English folklore is the folk tradition which has developed in
England over a number of centuries. Some stories can be traced back to their roots, even predating the
Roman invasion of Britain, while the origin of others is uncertain or disputed. England abounds with folklore, in all forms, from such obvious manifestations as the traditional
Arthurian legends (which were originally strictly
Britonic) and
Robin Hood tales, to contemporary
urban legends and facets of
cryptozoology such as the
Beast of Bodmin Moor.
English folklore could be considered a brief look at the not well known mythology of the
Anglo-Saxons, though it also has
Welsh influences, perhaps evidence of a predominantly non-hostile Anglo-Saxon settlement of
Britain or it could be because of the Norman's replacement of a great deal of English legends with Britonic ones.
Morris dance and related practices such as the
Abbots Bromley Horn Dance preserve old English folk traditions, as do
Mummers Plays.
Pub names may preserve folk traditions.
Most folklore traditions are no longer widely believed. Whereas some traditions were once believed across the whole of England, most belong to specific regions: