A major theme of this site is the rich variety of regional folk expressive cultures, in China and around the world. Quite by chance, the compelling drama of Euro 24 has provided me with a wacky perspective to celebrate the wonders of folk cultures around Europe—at a time when all seems lost amidst supermarkets and ring roads, Brexit and the dangerous idiocies of far-right politicians.
And as Barney Ronay notes,
Saka is a player you just love to see have these moments, to smile, to remind you […] that this is still at bottom a matter of play, joy, fun, and invention.
My three recent posts, all with wonderful playlists:
- For the twenty-four teams of the group stage
- The last eight bagpipes standing
- Spain, France, England, and (um) Turkey.
So we might regard Sunday’s final as a contest between the passion of flamenco and, um, Morris dancing—like so:
Southgate devises a novel wall to defend a free-kick from a youthful Spanish team.
These posts complement regional surveys such as Musical cultures of east Europe, Italy: folk musicking, Portugal: folk traditions, flamenco, fado (here and here), Irish folk, and so on. See also Bernard Lortat-Jacob at 80.
Meanwhile, A sporting medley: ritual and gender has links to other posts on football, as well as snooker, tennis (including a wonderful playlist for Emma and Leylah!), and rugby—for Morris dancing as a suitable response to the All-Black haka, click here.
Stephen Jones: a blog 