May Folklore: May Day, Maypoles and May Queens in Britain
May Day is a traditional spring celebration in many cultures, linked with Gaelic Beltane, and is now also the date of Labour Day.
The Duality of Modern Haitian Vodou
When the traditional Vodun religion of West African slaves collided in the Caribbean with the incoming Christianity of colonists, Haitian Vodou was born.
Japanese Folklore of the Ocean: The Ama Divers, Sea Demons, and Ise Jingu
Mie is home to the ama divers, an ancient tradition of women who breath-dive for abalone, and Ise Jingu, the most sacred Shinto shrine in the whole of Japan.
The Clarke Charm Collection: Of Witch Bottles, Witch Cakes and Hag Stones
Clarke’s charm collection reveals a range of uses, including cures for sore throats, the protection of seafarers from drowning, and good luck charms.
Oaxacan Ruin Lore: When the Stones Come For You
Mitla is a Zapotec town in Oaxaca, a state in southern Mexico. Its name is derived from the Aztec place-name, Mictlan, which means, “land of the dead,” and is also incidentally the name for the Aztec underworld.