The image of the Gypsy conjures up ideas of a carefree people, who live life without rules and restrictions. In

It seems fairly logical to begin our search for the real Dick Whittington at Whittington Castle in Shropshire, which local

Folk tales tell us how we live and keep our local history alive. They pass on the stories and knowledge

Modern farming has transformed the landscape of Britain and Ireland, to the detriment of nature. Lisa Schneidau argues that the

Here's an introduction to the trees featured in the Ogham alphabet!

The Victorian newspaper archives are full of unusual ghost sightings, but there aren’t many as unique, or with a more

Historically, Elen of the Hosts was a real woman who lived in the 4th century, but in British legend and

By Indian mythology, one refers to worldviews that emerged in the Indian subcontinent. What makes them unique is the belief

Kim McGreal explores the curious and macabre origins of some well-known childhood nursery rhymes.

In Buddhism and Hinduism, the mandala is a symbol of devotion representing the transformation of the Universe from a state

Ask anyone for the names of the great fairy tale tellers, But hardly anyone will mention Mary de Morgan, Pre-Raphaelite,

Three years ago, in June 2015, the first ever #FolkloreThursday took place. Folklore was shared throughout the day and great

In America’s Dairyland, expressing one’s ethnic identity sometimes means not only participating in the revitalization of a folk art but

In the great wealth of witch-related lore, the image of the persecuted local midwife is one of the most enduringly popular.

Despite a great many people knowing that Norway is awash with folklore, many would be hard-pressed to name a Norwegian

Werewolves. The name alone conjures up nightmarish images from our current pop culture horror films starring this shapeshifting man-wolf.

Although their origins lie in Japanese folk traditions, omamori are still a popular sight throughout Japan. The word itself, 御守り,

The legendary Uther Pendragon was the father of Arthur Pendragon who was destined to become the greatest King of the

My parents tell me a few last family legends, and I contemplate on how these stories might change in the

One of the countries which one doesn't associate the zombie with is Tibet.

2018 marks the tenth anniversary of the Centre for Myth Studies at the University of Essex.

Maypoles are often seen as a quintessentially English tradition, yet in Bavaria the raising of the Maibaum (or May Tree)

May Day is a traditional spring celebration in many cultures, linked with Gaelic Beltane, and is now also the date of Labour

If you have heard or read the folktale “The Three Billy-goats Gruff,” you are aware of the existence of Norwegian

You’re obviously already interested enough to know what folklore is, right? Yet the more we look at folklore, the less

Want a #FolkloreThursday T-shirt? Coming Soon!

This is the story of the legendary Aurelius Ambrosius, a King of the Britons in the 5th century AD.

How is a gingerbread house tempting if you've gone gluten-free? Who needs pumpkin coaches when there's Uber? It's a question

My parents tell me more family stories, this time about haunted houses. But what haunts a house? Ghosts, or fairies?

The great Victorian fairy fascination held its grip over culture into the early 20th century. In the wake of the

I began writing 'Maypoles, Mandrakes and Mistletoe: A Treasury of British Folklore' back in April last year.

Writers have long retold folk tales just as musicians have reinterpreted folk songs. But when writing Folk, I aimed not

With the renewal of the natural world in spring comes the celebration of Easter, when many ancient traditions are still

Eggs—long symbols of fertility, rebirth, and love—inundate just-budded trees throughout eastern Pennsylvania each spring. While most states celebrate Easter with

#FolkloreThursday's Willow Winsham interviews storyteller Jean Edmiston and her daughter Amanda on their family storytelling tradition, and Jean's new story,

The final article in the series exploring common superstitions is ‘fingers crossed.’ Crossing your fingers is a common gesture in

I asked my parents to tell me about folk beliefs in the Philippines. In the process, I learned some interesting

Vortigern was legendary 5th century King of the Britons featured in the work of early British writers such as Gildas,

Here's a fantastic collection of some of the funnies folklore related humour from over the years of #FolkloreThursday

This piece will present and focus on the benefits of two specific psychotherapeutic tools — archetypal genograms and mythological based