A griffin is a legendary beast believed to be the offspring of a lion and an eagle, depicted in various

British regional folklorists of the 19th century remain, in many cases, rather obscure figures. Margaret Helen James (1859–1938) deserves particular

“Hat, cat, rat,” Umakant would shout at the top of his voice whenever he would see cowherds around the Peepal

A story of love, betrayal and impending war became entwined with upheavals that affect the discipline of folklore to this

Spring is the herald of new life, and throughout the animal world, spring is a time to forecast the weather

ith its rich folklore, deep woods filled with wild boars, wolves and massive bison, and dark 20th century history, Poland

Stereotypes based on appearance are all too common, but redheads certainly seem to have a raw deal. Where might some

White blossom on the trees is one of the delights of springtime, but it masks a deeper magic in three

Daffodils are said to have dangerously toxic bulbs. Once, it’s claimed, they were used by Roman soldiers as a ‘go

hen a young woman claiming to be Princess Caraboo from a foreign land arrived unexpectedly in the Gloucestershire village of

The Cailleach, which translates as ‘old woman’, ‘hag’, and ‘veiled one’, exists in both Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and is

St Patrick’s Day, 17th March, is a key fixture in the Irish calendar, and indeed in many other places throughout

hither shall I wander? This question can be a delightful start to considering the history of the inestimable Mother Goose,

The first tale of Zoe Gilbert's wonderful novel, Folk, now out in paperback. Read more about the novel here. Listen, for the beat

The epic unfinished poem, The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser, published 1590-96, created a parallel of the medieval universe.

Psychopomps — beings who guide the soul to the afterlife — have long been part of mythology and folklore, ranging

The phrase "Tapping the Admiral" originates from a piece of folklore surrounding the death of Horatio Nelson at the Battle

For centuries, stories from Irish myth and legend have ignited imaginations all over the world. Today, mysterious records of seemingly-impossible

Many classical sculptures today have lost their penises to time and prudery but the ancient world was awash with explicit

Sending mean cards? Eating mashed earthworms? Using jack o’lanterns to light medieval love banquets? They’re all surprising yet vaguely sinister

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, is a fourteenth century poetic masterpiece. No mere Arthurian romance, it is a work

A year and a half after our call to action to support Unbound Publishing’s 21st century roadmap of British folktales,

The Norwegian folktale, “East of the Sun and West of the Moon,” in which a white bear comes to take

The Vita Merlini, written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the twelfth century, tells the story of Merlin after the Battle

Would you call yourself a thrill-seeker? Are you always looking for that next adrenaline rush? Putting yourself in danger so

The Vita Merlini, written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the twelfth century, tells the story of Merlin after the Battle

Mitla is a Zapotec town in Oaxaca, a state in southern Mexico. Its name is derived from the Aztec place-name,

Iranian folklore has a diverse, rich and historic tradition, with storytelling deeply rooted in Iranian culture.

For almost 300 years, the story of the mysterious dobhar-chú, or King Otter, has haunted the shores of Glenade Lake

The Folklore of Cornwall: The Oral Tradition of a Celtic Nation addresses everything from piskies – south west Britain’s fairies

If a cow lost her milk, it could prove disastrous for a hard-up family. Witches and fairies were often blamed

Wife selling is often claimed to be an ancient practice, carried out by brutish men to free themselves of unwanted

he legendary frost fairs on the River Thames are depicted in a number of works of art that show just

Christmas is over, New Year has been well and truly celebrated, and most of us are back at work by

Through myth, fairy tale and legend, powerful women are depicted as dark, cruel and calculating, and they are often naturally

Mistletoe is known to most people for its Christmas associations, but holds a long folklore of magical associations, where it

Plant lore is the verdant heart of Scottish folk holidays and traditions. Nature’s gift and sacrifice is found in the

anukkah is one of the most celebrated holidays in the Jewish calendar. It’s known by some as the Festival of

In the Victorian tradition, every Australian native flower has a meaning and, as she settles into her new life, Alice

Relentlessly sunny and known for a love of trend over tradition, Los Angeles is an unlikely home to a new