Customs, Charms & Cures - Recollections of Local Folklore

Crediton Museum's 2024 exhibition

 

 

What do you know about local customs and traditions? About how people used charms to protect themselves and cures which pre-date modern medicine?

If you’ve ever eaten pancakes on Shrove Tuesday; crossed your fingers or touched wood; or rubbed dock leaves on nettle stings; you’ve done something that our ancestors have been doing for hundreds of years. And of course there are other traditions, which might be remembered through sayings, songs and rhymes. Some vary from one place to another; some are unique to a particular community.

Customs, Charms & Cures will bring to mind some things you know, and some that might surprise you. We’re concentrating on stories with a local connection, but sometimes looking further afield.

 

 

Customs, Charms & Cures is open every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10am to 4pm – and every Saturday 11am to 2pm – until Saturday 2nd November 2024.

As ever, admission is free, but contributions will be very welcome to support our work. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some further reading:

Beating the Bounds : Rogationtide

The ancient custom of marking the parish boundaries by walking round them and hitting the ground.

Read more...

Beekeeping Superstitions

Some old beekeeping superstitions

Read more...

Poetry & Song

A Devon dialect poem and a song about christening traditions

Read more...

Celebrating St Georges Day in Chester, 1610

Celebrating St Georges Day in Chester, 1610

Read more...