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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What unites bikers, punks, feminists and sewing? Scott Malthouse explores the social history of battle jackets.

The exhibition "Spellbound: Magic, Ritual & Witchcraft" at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford examines the history of magic over eight

October the season of death is here and soon comes Halloween with its cavalcade of ghosts and goblins together with

So, what is necromancy and what does it have to do with folklore? Come with me, and let’s enter the

A project cataloguing the archive of a renowned British palaeopathologist has revealed fascinating insights into how superstition and a belief

In some regions of Madagascar, it is considered fady to eat certain lemurs, meaning local taboos can actually act as

Incorporating folklore can add authenticity, richness and whole new layers of meaning to historical fiction. Novelist Melissa Harrison explores how

The Jack-in-the-Green was (and indeed is) a traditional participant in May celebrations and May Day parades in the UK.

The influences of folklore in the beliefs and rituals of exorcism are traced by Dr. Francis Young, who explores these

The narrative of witchcraft in Ireland is a subject often left out of major surveys of the wider history of

Make sure you crush up your eggshells after eating an egg, otherwise witches will use them as boats and cause

David Castleton explores a curious local tradition in Glentham, Lincolnshire, which seems to merge folkloric traditions with Christian rituals.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

The Lost Words, written by Robert Macfarlane and illustrated by me was published in October of last year by Hamish

The joy of folklore is that it can be discovered and enjoyed at any age! Kate Boughton (@bigsmallfolk) shares some fun

Generally, clover represents protection, fertility and abundance, but where does the widespread belief in a four leaf clover’s good luck

Here Nalin Verma recalls memories of his uncle, from his childhood growing up in Bihar.

Chris Kullstroem delves into the world of monsters, their cultural festivals and scare tourism