A Treasury of British Folklore: Maypoles, Mandrakes and Mistletoe
I began writing ‘Maypoles, Mandrakes and Mistletoe: A Treasury of British Folklore’ back in April last year.
Spilled Salt: Bad Luck or Protection Against Dark Side?
The exploration into the origins of common superstitions continues with spilling salt as a bad omen.
Indian Folklore: In Memory of My Lala Who is No More Now
Here Nalin Verma recalls memories of his uncle, from his childhood growing up in Bihar.
Yule Logs, Kissing-Bushes and Mistletoe: Christmas Greenery in Pre-Industrial England
Plants play a major part in the many customs surrounding the Christmas festivities. The Yule log for example, was essentially associated with Christmas Eve, for on the evening of that day it was traditional to transport the log to the fireplace, ignite it and allow it to burn for at least 12 hours if ill-luck was to be avoided.
Trees: Wisdom at the Root of Folklore
When we stand beneath a tree and gaze up into its branches, perhaps running our fingers
over the textured bark and admiring the rich collage of mosses and lichens