A Feast of Folklore: The Bizarre Stories Behind British Food

by Ben Gazur

'Diverting, delightful and deliciously weird enough to satisfy the most demanding appetite' Christopher Hadley, author of The Road

Folklorist Ben Gazur guides you through the dark alleys of British history to uncover how our food habits have been passed down through generations of folklore.

Who was the first person to throw salt over their shoulder? Why do we think carrots can help us see in the dark? When did we start holding village fairs to honour gigantic apple pies? Or start hurling ourselves down hills in pursuit of a wheel of cheese? Gazur investigates the origins of famous food superstitions as well as much more bizarre and lesser-known tales too, from what day the devil urinates on blackberries to how to stop witches using eggshells as escape boats.

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

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Food, Folklore, Education, Cooking, Food History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2024

About the author

Ben Gazur holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Edinburgh. Giving up the glitz and glamour of the lab he became a freelance writer who has written widely on history and science for the likes of the BBC, All About History, and the Guardian newspaper. His first book was a biography of the philosopher Epicurus.

Reviews

[Emilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. When we were in Winchester I saw this book in the window and told my husband how much I’d love to read it. But, I never went in to buy it. Lucky for me, my husband snuck back and bought it for me. And I’m so glad he did! I loved all the detail and really appreciated Ben’s attention to the devolved nations as well in his comprehensive and organised analysis. I loved the way the sections were organised and the way the lore was presented. I loved the little pictures and the humour. I’m excited to keep this book on my bookshelf and return to it. And yes, it did make me hungry at times. Except for the section on urine-soaked witch cakes! I can’t wait to read more from the author.

[Michelle Graf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for the ARC.

A quick, chill read about British superstitions surrounding food. It can be a little repetitive, if only because the folk cures were similar in procedure to each other regardless of ingredients.

[norah · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=3.75? 4? | 😘=2.5 | 🤬=3 | ⚔️=3 | 15+

summary: what it says on the tin! weird folklore about British food

thoughts: fun! weird! funny! a good time overall, though not the most polished prose. very quirky and strange.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Feast of Folklore traces food related myths, legends, and lore across Great Britain. It features random tidbits, stories of saints, kings, and witches, and all manner of stories related to the food of the rich and the poor. By its nature, folklore is comprised of rumors and old wives' tales. Some of has root in historical moments or actual practices, and some of it is made up years later with little basis. It's intriguing to see which of the bits of lore have survived today.

While there are a lot of footnotes, the book stays light on historical depth, intentionally keeping the stories brief. That said, there are a lot of primary source quotes and illustrations from the Middle Ages through the Victorian era.

The book starts and ends with a pinch of salt, and in between is organized by food category: fruits and vegetables, meats, dairy, breads, cakes, food linked with faeries and magic, and drinks. Some of these tidbits are fascinating, while others left me scratching my head and wondering how humanity made it this far. (For example, a seemingly common cure for certain ailments was to hang some sort of food (from fruit to meat) around one's neck and when the food shriveled, so too did the ailment...)

The format of the book was easily digestible (pun intended), but sometimes the transition from one bit of lore to another about the same piece of food was abrupt or repetitive. This may be stylistic - the author is distinctly British - or may be the nature of collecting a compendium of so many stories it's hard to organize. Either way, I enjoyed this, and if you ever wonder why you throw a pinch of salt over your left shoulder, this book is for you.

Thank you to Unbound for an eARC for review. A Feast of Folklore is out 11/19/24.

[Krystelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I really had fun with this book. Food is something that we all gather about, on a daily basis, and it’s no surprise that there’s such a storied history in the folklore of it.

This book balances humour and intrigue very successfully, spotlighting the bizarre and the mundane, giving plenty of reasons and possibilities for much of our fare.

It was a very well thought-out book, although I do wish a couple more odd and interesting traditions were included. With a little bit more, this would have been a perfect read for me.

[Stephanie Molnar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently whooping cough and warts were a big worry over the years because there are a lot of folk cures for them!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Feast Of Folklore by Ben Gazur is about the history of food and non-food meanings we get from the things we eat every day. From throwing salt over your shoulder to ward off bad luck to how onions can cure fever and potatoes cure gout to the reason why you shouldn’t take nuts on the Sabbath, to so so much more. They had superstitions for how many peas were in a pod and they were even foods that help you with your love life like carving the names of potential suitors an individual pieces of cheese in the one that molded first was out. Some of these tails or just that made up myths but some have been proven to be true like the village that grew onions and had the lowest plague victims to using cabbage to help with raw breast while feeding a nursing baby. Not everything having to do with Food nourished and or made you healthier there were some things they did with food that were dangerous like the knife in the cheese wheel game the Christmas dragon fly game and others the author really covers every aspect Just like the authors last book I found this book so Uber interesting and found myself not wanting to close it I love this authors books his humor just everything about this book and his others fascinate me.#NetGalley,#Unbound,#BenGazur, #AFeastOfFolklore,

[Rebekah Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treat to read and provides a bite-sized, academic look at folklore in Great Britain. It will leave you hungry for more (and hungry for food). Each section covers a different food and the folk beliefs surrounding it. The tales include stories of old from across the British Isles, notably Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. The delivery of each story is sprinkled with wit and a dash of sarcasm. I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading non-fiction, especially those interested in tales and stories in Britain. I would say this book is a digestible way to learn more about Celtic and British food lore. People who enjoy dark humor and macabre subject matter will find something to enjoy here.
I appreciated the lengthy sections of notes, in-text citations, and photos and artwork that are included. The presence of these elements illustrates Gazur’s research abilities and gives readers another source to explore if they want more information. The sections are short and sweet but do not lack an explanation of things that a reader might find unfamiliar. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of Scottish and Irish folklore. Additionally, the artwork and photographs included were relevant to each respective section and enhanced understanding of the topic.
I found some parts of the prose feel choppy, and some paragraphs lacked transition sentences, but this was not so frequent as to ruin the experience. I was also disappointed that there is no section in Drink Lore about coffee, but that makes sense. Some sections were a wee bit redundant with sayings like “In Scotland” or “In Whatever Place.” Overall, my criticisms are trivial and do not impact the quality of the information included. Considering these critiques, my rating would be 4.75 out of 5 stars (rounded to 5 stars on Goodreads). Folklore is a complex topic to write about by nature, and Gazur does a great job of keeping the stories straight and providing sources for the information referenced.
Thank you to Unbound Publishing Company for providing an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley in e-book format!

[Angie Boyter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun for foodies or anyone fascinated by facts!
I cannot remember a book that made me laugh as much as this one, and at the same time it taught me a lot of history and real facts about food and about the crazy things people will believe.
The book is divided into food topics: Vegetable Lore, Fruit Lore, Meat and Animal Lore, Fish Lore, etc., and each section presents information about beliefs the British have held about certain foods ( Some of these beliefs are still around. ). If you have a scarlet birthmark, talk to your mom; it could be a sign that she ate too many strawberries while pregnant with you. If your child is too unruly, try feeding them hare to calm them. Watch out and do not eat too much fish; it can cause leprosy. If you have a really bad enemy, though, keep a bone from that fish and poke it into their clothing to murder them. Another good tip: if you want to make sure your house does not burn down, bake a hot cross bun and hang it in the house; that’s a lot cheaper than fire insurance!
Some of the information is more about the animals who are the source of the food rather than the food itself or similar related topics. For example, I had not thought about the fact that in English our names for animals that provide our food generally have an Anglo Saxon derivation, like pig or cow, but the words for the food they become are derived from the French, like pork (porc) or mutton (mouton).
Although the book description calls these beliefs “folklore”, some persist. I may try planting parsley and rosemary, which is a sign that the “mistress is the master” of the house. Just don’t tell my husband about my trickery!
Thank you, Edelweiss+ and Unbound for providing me with an advance review copy and a lot of enjoyment.

[Stephanie Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never really thought of food in people’s homes to be some sort of aspect of folklore until coming across this book. Or maybe I have in passing, but I have thought of or know of foods of having traditional meanings-such as when religious traditions are practiced, dietary needs, or for warding off sickness and healing. It is safe to say we incorporate these things into our lives often without stopping to think of its origins, cultural significance or if they come from superstition. Without a doubt, like many things in history, it is lost to us but now we have, “A Feast of Folklore” to enlighten and entertain us in the most perfectly written way.

When you read this book, you will soon realize that there is a folklore for everything! I could not stop laughing and I have to say the absurdity of us humans are brilliantly displayed throughout in this book. There are also the fabulous illustrations throughout and not only that, “A Feast of Folklore” has a truly engaging narrative that keeps you turning the pages for more. Truth be told, I still can’t get over how many folklore’s there are that comes from food. For example: Who should or should not make butter because of the color of their hair. Or what you can do to get free cheese and why one should eat walnuts or when you should plant crops. And why a family would keep a half-cut onion in their pantry. The list goes on…

What an outstanding book! I can’t praise it enough. I will definitely be adding a physical copy to my book stacks and reading its pages many times over.

Stephanie Hopkins
Layered Pages

I obtained an ARC from Unbound through NetGalley for an honest review.

[Rekha O'Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year I read a few pretty heavy non-fiction books because I was in the headspace for it. But this year, I've read mostly fiction. I still want to learn new things but I also want to think good things about humanity. This lovely food and folklore history was just what I needed, especially coming into Halloween which is the time I think most about tradition and superstitions.

I love reading about the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of human experience.

Reading this book I couldn't believe how many cures for warts and whooping cough there were. Similarly, I was charmed by the number of foods that were used to divine who we would marry or when. There are also some interesting portents of death and ill omens.

There's the stuff we already may be familiar with, but don't know the origins of - like why we get oranges at Christmas or never disposing of eggshells in a fire. And then there are stories I had never heard before about rabbits and lampreys and pies that blackbirds actually flew out of.

The superstitions in this book are sometimes ridiculous and sometimes heart-warming but always fascinating. And the author's writing style is human and accessible, as well as funny.

I just have to remember to bake a cake next time I lose my keys!

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Bobbi Dix · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ARC Review]

A Feast of Folklore definitely made me hungry when reading it!

I really enjoyed this piece of non-fiction. I rarely read non-fiction so when I requested this one, I hoped it would not bore me as other forms of non-fiction have done so in the past, and I was greatly surprised.

Gazur writes about everything food imaginable, including even fairy food! His writing was very extensive, showing a lot of research and love was put into this book to make it informative as well as enjoyable. He effortlessly makes big paragraphs of text not boring but making funny little one-liners that made me chuckle and want to read more. I especially loved reading about pancake lore and how for many years there was an annual pancake tossing competition somewhere in the UK.

This book has helped me appreciate the tradition behind certain foods that I have eaten in my life, and how traditions are for everyone,

My only qualm is that one or two sections are dragged a little too long, but they were still interesting regardless.

And as Gazur put it "Long may folklore continue to be generated. It adds a little bit of spice both to our meals and to our lives."

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for a free, honest review.

[SARAH (thebookish_daydreamer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Feast of Folklore by Ben Gazur is an engaging exploration of the strange and fascinating food traditions that have shaped British culture. Gazur’s writing is as flavorful as the folklore he examines, offering a mix of historical insight and personal reflection that draws the reader in from the very first page. The book opens with a thoughtful musing on the origins of superstitions, like the practice of throwing salt over one’s shoulder, illustrating how deeply rooted—and often mysterious—these rituals are in our everyday lives.

Gazur’s approach is refreshingly down-to-earth, acknowledging the complexity and sometimes contradictory nature of folklore. He doesn’t pretend to have all the answers but instead invites readers to ponder the same questions that inspired him to write the book. The charm of A Feast of Folklore lies in its ability to make us see the magic in the mundane, turning ordinary kitchen items into keys to the past.

For anyone interested in the quirks of history and the peculiarities of human behavior, this book is a delightful read that’s sure to leave you with a new appreciation for the stories behind the foods we eat.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in return for an honest review.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This book was received as an advanced reviewer's copy from NetGalley.

One of my favorite genres is food history. So naturally when it's about bizarre history, even better. I can't say that I found most of this bizarre, but it was certainly interesting, and there were definitely a few characters thrown in.

Gazur takes us through British food stories, in sections denoted by type of food (produce, meats, etc.) and the local folklore or tales that may have incorporated them. From not eating with fairies (well, depending on where you are), to believing that witches really love milk, there is a wide variety of topics.

I found the writing mostly good, with quips of humor interspersed among the facts. While it could get a bit repetitive and dry at times, it isn't nearly as bad as an actual textbook on the work and definitely a book more for personal consumption. That being said, if you're not into food or folklore, this probably isn't high up on your reading list (but really, those are great topics and they should be). I definitely think for your average food-obsessed person though, this is one you don't want to miss.

Review by M. Reynard 2024

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

You don’t need to be a chef to enjoy this volume. Combining history and food, this is a look into superstitions and traditions from the beginning of time. It is limited to Britain, as extending it all over the world would require millions of pages. As it is, it shows a lot of fun beliefs through the ages. I don’t cook, but knowledge of the culinary art is not required, as some of the concoctions discussed involve dung, dirt or ashes. It is amusing to see how much we’ve changed - or maybe how little? The historical part was especially fascinating, setting all these superstitions in context. There was one thing that I didn’t like at all, and it’s all the casual animal cruelty. We now laugh at how people could possibly think those practices could do anything but torture a living creature but, for an extreme animal lover like me, it was painful to read. I did love the author’s sense of humor and the rest of the content.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Unbound.

[Anne Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining collection of bits of British folklore and beliefs surrounding food and drink.

Organized by subject (vegetables, fruit, fish, milk, bread, etc.) Gazur then gives us local beliefs connected to the food or drink. I was amazed at the number of 'cures' for warts and whooping coughs that went with each food- some of them truly disgusting. Almost none of these stories can be traced back to a specific time or place so are just listed, making the few that can be traced or explained more exciting and memorable. Finally- an explanation for why we think carrots let you see in the dark!

Gazut has a sense of humor while writing and this is the kind of book that can be easily picked up and put down in small bites, as well as shared with plenty of other people. You don't necessarily need to be a chef or a history lover to find this an entertaining and interesting read. A good gift book for food lovers!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Caleb Deck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very solid book by Ben Gazur on the way food intersects with culture and folklore history. I was so intrigued by the idea, and generally the concept stuck well, though the execution was not exactly what I may have hoped for.

The writing itself was more short snippets of facts or quick anecdotes rather than more drawn out prose. It almost read more as a book of facts and fun information than a storytelling book. Sections often ran together and the delineation of sections and chapters was not clear. This could have been a factor of my advanced copy and may be cleared up, along with quite a bit of formatting difficulties in my kindle copy.

Overall I enjoyed the book, and would love a follow up version digging a bit more into the history, culture, and impacts of food and folklore with fewer and more in-depth stories. Which I suppose means I’m hungry for more!

Special thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC!

[Off Service Book Recs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Ben Gazur and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!

"A Feast of Folklore" is a bite-sized smorgasboard of myth and mythology around food in Great Britain (and sometimes the surrounding areas). The book is broken down into food categories, then individual foods, which I like as it means it can serve as almost a compendium of folklore on those days when you just really need to understand the lore of green beans, but can wait another day to learn about strawberries.

I've been reading a lot of fantasy books lately, so this was a really refreshing, non-fiction break that also plays into our very human tendency to assign deeper and more fantastical meanings to the foods we love (and hate - looking at you, brussels spouts). I think that this is a great read for anyone with a soft spot for history, anthropology/sociology, and food as not simply a source of energy.

Congratulations to Ben Gazur on another delightful epicurean literary tale!

[RE · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun and interesting! I enjoyed learning about the unusual beliefs and traditions involving food and drink in Britain. It's fascinating to learn where some customs or sayings we still use came from. Tracing folklore shows us so much about our ancestors and ourselves.

The book did start to feel repetitive in the bread and cakes sections, especially since there were a couple times where a custom was related multiple times.

I also found it confusing how sometimes a paragraph would be about a specific belief except for one unrelated sentence about some other belief. They were grouped together as if they had bearing on each other, but they usually didn't.

Overall though, I enjoyed this book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Unbound in exchange for an honest review.

[Miriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Feast of Folklore is a deliciously intriguing journey through the strange stories and superstitions surrounding British food.

The book is both hilarious and informative; you can tell there has been intensive research behind it. Gazur skillfully keeps us interested in history and folklore through his witty writing and bizarre superstitions. Ranging from tossing salt over your shoulder to all sorts of unusual remedies and rituals to cure a whipping cough, it explores the stories behind several customs, some of which we still keep in present times.

This is a must-read for anyone interested in food history, folklore, or just looking to learn about random bits to show off at their next pub's trivia night.

[Stephanie Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and enjoyable foray into the folklore of British Food. Some of the tales and superstitions are quite well known, like throwing salt over your shoulder if you spill it. There are however, many obscure facts and stories I had never heard of, some of which are quite bizarre. We learn where these tales originate from and how they have evolved over time. The book is well laid out; split into different food types eg Vegetable Lore, Fruit Lore, Fish Lore etc making it easy to dip in and out of. The information is engaging and well written with just the right amount of humour. A great gift for foodies who love facts and folklore.

Many thanks to Unbound and NetGalley for my reader copy in return for an honest and unbiased review

[Beachcomber · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars. An interesting and well researched book looking at the many and varied folklore stories that relate to food and drink. There are some truly weird and not too wonderful examples, and you do wonder at some of our ancestors, for example thinking that putting some of a particular cake under their pillow, then walking backwards to bed saying a rhyme would show them who they’d marry. You see how some stories are widespread (maybe with minor variations), but also there are some very regional food items or folklore.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Feast of Folklore was a fun and informative read. I enjoyed the way the book was organised into different food types and there were plenty of stories and anecdotes in each section. Some of the folklore references I already knew, but others were new to me or presented in more detail than I'd heard before. I'm not sure I'd want to try most of the folk remedies and spells mentioned, but it was certainly entertaining to read about them. This book is a delightful reference work for those interested in both folklore and food. I am giving it four stars.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Vicuña · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is both unusual and entertaining. It’s a very easy read but if you have any interest in food and even minor interest in folklore, I think you’ll find the content absolutely fascinating. It’s divided into short sections which consider different foods or food related subjects and then looks at the origins of legend associated with that food. I didn’t know that parsley had association with the devil and although it’s not always easy to attribute origins of some myths and folklore, it’s fascinating to read and consider the likely reasons. A cracking book to dip into and I’ve learned a lot. It would make a great gift for a foodie.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating facts of the folklore surrounding food and drink. Good old fashioned common sense is included in some examples such as why Shrove Tuesday was once called Shrews Tuesday after you tell your wife her pancakes are rubbish and she wallops you over the head with her frying pan.
Since a friend of mine has a viral cough, I suggested a couple of remedies from this book for whooping cough to them. Unfortunately I am unable to put the answer here as it's nsfw, oddly enough.
But it's definitely worth a read and if you're interested in local history or history of witchcraft I'd strongly recommend it.

[Book Club of One · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading like a organized miscellany, A Feat of Folklore: The Bizarre Stories Behind British Food is an encyclopedic snapshot of British food traditions, superstitions and common practice. A welcome reference for those in need of such a thing.

Gazur organizes the foods by types a selection not in the order they appear: breads, drinks, meats, etc... They are very episodic sharing an anecdote, practice or perhaps a song, poem or other snippet of dialect to match the usage. In the introduction Gazur detailed that the sources he relied on where very much snippets of time, showing how things were practiced at their time of recording. As presented here, the content begs for more context or a wider study of how the tradition or practice developed and when it went away, and sometimes this is done, but mostly not.

Recommended for readers of British culture and folklore, food ways or superstitions.




I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.

[Onceuponaplace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Gazur took me on a wild ride through British history’s quirky food traditions and folklore. From chasing cheese down hills to devilish superstitions about blackberries, I had the chance to dig into both famous and bizarre food myths. A Feast of Folklore is packed with hilarious and fascinating stories about odd customs and remedies that history tends to overlook. Get ready for a deliciously strange adventure! I've always loved English culture and dream of moving there someday, so learning about these legends and stories gives me a unique and exciting way to explore the country. I enjoyed so so much reading these pages!

[jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating book, although I think my family may be fed up with me sharing so many snippets.
I liked the writer's style which was informative and amusing and the book flowed nicely. I was surprised by the origins of some superstitions and quite how much seemed to be celebrated by throwing different food at people! This is definitely a volume to dip into and I look forward to sharing it with others - possibly in their Christmas stockings.
Thank you to netgalley and Unbound for an advance copy of this book

[Mardi Michels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy.

This book is a delight - one to be dipped in and out of, chapter by chapter a couple of tasty morsels at a time. I am a food writer so am always interested to learn the lore behind certain foods and this did not disappoint.Incredibly well-researched and packed with information, this is one you'll come back to again and again (and might come in handy on trivia night!). If you're looking for a quirky read, this will not disappoint.

[Jaime Fellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird and Wonderful, A Feast of Folklore is an evocative look at food traditions and the fabled roots that they have derived from. Culinary enthusiast will enjoy this fresh take on food history. Written in a quirky and fun cadence readers will be delighted and sometimes appalled ( in a good way!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!