The Folklore of Bells
Folklore shows that bells were not just used to call to prayer or to make an announcement, but also played a role in healing, superstition, and protection.
The Burryman’s Day: Marking Time, Place and Community in Modern Scotland
The Burryman is a seasonal tradition taking place each August in South Queensferry, Scotland. Although the origins are now obscure, it is still a vital part of the town’s year
Passing Through & Under: A Ritual Healing in England
Until the 20th century, the inadequacies of orthodox medical services left a large proportion of the population dependent upon traditional folk medicine – essentially a mixture of common sense remedies based on the accumulated experience of nursing and midwifery, combined with inherited lore about the healing properties of plants.
Bringing Venetian Folklore to the Big Screen: The Plague Doctor
Though we’ve not lost any of our academic appreciation for the hearthside story or campsite tall tale, it cannot be denied that we as a species have moved into the art of mass producing our spoken heritage. The film maker may not ever replace the greatest of our local tavern heralds, but like any story […]
The Fairy Trees: Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Rowan
White blossom on the trees is one of the delights of springtime, but it masks a deeper magic in three of the most charismatic of British trees: blackthorn, hawthorn and rowan. Storyteller and ecologist Lisa Schneidau has some practical tips on navigating plant folklore, bringing you face to face with the fairy realms and the ways of the Other Folk…..