Wishing on a Star: Angels, Normans, and Pinocchio
The exploration into the origins of common superstitions continues with ‘wishing on a star’.
Harvest Folklore
Before the advent of agricultural machinery, harvest time was an important period of physical work and folk tradition and ritual amongst rural communities.
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
Just Hanging Around: The Gallows in English Folklore
The gallows play a dark role in the history of punishment, but also show an important influence in folklore, folk practices, and even everyday language.
The Victorian Language of Flowers: Hiding Secret Messages in Plain Sight
If a bouquet of flowers arrives at our door, we’re more interested in who sent them. The Victorians were more concerned with what it meant.The Victorian language of flowers, also known as floriography, was a way to send messages using specific plants and flowers. Combining different flowers allowed them to send more complex or sophisticated messages.Let’s look at how this language developed and how to use it.