One thing that makes the study of British history so entertaining is the curious customs that have evolved over time. From odd bequests such as distributing herrings to the poor, to peculiar customary "payments" for one's land - such as sending a glove or a peppercorn to the crown every year - these customs may have begun for a specific reason, but subsequently became "traditions" that continued long after that reason was gone and even forgotten. Here are some of the odd customs of Britain that have survived for centuries, including some roundups of seasonal folklore, customs and traditions from the countryside.

Seasonal Folklore (Illustrated London Almanack, 1846)

A roundup of seasonal folklore topics, feasts, saints' days, etc. for each month of the year.

Country Scenes,by Thomas Miller (Illustrated London Almanack, 1848)

Nature and farm notes for each month of the year.

The Description of the Twelve Months, by Thomas Miller (Illustrated London Almanack, 1849)

A monthly look at country customs, festivals, folklore, farm customs and natural history.

January: Plough Monday

February: Valentine Day

March: Primrose & Palm Gathering

April: Angling

May: May-Day Games

June: Whitsuntide Processions

July: Sheep-Shearing Feast

August: Harvest Home

September: A Country Fair

October: Nutting in the Woods

November: Guy Fawkes Day

December: Christmas Waits

The Gospel Oak (Illustrated London Almanack, 1856)

"Gospel trees were so named from the custom of having the gospel read under or near them by the clergymen attending the parochial perambulations of Holy Thursday week, to mark the boundaries of townships or parishes." (That is about half the text of the article!)

Charitable Bequests (Cassell's Family Paper, 1860)

A look at some unusual charitable bequests in British history, such as the distribution of herrings to the poor at Easter.

Curiosities of Land and Other Tenures (Leisure Hour, 1860)

You've heard of property going for a song, but how about for a glove, or a peppercorn, or a peacock?

Curiosities of Coronations, by Edward Oxenford (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1877)

Some curious events in British coronations.

A Curious Midnight Custom, by Francis George Heath (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1878)

An odd custom in the Epping Forest that gave villagers the right to gather fuel from the tops of the trees at midnight!

Old Court Customs, by the Hon. Mrs. Armitage (Girl's Own Paper, 1882)

Old customs that were still in practice in Victorian days.

Chats About the Calendar (Girl's Own Paper, 1883)

A brief summary of folklore and country customs for each month of the year (excluding November).

Curiosities of Court Receptions, by the Hon. Mrs. Armitage (Girl's Own Paper, 1883)

Some Curious Payments for Land (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1884)

In Britain, the Crown giveth and the Crown taketh away, so "land ownership" is a rather flexible term. Many land-holders retained their titles through certain gifts to the Crown, such as an iron arrow, gloves, gloves plus a pound of cummin seed and a steel needle, dogs, birds, roses and even gilly-flowers!

Notes for April (Girl's Own Paper, 1887)

Some Curious Corporation Customs, by T.F. Thiselton Dyer (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1887)

London's Corporations have a wealth of history, insignia and pageantry that survived well into Victorian times.

Curious Customs of the Lake District (Monthly Chronicle of North-County Lore and Legend, 1890)

Miracle Plays and Mysteries of the North (Monthly Chronicle of North-County Lore and Legend, 1890)

Somersetshire Superstitions (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1890)

Notwithstanding advances in science and education, "In every town, in every village and hamlet--yes, in almost every family circle--a belief in the supernatural still has a place."

• See also Holidays for articles on holiday festivals and traditions.