The Salutation, Manchester, Greater Manchester
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Warm Welcome Folk Club

Welcome Inn, Whitefield, Greater Manchester
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 23:00
Session

Dog & Partridge Trad Irish Session

Dog & Partridge, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- Tune
- Irish
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 23:00
Session

Bristol University Folk Society Session

Highbury Vaults, Bristol, Bristol
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Mariners & Marras

Enigma Tap, North Shields, Tyne and Wear
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:15
Session

Islay Inn Monday Session

The Islay Inn, Glasgow, City of Glasgow
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

Dram Monday Celtic Session

Dram!, Glasgow, City of Glasgow
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:30
Session

Sesiwn Caerdydd

Owain Glyndŵr, Cardiff, Cardiff
- Tune
- Welsh
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 23:00

Folk club night

Holbeck Moor Mummers at Folk at the Grove

The Grove Inn, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Session

White Horse Folk Club Singers and Musicians Night

The “C” Club, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire
- Mixed
- English
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:30
Session

Runcorn Folk Club Singers’ Night

Runcorn Golf Club, Runcorn, Cheshire
- Mixed
- English
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:00
Morris Practice

Stafford Morris practice

North End Community Centre, Stafford, Staffordshire
Mon 21 Dec 20:00 22:30
Session

Kincraig Folk Session

The Suie Bar, Kincraig, Highland
Mon 21 Dec 20:15 23:00
Session

Chichester Folk Song Club Singaround

The Chichester Inn, Chichester, West Sussex
- Song
- English
Mon 21 Dec 20:30 23:00
Session

Cornish Traditional Music Session

The Countryman Inn, Redruth, Cornwall
- Tune
- Cornish
Mon 21 Dec 20:30 22:30
Session

Bell Folk Circle Session

The Bell Inn, Adderbury, Oxfordshire
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 20:30 22:00
Morris Practice

Ebor Morris practice

Heworth Scout Hut, York, North Yorkshire
Mon 21 Dec 20:30 22:00
Morris Practice

Adlington Morris Men practice

1st Bramhall Scout HQ, Bramhall, Cheshire
- Cotswold
- The Morris Ring
Mon 21 Dec 20:30 22:30
Morris Practice

Alvechurch Morris practice

Alvechurch Baptist Church Hall, Alvechurch, Worcestershire
- Border
- The Morris Ring
Mon 21 Dec 20:30 22:30
Morris Practice

Belchamp Morris practice

Belchamp St Paul Community House, Belchamp St Paul, Essex
- Border
- The Morris Ring
Mon 21 Dec 20:30 22:30
Session

Willoughby Arms Monday Session

The Willoughby Arms, Kingston upon Thames, Greater London
Mon 21 Dec 20:30 23:00
Session

Fiddler’s Elbow Irish Session

Fiddler’s Elbow, Brighton, East Sussex
- Tune
- Irish
Mon 21 Dec 20:30 23:30
Session

The Canon Monday Session

The Canon, Jedburgh, Scottish Borders
Mon 21 Dec 21:00 23:30
Session

Barley Mow Acoustic Session

The Barley Mow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 21:00 23:30
Session

Fagan’s Monday Session

Fagan’s, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- Mixed
Mon 21 Dec 21:00 23:00
Session

Malones Monday Trad Session

Malones Irish Bar, Glasgow, City of Glasgow

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What’s on: folk sessions, morris, customs and folklore

Monday 21 December

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