A Feast of Folklore

From flying eggshells to cheese-rolling chaos, A Feast of Folklore serves up an entertaining, eye-opening journey through Britain’s culinary history

‘I’ll be raiding this Wonder Pantry of a book for years to come … Diverting, delightful and deliciously weird enough to satisfy the most demanding appetite.’ - Christopher Hadley, author of The Road

When did we start throwing salt over our shoulders?

Why do British people chase cheese down a hill?

Where can loving couples win a side of bacon?

What cake keeps witches from your door?

Folklorist Ben Gazur guides you as he rummages through the dark cupboards of British history to uncover how our strange food habits and traditions have been passed down through the generations. Get a taste of what life was like in a time when food was both magical ingredient and sustenance: when an apple kept the doctor away, predicted who you would marry, and entertained children in a game involving burning candles.

Hilarious and fascinating, A Feast of Folklore will introduce you to the gloriously eccentric folk who aren’t often noticed by historians. Herein lies a smorgasbord of their dark remedies and deadly delicacies, just waiting to be discovered.