Flower Folklore: Spring Blooms and Bells of Blue
Daffodils are said to have dangerously toxic bulbs. Once, it’s claimed, they were used by Roman soldiers as a ‘go
Good Friday Customs: The Peculiar Washing of Molly Grime
David Castleton explores a curious local tradition in Glentham, Lincolnshire, which seems to merge folkloric traditions with Christian rituals.
British Legends: The Lust of Uther Pendragon, Merlin’s Prophecy and the Making of a King
The legendary Uther Pendragon was the father of Arthur Pendragon who was destined to become the greatest King of the
Easter Folklore: Spring Festivals and Forecasts
With the renewal of the natural world in spring comes the celebration of Easter, when many ancient traditions are still
A Forest of Folklore: The Easter Egg Tree
Eggs—long symbols of fertility, rebirth, and love—inundate just-budded trees throughout eastern Pennsylvania each spring. While most states celebrate Easter with
Animal Folklore: Chasing Hares Through Stories, Myth, and Legend
Hares are widespread geographically, so hare stories are widespread culturally. But hares take on a surprising variety of roles in