The Pishtaco: Fat-stealing Ghoul of the Andes
This legendary fat-stealer stalks indigenous communities in the rural Andean highlands. In the Peruvian Andes, they say he wanders the roads at night.
King Arthur, the Mabinogion and Wales’ Legendary Landscapes
The National Library of Wales discuss their exhibition ‘Arthur and Welsh Mythology’, and how Welsh folklore is engrained in its legendary landscape.
Íslensku Jólasveinarnir: the Yule Lads of Iceland
On the evening of 11th December, Icelandic children place shoes on the sills of their windows, before they go to bed.
Madagascar Superstitions & Taboos: Fighting the Aye-Aye Fady
In some regions of Madagascar, it is considered fady to eat certain lemurs, meaning local taboos can actually act as a shield to protect specific species. However, aye-ayes appear to be the only lemur associated with fady leading to their persecution. How did the aye-aye end up drawing the short straw when it comes to local folklore?
Orishas and the Balance Between Life and Death
Orishas are deities who mainly represent the powers of nature. They also have specific responsibilities and work to balance the universe and its energies. Orishas are predominantly praised among the Iorubá people in West Africa. However, when Africans were brought to Brazil and other countries in the Americas, they also brought their spirituality which flourished […]