An Annual Affair: Some Traditional British Calendar Customs - Hardcover

by Homer Sykes (Photographer)

'An Annual Affair: Some Traditional British Calendar Customs' is the culmination of over fifteen years work by leading UK photographer Homer Sykes. Over that period he has searched out and photographed an extraordinary range of traditional annual events and customs that are steeped in British local history and heritage. Most are unknown outside their immediate community. 'An Annual Affair' is the conclusion of a career long photographic documentation of traditional annual country customs and small town traditions. It follows on from Sykes' highly successful book Once A Year, first published in 1977 and most recently republished in 2016 by Dewi Lewis Publishing. In this new book there are over 140 photographs from nearly 80 different events, all but three not previously photographed by Sykes. At the back of the book there is a fascinating section dedicated to fuller captions and explanations regarding the history and origin of each event.

Back Jacket

Homer Sykes' wonderful new book, An Annual Affair, is an exuberant celebration of the survival of folk customs across the country that presents for the first time his recent photographs of these annual events. Sykes walks in the footsteps of Sir Benjamin Stone, whose great study of Festivals, Ceremonies and Customs (1906) was an early influence, and also follows the path of his own acclaimed book, Once A Year (1977) to celebrate an unbelievable array of processions, rituals and behaviours. - James Hyman, Founding Director, Centre for British Photography 'Homer Sykes has cast his inquisitive eye over everyday life and strange traditions in contemporary Britain. Returning to a subject he made his own in the 1970s - but this time in colour - his portrait of the English at serious play is as engaging and thought-provoking as ever.' - Professor Val Williams