The Fairy Midwife and the Magic Ointment
An old woman in the cottage gave the midwife a box of ointment and asked her to anoint the baby all over, but to not get any of the ointment in her own eyes.
Fairy Folklore: Come Away, O Human Child
To be led astray, Peter Pan style, by a fairy – ‘pixie led’ – is an old fear from isolated communities where weather and terrain seemed to judge and punish.
The Medieval Robin Hood: Folk Carnivals and Ballads
Robin Hood is known by everyone as the English outlaw hero, dashing through the greenwood with his band of merry men to rob from the rich and give to the poor, before feasting on poached deer under the stars.
British Sea Legends: Captain Jack’s Top 5 Cornish Mermaids
From King Arthur to Jack the Giant Killer, this county has an array of famous tales, but being a man of the sea I have a special place in my heart for Cornish mermaids!
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 folklore, myth & legend.