Capn’s request for a recommendation > Likes and Comments
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I won't recommend a book because I think you're already familiar with the Lancashire folklore about leeting witches. However, you might find what you want by coming at the subject slantwise. The rituals and folklore surrounding bonfires (eg Walpurgis Night) would be worth looking at since they serve the same purpose as lating and are possibly older. Ronald Hutton's 'The Stations of the Sun' is good and he's reliable, which is more than I can say of most books on these subjects.
Another author whose books could be mined is Steve Roud. I *cough* wrote a short story about lating a loooong time ago but at the moment I don't recall which books I used for research. Probably the obvious ones like Roud and Briggs.
Seriously, Sem?! That's incredible! Can I read it?! :D Thanks for this - Roud and Briggs are not known to me, I will track them down. :)
No one gets to read that one now. It exists only on my backup media and I haven't looked at it in ages. I'd meant to extend it to novel length and didn't. Heigh-ho. Briggs is essential reading although I'm sure that some of her conclusions have been challenged. The folklore field is flourishing these days. Roud is also essential. His Penguin guide to superstitions and folklore is very useful.
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Sem
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Dec 26, 2025 09:29PM
I won't recommend a book because I think you're already familiar with the Lancashire folklore about leeting witches. However, you might find what you want by coming at the subject slantwise. The rituals and folklore surrounding bonfires (eg Walpurgis Night) would be worth looking at since they serve the same purpose as lating and are possibly older. Ronald Hutton's 'The Stations of the Sun' is good and he's reliable, which is more than I can say of most books on these subjects.
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Another author whose books could be mined is Steve Roud. I *cough* wrote a short story about lating a loooong time ago but at the moment I don't recall which books I used for research. Probably the obvious ones like Roud and Briggs.
Seriously, Sem?! That's incredible! Can I read it?! :D Thanks for this - Roud and Briggs are not known to me, I will track them down. :)
No one gets to read that one now. It exists only on my backup media and I haven't looked at it in ages. I'd meant to extend it to novel length and didn't. Heigh-ho. Briggs is essential reading although I'm sure that some of her conclusions have been challenged. The folklore field is flourishing these days. Roud is also essential. His Penguin guide to superstitions and folklore is very useful.
