Fabulous Folklore with Icy

Pendulum Dowsing: From the Sieve and Shears to Looking for Love

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:30:22 +0000

Last week, we looked at the use of dowsing to find treasure or criminals. Like water dowsing, this method requires the use of a rod that twitches in the hands when the target is close.

But the other method of dowsing involves a pendulum. That is, an item suspended from a chain, cord, or hair, that swings in one direction or another to give you an answer. For example, people suspended keys over the Bible as a form of bibliomancy. They asked a question, let the key swing, and checked the verse the key indicated.

This form of pendulum dowsing appears in a range of folklore, from the famous ‘sieve and shears’ practised by cunning folk, to wedding ring-based love divination! Let’s explore them further in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/pendulum-dowsing/

Buy Fate or Fortune: The Art and Folklore of Divination: https://www.crossedcrowbooks.com/shop-crossed-crow-books/p/fate-or-fortune-the-art-and-folklore-of-divination

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Get weekly articles and bonus content at Substack: https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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The Scottish Fairy Courts with Morgan Daimler

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:30:23 +0000

Morgan Daimler is a witch who has been a polytheist since the early 1990s. Following a path inspired by the Irish Fairy Faith blended with neopagan witchcraft. Morgan teaches classes on Irish myth and magical practices, fairies, and related subjects in the United States and internationally. Morgan has been published in multiple anthologies as well as in Witches and Pagans magazine, and Pagan Dawn magazine, and is one of the world's foremost experts on all things Fairy.

In this chat, we talk about the fairy courts from Scottish folklore, how Seelie and Unseelie as terms entered the international chat through fiction, what a fairy might actually want with you if you ever met one, and why it's not a great idea to sanitise supernatural beings who once taught our ancestors valuable lessons...

Buy The Fairy Courts: From Folklore to Fiction: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781803418384

Find Morgan's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/morgandaimler

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Dowsing for Treasure and Criminals: Extra Uses for Divining Rods

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:30:24 +0000

Dowsing is often used to find water, minerals, or even lost items. Where divination usually seeks to provide information, here the information is of a directly practical or tangible sort. Rather than telling a fortune, or providing a prophetic dream that must be interpreted, dowsing relates information about the presence of something the dowser is looking for.

We’ve already looked at dowsing for water, also known as water witching. In this post, we’ll look at dowsing for treasure and criminals in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/treasure-dowsing/

Check out Fate or Fortune: The Art and Folklore of Divination: https://www.crossedcrowbooks.com/shop-crossed-crow-books/p/fate-or-fortune-the-art-and-folklore-of-divination

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Get weekly articles and bonus content at Substack: https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Walnut Trees in Folklore: Evil Shade and Helpful Remedies

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:30:14 +0000

When it comes to the walnut tree, we're probably more familiar with their produce than the actual tree. Walnuts are easily recognisable, and present in everything from nut selections to coffee cake.

We might even know that classic Jaguar cars often feature walnut veneers on their dashboards. Many guitars also feature walnut in their construction.

Yet we're probably less familiar with their superstitions, legends, and even remedies. The fact that they appear in folklore shows they were important to our forebears, even if we've forgotten their uses now.

Let's put that right and get to know the walnut tree in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/walnut-trees/

Buy Bring Me Love: Finding and Keeping Love Using Divination and Folk Magic: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781786789747

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Poplar Trees: Folk Belief, Remedies, and the Arbor Tree

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:30:20 +0000

Poplar trees are perhaps one of the lesser-known trees that I've featured on this blog. Many people can recognise an oak tree on sight, but how many could recognise the poplar?

Indeed, how many would realise John Constable added a black poplar to the background of his famous painting, 'The Hay Wain'?

We find these trees in the willow family, and for a tree that's less common now, they have a surprising amount of folklore. The trees even gave their name to the London borough, Poplar, due to the number of black poplars in the area.

There are also different types of poplar, though this article will focus on the black and white varieties. So how did people use the tree in their remedies, and what superstitions surround the poplar? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/poplar-trees/

Check out the Woodland Trust: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

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Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Polish Folk Magic with Joanna Tarnawska

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:30:25 +0000

Joanna Tarnawska is an animist, folkloric witch, and psychologist residing in the mountains of Lower Silesia, Poland. Her practice intertwines animism, bioregional traditions, and lore, drawing inspiration from the early modern period of Polish witch trials and Slavic folklore. With a strong foundation in anthropology and ethnography, Joanna's work explores the deep connections between pre- and post-Christian folklore and witchcraft traditions. She contributes articles to Femme Occulte magazine and runs "Polish Folk Witch," a platform where she shares her knowledge through courses and group studies on Polish folk magic, animism, and traditional witchcraft.

In this chat, we talk about folk magic compared to witchcraft, the presence of Christian elements within Polish folk magic, spring rituals within Polish practice, and just how accessible and practical folk magic can be.

Buy Polish Folk Magic: Ancestral Lore & Traditions of the West Slavs: https://amzn.to/4bmoxdJ

Find Joanna online: https://polishfolkwitch.pl/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Yew Trees: Death, Churchyards, and Helpful Tools

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:30:19 +0000

Back in November 2020, I explored the folklore of the yew tree; specifically, the common yew, or English yew (Taxus baccata).

Yes, it's a poisonous tree. Yes, it's linked with death. And yes, people like to say they pre-date the churchyards in which we find them.

But in the intervening six years, my library of sources has grown, so I wanted to see if there was anything more I could learn about them. They're my favourite tree, and I always love spotting them in parks and cemeteries. There's something deeply restful and reassuring about a yew tree.

My fascination with trees within ecosystems has also grown, so I wanted to explore the yew outside of folklore. How and why are these trees so cool and so different from other trees?

So let's explore their dendrology, their uses to humans, and yes, their links with death, before we meet some more famous yews in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/yew-trees/

Listen to the earlier yew episode: https://www.icysedgwick.com/yew/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Get weekly articles and bonus content at Substack: https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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The London Plane: A Tree Suited to City Life

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 09:30:19 +0000

Periodically, I choose a plant, tree or fungus to explore, only to find there is very little folklore about them. Invariably, there are two reasons for this. First, the plant, tree or fungus has little use to humans, so no one bothered much with it in the past. This sometimes applies to toxic specimens, too. You don't need to preserve knowledge about something you know to avoid, so there's no lore to pass on.

Second, the plant, tree or fungus only arrived in the UK (or Europe) within the last couple of centuries. Again, this often results in sparse lore about them, much as we see with the horse chestnut or sycamore.

I ran into this exact problem with the London Plane tree. I'd seen one featured in a 3-part documentary about trees, narrated by Michael Palin, on Cheapside in London. Having gone to meet it myself on a trip to the capital, I announced I'd be starting this month's Tree theme with the London Plane.

And then I discovered how little folklore there actually is about them. Still, how they came about proves to be an interesting story on its own. The tale of the Cheapside Plane is worth exploring too. So while we've got less folklore than usual, there are still stories to tell.

Let's go to meet the London Plane in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/london-plane/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Childhood Games: Classics, Crazes and the Occult in the Playground

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 09:30:18 +0000

In January, I asked people if they wanted to share any children’s folklore as part of my February theme. As a branch of study, this largely refers to folklore created, shared, and maintained by children. Adults are not involved in its generation. So, contributors could share folklore they remembered from their childhood. Or they could share what they’d heard from children in their lives now.

Most responses came from those sharing memories of childhood folklore, and broadly fell into three categories. We’ve already covered urban legends and children’s beliefs.

This time, we're going to focus on games. So what did my listeners play as children, both in the schoolyard and at home?

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/childhood-games/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Dolls and Doll Magick with Najah Lightfoot

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:30:19 +0000

Najah Lightfoot is the multi award-winning author and regular contributor to the Llewellyn annuals. Najah’s magickal staff is on display and part of the permanent collection of the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft. She is an in-demand speaker and presenter for conferences, events, and workshops. Najah lives in Denver, Colorado, where the blue skies and the power of the Rocky Mountains uplift and fill her soul.

In this episode, we talk about her new book, The Spiritual Magic of Dolls, haunted dolls, how to know if you're a 'doll person', and how to start collecting dolls!

Buy The Spiritual Magic of Dolls: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781578638857

Find Najah online: https://www.craftandconjure.com/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Children's Beliefs: Superstitions, Luck, and the Brenin Lwyd

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:30:13 +0000

Most responses came from those sharing memories of childhood folklore, and broadly fell into three categories. As a result, this episode and the two that follow will use those categories.

Urban Legends refers to the stories or urban legends that people shared. Games and Practices refers to things that people did. Monsters and Beliefs refer to (surprise, surprise) things people believed!

In this episode, we’ll explore some of the beliefs people heard and spread in their childhood, including supernatural beings like witches, love divination, and superstitions!

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/childrens-beliefs/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Urban Legends among Children: Clowns, Insects, and Ice Shards

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 09:30:20 +0000

Most responses came from those sharing memories of childhood folklore, and broadly fell into three categories. As a result, this episode and the two that follow will use those categories.

In this episode, we’ll explore some of the urban legends people heard and spread in their childhood. We'll also examine how they dovetail with wider patterns of such legends, where applicable!

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/childrens-urban-legends/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Trolls as Toys and Figures from Folklore

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 09:30:19 +0000

Some toy trends make sense, like the fascination with Lego or even Barbie-mania, which naturally enjoyed the boost from the 2023 film. The fad for trolls, however, doesn't immediately make sense. These strange plastic figures with staring eyes and wild hair don't really do much…but that has never stopped people wanting them.

This month is going to be all about children's folklore, and that led me onto thinking about toys. While the folklore of toys might have seemed more obvious, troll dolls give us the chance to explore toys related to folklore.

So let's explore where troll dolls came from, and how trolls themselves appear in Scandinavian myth and folklore in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/trolls-in-folklore/

Check out my new book about love magic in folklore, Bring Me Love: https://www.icysedgwick.com/book/bring-me-love/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Ralph Hedley: Painter of North East Scenes and the Working Class

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 09:30:19 +0000

The arts remain one of the best ways to preserve culture in a way that people can interact with. Literature, folk music, and art, among others, allow us to experience culture, even secondhand, using tangible sources. Even better, we can create our own responses to this culture using our chosen cultural medium.

Painter Ralph Hedley captured ordinary, working-class life around Tyneside and Northumberland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We’ll explore how he captured scenes of ritual, tradition, and custom in his beautiful paintings, and investigate what they can tell us about the way folklore shows up, primarily in cities.

But we're also focusing on his work as an example of how much community rituals mattered in the past as a way of bringing people together. We need that now, more than ever.

Let’s go and explore the work of Ralph Hedley in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/ralph-hedley/

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Explore 3 strange legends of the Newcastle Castle

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 09:30:18 +0000

The Newcastle Castle occupies a strange position in the city centre. So strange that some people can’t believe we have a castle in town at all!

Various buildings have stood on the site for centuries, dating back to the Romans and their Pons Aelius fort. Robert Curthose, the eldest son of William the Conqueror, originally founded Newcastle Castle in 1080.

This early castle was made from wood, and builders rebuilt the castle in stone between 1168 and 1178. It has been a castle, a prison, a beer cellar and Civil War stronghold. Now, it’s a visitor attraction, and one that I highly recommend seeing if you can.

But as with any English castle, stories both sad and strange abound within Newcastle Castle. Let’s examine three of its legends as part of our exploration of folklore found within cities in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/newcastle-castle/

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Meet Joe Wilson: The 19th-Century Bard of Tyneside

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 09:30:21 +0000

Walk along Stowell Street in Newcastle upon Tyne and turn into St Andrew’s Street, and you might notice a plaque on the wall. It marks the site of the house where Tyneside bard Joe Wilson was born - though it’s unclear how many people know who Joe Wilson is.

There was a resurgence of interest in the 19th-century songwriter a few years ago, particularly thanks to the musical play, The Great Joe Wilson, that toured the north east in 2018. It was a rousing, whistle-stop tour of the bard’s short life and songs.

But who was he, and why is he important if we’re looking at a city through a folklore lens? Let’s find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/joe-wilson

Hear 'Keep Yor Feet Still, Geordie Hinny': https://youtu.be/W4BBDu8pd7s?si=MYyov6vkqNjYpvRV

Share your Children's Folklore here: https://forms.gle/D8mLW7q2um5ZYiTD9

Find the links to the writing workshops here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/start-here/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Get weekly articles and bonus content at Substack: https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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The Blaydon Races: The Story Behind the Tyneside Anthem and Sporting Event

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 09:30:21 +0000

Inhabitants of the Tyneside region are undoubtedly familiar with the 19th-century song, 'The Blaydon Races'. It describes a journey from Newcastle's city centre to Blaydon to see the races, and even became immortalised in art. The song is traditionally sung in the local Geordie dialect, although over time, some of the language has softened to make it more easily understood by outsiders.

Now sung at football and rugby events in the area, the song preserves a slice of history, and the characters that populated the area at the time. Given this month's focus on exploring a city's folk life through its history, looking at a folk song that came to represent the city seems the ideal subject for an episode!

But what are the Blaydon Races, and why did they end up being the subject of a music-hall song? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/blaydon-races

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Get weekly articles and bonus content at Substack: https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Newcastle Disasters: Fire, Flood, and Plague

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 09:30:20 +0000

Newcastle upon Tyne is famous for many things: its bridges, nightlife, and being the birthplace of Greggs are just some of them. We've seen plenty of world firsts here, been on the frontline of science and technology, witnessed ethical consumption in the 18th century, and turned a Roman settlement into a city.

But our disasters are perhaps less well-known. Newcastle has suffered from plague, fire, flood, and cholera - among other things. Why don't we hear about these as often, if at all?

Let's explore the Great Plague of 1636, the Great Flood of 1771, and the Great Fire of 1854 to see what they can tell us about the city we can encounter here in the 2020s in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/newcastle-disasters

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Get weekly articles and bonus content at Substack: https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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New Year Folklore and Traditions with Eerie Essex

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 09:30:20 +0000

We're onto the final instalment in this series of Festive Folklore episodes, that are coming to you with the help of some of my Fabulous Folklore friends! This time we're turning our attention to New Year and I'm joined by my podcasting pals, Bethan Briggs-Miller and Ailsa Clarke, and together they are Eerie Essex!

We chat about nut-related stock market predictions, ways to bring good luck into your new year, the Mari Lwyd, and our own New Year traditions and practices.

Find Eerie Essex online: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1827712

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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The Christmas Ghost Story Tradition with Dr Kate Cherrell

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:30:20 +0000

Dr Kate Cherrell is a writer and broadcaster specialising in the long 19th century and paranormal history. Her academic interests include 19th-century Spiritualism, mourning traditions, the gothic, the monstrous feminine, and death history. She is the author of Begotten (2025), Memorials to the Dead (2026), and writes commercially on paranormal history for various magazines and publishers. She is co-founder of Not of this Wold festival, director of The Bats’ Ball annual cemetery gathering and sits on the director’s board of Lincoln Book Festival. As a historian, she has co-hosted Haunted Homecoming, Unexplained: Caught on Camera and has provided historical expertise on The Yorkshire Exorcist, Paranormal, and Weird Britain.

In this chat, we talk about the fashion for Christmas ghost stories, where it came from, why television plays such a big role in our fascination with MR James at Christmas, and where the genre might go next!

Find Kate online: https://burialsandbeyond.com/

Order Begotten: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781803418049

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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A Portmanteau Ghost Story for Christmas

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 09:30:19 +0000

For this third episode in our Festive Folklore series for December 2025, I'm adding my own tale to the noble tradition of the Christmas ghost story! And it arrives right ahead of the winter solstice...

With plenty of folklore Easter eggs for you to spot, I'm also ably supported with storytelling content by my podcast pals, Owen Staton from The Time Between Times podcast, Wayne Gilbert from the Eerie Edinburgh podcast, and Dave Silk, the storyteller coming to you from the heart of Old Newcastle.

So pull up a chair, get comfy, and enjoy...

Find The Time Between Times podcast at: https://www.youtube.com/@TimebetweenTimes

Find the Eerie Edinburgh podcast at: https://eerieedinburgh.com/

Find Dave Silk at: http://instagram.com/davetaleteller/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Festive Folklore and Traditions with The Faerie Folk and Celtic Myths & Legends

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 09:30:23 +0000

For this second episode in our Festive Folklore series for December 2025, I'm joined by my podcast pals, The Faerie Folk podcast and Sian Powell from Celtic Myths & Legends.

We discuss some plant-based traditions from Herefordshire, the Mari Lwyd, and Cornwall's Montol Festival. We also talk about Christmas films, our own Christmas traditions, and what we'll be enjoying for Christmas dinner...

Find The Faerie Folk at: https://thefaeriefolk.libsyn.com/

Find Celtic Myths & Legends at: https://celticmythspodcast.libsyn.com/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Myths of the Stars and Planets with Suki Ferguson

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:30:20 +0000

In this episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat to writer Suki Ferguson about some of the myths associated with the celestial bodies, how you approach myths when you don't just want to focus on the Greek and Roman ones, and what we can learn from looking at the night sky!

Suki is the author of Young Oracle Tarot: An initiation into tarot's mystic wisdom (Quarto, 2022) and Astrologica: An encyclopedia of myths and legends from the planets, stars and skies (Quarto, 2025). She lives in London, where she can be found reading tarot, wild swimming, and appreciating local flora and fauna.

Buy your copy of Astrologica: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9780711293595

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Festive Folklore & Christmas Carols with Loremen

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 09:30:19 +0000

For this first episode in our Festive Folklore series for December 2025, I'm joined by my podcast pals, James Shakeshaft and Alasdair Beckett-King, better known as the Loremen.

We discuss some obscure Christmas superstitions and omens, and a truly bizarre apocryphal Christmas carol. We also talk about Christmas films, our own Christmas traditions, and the age-old practice of circling hoped-for items in the Argos catalogue. Possibly one for the Millennials, then...

If you've come across the Loremen before, you'll know things are about to get very silly in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore…

Find the Loremen online: https://www.loremenpodcast.com/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Legends of New York's Islands: Buried Treasure and Typhoid Mary

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 09:30:20 +0000

New York City conjures up images of a neon-drenched Times Square, skyscrapers gleaming in the sun, and the labyrinthine subway system.

Yet the city also boasts three main rivers; the Hudson to the west, the East River to the east (unsurprisingly), and the Harlem to the north. Where we find rivers, we can find islands.

Where we find islands, we find folklore.

New York is no exception. That said, the stories we’ll explore this time are far from the druids of Ynys Môn or the megaliths of Menorca. These are stories of people, those arriving, those forced to stay, and those who want to bury treasure.

Let’s go and meet them in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore…

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/new-york-islands-legends/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Menorca Legends: Lost Cities, Giants, and the Cyclops

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 09:30:21 +0000

Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Well-known for a huge collection of megaliths, Menorca has seen human activity since the prehistoric era. This period was the Talayotic period, which lasted until 123 BCE.

The island fell under Roman occupation, Vandal conquest, the Byzantine Empire, and, centuries later, British occupation. It is now part of Spain, and its official languages are Catalan and Spanish.

But an island that has seen so much human activity for so long is bound to have a legend or two. Menorca's tales involve religious icons, enchanted cities, giants, and even the Cyclops. Let's explore them in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore…

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/menorca-legends/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Anglesey Folklore: Witches, Ghosts, and Ancient Druids

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 09:30:23 +0000

Perhaps most famous as the home of the druids, Ynys Môn, also known as Anglesey, occupies 275 square miles just off the north Wales coast.

It is an ancient place. Archaeologists found Neolithic settlements at Llanfaethlu, making these some of the oldest villages in Wales. The Neolithic Castell Bryn Gwyn site remained in use until the Roman period.

Bryn Celli Ddu is one of the most famous Bronze Age burial mounds. This passage tomb is around 5000 years old, and aligns with the sunrise on the summer solstice. Its name means 'the Mound in the Dark Grove', and it was first excavated in 1865.

With so much history everywhere you turn, finding folklore and legend is to be expected. Let's explore legends of witches, saints, ghosts, and druids in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore…

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/anglesey-folklore/

Book tickets for The Haunted Landscape: Ghosts, Magic and Lore: https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-haunted-landscape-ghosts-magic-and-lore/

Buy Ronald Hutton's Blood & Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9780300267754

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Legends of Drake's Island: Tunnels, Ghosts, and a White Lady

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 09:30:22 +0000

Drake's Island sits in Plymouth Sound, around 500 m from the mainland. The island is just 6.5 acres, and around 250 yards wide at its broadest point. You can reach the island by boat in 10 minutes.

Its name refers to Sir Francis Drake, a problematic figure often lauded for his circumnavigation efforts. He also has very little to do with Drake's Island itself. When looking for its ghost stories or legends, we actually have to look to the island's role in English defences from the Tudor period onwards.

We're talking secret tunnels, protective military spirits, and the inevitable White Lady.

Let's explore some of these stories in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore…

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/drakes-island-folklore/

Book tickets for The Haunted Landscape: Ghosts, Magic and Lore:

https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-haunted-landscape-ghosts-magic-and-lore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Listener Supernatural Experiences Part 4

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 09:30:19 +0000

Today marks All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day or the Feast of All Hallows. That's why Hallowe'en is called that - it's All Hallow's Eve. The day celebrates saints, but the far more interesting day for folklore is tomorrow - All Souls' Day.

All Souls' Day marks remembrance of the dead, whether that's visiting graves, praying for the dearly departed, or practising other family customs.

Given it's a day dedicated to the dead, I thought it would be a great time to hear some more unnerving and uncanny experiences from listeners of Fabulous Folklore…

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/supernatural-experiences-4/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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How do we understand the reputation of the Amityville Horror House?

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 16:17:12 +0000

If I ask you to think of a famous haunted house, will your mind wander to a white Dutch Colonial house, with quarter-round windows lit from within to look like red eyes? Yes? Then the reputation of 112 Ocean Avenue has done its work, aided and abetted by The Amityville Horror.

Even if that wasn't the first house you thought of, Amityville's reputation stretches before it, ready to snag your attention at the first opportunity. After all, the design of the house reappears intermittently, as do elements of the haunting. A presence that hates Christian icons? A child's invisible friend that takes a dislike to a parent? Items going missing around the house, reappearing elsewhere, if at all? The fact the haunting apparently contains ghosts, poltergeist activity, demonic shenanigans and possibly even a portal to hell just adds to Amityville's towering reputation.

Let's explore this reputation in this week's episode!

I also make a mistake at 10mins 15secs by saying the Lutz family left in March 1976. They left in January, but that's the joy of recording live!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/amityville-horror-house/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Just how bad were the prisons at the Doge's Palace?

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 08:30:18 +0000

The Palazzo Ducale dominates the view as your vaporetto approaches the San Marco stop. The huge building is an example of Venetian Gothic architecture, all pointed arches and quatrefoils. It's hard to believe that two prisons lie within its bulk, with a third inside the pristine white building alongside it.

Tourists might be the only people who visit these prisons now, trotting along the corridors as part of organised tours. Yet in bygone centuries, notorious reputations clung to the cells, and people feared being slung into them. The fearsome reputation of this prison may not have outlived the building, but they certainly outlived the Venetian Republic.

Let's explore this reputation, some legends associated with the Palace and its prisons, and even learn of a daring escape from one of them - by none other than Casanova - in this week's episode!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/doges-palace-prison/

Hear my interview on How Haunted: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/bonus-episode-ghostlore-with-dr-icy-sedgwick/id1639335870?i=1000730532826

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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British Folklore from Past to Present with Owen Davies and Ceri Houlbrook

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 08:30:22 +0000

In this episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I'm talking to two folklore heavyweights - Owen Davies and Ceri Houlbrook!

Owen Davies is Professor of Social History at the University of Hertfordshire. He is the author of numerous books, most recently Art of Grimoire and Troubled by Faith: Insanity and the Supernatural in the Age of the Asylum (both 2023). He has been described as Britain's foremost academic expert on the history of magic.

Ceri Houlbrook is Senior Lecturer in Folklore and History at the University of Hertfordshire. Her books include The Magic of Coin-Trees (2018), Unlocking the Love-Lock (2021) and Ritual 'Litter' Redressed (2022). In addition to her scholarly work, she writes folklore-inspired fiction.

We chat about their new book, Folklore: A Journey through the Past and Present, about whether folklore should open up to admit openly-invented lore, the importance of the urban environment to folklore which has often been overlooked, and the way social media has shifted 'local' traditions into often international ones. There's even a mention of the folklore of ice cream vans!

Buy Folklore: A Journey through the Past and Present: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781526180384

Find Ceri on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/cerihoulbrook.bsky.social

Find Owen on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/odavies9.bsky.social

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Newgate Prison: Novels, Escapees, and Dreadful Conditions

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 08:30:22 +0000

If you've ever read any Charles Dickens novels, especially Great Expectations, then you'll have run into Newgate Prison. The hulking, notorious jail loomed large in London's history, before its demolition in 1902.

While accurate execution statistics are difficult to find, there's a suggestion that over 1000 people faced capital punishment at the prison between 1790 and 1902.

The old execution bell rests in a glass case in nearby St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, rung the night before an execution as a reminder to the condemned.

So how did this prison gain such a fearsome reputation? How has it survived well beyond its early 20th-century demolition? Let’s find out in this week's episode!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/newgate-prison/

Buy tickets for Haunted Tyneside at Newcastle Castle on 28 October: https://www.newcastlecastle.co.uk/talks

Buy tickets for the Witchcraft Panel at Treadwell's on 29 October: https://www.treadwells-london.com/events-1/witchcraft-panel-interview-soiree

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How did popular culture add to Bedlam's fearsome reputation?

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 08:30:19 +0000

Bedlam, or Bethlem Royal Hospital to give it its full name, is actually the world's oldest psychiatric institution. It began life in 1247 in the Priory of St Mary of Bethlehem, which stood where we now find Liverpool Street Station.

Yet the hospital has inspired a range of books, films, and TV series, with its infamous reputation lasting well into the 21st century. The hospital has since become a valued institution for psychiatric treatment, yet the ghost of its former incarnations still linger.

After all, the word 'bedlam', meaning chaos, came from this very hospital. People shortened 'Hospital of Saint Mary of Bethlehem' to Bethlem, and then Bedlam, in around the 1660s. The word even went on to inspire the word 'Bedlamite', used to describe someone suffering from insanity, from the 1620s.

So how did this hospital gain such a fearsome reputation, and how has it survived well beyond the hospital's adoption of new practices? Let's find out in this week's episode!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/bedlam-reputation/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Foxes in Folk Tales: From Aesop to Reynard

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 08:30:21 +0000

Foxes appear in literature and legend across the world. Look at Brer Fox in the American South. In Rebel Folklore, I discussed the Jiuwei Hu of China, or nine-tailed fox, who drains men of their life force. Korea's kumiho is a similar spirit, while Japan has the supernatural fox spirit, the kitsune.

Scholar Al-Biruni, magician Cornelius Agrippa and astrologer William Lilly put the fox under Mercury's rulership. Mercury is the trickster of the Roman gods, and represents communication, cleverness, speed, and resourcefulness - all qualities traditionally associated with the fox. It probably explains why dreaming of foxes meant you should beware of treachery and thieves.

I have an exclusive article about foxes for Patrons on the lowest tier, but I've also made it available for sale if you'd like to read some additional fox folklore. As it is, it seems foxes also appear in folk tales and literature so I managed to write a whole new episode that didn't involve the lore from the article!

So let's explore the way foxes appear in folk tales and literature!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/foxes-folk-tales/

Foxes and Folklore article: https://www.patreon.com/posts/exclusive-foxes-106946093

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Monsters and Strange Creatures with Natalie Lawrence

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 08:30:20 +0000

Natalie Lawrence is an author and illustrator who explores our relationship with the natural world, looking through multiple lenses - from the biological to the mythic and psychoanalytic. She completed a MSc and Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge, exploring the making and meanings of monstrous creatures in seventeenth century Europe.

She published her first book as a teenager, Feathers and Eggshells, inspired by Hampstead Heath and the birds she was entranced by as a child, and published Planta Sapiens with Paco Calvo in 2022. She has also given a TedX talk, appeared on BBC Radio, and worked with installation artists.

In this chat, we talk about humans' fascination for monsters, how the walrus was originally conceived of as being a monster, the Hydra of Hamburg, cryptids as contemporary monsters and the ways in which our understanding of what is real and what exists has changed over the centuries.

Buy Enchanted Creatures: Our Monsters and Their Meanings: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781474619035

Find Natalie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalie.j.lawrence/

And her website: https://nataliejlawrence.com/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Hedgehogs in Folklore: Witches, Familiars, and Milk Thieves

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 08:30:21 +0000

Hedgehogs are one of the stranger mammals you might encounter. They're nocturnal, they hibernate, they're prone to rolling into a ball when frightened, and they're extremely vulnerable to habitat loss. While some of you will undoubtedly have first thought of Sonic, others might have thought of Mrs Tiggywinkle from the Beatrix Potter books.

Either way, those are quite positive associations. I've been feeding hedgehog visitors to my garden since June 2023, and I find them charming, adorable, and slightly idiosyncratic. Yet in the past, hedgehogs have had a much more sinister reputation that they certainly didn't deserve. People linked them with witches, the devil, and even fruit theft.

So let's explore the folklore surrounding hedgehogs!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/hedgehogs-folklore/

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Moles in Folklore: Folk Remedies and Weather Omens

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 08:30:21 +0000

Moles are fascinating creatures. They're phenomenal diggers and while they weigh around 120g, they can shift 540 times their body weight of earth.

Given they live entirely underground, they're a rarely seen mammal, and we only know they're there when we see their molehills. Surprisingly, there is more folklore about them than more commonly encountered animals, like badgers.

Used in folk medicine, they're also creatures connected with omens for both death and the weather. Their appearance as folk remedies is somewhat cruel, and reflects earlier times when humans had less regard for animal welfare.

So how do moles appear in folklore? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/moles-folklore/

Tickets for the Northern Spiritualism talk: https://bit.ly/spiritualism2025

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Otters in Folklore: Brave Helpers or Fearsome Monsters

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 08:30:18 +0000

Otters are some of the most charming mammals you might encounter. Sometimes nicknamed the "water sausage" by the internet, otters are playful, intelligent, and capable of using tools.

They also appear in popular culture, most notably in Tarka the Otter and The Wind in the Willows.

Yet in reality, they're incredibly elusive. They might live in wetlands, along rivers, and at the coast, but seeing one isn't easy! They also enjoy woodland habitats, and even in towns, so they're a very interesting species.

In this post, I'll be talking about the European otter. They're listed as near threatened on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They also raise their cubs in holts, or underground burrows, and they mostly eat fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and aquatic birds.

I've seen one of the otters that lives at the Gosforth Park Nature Reserve, which was very exciting given how elusive they are! It's a woodland setting surrounding a lake, so I thought otters would make a good first stop on our Woodland Mammals tour.

But given how good they are at hiding from humans, is there much folklore about them?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/otters-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Creepy Listener Stories of Space and Place

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 08:30:21 +0000

When we think about folklore, we often think about the characters involved: King Arthur, Queen Mab, Lady Godiva, and more. Yet folklore has an intrinsic link with place, too.

Even the most throwaway comment about a place can reveal stories linked with them. Such stories can reveal how we feel about places, especially when human activity moves away.

They’re also stories that get easily lost when people move on, so I asked the wonderful listeners of Fabulous Folklore if they wanted to share any stories they’d been told about places - and they did!

I wanted ghosts at a person's school, houses they ran past because someone in the neighbourhood said they were haunted, local legends of grey ladies, creepy back roads people avoided at night because of a local cryptid - that kind of thing!

I didn't want personal experiences this time around, which I've collected before, because I wanted the focus to be on the place, not someone's experience of it.

Let's see what people came up with in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the blog post with the images and the references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/tales-of-space-and-place/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Screaming Skulls: Guardian Spirits or Poltergeists-in-Waiting?

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 08:30:20 +0000

English folklore is full of peculiarities. The legends of the so-called screaming skulls are definitely among them.

These are skulls kept in mansions and farmhouses, sometimes considered to be guardians of the property. Legends abound of the violent deeds done to the owners of the skulls.

But many of these stories come with hauntings attached if the skulls are disturbed. Sometimes the skulls even repeatedly return, no matter how often they're removed or even destroyed.

Given our focus this month on ghosts and poltergeists, let's explore some legends of screaming skulls in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/screaming-skulls/

Tell me the supernatural stories of places that you've heard: https://forms.gle/WzXyGZLoe8iLZh656

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Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Storytelling and Making Folklore Accessible with Three Ravens

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 08:30:22 +0000

I'm talking to Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux from the Three Ravens podcast about the difficulties in defining 'folklore', the importance of storytelling, which of England's 39 historic counties has the best folk tales, why people love ghost stories, and making folklore accessible to wider audiences!

Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux are the brains behind the Three Ravens podcast, and they are a real life couple, based in Sussex. Eleanor was born in Suffolk and grew up in Sussex, and after developing a passion for storytelling and stage performance as a child, become involved in amateur dramatics and completed her BA in English Literature and earned her MA in Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama. She also founded the theatre company Rust & Stardust, which tours original work and education projects rooted in English folklore. Martin was born in Somerset and grew up in the developing world, including in Uganda and Papua New Guinea. After leaving school, he completed his BA in English and won National Student Television Awards for comedy and directing. Having been a freelance journalist, radio presenter, and English teacher, he also won the BBC Moo! New Writers Prize in 2009. He gave up teaching after the pandemic to undertake his MA in Romantic and Victorian Literature and Culture at Goldsmiths, and to launch Three Ravens.

Buy their book, The Three Ravens Folk Tales: New tellings of half-forgotten stories from England's 39 Historic Counties: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781803999685

Visit the Three Ravens Podcast website: https://www.threeravenspodcast.com/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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How does 'Poltergeist' draw on actual poltergeist accounts?

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 08:30:18 +0000

Poltergeist marked Hollywood's big-budget engagement with the ghost film in 1982. Produced by Stephen Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper, it took the haunted house film and mashed it together with the family adventure film. Throw in some special effects courtesy of Industrial Light and Magic, and you end up with the film that relocated haunted houses to the suburbs.

The film obliquely references the settlement of land in California and a failure to acknowledge earlier inhabitants of that land. It also explicitly engages with the growing consumer boom of the 1980s, using technology - here in the form of the TV set - as a means to communicate with the other side. It's a film worthy of study for various reasons.

But one of the talking heads in the special feature on the 25th anniversary edition of the film exclaims that everything in the film 'really happened'. Does the depicted activity bear any relation to historically recorded cases of poltergeist activity? Where does the film draw on this record? What are these earlier cases? Let's find out!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/poltergeist-1982-film/

Tell me your supernatural stories: https://forms.gle/WzXyGZLoe8iLZh656

Order Ghostlore: https://geni.us/ghostlore

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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The Power and Allure of Poisonous Plants with S.A. Lawless

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 08:30:21 +0000

S.A. Lawless is an herbalist, gardener, forager, mycophile, outdoor educator, and published author and illustrator, with a long-held fascination with folklore and witchcraft, currently living in rural Ontario, Canada. She has been studying and practicing herbalism for 20 years and has worked as a professional nature field guide for 15 years.

As a herbalist her focus is on low dose botanicals specialising in researching, growing, processing, working with and writing about poisonous plants with a special interest in medicinal nightshades.

In this chat, we talk about poisonous plants, including how to grow them, why poisonous plants are actually important to ecosystems, the "natural = safe" false assumption, and which plants you might be surprised to learn are poisonous!

Visit The Poison Garden website: https://thepoisongarden.com/

Find The Poison Garden on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.poisongarden/

Find S.A.'s class on Low Dose Botanicals here: https://rowanandsage.com/upcoming-events/sarahannelawless

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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The Wesley Poltergeist and the Bishopwearmouth Poltergeist Go Head-to-Head

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 08:30:20 +0000

Last week, we looked at some poltergeist definitions and whether such definitions are even helpful. Can something as truly bizarre as a 'knocking spirit' be boiled down to a series of checkboxes on a form?

Yet they're also not the invention of the 20th century. Nor are they the preserve of ghost hunters or psychics. Poltergeist accounts stretch back through the centuries, even if the spirit responsible isn't always labelled as a poltergeist.

Just look at the Tedworth Drummer from the 1660s and the haunting at Willington Mill in the 1840s. That's just as far as England goes - these accounts appear all over the world.

So as we're interested in folklore here, let's unpick two vastly different cases, from 1716 and 1840, to see how they appear in written records that try to avoid using the P-word. Do the accounts even describe poltergeists? Let's explore them in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/pre-20th-century-poltergeist/

Tell me your supernatural stories: https://forms.gle/WzXyGZLoe8iLZh656

Ghostwatch talk: https://ko-fi.com/s/c81b496605

Order Ghostlore: https://geni.us/ghostlore

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Poltergeists: Noisy Ghosts or Household Spirits?

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 08:30:22 +0000

This episode of Fabulous Folklore begins with a reading of the Poltergeist entry from my new book, Ghostlore, before we explore the problem with poltergeists - how do you define one?!

From deciding what phenomena to include to picking a name, the poltergeist proves to be a flexible yet elusive figure in historical accounts.

Is that spontaneous fire a religious portent, or a poltergeist? And did a household spirit turn the kitchen upside down...or was it a poltergeist? You get the idea.

Let's look at the poltergeist in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/poltergeists-definitions/

Pre-order Ghostlore: https://geni.us/ghostlore

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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White Ladies, Ghost Nuns & Spectral Children in Haunted Madrid

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 08:30:21 +0000

People have lived in the Madrid area since prehistoric times. Occupied by Romans, Moors, and then the Spanish, it has quite the history.

Over 6.8 million people live in Madrid. That's less than Paris and London but more than Berlin.

Of course, a capital city will boast a few ghost stories. The ghosts of those executed for heresy and witchcraft in the Plaza Mayor are said to still haunt the square. A fire tore through the square in 1631, devastating the buildings and leaving people dead, and some wondered if the square had attracted some kind of evil energy.

So which other ghosts lurk in this beautiful city? Let's explore three of the most famous legends - and their variations in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/haunted-madrid/

Pre-order Ghostlore: https://geni.us/ghostlore

Star Lore and Legends: Myths of the Constellations talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/star-lore-and-legends-myths-of-the-constellations-tickets-1389351410469?aff=oddtdtcreator

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Murder Ballads and Dark Folk Music with Katy Horan

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:30:21 +0000

In this chat, I'm talking to illustrator Katy Horan about murder ballads, discussing what they are, how they work within folk music, how contemporary musicians have tried to reclaim the tradition, and the issues with examining ballads when all you might have is the lyrics!

Katy Horan is an illustrator and interdisciplinary artist whose work has been exhibited throughout the United States and in Canada, published in several books, and four times selected for New American Paintings. Together with the writer Taisia Kitaiskaia, she co-created Literary Witches: A Celebration of Magical Women Writers and The Literary Witches Oracle Deck. She is also the illustrator of Ask Baba Yaga: Poetic Remedies for Troubled Times. Originally from Houston, Texas, Katy now lives and works in Austin.

Buy Murder Ballads: Illustrated Lyrics & Lore: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781524889265

Find Katy on Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodyhoran

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

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The Venetian Legend of the Carvings of Castello

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 08:30:21 +0000

If you head away from the hustle and bustle of the Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square), you’ll head into the stranger, more magical part of Venice. It’s in the tangle of narrow streets and courts that you enter the realm of Venetian legend.

It's difficult to know how many of them have any basis in fact. One legend sees the Devil face off with legendary composer, Vivaldi. Another sees the Devil try to snatch the soul of the first person to cross the Rialto Bridge - a bridge he created. Yet another involves a fisherman and his mermaid bride, which I covered in Rebel Folklore.

I've also covered some Venetian creepy ghost stories before. Yet this next legend even has physical evidence to testify to its occurrence. Or does it?

Let's explore the legend behind the carvings found on a fabulous building in Castello in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/venetian-legend/

Pre-order Ghostlore: https://geni.us/ghostlore

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Dublin Ghost Stories of Phantom Dogs and Mysterious Figures

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 08:30:22 +0000

Dublin is a beautiful city that straddles the River Liffey, famous as the home of Guinness and the National Leprechaun Museum. What you might not expect from the Irish capital is a series of Dublin ghost stories.

Though why not? The city enjoys a millennium of history, including Viking settlement, economic hardship caused by the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the fight for independence from Britain. Of course there would be ghost stories!

For much of this article, I followed the legends related by Dave Walsh in Haunted Dublin, though where I could, I did a little digging of my own.

But enough of the preamble. Let’s explore some Dublin ghost stories in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/dublin-ghost-stories/

Penny Dreadfuls talk: https://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/talks/how-the-penny-dreadfuls-created-their-own-legends-icy-sedgwick-308110501

Northern Spiritualism talk: https://www.folkloremythmagic.com/event-details/icy-sedgwick-northern-spiritualism-talking-to-the-dead-in-manchester-and-newscastle

Pre-order Ghostlore: https://geni.us/ghostlore

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Folk Traditions and Strange Sights in Florence

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 08:30:21 +0000

Florence was founded in the 1st century BCE as a Roman military outpost, although it came to prominence as a centre of commerce and the arts in the 14th to 16th centuries CE. The Florentine method of speech even became the Italian language.

Some of the city's most famous exports are Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Michelangelo, and Niccolo Machiavelli, along with the Medici family. You can see the tombs of Galileo, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli in the Basilica of Santa Croce.

But that's not all you can find in this Tuscan city.

From the mythological scenes to statues of Roman gods present in the Uffizi, Florence has a range of odd curiosities and folk traditions that are worth seeing. Let's explore some of the stranger side of Florence in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/florence-folklore/

Pre-order Ghostlore: https://geni.us/ghostlore

The Many Faces of Medusa talk: https://ko-fi.com/s/a60a047ebb

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Witches in Devon and Witchcraft Trials in Theatre with Tracey Norman

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 08:30:20 +0000

Tracey has written fiction for as long as she can remember, covering a variety of genres and subjects. Her first stage play WITCH, a historical drama based on original English witch trial transcripts, premiered in 2016 and has been performed more than 80 times to date. Tracey’s most recent publications were Dark Folklore (2021), co-written with her husband Mark, and Who Is Anna Stenberg? (2023), her first full-length novel. Her next book, also co-written with Mark, is Devon’s Forgotten Witches 1860-1910, which is published by The History Press and comes out in August 2025. She gives talks to a variety of groups on historical subjects such as witchcraft and early modern medicine. She, Mark and their daughter live near the edge of a forest in mid Devon, with a trio of insane chickens, and a feline trip hazard.

In this chat, we talk about witchcraft cases in Devon, some of which are surprisingly late into the 20th century, the beauty of using records of witch trials, and how theatre can help us to better understand the lived experience of those accused.

Preorder Devon’s Forgotten Witches 1860-1910: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781803994215

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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The Newcastle Witch Trials and Northern Cunning Men with Dave Silk

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 08:30:21 +0000

Dave Silk is a storyteller and historian from Newcastle upon Tyne and co-author of Tyne and Wear Folktales for Children. He collects and retells traditional tales and ancient stories from around these isles and further afield and enjoys rearing pet leeches and practicing the Dark Arts. In the daytime, he is usually found doing his ‘normal job’ of lurking in the dark towers of Newcastle Castle, where he is the Learning Manager.

In this chat, we talk about the Newcastle Witch Trials, other witch cases from the region, and two of Newcastle's most famous cunning men.

Follow Dave on the socials at @davetaleteller or check out Newcastle Castle @newcastlecastle or www.newcastlecastle.co.uk

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Margery Jourdemayne and the Coggeshall Witch with Deborah Hyde

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 08:30:20 +0000

In this third episode of our Witches, Cunning Folk & Magic theme, I'm talking to Deborah Hyde, an author, presenter and producer who has written for periodicals such as The Guardian and The Fortean Times, and who specialises in the subject of weird belief. For ten years, Deborah was Editor-in-Chief of The Skeptic and is a fellow of The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

She makes frequent TV appearances, being a regular contributor to 'Strange Evidence' and 'Mysteries at the Museum', and has presented insights in some of BBC iPlayer’s most successful recent podcasts such as 'Uncanny', 'The Battersea Poltergeist' and 'Lady Swindlers'.

In this chat, we talk about Margery Jourdemayne as an example of a cunning woman caught up in royal politics, Widow Coman, one of the Coggeshall Witches who was targeted relatively late in 1699, and how witchcraft accusations changed to suit the times.

Find Deborah online: DeborahHyde.com

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Witches in History and Superstition with Willow Winsham

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 08:30:21 +0000

In this second episode of our Witches, Cunning Folk & Magic theme, I'm talking to Willow Winsham, an author and historian specialising in folklore, and the history of the English witch trials. Her books include the highly popular Treasury of Folklore series from Batsford Books, and Accused: British Witches Throughout History from Pen and Sword Books. Her passion for uncovering fascinating topics and dedication to impeccable research guarantees an accessible and engaging read, whatever the subject.

Willow is also co-founder of #FolkloreThursday, the popular website and social media phenomenon dedicated to sharing folklore, fairytales and traditions from across the globe.

When not writing, Willow spends her time crocheting, delving into family history research, and indulging an ever-growing board game habit. She lives in Derbyshire with her three children and two British Shorthair cats.

In this chat, we talk about how witches appear in history, why there is such an ongoing fascination with the witch, and Helen Duncan, the last woman tried under the 1735 Witchcraft Act!

Order The Story of Witches: Folklore, History and Superstition: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781849949064

Find Willow on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/willowwinsham.bsky.social

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Cunning Folk and Practical Magic with Dr Tabitha Stanmore

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 08:30:17 +0000

In this first episode of our Witches, Cunning Folk & Magic theme, I'm talking to Dr Tabitha Stanmore!

She's a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Exeter on the Leverhulme-funded Seven County Witch Hunt Project, investigating the people affected by the 1640s witch trials in eastern England. Her doctoral research was funded by the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (part of the AHRC), and published as Love Spells and Lost Treasure: Service magic in England from the later Middle Ages to the early modern era by Cambridge University Press.

She has appeared on Radio 3’s Free Thinking and BBC Radio London discussing magic in the early modern period, written for The Conversation, and TIME Magazine and BBC History Magazine, among others. Her debut non-fiction book CUNNING FOLK was published by The Bodley Head (UK) and Bloomsbury (US) in 2024, and the paperback came out on 28 May!

In this chat, we talk about what cunning folk are and how they differ from witches, how members of different classes approached magic and what they used it for, and why Magic Studies is such a valuable approach to history!

Get your copy of Cunning Folk: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781529931563

Find Tabitha online: https://www.tabithastanmore.co.uk/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

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Finding the Lort Burn, One of Newcastle's Buried Rivers

Sat, 31 May 2025 08:30:20 +0000

Much is often made of London's lost rivers, like the Tyburn, Fleet, and Walbrook. Yet Newcastle upon Tyne also has rivers we cannot see. Ours are not lost, rather they're simply buried. The Skinnerburn, Erick Burn, Pandon Burn, Lam Burn, and Lort Burn all continue to flow beneath the city, down to the mighty Tyne.

The Lort Burn is perhaps the most well-known of the buried rivers. Originally called the Dene Burn, it gained its new name of Lort Burn in the later 14th century. Some sources say 'Lort' comes from an Old Norse word meaning 'filth' or 'excrement'.

The Story of the Tyne: And the Hidden Rivers of Newcastle gives the rough route of the Lort Burn. I've followed it as best I can given the current street layout, picking up the ghost stories and legends that lie along its route.

Let's go and explore them in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/lort-burn-route/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Ghosts, Lantern Men, and Treasure in the Norfolk Broads

Sat, 24 May 2025 08:30:22 +0000

The Broads National Park, often known as the Norfolk Broads, is one of the UK's 15 National Parks. Seven rivers and over sixty waterways called Broads comprise the park.

In the medieval era, locals dug peat from the land for fuel. By the 14th century, these channels flooded and created the Broads. They'd become a popular boating destination by the 19th century. Here in the 21st century, the park is Britain's largest protected wetland.

Unsurprisingly, the Park is also home to spectres, Otherworldly beings, and bogey beasts. Perhaps Norfolk's most famous resident is Black Shuck. Yet there are also ghostly monks, phantom drummers, and the malicious Lantern Men.

Let's go and meet them in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/norfolk-broads/

Seances and the Female Medium in British Cinema talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/seances-and-the-female-medium-in-british-cinema-with-icy-sedgwick-zoom-tickets-1249421837349

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Geomany & Practical Divination with Dr Alex Cummins

Thu, 22 May 2025 17:12:38 +0000

Dr Alexander Cummins is a contemporary cunning-man and historian of magic. His magical specialities are the dead (folk necromancy), divination (geomancy), the cunning-crafts of traditional British service magic, and the grimoires.

His published works include The Black Raven with Brian Johnson, Nazarth: Pillars of Gladness, The Art of Cyprian’s Mirror of Four Kings, An Excellent Booke of the Arte of Magicke with Phil Legard, A Book of the Magi, The Starry Rubric, and a host of essays in collections by both occult and academic publishers.

Al is a frequent speaker on the international circuit, and co-hosts the podcast Radio Free Golgotha. Dr Cummins’ work, classes, and services can be found at www.alexandercummins.com."

In this chat, we talk about geomancy, how it works as a form of divination, how it can be used for more magical operations, and just why more people need to use titles like 'service magician'. Enjoy!

Find Al online at: https://www.alexandercummins.com

His other links are here: https://linktr.ee/grimoiresontape

Order The Black Raven: https://hadean.press/products/the-black-raven

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

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Haunted Canals of England, Scotland & Wales

Sat, 17 May 2025 08:30:22 +0000

Canals occupy a strange place in the cultural imagination. They're manmade, yet offer a connection to nature, and they offer a means of transport, but one that's only accessible by boat. Some cities depend on canals, like Amsterdam or Venice, while in the UK, canals are often overlooked or forgotten spaces that have long outlived their original purpose.

There is also surprisingly less folklore about canals than you might imagine, given the amount you can find about rivers or lakes. It's not that they're 'new' as a concept. The Romans built the Fossdyke to connect Lincoln to the River Trent in 50 CE, and the Grand Canal of China dates to the 10th century.

Yet in Britain, the real Canal Age didn't begin until the later 18th century, with canals built to ease the transport of goods. While the railway took over as the transport of choice in the 19th century, the canals remained. Some stayed in use until the 1960s. So what legends or ghost stories have clung to these manmade British waterways? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/haunted-canals/

Seances and the Female Medium in British Cinema talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/seances-and-the-female-medium-in-british-cinema-with-icy-sedgwick-zoom-tickets-1249421837349

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

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Healing Springs and Wells at Glastonbury, Carrawburgh and Lourdes

Sat, 10 May 2025 08:30:21 +0000

We've no doubt seen plenty of content online about water's power to be a great healer. We need to drink it (this is your reminder for today), while people swear by cold water baths for their wellbeing. Then we think about how much water appears in nature, somewhere we're often counselled to go to improve our mental health. I think of how often I find myself heading towards water on my days off, whether that's the local burn, the mighty Tyne, or the unforgiving North Sea.

But how often do we think of healing springs or wells as a potential destination?

They seemed a logical choice for this week's entry into our Folklore of Water theme after the brief dabble with Holywell Priory last week. True, wells can also be used for other purposes, like wishing and cursing, which I've covered before. But here, we'll focus entirely on four springs devoted to healing - especially of the miraculous kind.

Let's explore the folklore of healing wells in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/healing-wells-and-springs/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Following the route of the Walbrook, one of London's lost rivers

Sat, 03 May 2025 08:30:21 +0000

A sense of mystery gathers around London's lost rivers, with their names whispered like forgotten deities from an ancient cult. Fleet, Tyburn, Walbrook, Effra, Westbourne, Neckinger.

In some cases, they aren't so much lost, as buried. Sometimes, they break ground, appearing where you least expect them. Take the grey duct that carries the Westbourne above the District and Circle line at Sloane Square as an example. Yet the Walbrook seems truly lost. As Tom Bolton says, it "is the most mysterious, elusive and comprehensively buried of London's lost rivers".

While I was in London at the beginning of April, I decided to trace the route of the Walbrook using London's Lost Rivers: A Walker's Guide by Tom Bolton. Well, as best as you can, given the entire river is underground.

Given the lore surrounding these lost rivers, I decided to share my expedition here as a form of folklore-meets-psychogeography. Let's see what we can learn both from the river, and the history of the London that overlays its route in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/walbrook-lost-river/

Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ULwWgoYIjh8

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

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Church Curiosities: Finding Folklore in Carvings and Statues

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 08:30:20 +0000

Visiting churches might not sound like everyone's idea of a great time. Yet the buildings are stuffed with strange carvings, peculiar graffiti, interesting artwork, and even sassy memorials. These church curiosities tell us a lot about what mattered to people in centuries past.

They also preserve folklore, legends, and the beliefs of the congregation. From apotropaic marks scratched onto fonts, to stone guardians on the outer walls, churches are a fascinating repository of folk practices...if you know where to look. That's precisely what we're going to do here, looking at gargoyles, grotesques, graffiti, carvings, and even door knockers.

Let's figure out what they have to do with folklore, and what they tell us about our forebears in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/church-curiosities/

The Folklore and Legends of Rosslyn Chapel bonus episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-episode-of-63008388

The Folklore & Legends of Notre Dame bonus episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-episode-of-82235383

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

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Telling and Preserving Ghost Stories with W.J. Gilbert

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:30:21 +0000

W.J. Gilbert is a writer, storyteller, and creator of the YouTube channel Eerie Edinburgh. Based in Edinburgh, he’s the author of the best-selling Hidden Haunts: Scotland, Hidden Haunts: England, and Ghostly Tales of the NC500 — a haunted journey through Scotland’s most legendary road trip route. His next book, Hidden Haunts: Ireland, is currently in development. His writing explores the eerie overlap between folklore, history, and the paranormal — with a particular focus on the overlooked, unreported, and half-forgotten stories that linger just beneath the surface.

We chat about the importance of keeping humans at the centre of ghost stories, the link between ghost stories and local history, just why everyone loves a White Lady ghost, and how to preserve stories of ghost encounters for posterity.

Find W.J. Gilbert online: https://eerieedinburgh.com/

Get Hidden Haunts: Scotland: https://amzn.to/3ECBceQ (affiliate link)

Get Hidden Haunts: England: https://amzn.to/42LRGJI (affiliate link)

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

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Holy Cross Church and the Witches of Wallsend

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 08:30:22 +0000

Churches can be sites of divination, haunted locations, and important community hubs. Yet in Wallsend, Holy Cross Church is notorious for a tale of witches and heroic derring-do. The ruin might not look like it now, but appearances can be deceptive.

It's not just a chapel. Throw in a midnight ritual, grotesque women, a desecrated corpse and an infamous lord for good measure.

Is it fact, folklore, or total fiction? Let's explore the legend of the Witches of Wallsend in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/holy-cross-church/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

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The Tale of Enon Chapel: London's Most Notorious Burial Site

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 10:15:22 +0000

Here in the 21st century, death and burial often occur as part of a sanitised process. Death happens away from home, often in hospitals, and funerals are usually tidy, respectful affairs. We can forget that this wasn't always the case, and that our quaint, inner city gardens were sometimes putrescent burial grounds, crammed with rotting remains. Even worse, history contains legends like that of Enon Chapel.

This awful story is far from being folklore, but rather a dark chapter in the history of English burials. Since folklore and history so often make good bedfellows, I thought it might be helpful to examine this notorious burial place. After all, it brings with it a dose of London history, scandal, a disavowal of burial practices, and capitalism gone mad.

Let's explore what happened at Enon Chapel in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/enon-chapel/

Conway Hall talk about folklore rebels on 26 April: https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/art-magic-lore-wild-talents/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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The Folklore of Lychgates and Popular Burial Monuments

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 08:30:20 +0000

You would absolutely know a lychgate if you saw one. They make popular backdrops for wedding photos, and provide a quaint air of rustic charm to country churchyards. They're the wooden or stone gateway, complete with tiled roof, that marks the entry into the churchyard. Not all churches have them, and they're far more common outside churches in the countryside than in suburban or city-centre churches. Yet they do have some folklore attached to them.

Let's take a look at what they were for and what beliefs they gave rise to. We'll also look at some popular burial markers you might see in churchyards or cemeteries to broaden our focus to the wider burials.

So let's have a look in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/lychgates-and-burial-markers/

Fairies in Northumberland talk on 19 April: https://www.newcastlecastle.co.uk/talks

Conway Hall talk about folklore rebels on 26 April: https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/art-magic-lore-wild-talents/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

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Folklore and Church Names: Preserving Local History

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 09:30:25 +0000

I started out with the intention of looking at unusual church names. The problem was, this offered the potential to accidentally poke fun at their congregations. It also didn't help that most churches in the UK have pretty similar names. They're named for individual saints, like St Nicholas' Cathedral in Newcastle, or even all saints like, funnily enough, All Saints. Otherwise, they're named for their location.

Yet many churches have such names and preserve a touch of their history, or that of their location, through their names - much like pubs. So I thought I'd look at those churches whose names deviate, even slightly, from the usual 'St Andrew's Church' format. So when I say 'unusual', that's what I mean. Not like the usual names, rather than weird or strange!

So let's explore the origins of some church names in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/church-names/

Corpse Roads talk on 2 April: https://www.folkloremythmagic.com/event-details/online-icy-sedgwick-a-tour-of-an-english-corpse-road

Fairies in Northumberland talk on 19 April: https://www.newcastlecastle.co.uk/talks

Conway Hall talk about folklore rebels on 26 April: https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/art-magic-lore-wild-talents/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Origins of Sports Team Names: Preserving Folklore and History

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 09:30:25 +0000

Looking at the origins of sports team names might seem antithetical to folklore. Yet sport forms part of the ritual calendar for many people, whether on a personal or a mass scale. Look at the good luck rituals people follow before they watch their team play. Or how about the sporting events that become part of the folk tradition of a place through their regularity?

Some team names refer to the history of the area. Others refer to the specific history of the team. Some are generic, designed to sound powerful or intimidating. And others have links to folklore!

So let's explore the origins of sports team names in UK football, NHL hockey, and minor league baseball in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/sports-team-names/

Corpse Roads talk on 2 April: https://www.folkloremythmagic.com/event-details/online-icy-sedgwick-a-tour-of-an-english-corpse-road

Fairies in Northumberland talk on 19 April: https://www.newcastlecastle.co.uk/talks

Conway Hall talk about folklore rebels on 26 April: https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/art-magic-lore-wild-talents/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Cader Idris Lore and Writing Folklore with Victoria Male

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:00:25 +0000

Victoria Male is an internationally recognized screenwriter, earning accolades from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, film festivals, and major industry lists. Her prose has been published worldwide in fifteen literary magazines and she’s written op-eds for major publications. She worked in creative development for The Montecito Picture Company and media startup Graphic India, in addition to producing a podcast for three years.

In this chat, we talk about her screenplay for the film Cader Idris, which won Best Screenplay at the Wales International Film Festival 2024, some of the folklore associated with the mountain, and the perils of adapting folklore into fiction!

Find Victoria online here: https://www.victoriamale.com/

Read her story, The Crone of Cader Idris, here: https://thechambermagazine.wordpress.com/2023/04/07/the-crone-of-cader-idris-supernatural-thriller-by-victoria-male/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

The Folklore of British Pub Names Linked to Local History

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 09:30:23 +0000

There is no shortage of bizarre pub names in the UK. Some of them appear to be a combination of random objects, like the Frog and Nightgown. Others have a local story behind their odd name. I've covered unusual pub names before, so consider this Part 2.

Yet when I started researching these examples, it became apparent that pub names didn't have to be unusual to be interesting. Rather, pub names can capture a slice of history, whether they commemorate a local person, notorious or otherwise, or even just part of the fabric of their local area.

So let's explore the origins of the names of some pubs related to history in some way in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/pub-names-2/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

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Strange Street Names: From The Philog to Dog Leap Stairs

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 09:30:22 +0000

Unlike place names, which often give us information who once lived somewhere, street names can be a different case entirely. Sometimes they bear the names of notable (and often now infamous) people.

Other times they refer to long-gone industries performed in the area - you can guess what happened on Cock Lane in London, site of the Cock Lane Poltergeist in 1762.

Or street names might be the last remains of a now-dead language. Yet the continual building of new streets also sees the creation of new names more fitting to the time. Newcastle upon Tyne's Great Park development features a Sir Bobby Robson Way.

Given the different ways these street names can come about, let's explore the origins of some unusual street names in the UK and US in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/street-names-2/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

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From Coven to Hot Coffee: The Folklore of Place Names Part 2

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 09:30:21 +0000

Place names are important and pass on a lot of valuable information, even if we no longer understand how to interpret it. Within them, they tell us who used to live in an area, or what natural features were important. Some of them even end up with a range of legends to explain names that might otherwise seem random or bizarre.

Folklore attempts to explain their origins. I've talked about unusual place names before, but this time, we're going to look at more of a range of names to see where they come from.

So let’s have a look at some place names from England, Wales, and the United States. Where did these names come from, and how does their original meaning compare to the names we know now? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/place-names-2/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

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Goats in Folklore: From the Farmyard Doctor to the Devil

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:30:19 +0000

When I decided to write about goats in folklore, I thought I would find plenty of content. After all, they appear in mythology. Look at Amalthea, the goat reputed to have raised Zeus in Greek myth. Or the goats associated with the goatherd in the Auriga constellation. That's before we get anywhere near the sign of Capricorn.

Yet in terms of actual folklore, there's less than you would expect. Unlike pigs, there are few specific tales about goats. Instead, they pop up almost as a side character in relation to other animals.

That said, they do have associations with fairies, and of course, we can't talk about goats without addressing the devil-shaped elephant in the room. So let's see what folklore we can find about the humble goat in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/goats-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Race and the European Fairy Tale with Prof Kimberly Lau

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:00:25 +0000

Kimberly J. Lau is a professor of literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is the author of Erotic Infidelities: Love and Enchantment in Angela Carter's "The Bloody Chamber" (Wayne State University Press), Body Language: Sisters in Shape, Black Women's Fitness, and Feminist Identity Politics, and New Age Capitalism: Making Money East of Eden, as well as articles in a number of interdisciplinary journals. Her research interests include fairy tales, folklore, and fantasy; feminist theory and critical race studies; and the intersection of popular and political cultures.

In this chat, we'll talk about her new book, Specters of the Marvelous: Race and the Development of the European Fairy Tale, and the ways in which racist tropes and stereotypes are embedded in European fairy tales from France, Italy, Germany, and Britain.

Find Kimberly online: https://www.kimberlyjlau.com

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Pigs in Folklore: From Piggy Banks to Spectral Sows

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 09:30:23 +0000

Pigs appear in folklore in somewhat unusual ways. Sometimes, they choose the location where a church should be built. Or they appear as phantoms, haunting misty moorland.

Sailors or fishermen considered pigs unlucky, and wouldn't even say 'pig' at sea. If they met a pig on their way to the boat, they would postpone sailing. Some of them went so far as to ban pork products on board. While this superstition seems inexplicable on the surface, Jacqueline Simpson suggests it comes from the biblical association between pigs and uncleanliness.

Some believed pigs can't swim (they can, they're very good at it), and that they can see the wind. So what other strange things have people thought about pigs and collected into folklore? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/pigs-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Cows in Folklore: From Fairy Cattle to Spectral Calves

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 09:30:19 +0000

Certain animals might spring to mind when it comes to folklore. Hares, horses, deer, cats - they all have an otherworldly quality to them. Would you consider the same of cows?

There's a surprising amount of folklore about cows. They can be death omens, fairy cattle, consumption cures, or even the guardians of treasure. That's not even considering the deities associated with cows, or their appearance in mythology. Just look at the various versions of the Taurus origin myth.

But let's take a look at some of the legends and lore associated with cows in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/cows-folklore/

Cattle in Irish myth and legend class: https://irishpaganschool.com/p/irish-animals-history-myth

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Sheep in Folklore: From Medical Remedies to Good Luck Charms

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 09:30:19 +0000

Following on from 2024's theme of the Folklore of Animals, this month we'll examine the Folklore of Agricultural Animals. This week, we'll explore the folklore, legends, and even folk medicine associated with sheep.

Sheep are not native to the UK. Neolithic settlers brought them to Britain from southwest Asia in around 3000 BCE. Sheepskin and other wool textiles appear in the archaeological record from the Bronze Age in northern Europe.

Following the Norman Conquest, sheep became the dominant form of livestock. They primarily provided milk, with meat, wool, and manure secondary products. By the medieval era, the focus switched to wool. Unsurprisingly, they appear in folklore through tales of sheep-stealing, but also fables, like the wolf in sheep's clothing.

Sheep appear in mythology too. The golden ram, Aries, who saved Phrixus and Helle from their evil stepmother, went on to both provide the famous Golden Fleece of Greek myth, and the Aries constellation.

But let's take a look at some of the legends and lore associated with sheep. in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/sheep-folkore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Sámi Myths and Legends with Niina Niskanen

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 16:00:25 +0000

Niina Niskanen is a Finnish artist, writer and a folklorist who specialises in Finnish, Baltic and Sámi Mythology. She is an online educator and hosted “Heart of Mielikki,” one of the first online courses about Finnish mythology for non-Finnish speaking audiences. Niina is also an artist with a BA in illustration. Her work has been displayed in numerous art exhibitions in Finland and abroad. Niina is the author of the book "Mythology of The Sámi, Stories from the North" and she has Sámi ancestry from the Lapland of Sweden and Finland.

In this episode, we chat about Sámi myths, a beautiful legend about the northern lights, and some similarities between Finnish and Sámi mythology.

Find Mythology of The Sámi: Stories from the North here: https://amzn.to/475Vx7o

Find Niina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairychamberart/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Mourning Folklore: From Giving Rings to Wearing Black

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 09:30:21 +0000

If you think of the phrase "to be in mourning", you'll probably imagine a Victorian scene. Perhaps a black-clad widow ushers similarly black-clad children to a desolate graveyard in the depths of autumn. Or maybe you picture a grand house, shuttered up against the world that continues outside, while life is paused for those inside as they grieve their loss.

Clearly, humans have had mourning rituals and customs throughout history. Yet it is the 19th century that captures attention, perhaps through the industrialisation of mourning spearheaded by the Victorians. Such a high degree of buy-in by the public of all classes makes such customs worthy of study by a folklorist. Why did people adopt these beliefs and practices en masse? And, crucially, what happened to them?

Let's take a look in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/mourning-folkore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Green Children of Woolpit: Fairies, Aliens, or Something Else?

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 09:30:21 +0000

According to legend, two green children wandered into a village in 12th-century Suffolk. No one knew who they were or where they came from. Their refusal to eat and unfamiliar language made locals wary. Over time, they gradually assimilated and told a fantastic story of their origins.

Were they fairies? Lost children with big imaginations? Extraterrestrials? The fever dream of medieval chroniclers?

Let's take a look in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/green-children-of-woolpit/

Resources for those affected by the LA fires/winds AND current volunteer & supply needs: https://tiny.cc/malan-fire

Support the LAFD: https://supportlafd.org/

Support Pasadena Humane who provide temporary shelter for pets evacuated from fire zones: https://pasadenahumane.org/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Folklore of Dowsing, aka Water Witching

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 09:30:23 +0000

Dowsing is a fascinating form of divination since it is often used to find water, minerals, or even lost items. While other forms of divination like tarot or botanomancy seek to provide information, here the information is often of a tangible sort. Rather than telling a fortune, or providing a prophetic dream that must be interpreted, dowsing appears to relate information about the presence of something the dowser is looking for.

Given dowsing can be used to find a whole range of things, this article will focus on the use of dowsing to locate water. After all, this comprises much of the discussion about dowsing within folklore. This form of dowsing also enjoyed other names, including water witching, well witching, water divining, or rhabdomancy.

While dowsing can also be performed using a pendulum, sometimes held over a map when dowsing for water, this article will also focus on the use of rods, since this appears more frequently in folklore. Let's find out more about dowsing in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-dowsing/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Geordie Dialect: Its History and Some Basic Phrases

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 09:30:14 +0000

There can be a tendency to view folklore as antiquated customs, old legends, or outdated practices. Yet folklore is not disconnected from contemporary life, and is an ever-evolving part of our lived experience. Folk music and folk art are two obvious branches, yet dialect and language is another.

Louise Pound refers to dialect as "a species of folklore" while J. D. A. Widdowson described language and folklore as "those twin pillars on which the whole fabric of our cultural traditions rests".

True, language does evolve and change over time, but as dialects run parallel to folklore, and preserve traditions in linguistic form, I thought it high time that we visit a specific dialect - mine.

Let's explore some of the background of the Geordie dialect - and some of its phrases - in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/geordie-dialect/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Loch Ness Monster: Kelpie, Legend, or Giant Eel?

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 09:30:23 +0000

The Loch Ness Monster is perhaps one of the world's most enduring mysteries. Does a giant reptile really lurk in a Scottish loch? Has it somehow survived for millennia on its own? Or is it something darker and more dangerous? It is, after all, a monster.

Its legend dates to the 7th century, although recorded sightings really begin in earnest in the 1930s. It feels somehow ancient and modern at the same time, with scientists on a quest to find evidence either way as to its existence.

While the 'reality' of the Loch Ness Monster is beyond my scope, the legends and the ways in which people have shared their sightings are not. Much like ghost stories, Nessie sightings echo across time, with people poring over their similarities - and their differences - in search of the truth.

So let's explore the Loch Ness Monster's legends in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/loch-ness-monster/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Legends of RMS Titanic: Mummy Curses and Ghost Captains

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 09:30:25 +0000

Few maritime disasters have captured the public imagination like the RMS Titanic. Perhaps it's because of the relatively recent nature of its sinking, compared to the loss of the Mary Rose warship.

The countless films, documentaries, and exhibitions probably help in prolonging fascination. New theories and reconstructions attempt to pin blame on one factor or another as the reason the ship sank.

But as we're focused on folklore and legends here, what legends or ghost stories have become attached to RMS Titanic? Why are people convinced that ghosts still linger in the wreckage, or that a cursed mummy is to blame for the disaster? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/legends-of-RMS-Titanic/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Welsh Legends and Folklore Tourism with Russ Williams

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 15:00:44 +0000

In this month's episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I'm talking to Russ Williams, the author of Where the Folk: A Welsh Folklore Road Trip. Russ grew up in Caernarfon in North Wales, where he was raised on Welsh stories, like the one about a mountain that would send you mad or turn you into a gifted poet if you camped out on it, or the one about the lost civilization drowned by the sea, and the one about the bottomless lake leading down to the Welsh Otherworld. He now lives in Cardiff.

In this chat, we get into the origin story of the Devil's Bridge legend, we talk about whether stories can ever truly be claimed by one place, and an eccentric figure from Welsh history who has passed into legend.

Buy Where the Folk from Bookshop.org: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781915279705

Find Russ on his website: https://www.russwilliams.org/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

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Blue Men of the Minch: Scotland's Storm Kelpies

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 09:30:24 +0000

When we look at types of folkloric creature, we often encounter the same types in different places, such as mermaids or fairies. But occasionally, you encounter a creature so localised that it only appears in a single place. The Blue Men of the Minch are one such example.

Feared by sailors, the Blue Men of the Minch lived in the straight between the Shiant Islands and Long Island. This stretch of water is known as sruth nam Fear Gorm, or the Stream of the Blue Men.

Most descriptions mention how similar they look to humans - if those humans had blue skin. They usually have grey faces, white beards, and long arms. They're also fearfully strong. And they're also humans with a fondness for pulling ships into the depths.

Let's find out more about them in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/blue-men-of-the-minch/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Legends of Submerged Villages: Divine Punishment and Drowned Churches

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 09:30:26 +0000

If we think of submerged cities, lost beneath the waves, we're probably most likely to think of Atlantis, that thought-experiment that took on a life of its own. Closer to home, there's the lost Welsh kingdom of Cantre’r Gwaelod, believed to lie between Bae Ceredigion and Ynys Enlli.

Yet there are countless tales of submerged villages along both the west and east coast of England too, not to mention villages lost to the depths of lakes or reservoirs.

Many of them share a preoccupation with drowned church bells continuing to toll beneath the water. Others tell stories of losses often assigned to divine retribution. So how do these villages appear in folklore? Let's take a look in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/submerged-villages/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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The Mouse in Folklore: Medicine, Omens, and Collecting Teeth

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 09:30:26 +0000

The humble mouse appears in a surprising amount of folklore. Both a harbinger of death if spotted in the house, and a medical remedy for a range of ailments, it seems the mouse both harms and heals.

This reputation even stretches back to ancient Egypt, demonstrating just how ambivalent humans have felt about the tiny rodent for centuries. With strange origin stories, links to a Belgian saint, a use in divination, and a helpful role as the Tooth Mouse, their lore covers a lot of bases!

Let's take a look at the mouse in folklore in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/mouse-in-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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The Legends & Lore of the Dark Man with Darragh Mason

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 10:30:25 +0000

Welcome back to Fabulous Folklore Presents. This time, I'm delighted to be talking to Darragh Mason, a multi-award-winning photographer, author, and researcher. He studied photography at Dublin City University and has traveled extensively across Asia, Europe, and America, where he has written articles and published his photography. His work has taken him to post-war countries such as Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo. Darragh is particularly renowned for his photographic work on the Aghori Hindu sect and his research on the Djinn.

Darragh also hosts the award-nominated podcast *Spirit Box*, which explores topics of folklore, magic, and the spirit world. Beyond photography, he is the co-creator of the Sigil Engine, a technomantic art project. His book, "Song of the Dark Man, Father of Witches, Lord of the Crossroads", delves into the Dark Man as a devil-like figure in folklore and magic, exploring his role as trickster, initiatory guide of witches and creative force.

In this chat, we talk about the Dark Man as a concept, discuss his role in initiatory tales, and get into folklore as a continuum, rather than something that just happened in the past. There's a bonus rant about AI too!

Buy Song of the Dark Man: Father of Witches, Lord of the Crossroads: https://amzn.to/3V2r3x7

Find Darragh online at: https://www.darraghmason.com/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Horses in Folklore: Black Bess, Hag Riding, and Spectral Steeds

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 09:30:22 +0000

Humans first domesticated horses in around 3500 BC. Since then, they’ve pulled our chariots and carts, carried royalty and soldiers, worked on farms, and been steadfast companions.

Horses are actually a prey animal, which perhaps explains their vulnerability to supernatural attack by witches and fairies.

Yet as the stories in this episode will show, they’re also famous for their speed, ability to help humans, and even fantastical leaps and bounds.

But let’s look at these horses, from spectres to Black Bess, in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/horses-in-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Dogs in Folklore: Loyal Companions and Witches' Familiars

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 09:30:20 +0000

Britain is supposed to be a nation of animal lovers, especially when it comes to pet dogs. According to the PDSA, 29% of UK adults own a dog, which gives an estimated population of 10.6 million pet dogs.

While 29% isn't a majority, the number of pet dogs in the country has increased over the last few years. So it seems only fair to see how this popular animal appears in folklore. After all, I've already covered their eternal nemesis, the cat!

In folklore, they sometimes appear as death omens—dogs persistently howling meant death was imminent. And they also appear in mythology, with Cerberus the three-headed dog guarding the Greek Underworld, and Anubis, the jackal-headed god presiding over the weighing of the heart ceremony in ancient Egypt. Let's not forget Sirius, in the Canis Major constellation, literally known as the dog star.

They take the form of spectral hounds, loyal companions, witches' familiars, and even give their name to a hangover cure. So let's explore the folklore of dogs in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/dogs-in-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Deer Folklore: Omens, Cults, and White Stag Legends

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 09:30:12 +0000

Human relationships with deer stretch back thousands of years. Archaeologists uncovered red deer skulls at Star Carr in Yorkshire which are 11,000 years old. No one knows what they were used for, if they had practical applications or were used in shamanic rituals.

But it suggests some kind of relationship between humans and deer, even if we're not sure what that involved. Deer appear in mythology all over the world, although this post will focus on the British Isles.

From shapeshifting deer to fairy cattle, deer cults to white stag legends, let's explore the appearance of the deer in British and Irish folklore and legend in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/deer-folklore/

Deer Woman article by Carolyn Dunn: https://endicottstudio.typepad.com/articleslist/deer-woman-and-the-living-myth-of-dreamtime-by-carolyn-dunn.html

National Leprechaun Museum podcast episode with Mark and Tracey Norman: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3mK66mxwarcOlIiKZBorQ7

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

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Listener Supernatural Experiences Part 3 of 3

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 09:30:12 +0000

I’ve been sharing real-life supernatural experiences from Fabulous Folklore listeners for the past couple of weeks. It’s been brilliant to see how vulnerable people have been in sharing these, since talking about such things can often earn you a strong amount of scorn.

But I really think it’s important to preserve these stories, a) to honour the experience itself, and b) to create a space where people who’ve had them can feel less alone.

It’s also been very fascinating to see how the experiences are rarely outright terrifying, but instead are just unsettling enough to disrupt normality.

So let’s hear about the last lot of these experiences in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/supernatural-experiences-3/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Scottish Folk Magic with Scott Richardson-Reed

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 10:30:12 +0000

In this episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat to Scott Richardson-Read of Cailleach's Herbarium about Scottish cosmology, discuss the differences between Scottish folk magic and folk magic practices elsewhere in the British Isles, and talk about the value of ancestor work in Scottish folk magic.

Scott is an independent researcher, published author, and activist with several master’s degrees in research, social sciences, and psychology. His academic background helps him explore Scottish folklore, customs, and traditions, uncovering their relevance today while grounding them in a rich historical and social context. His next book is launching in Spring 2025 “Mill Dust and Dreaming Bread” exploring these topics in a new way.

Combining academic research, archival work, and hands-on experience, Scott explores the historical roots of Scottish folk practices. With his "in the world, off the page" approach, he encourages people to take an active role in preserving Scotland’s cultural and intangible heritage. Through his work with the Woven Land Network, Scott curates events that bring together experts in Scottish folk magic, music, storytelling, and traditional practices, making these traditions meaningful and accessible today.

Scott’s passion for activism is shaped by a lifelong commitment to social justice. He works alongside minority groups, helping to influence legislation, policy, and practice in Scotland, and advocates for marginalised communities to ensure their voices are heard where it matters most.

Find Scott's website: https://cailleachs-herbarium.com/

Find Scott on IG @cailleachsherbarium

Support Mill Dust & Dreaming Bread - Reviving Scottish Folk Belief on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/from-dust-to-light/mill-dust-and-dreaming-bread-reviving-scottish-folk-belief

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Listener Supernatural Experiences Part 2 of 3

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 08:30:12 +0000

If you listened the real-life supernatural experiences I shared last week, you would have noticed two things. First, not all experiences are terrifying. Some can be affirming, or so regular as to have become commonplace. Second, they don’t need to be full-on light and sound shows to deeply affect someone.

We’re likely to pay attention to a poltergeist dismantling a room or notice a crisis apparition of a loved one. But we might also overlook the humble, subtle experiences that are part of the fabric of everyday life. They can still be unnerving, but they can also be oddly comforting.

Let’s hear about some more of these experiences in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/supernatural-experiences-2/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Listener Supernatural Experiences Part 1 of 3

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 08:30:11 +0000

If you believe the movies, supernatural experiences are big, brash and bold - or they’re just so bone-chillingly terrifying that you’re completely unable to do anything. I’m looking at you, 1963 version of The Haunting.

But in reality? They can be far more subtle - but no less bizarre, scary, or unsettling, getting under your skin and taking root as a peek into another world that overlaps with our own. Let’s hear about some of these experiences in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/supernatural-experiences-1/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Tarot, Love Magic and Voodoo with Lilith Dorsey

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 16:00:13 +0000

In this episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat to the legend that is Lilith Dorsey! We talk about tarot, some New Orleans lore, and why the city has such an unusual reputation, and why people are so drawn to love magic!

Lilith Dorsey M.A., hails from many magickal traditions, including Afro-Caribbean, Celtic, and Indigenous American spirituality. Their traditional education focused on Plant Science, Anthropology, and Film at the University of R.I, New York University, and the University of London, and their magickal training includes numerous initiations in Santeria also known as Lucumi, Haitian Vodoun, and New Orleans Voodoo. Lilith Dorsey is also a Voodoo Priestess and in that capacity has been doing successful magick since 1991 for patrons, is editor/publisher of Oshun-African Magickal Quarterly, filmmaker of the experimental documentary Bodies of Water :Voodoo Identity and Tranceformation,’ co-host of The Pop Occulture Show on youtube, and choreographer/performer for jazz legend Dr. John’s “Night Tripper” Voodoo Show.

They have long been committed to providing accurate and respectful information about the African Traditional Religions and are proud to be a published Black author of such titles as 55 Ways to Connect to Goddess, The African-American Ritual Cookbook, Love Magic, Orishas, Goddesses and Voodoo Queens, Water Magic, the newly re-released Voodoo and African Traditional Religion and Tarot Every Witch Way now available.

Buy Tarot Every Witch Way: Unlock the Power of the Cards for Spellcraft & Magic: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9780738776323

Find Lilith online at: https://lilithdorsey.com/

Catch up with Lilith on Instagram at: https://instagram.com/lilithdorsey

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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The Tedworth Drummer: Haunting or Hoax?

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 08:30:10 +0000

Certain cases loom large in the history of the supernatural, especially in relation to the investigation of the supernatural. The 20th century provided the likes of the Enfield Poltergeist. Even Willington Mill in the 19th century offered an earlier opportunity. Yet the Tedworth Drummer offered an opportunity to explore a haunting in the 17th century.

Our investigator was Joseph Glanvill, a Somerset vicar who juggled his religious belief in ghosts and witches with a passion for science. He defended the reality of the supernatural, and supported his defence with accounts of ghosts, witchcraft, and the devil. He even investigated such cases himself.

The Tedworth Drummer has become his most famous account…but what was it all about? Let’s find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/the-tedworth-drummer/

Tell me your supernatural encounter: https://forms.gle/hpcscensrDzVcKLk7

Mutual Aid Disaster Relief: https://mutualaiddisasterrelief.org/

Grassroots Aid Partnership: https://www.grassrootsaidpartnership.org/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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The Mysterious Haunting at Willington Mill, Wallsend

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 08:30:10 +0000

We might think of ghost hunts or investigations as a predominantly 20th and 21st-century endeavour. Yet the legend of the ghosts at Willington Mill shows that people were trying to unearth the supernatural even in the first half of the 19th century.

Spectral figures and unearthly noises plagued those living at the miller's house, with witnesses even seeing the ghosts from the street. Despite the fascinating tales of haunting reported by people who visited the house, it's the story of the midnight vigil that has become more famous.

So let's explore the tale of the haunting of Willington Mill, and try to sort some fact from fiction in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/willington-mill/

Tell me your supernatural encounter: https://forms.gle/hpcscensrDzVcKLk7

Book tickets for my Ghosts of Newcastle talk: https://www.newcastlecastle.co.uk/tickets-booking

Snag your place at my online Graveyard Lore talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cemetery-lore-grave-markers-folk-cures-and-graveyard-ghosts-tickets-1000779637837?aff=oddtdtcreator

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Lore of the Aran Islands: Saints, Ancient Forts, and Sweaters

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 08:30:06 +0000

The Aran Islands lie in Galway Bay off the west coast of Ireland. They're made up of Inis Mór, Inis Mearn, and Inis Oírr. People have likely lived on the islands since c. 3000 BCE. Late Bronze Age and Iron Age ruins scatter the islands, alongside old churches and holy wells.

After the era of saints and pilgrimages, Elizabeth I unlawfully seized ownership of the islands in 1565 and in 1588, she sold them to the Lynch family. Oliver Cromwell took them back and passed them to his supporters. Absentee English landlords owned the islands until 1922.

They boast such fascinating sights as the Wormhole, believed to be the home of a giant serpent, and the remains of the ancient forts. The Aran Islands are also the home of the world-famous Aran sweaters!

Let's find out more about saints, ancient forts, and knitting lore in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/aran-islands-folklore/

Tell me your supernatural encounter: https://forms.gle/hpcscensrDzVcKLk7

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Invitation to listeners! Bring out your supernatural encounters

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 14:56:06 +0000

Hello, friends!

Our October theme for the podcast is (unsurprisingly) the supernatural. So I wanted to dedicate at least one episode to people's supernatural encounters, rather than focusing on what's in books or newspapers!

You can remain anonymous if you want, but if you choose to submit a story, I will need to know a few things about the encounter, like when and where it happened.

It doesn't have to just be ghosts, either! It can be anything you deem to be supernatural. I'll be reading the most fascinating or strangest ones on the podcast!

I'm not going to debunk anything, either - we're simply sharing the supernatural or weird things that have happened to us!

Click here to tell me about your encounter: https://forms.gle/hpcscensrDzVcKLk7

Legends of Bardsey Island: Avalon or the Isle of 20,000 Saints?

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 08:30:08 +0000

Ynys Enlli in north Wales is also known as Bardsey Island, and it's been a pilgrimage destination since the 6th century.

The island lies at the north end of Cardigan Bay, just off the tip of the Llŷn peninsula. Archaeological evidence shows human habitation on the island for at least four millennia.

But where does it get its mysterious name of the Isle of 20,000 Saints? How is it linked with King Arthur and Merlin? And could it be the true location of Avalon? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/bardsey-island/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Exploring Baba Yaga and Her Literary Legacy with Kris Spisak

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 09:30:08 +0000

Kris Spisak earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the College of William and Mary, her master of liberal arts from the University of Richmond, and did further graduate work in fiction through the University of Iowa. She taught college writing courses at schools including Virginia Commonwealth University before stepping away from the classroom to pursue her own writing work. Kris has been spotlighted in Writer’s Digest and HuffPost for her work as an editor and author dedicated to helping other writers. She is the author of the novel The Baba Yaga Mask and the forthcoming work Becoming Baba Yaga, which we'll be talking about. Kris fully believes that well-written words and well-told stories have always changed the world and that they will continue to.

In this chat, we'll talk about Baba Yaga's towering presence in folklore, some of the legends in which she appears, and why she's still so important here in the 21st Century.

Pre-order Becoming Baba Yaga: https://amzn.to/3XsNTya

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Islay Folklore: Giants, Fairy Changelings, and the Water Bull

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 08:30:14 +0000

Islay is an island to the west of Scotland, at the entrance to the Firth of Lorn. It's 25 miles north of Northern Ireland. Archaeological evidence shows people lived here from 8000 BCE, with evidence of Neolithic and Bronze Age tombs and burial sites.

Columba and his missionaries brought Christianity to the island, which Norse raiders also adopted once they settled. Islay lay on the route between Ireland and Scandinavia, making it an easy stop for Vikings. The Hebrides only joined Scotland in 1266.

It's famous for distilling and farming, although tourism provides extra income. But what folklore does Islay have? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/islay-folklore/

Cemetery Lore Talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cemetery-lore-grave-markers-folk-cures-and-graveyard-ghosts-tickets-1000779637837?aff=oddtdtcreator

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

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Lindisfarne Legends: St Cuthbert, Ghostly Monks and the Petting Stone

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 08:30:05 +0000

Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, lies some 11.5 miles to the south east of Berwick-upon-Tweed, just off the coast of Northumberland. Only accessible at low tide, the island still possesses a mystical air, no doubt from its time as a Christian pilgrimage site.

Probably most famous as the production centre of the Lindisfarne Gospels, or the island that gave the folk-rock band Lindisfarne their name, the island was also the centre of the Cult of St Cuthbert in the Middle Ages.

But what folklore or legends has the island accrued over the years? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/lindisfarne-legends/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Legends of Mythical Birds: From the Phoenix to the Firebird

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 08:30:09 +0000

It's easy for mythical birds to capture the imagination, whether it's the phoenix rising from the ashes, or Aethon eternally pecking Prometheus' liver. And let's not forget Odin with his ravens, Huginn and Muninn, or Memory and Thought. In Norse myth, they travelled out into the world and flew back to Odin to report on what was happening.

Not all mythical birds are benevolent, or even particularly well-known, as we shall see. Let's explore the phoenix, the Firebird, the martlet, and the Nachtkrapp in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/mythical-birds/

'The Fire Bird - Russian Fairy Tales' by Irina Zheleznova: https://archive.org/details/the-fire-bird

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Folklore of Ornamental Birds: From Holy Birds to Death Omens

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 19:36:00 +0000

Humans have found a whole range of uses for birds over the centuries. Hunting with them, keeping them for their song, using them for food or divination - and because some of them are uncommonly pretty.

Look at the magnificent peacock with its elaborate tail, or the sweet little goldfinch with its black and red mask. Even the humble dove is both provider of meat and gentle garden presence in its dovecote. In Devon, one tradition claimed the devil could take any form except a lamb or a dove.

In this article, we're going to focus on ornamental birds. So that's birds intended for purposes besides consumption. These include pet birds, and birds for breeding.

Let's find out more about the folklore of peafowl, partridges, doves, and finches in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/ornamental-birds/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Debunking Historic Building Myths with James Wright

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 10:28:27 +0000

James Wright (Triskele Heritage), is an award winning buildings archaeologist. He has two decades professional experience of ferreting around in people’s cellars, hunting through their attics and digging up their gardens. He hopes to find meaningful truths about how ordinary and extraordinary folk lived their lives in the mediaeval period.

James is the author of the popular Mediaeval Mythbusting Blog and his book Historic Building Mythbusting was released via The History Press in June 2024.

In this chat, we'll explore what buildings archaeology is, some popular myths about historic buildings, and what this can tell us about folklore.

James website: https://triskeleheritage.com/

Buy Historic Building Mythbusting: Uncovering Folklore, History and Archaeology: https://amzn.to/3LYWPGl

Find James on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpwarchaeology/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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The Folklore of Garden Birds: Blackbirds, Sparrows, Wrens & Robins

Sat, 17 Aug 2024 08:30:10 +0000

It's often easy to overlook what we see every day, or at least regularly. Perhaps that's why we overlook our humble garden birds in favour of majestic eagles or mischievous ravens as our favourite birds.

Yet the commonality of these small, yet often noisy, birds explains why there is a comparative dearth of folklore about them. Compared to other birds, there's a plethora to choose from. Death omens, cheeky tricksters in myth, and stars of nursery rhymes - these birds do it all!

Let's find out more about the folklore of blackbirds, sparrows, wrens, and robins in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/garden-birds/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

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Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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The Folklore of Birds of Prey: Companions and Competition

Sat, 10 Aug 2024 08:30:10 +0000

Birds of prey have an interesting relationship to humans, having been both competing predators and avian companions for leisure pursuits. They've provided omens through the practice of augury, or divination by flight pattern. They appear in heraldic badges or become associated with deities in mythology.

But they also have links with ordinary people who shared the landscape with these fascinating hunters. Who wouldn't be stunned by the speed of an osprey as it accelerates towards a lake, pulling free of the water with a huge fish in its talons? Or marvel at the flight prowess of a kestrel, hovering in mid-air even in the face of a gale?

Let's find out more about the folklore of red kites, falcons, hawks, buzzards, ospreys, and shrikes in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/birds-of-prey/

21st Century Ghosts, Morbid Anatomy class: https://www.morbidanatomy.org/classes/21st-century-ghosts-exploring-the-history-and-continuing-experience-of-ghost-stories-with-folklorist-icy-sedgwick

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Yokai and Japanese Folklore with Thersa Matsuura

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 09:30:06 +0000

Thersa Matsuura, an American author living in Japan, explores lesser-known aspects of Japanese culture, folklore, superstitions, and myths. Fluent in Japanese, she uses her research to write stories and for her podcast Uncanny Japan. She's also the author of The Book of Japanese Folklore, which explores a range of spirits, monsters, and yokai for Japanese lore.

In this chat, we talk about some specific yokai, discuss where people might have encountered these figures in popular media, and talk about what to do if you think you've encountered a yokai!

Thersa website: https://thersamatsuura.com/

The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth: https://amzn.to/46Fx3k4

Thersa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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The Folklore of Aquatic Birds of Cliffs, Lakes and Rivers

Sat, 03 Aug 2024 08:30:09 +0000

Few watery scenes are quite complete without birds in the picture. Ducks drifting across a country pond. Gulls wheeling in the sky above the beach, before they divebomb an unsuspecting tourist for their chips. Kingfishers flashing along a river, a bright dazzle of colour against the water.

They're so much a part of the scenery that aquatic birds have had a long relationship with humans. In some cases, that link has been much more literal. For example, some believed drowned seamen became gulls, so capturing a gull and keeping it on a ship brought bad luck.

But with a long relationship comes folklore. These birds predict the weather, foretell death, ward off intruders, or enjoy holy protection!

Let's find out more about the cormorant, curlew, duck, goose, kingfisher, and puffin in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/aquatic-birds/

RSVP for my Folklore of Magical Trees talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklore-of-magical-trees-tickets-912709648127?aff=erelexpmlt

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Sunderland Ghost Stories: Grey Ladies, Serial Killers and Poltergeists

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 08:30:10 +0000

Sunderland began life as three separate settlements on the River Wear. A fishing village called 'Soender-land', or land that is cut asunder' existed by 1100. By the 18th century, Sunderland had replaced Wearmouth, and that's why we still call it Sunderland now.

In the past, Sunderland has exported coal, lime, alum, ropes, glass, and pottery. Sunderland was the home of Pyrex and it was a major shipbuilding centre. What kind of folklore does this industrial centre have?

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/sunderland-ghost-stories/

RSVP for my Folklore of Magical Trees talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklore-of-magical-trees-tickets-912709648127?aff=erelexpmlt

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Witches and Witch Trials with Marion Gibson

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 08:30:06 +0000

Marion Gibson writes accurate, engaging books about witches and magic in history. She’s been interested in witches for over thirty years, since she read the words of women accused of witchcraft in Elizabethan England. Why were they accused of crimes they didn’t commit? And why did they confess? Marion’s books tell the stories of these women and the men accused alongside them, and she explores the wider history of witch trials, folklore, magical and pagan beliefs and things that go bump in the night.

We talk about her book, Witchcraft: A History in 13 Trials, some surprising moments from specific trials, how we often end up reading the witch trials through the lens of our own experience, and how we're perhaps not as far away from the paranoia of the witch trials as we might think we are.

Buy Witchcraft: A History in 13 Trials: https://amzn.to/4fbc3oV

Find Marion on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/witchesetcinsta

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Carlisle Legends: Ghosts, Secret Tunnels, and The Cursing Stone

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 08:30:06 +0000

Carlisle began life as Luguvalium, a Roman settlement that grew out of the fort on the site. It was the capital of an ancient British kingdom. Both Vikings and Saxons captured the city.

Over time, it took on strategic importance for its location near the Scottish border. But with so many clashes between the Scots and the English, not to mention the tensions caused by the Border Reivers, it's safe to say Carlisle has a tumultuous history.

And where you have history, you have legends! Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/carlisle-legends/

RSVP for my Folklore of Magical Trees talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklore-of-magical-trees-tickets-912709648127?aff=erelexpmlt

The Curse against the Reivers: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/features/2003/07/restoration/the_curse.shtml

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Devils, Cats, Tiny Streets & Witches: York Folklore At Its Best

Sat, 13 Jul 2024 08:30:06 +0000

While York is often considered one of England's most haunted cities, other strange and unusual tales lurk in its narrow snickleways.

There are stories of premature burial, printer's devils, cats that are either lucky or cursed, depending on your perspective, highwaymen, and an inevitable tale of witchcraft.

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/york-folklore/

RSVP for my Folklore of Magical Trees talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklore-of-magical-trees-tickets-912709648127?aff=erelexpmlt

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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The Dark Side of Sheffield Folklore: Spectres and River Spirits

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 08:30:05 +0000

There is much of the strange and haunting in Sheffield's folklore. Does that make it a haunted place?

There are stories of water gods in the River Don, demanding annual sacrifices, boggards in boggard lane, spectral visions of highwaymen, ghosts, and even Spring-Heeled Jack!

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/sheffield-folklore/

Spring-Heeled Jack blog post and episode: https://www.icysedgwick.com/spring-heeled-jack/

RSVP for my Folklore of Magical Trees talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklore-of-magical-trees-tickets-912709648127?aff=erelexpmlt

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Rue Folklore: Warding off Poison, Plague and Pestilence

Sat, 29 Jun 2024 08:30:06 +0000

Rue was cultivated in England for its medicinal use, having been introduced by the Romans! It appears in folk remedies to ward off evil spirits, poison, and plague, It also works in prophecy and hexes.

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/rue-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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St John's Wort: The Folk Magic of the Midsummer Plant

Sat, 22 Jun 2024 09:30:16 +0000

St John's Wort often flowers around Midsummer's Day, or the Feast of St John, hence its strong links with St John. It's one of the most important plants in European folk magic! It's used for protection, warding off nightmare, and even love divination.

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/st-johns-wort-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Romanian and Irish Fairy Lore with Daniela Simina

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 09:30:07 +0000

Daniela Simina is native of Romania, granddaughter of a Fairy Seer and medicine woman. She became acquainted with fairies through the local lore and folklore and through direct personal experience. Daniela teaches courses, classes, and workshops on various modalities of energetic rebalancing and of course, fairies. She is the author of Where Fairies Meet: Parallels between Irish and Romanian Fairy Traditions, A Fairy Path: The Memoir of a Young Fairy Seer in Training and Fairy Herbs for Fairy Magic- A Practical Guide to Fairy Herbalism. Daniela’s quest is to empower others through awakening to the enchantment of natural energies and connecting with the magic of Fairy.

In this chat, we talk about the similarities and differences between Romanian and Irish fairies, which Romanian fairy beings you might encounter, what to do if you meet one, and why we're less familiar with fairy lore from mainland Europe.

Buy Where Fairies Meet: Parallels between Irish and Romanian Fairy Traditions: https://amzn.to/4ehJ1na

Find Daniela on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanielaSiminaAuthorPage

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielasimina1/

Or at her blog: https://whispersinthetwilight.blogspot.com

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Lemon Balm Folklore: Sweet Smells & Folk Remedies

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 08:30:07 +0000

Lemon balm, or Melissa officinalis, is a member of the Lamiaceae family, along with mint, rosemary, marjoram, sage, basil, and lavender. Its popular name comes from the fact the leaves smell of lemon when crushed.

In contemporary witchcraft, balm makes a popular ingredient in incense used for healing, reducing grief, or boosting the memory. It's also a plant that appears in folk remedies and herbalism alike, without accruing much folklore as an actual plant.

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/lemon-balm-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Poppy Folklore: The Symbol of Sleep, Death, War, and…Love?

Sat, 08 Jun 2024 08:30:10 +0000

Poppy folklore isn't just full of Remembrance Sunday or sleep charms. It even has links to love and honouring the dead!

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/poppy-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Iris Folklore: Perfume, Remedies, and a Rainbow Goddess

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 08:30:10 +0000

The iris is one of those instantly recognisable flowers, showy and bright with its voluminous petals, able to add a splash of colour to any garden. They've been beloved by humans for millennia, apparently favoured as far back as ancient Egypt as a decorative device.

So how does the iris show up in folklore?

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/iris-folklore/

Book tickets for my in-person Midsummer talk: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/newcastlecastle/items/528797/calendar/2024/06/?full-items=yes

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Milan Legends of Dragons, Ghosts, and the Devil

Sat, 25 May 2024 08:30:08 +0000

As we've seen with these European cities, ancient settlements often produce a range of ghosts and legends. It's unsurprising, with so many people living out their lives in close proximity across such a span of time.

Milan's folkloric side includes traditional cuisine, dragons, ghostly women in black veils, and even a column defaced by the Devil - among other things.

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/milan-legends/

Book tickets for my Midsummer talk: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/newcastlecastle/items/528797/calendar/2024/06/?full-items=yes

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Animism and Animistic Witchcraft with Althaea Sebastiani

Mon, 20 May 2024 09:30:07 +0000

Althaea Sebastiani is a spiritworker and religious educator whose work focuses on helping people navigate the realities of deep spiritual practice. Their work is punctuated by strong emphasis on doing the work and encourages learning through direct experience.

A spirit-led witch with nearly 30 years’ experience, their personal practice is land-based and devotional, focused on being responsive to the spirits of the land wherever their travels take them and doing right by the Gods Who have called them into Their service.

In this chat we explore what animism is, how it relates to witchcraft, whether the gods from Earth would show up on other planets, and why the 'craft' part of witchcraft is so important!

Find Althaea online: https://www.ladyalthaea.com/

Buy Alive with Spirits: https://amzn.to/4alH1qZ

Sign up to Herbaria, the herbalism community by Rowan + Sage: https://school.rowanandsage.com/courses/herbaria?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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What was the Dancing Plague of 1518 in Strasbourg?

Sat, 18 May 2024 08:30:07 +0000

When it comes to plague outbreaks in Europe, your mind probably doesn't immediately jump to a so-called dancing plague. Yet that's precisely what seemed to grip Strasbourg, France in the summer of 1518. Townspeople started dancing, seemingly against their will, and couldn't stop for almost a month.

Hundreds died of exhaustion, with contemporary commentators blaming the wrath of St Vitus. More recently, people have suspected ergot poisoning, religious fervour, or mass psychogenic illness.

So what exactly happened, and how does it relate to folklore? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/dancing-plague/

Book tickets for my Midsummer talk: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/newcastlecastle/items/528797/calendar/2024/06/?full-items=yes

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Pacific Legends and Folklore with Kamuela Kaneshiro

Sun, 12 May 2024 19:00:10 +0000

As May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I'm pleased to introduce you to Kamuela Kaneshiro, who was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and is host of the Legends from the Pacific podcast.

Legends from the Pacific utilises Kamu’s cultural knowledge, and television/film background to craft stories of people, beliefs, and traditions to help promote Pacific cultures. He is also a descendant of the Hawaiian Chief Ka'iana.

Kamu obtained a BA & MA in Communication from Hawaii Pacific University, studied at the University of Hertfordshire, and has appeared multiple times at San Diego Comic-Con as an invited professional panellist. He's lectured on film, television, and Batman, and wrote the “I Didn't Mean to” series, and “Genre Analysis: The Gangster, The Evolved Detective, and The Dark Knight”. He is also a magician member of the Magic Castle.

We get into some Hawaiian legend, meet Samoa's goddess of bats, and talk about how popular culture can and does meet a cultural need for gods - even when people don't realise that's what they're looking for!

Find Legends from the Pacific here: https://legendsfromthepacific.com/

Get your bonus episode here: https://legendsfromthepacific.com/gift

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Vienna Legends: Mozart, Elisabeth Bathory & Restless Ghosts

Sat, 11 May 2024 08:30:10 +0000

Austrian capital Vienna has a long history, dating back to the 1st century CE Roman military camp of Vindobona. It's been home to some pretty big names over the centuries. Mozart, Beethoven, Sigmund Freud, Gustav Klimt, Hedy Lamarr, Marie Antoinette and Erwin Schrödinger, among many others, have all lived in the city.

Yet it's also got a darker side. Its vast Central Cemetery is a testament to the Viennese fascination with death. Empress Elisabeth of Austria, nicknamed Sissi, apparently had a fascination with the supernatural, and some say she still roams the hallways of the Hofburg palace.

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/vienna-legends/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Helsinki Legends: Haunted Theatres and Restless Ghosts

Sat, 04 May 2024 08:30:11 +0000

Helsinki has a lengthy history, dating back to at least the Bronze Age. Parts of the city even stand on old cemeteries.

It's bound to have a few ghost stories and folklore, surely? Indeed it does! We're talking haunted theatres, headless ghosts, ghosts with habits, and Finnish epics.

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/helsinki-legends/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Meet Robin Hood, the Legendary Rebel of English Myth

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 08:30:14 +0000

Robin Hood is perhaps the most recognisable figure in English folklore, darting through legend in Sherwood Forest.

Yet discussions in the past tried to claim Robin as an ancient god, recast as a literary outlaw, or as one of the Good Folk, whether a local sprite or Robin Goodfellow himself.

How did these writers draw the conclusion that Robin Hood was anything other than a leading character in a series of medieval ballads?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/robin-hood-myths/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Who is Queen Mab? Queen of the Fairies in Folklore or in Literature?

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 08:30:12 +0000

The Queen of the Fairies is sometimes named Queen Mab, depending on the source material. She's also known as the Queen of Elfland, the Queen of Elphame, and Titania.

So who is Mab? Does she come from English folklore, or is Mab the name given by playwrights and poets to the Queen in folklore?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/queen-mab/

Fairy Queens: Meeting the Queens of the Otherworld by Morgan Daimler: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781785358333

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Elves in Germanic Folklore with Rose Aurora

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 08:30:06 +0000

For this month's episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I'm thrilled to bring you a chat with Rose Aurora!

Rose is a fairy seer & sorceress, specializing in Faery, Elf, and Troll-related issues & spiritual needs. She is honoured to be part of a spiritual lineage of Celtic origin, but she is also trained in other spiritual traditions including Trolldom, of which she is a certified apprentice of Johannes Gårdbäck. Rose is a professional spiritual worker, conducting readings, spellwork, scrying coaching, and ongoing mentorship in the magical arts. She has also presented at the 2024 Salem Witch Fest.

In this conversation, we chat about elves in Germanic folklore, the links between elves and fairies in wider folklore, and how our mental image of elves is often shaped by the work of Tolkien.

Buy Rose's talk on elves in Scandinavia lore here: https://www.salemwitchfest.com/product-page/in-the-mounds-of-the-stars-the-elves-in-scandinavian-lore-practice-myth

Find Rose at her website here: https://www.roseauroras.com/

Follow Rose on IG at: https://www.instagram.com/roseauroras/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Meet Herne the Hunter: Fact, Fiction, or Folklore?

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 08:30:12 +0000

To some, Herne the Hunter is a ghost associated with Windsor Great Park. He haunts the tree where he died, rattling his chains and raging against...well...something.

Elsewhere, Herne is portrayed as a demonic force tearing through the forest at speed, scooping up souls in the Wild Hunt. Some tales see him riding a coal-black horse with burning eyes. Others see him as a phantom stag that prefers to chase than be chased.

Is he simply an invention of Shakespeare, or does he have a basis in reality? And why do the legends about him vary so wildly?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/herne-the-hunter/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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King Arthur in Folklore: A Sleeping King Or A Giant?

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 08:30:09 +0000

Few figures loom as large in British legend as King Arthur. Noble king, fair-minded monarch, mighty warrior - Arthur ends up taking on all of these roles at various points, and often a few more besides.

How did ordinary people relate to him? How does he appear in folklore and the popular imagination outside of the world of the Arthurian stories?

Let's find out how Arthur appears in folk traditions in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/king-arthur-folklore/

What Is The King In The Mountain Folklore Trope? https://www.icysedgwick.com/king-in-the-mountain/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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The Folklore of Hill Figures: White Horses and Naked Giants

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 09:30:07 +0000

The hill figures of southern England are enigmatic artworks, standing out with their stark white lines against the green grass of their home slopes. They're mostly found on chalk hills, where the chalk provides the white outlines.

Countless figures have been lost. Yet four in particular remain famous even now, while a fifth is famous precisely since it no longer exists. Folklore naturally accrues to these figures as people seek to explain their presence in the landscape.

Let's find out what kind of folklore is attached to these hill figures in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-hill-figures/

Get tickets for my April Fool's Day: The Folklore of Pranks, Games and Japes talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/april-fools-day-the-folklore-of-pranks-games-and-japes-tickets-841370380457?aff=oddtdtcreator

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Folklore of Barrows: Tales of Fairies, Gods, Ghosts, & the Devil

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 09:30:11 +0000

Whether we're looking at barrows, cromlechs, or dolmens, ancient burial sites hold a certain fascination.

They're linked with all manner of supernatural beings, from giants to fairies, gods and ghosts, and naturally, the Devil.

Let's find out what kind of folklore is attached to these prehistoric grave sites in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-barrows/

Irish Pagan School: https://irishpaganschool.com/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

The Myth of Atlantis and Lemuria with Sian Ingham

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:30:07 +0000

For this month's episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I'm thrilled to bring you a chat with Sian Ingham!

Sian Ingham is a writer and editor, best known for writing We Don't Go Back: A Watcher's Guide to Folk Horror. Find their work at https://www.patreon.com/Room207Press, https://bsky.app/profile/parthenoid.bsky.social and https://www.room207press.com/.

In this interview, we're going to talk about myths of Atlantis and where they came from, the darker side of those myths, Madame Blavatksy, and the lost continent of Lemuria!

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Folklore of Stone Circles: Petrified Dancers and Countless Stones

Sat, 16 Mar 2024 09:30:05 +0000

Mention stone circles to many people, and they'll think of people gathering at Stonehenge to watch the sunrise. Or hulking megaliths looming out of the mist on a lonely moor, the sheep being careful to only graze outside the circle.

They're certainly evocative, if nothing else. As with the standing stones that we covered last week, we know very little about them. We don't know why our ancestors built them or how they used them. Naturally, legend rushes in to fill that vacuum. Or does it?

Let's take a look at the folklore of stone circles in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-stone-circles/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

The Folklore of Standing Stones, Megaliths, and Menhirs

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 09:30:07 +0000

There's something awesome yet eerie about encountering a standing stone in the landscape. Why is it there? Who put it there? And how did they put it there? The fact we can't often answer these questions helps add to their mystery.

That absence of knowledge creates a vacuum that folklore is only too happy to fill. Speculation runs rife with these stones.

Let's take a look at the folklore of some of these standing stones in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-standing-stones/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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The Folklore of Wells: Healing, Wishing, Divining, and Cursing

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 09:30:06 +0000

Archaeological evidence reveals a close relationship between people and the spiritual world back to the Bronze Age, often enacted through water. Springs often reveal ritual deposits, such as those found at the head of the Seine. It’s unsurprising that humans would continue this water-based relationship via wells.

For some scholars, wells had either a patron deity or a guardian spirit, which was later replaced by a saint or angel. For example, there is a suggestion that the Celtic water goddess Alauna became St Helen.

But wells took on multiple functions, used to heal, curse, make wishes, and even divine. And, of course, people used them as a water source.

Let's take a look at some of these wells across the British Isles in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-wells/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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The Folklore of Forest Protectors and Guardians

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 09:30:06 +0000

Forests are ambivalent places, both beautiful and tranquil, yet also dangerous to the unwary. They've always been a source of resources for people, which is either embraced or exploited.

As a result, there is a whole class of folklore involving forest protectors, spirits who guard the woods and all the animals within. These protectors ensure that humans never take more than they should, and keep the forest in balance.

Let's learn more about the legends of the Leshy, the Wood-Wives, and even pangolins as forest protectors in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/forest-protectors/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Fungi Folklore, Or the Mysterious Forest Fruit

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 09:30:07 +0000

Mushrooms have captured humanity's attention for thousands of years. But they still confuse us.

Mushrooms spring up overnight, many of them are dangerous if you confuse them for their safer cousins, and they have an array of fantastical names. Witness the Destroying Angel, Spit Devil, Satan's Bolete, Witches' Butter, and Death Cap.

Let's learn more about the folklore of fungi in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fungi-folklore/

Myths and Legends of the British Highwayman with the Last Tuesday Society: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-myths-and-legends-of-the-british-highwayman-icy-sedgwick-tickets-794055881517?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Legends of Love from Pakistan with Komal Salman

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 09:30:18 +0000

In this month's Valentine's Day-themed episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I'm thrilled to bring you a chat with Komal Salman!

Komal Salman is a creative professional and Founder at Folkloristan, where technology meets storytelling to preserve oral Pakistani heritage. With a background in media studies, Komal is also the Content Strategist at Atom Camp, a tech ed platform. A writer and an illustrator, her passion for history and folklore fuels her creative endeavours, leading to most of her work work being inspired by culture, myth, and magic.

In this interview, we're going to talk about romantic tales in Pakistan's folklore, enjoy a story about fairies, and chat about the different influences on stories in the region!

Check out the Folkloristan website: https://www.folkloristan.com/

Find Komal on Twitter: https://twitter.com/folkloristan

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

The Folklore of Woodland Trees: Alder, Birch & Blackthorn

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 10:30:09 +0000

Trees are some of humanity's best friends, providing oxygen, storing carbon, and even improving the soil where they grow.

Some are flashy and famous in folklore, like the oak or the hawthorn. Others are perhaps less well-known, but that doesn't mean they're any less important to folklore!

Let's learn more about alder, birch, and blackthorn in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/woodland-trees/

Enter the Fabulous Folklore Turns 5 Competition: https://forms.gle/F5vqPSNuMAzVYLin6

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Folklore of Woodland Plants: Cowslips, Forget-Me-Nots, Lily of the Valley, Primroses & Red Campion

Sat, 03 Feb 2024 09:30:06 +0000

Certain plants evoke particular areas, like grasslands, meadows, hedgerows, or gardens. Others are full of the mystery of the forest, splashing colour across the woodland floor. Bluebells are famous for turning ordinary woods into a stunning scene in late March until early May.

So in this post, we're going to look at the folklore of woodland plants. Yes, some of them grow in other places, but they are associated with woodlands on the British Isles.

Let's learn more about cowslips, forget-me-nots, lily of the valley, primroses, and red campion in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/woodland-plants/

Enter the Fabulous Folklore Turns 5 Competition: https://forms.gle/F5vqPSNuMAzVYLin6

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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The Ambiguous Nature of Fairies with Morgan Daimler

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 10:30:07 +0000

In this month's episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I'm thrilled to bring you a chat with Morgan Daimler!

Morgan is an independent folklorist who studies and writes about fairies in historic and modern folk belief. She has written a variety of books on the topic, as well as on Irish mythology, and is an amateur translator of old/middle Irish. Morgan has presented papers on fairies in folklore & fiction, fairies, gender, & sexuality, and fairies & witches for various universities and the Folklore Society.

In this chat, we talk about a range of different types of fairies, why fairies remain so popular, and what to do if you ever encounter a fairy!

Check out Morgan's book Fairies: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781782796503

Or 21st Century Fairy: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781803410463

Find Morgan on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Morgandaimler/ or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorganDaimler

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

The Ghosts of Culloden Moor: Lost Soldiers on the Battlefield

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 09:30:09 +0000

Culloden Moor is perhaps one of the saddest sites in the British Isles, the battlefield that played host to a massacre. It was also the last battle to take place on mainland Britain.

The Battle of Culloden took place on 16 April 1746. It marked the end of the Jacobite Rebellion. It's also apparently given rise to ghosts of its own, and contributes to local legends inspired by the battle.

Let's go and look and some of the legends in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/ghosts-of-culloden/

'Culloden' (1964): https://youtu.be/hAdlS2Hdw28?si=-3iprbSXNkhbA7VW

Mist on the moor: https://youtu.be/vcnErk55In8?si=VHoNFQq7XzIWXnxM

Enter the Fabulous Folklore Turns 5 Competition: https://forms.gle/F5vqPSNuMAzVYLin6

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Legends of Denbigh Moors: Ghosts, Snow and the Tylwyth Teg

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 09:30:11 +0000

The Denbigh Moors, or Mynydd Hiraethog, lie in north Wales. At its highest point, it's higher than Exmoor.

The moors are a wild, desolate place, home to various types of wildlife. Yet if you believe the tales, they're also a place of ghosts and the Tylwyth Teg. A Roman Centurion apparently stalks the moors, and a ruin slowly disintegrates into the landscape.

Let's go and look and some of the legends in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/denbigh-moors/

Enter the Fabulous Folklore Turns 5 Competition: https://forms.gle/F5vqPSNuMAzVYLin6

As the Light Returns: The Folklore of St Brigid's Day talk with Creswell Crags: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/as-the-light-returns-the-folklore-of-st-brigids-day-tickets-764409498387

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Exmoor Folklore: Witches, Ghosts, and Fantastic Beasts

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 09:30:05 +0000

The name 'Exmoor' conjures mental images of ponies, undulating moorland, and Lorna Doone, R D Blackmore's 1869 novel.

It crosses the Somerset and Devon border, hugging the north Devon coast, and takes its name from the River Exe.

A wild and beautiful place, designated a national park in 1954, Exmoor is home to a whole range of folklore.

Witches, ghosts, pixies, superstitions, and the famous Beast of Exmoor - the park features them all. Let's investigate some of these tales further in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/exmoor-folklore/

Enter the Fabulous Folklore Turns 5 Competition: https://forms.gle/F5vqPSNuMAzVYLin6

As the Light Returns: The Folklore of St Brigid's Day talk with Creswell Crags: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/as-the-light-returns-the-folklore-of-st-brigids-day-tickets-764409498387

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Newcastle's Town Moor: Fairs, Witches, and Common Land

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 09:30:09 +0000

If you say 'moor' to most people, they might think of Wuthering Heights, Dartmoor, or Bodmin.

You probably won't immediately think of the Town Moor that lies immediately north of Newcastle upon Tyne's city centre.

While it's not filled with ghost stories, fairy legends, or tales of the Devil creating local landmarks, the Town Moor does play a role in the folk history of the city. It has hosted regular fairs for centuries, been an execution site for witches, and even been home to a smallpox isolation hospital.

So what tales can this expanse of open land tell? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/newcastle-town-moor/

Enter the Fabulous Folklore Turns 5 Competition: https://forms.gle/F5vqPSNuMAzVYLin6

As the Light Returns: The Folklore of St Brigid's Day talk with Creswell Crags: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/as-the-light-returns-the-folklore-of-st-brigids-day-tickets-764409498387

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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50 Berkeley Square: The Most Haunted House in London

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 09:30:11 +0000

If I asked you to name "the most haunted house in London", you probably wouldn't pick Berkeley Square as your location.

Yet for almost a century, No. 50. Berkeley Square had quite the supernatural reputation.

It's part of the Grosvenor Estate in Mayfair, built in the mid-18th century by architect William Kent. Famous residents of the square have included Horace Walpole, Winston Churchill, William Pitt the Younger, Charles Rolls, the co-founder of Rolls Royce, and Harry Gordon Selfridge.

But was it actually haunted? Let's find out in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the blog post with the images and the references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/50-berkeley-square/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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A Welsh Christmas Story with Owen Staton

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 09:30:06 +0000

Merry Christmas Eve Eve! In honour of the festive season, it's my absolute pleasure to welcome Owen Staton of the Time Between Times podcast to Fabulous Folklore.

He's a master storyteller par excellence, and he's got a Welsh Christmas tale to share. So get comfy, settle in, and enjoy...

Nadolig llawen!

Find Owen on X: @Owensgriffiths or find his podcast for more storytelling on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TimebetweenTimes

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Herbalism & the Plant Path with Sarah Corbett

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 16:30:10 +0000

I’m thrilled to be speaking to Sarah Corbett from Rowan + Sage is this special extra edition of Fabulous Folklore Presents!

Sarah (she/her) is a Clinical Herbalist, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and traditional astrologer who is passionate about helping others come into relationship with the natural world. She is the founder of Rowan + Sage, where she shares handcrafted astrologically-aligned herbal products, works with clients in her clinical practice, and guides others on their plant path through educational programs and mentorship. Sarah’s work weaves together the old ways with the new to create powerful, evidence-based offerings that bring forth ancestral herbal wisdom with a touch of magic and mysticism.

In this chat, we talk about plant folklore, herbalism from a wider perspective than just what we might encounter in the west, and the seasonal cycles of gardening!

Check out the Rowan + Sage Winter Solstice sale using my affiliate link: https://school.rowanandsage.com/a/aff_scyd6gt2/external?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Use the code WINTERSOLSTICE23 to get 20% off of courses and workshops.

Find Sarah on IG at https://www.instagram.com/rowanandsage

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Tower of London Ghosts: From Anne Boleyn to the Phantom Bear

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 09:30:06 +0000

The Tower of London has been many things through its over 900 years of history. Royal palace, fortress, menagerie, armoury, treasury, Royal Mint, public record office, and now, a tourist attraction.

Given the sheer amount of death, torture, and violence associated with the building, ghosts are somewhat inevitable. The Lost Princes, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, and Sir Walter Raleigh are among the most notable.

It would be impossible to do all the ghosts justice in one episode. So let's investigate some of its best-known phantoms in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/tower-of-london-ghosts/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Norse Legends and Runes with Dr Thomas Birkett

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 11:30:08 +0000

This month, I've got the joy of introducing you to Dr Thomas Birkett, a lecturer in Old English and Old Norse at University College Cork, Ireland. He is the author of Reading the Runes and Legends of Norse Mythology.

He teaches courses on Norse myth, medieval literature, and Old English language at UCC, and occasionally takes time out to sail with the crew of a reconstructed Viking ship.

In this conversation, we chat about some Norse legends, the difficulties of trying to reconstruct a practice from the Norse myths, and why the Norse myths have survived thanks to their historical context!

Buy Legends of Norse Mythology: Enter a world of gods, giants, monsters and heroes at https://amzn.to/3RBwRwg (affiliate link).

Find Dr Birkett on X at @NorseinCork.

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore

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Two London Ghosts and Messages from Beyond the Grave

Sat, 09 Dec 2023 09:30:07 +0000

There's a particular branch of ghost stories that sees the dead appear to warn the living of their own impending death. They act as a form of death omen.

London has many such tales, but two of them caught my eye for different reasons. In one, a third party in a position to give aid sees the ghost. In the other, the dearly departed appears to their loved one to keep a promise.

Let's investigate these tales of the returning dead in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/two-london-ghosts/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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The Hammersmith Ghost: The 1803 Hoax That Went Wrong

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 09:30:09 +0000

Given the sheer age of London and the number of people that have passed through its gates over the centuries, it would be difficult to imagine it not being haunted. Though, as the tale of the Hammersmith Ghost will show, ghosts aren't always what they appear to be.

This tale takes us to Hammersmith, a rural area to the west of London on the River Thames. It marks the point where London meets the countryside.

December 1803 will be marked by sightings of a ghost, which will ultimately end in tragedy. Let's explore the tale of the Hammersmith Ghost in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/hammersmith-ghost/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Glastonbury Tor: The Ancient Entrance to the Fairy Otherworld

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 09:30:08 +0000

When it comes to hills and mountains in the British Isles, perhaps one hill feels more mystical than many others...and that's Glastonbury Tor. Standing some 158 m high, it's said to be a fairy hill, one of those curiously hollow hills in which fairies made them home.

Not just any fairies lived inside Glastonbury Tor - Gwyn ap Nudd, lord of the Otherworld, was believed to live inside it.

But what other legends might we discover about the Tor?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/glastonbury-tor/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Italian Folk Magic & Shamanism with Dr Angela Puca

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 15:00:09 +0000

This month, I've got the joy of introducing you to Dr Angela Puca, who holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in philosophy. In 2021, The University of Leeds awarded her a PhD in Religious Studies, which will soon be published with Brill.

Her research focuses on magic, witchcraft, Paganism, esotericism, shamanism, and related currents.

Author of several peer-reviewed publications and co-editor of the forthcoming ‘Pagan Religions in five Minutes’ for Equinox, she hopes to bridge the gap between academia and the communities of magic practitioners by delivering related scholarly content on her YouTube Channel and TikTok ‘Angela’s Symposium' - https://www.youtube.com/c/AngelasSymposium

Find Angela on Instagram and TikTok at @drangelapuca or on X at @AngelaPuca11.

In this interview, we chat about magic from an academic perspective, what Italian folk magic is, and the thorny debate about whether religion and magic are the same thing!

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Rescuing a Maiden: Dragon Legends on the Drachenfels

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 09:30:07 +0000

If we head to the Siebengeberge uplands in Germany, we'll find a hill named the Drachenfels near Königswinter. It stands at 321 m and the name translates as Dragon's Rock, named after a dragon that allegedly lived on its slopes.

Given we're in the Folklore of Mountains and Hills Month, let's investigate two legends associated with the dragon of the Drachenfels in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/drachenfels-dragons/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Fairy Legends of the Bannau Brycheiniog

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 09:30:07 +0000

We're off to the gorgeous surroundings of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) this week for the Folklore of Mountains and Hills.

According to Marie Trevelyan, so it's unclear how common this belief was, dragons and flying serpents could be found among the Bannau Brycheiniog.

But legends of fairies are more common in these parts, so let's dig into them in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/Bannau-Brycheiniog/

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Folklore of the Cheviots: Ghosts, Fairies & Smugglers

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 09:30:08 +0000

There's something both primal and ancient about mountains. Beautiful and remote, they can provide a harsh and unforgiving environment for those who venture into their territory. Sometimes linked with sleeping giants, mountains are also a reminder of the Earth's formation, with rock contorted into fantastic shapes by immense geological pressures.

The Cheviot Hills run from Northumberland and across into the Scottish Borders. This is a region that has seen bloodshed through battles in 1388, 1402, and 1464. It's also an ancient and mostly untouched landscape, so it's hardly surprising you'd find legends of fairies and other supernatural folk up here.

Let's explore such legends in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/cheviots-folklore/

Read William Young's excellent guide to the Savage Spirits of the Cheviots here: https://inter-celtic.com/the-savage-spirits-of-the-cheviots/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Two Ghost Hunters in Conversation at Newcastle Castle

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 10:00:20 +0000

Happy Hallowe'en! For a special 'festive' bonus, I recorded this episode at Newcastle Castle. I'm chatting with my fellow Geordie ghosthunter, Rob Kirkup, the mastermind behind the How Haunted podcast.

We chat about how we got into ghost hunting, the weirdest things that have ever happened on an investigation, and our love for Newcastle's 12th-century Keep...

Find How Haunted on your podcast player of choice, or check out Rob's website at: https://how-haunted.com/

Find Rob on X at https://twitter.com/HowHauntedPod.

Or find out more about Newcastle Castle at: https://www.newcastlecastle.co.uk/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Magical October 4 - Welsh Magical Practice & Myth with Mhara Starling

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 08:30:23 +0000

To close this month-long series on Fabulous Folklore about magical practice and witchcraft in the 21st century, I'm chatting to Mhara Starling, a Welsh witch.

We discuss the difference between the Welsh and English witch trials, the magic present in the Welsh culture, the difficulty encountered by trying to create a "Celtic pantheon" of deities, and the beauty of Nos Calan Gaeaf!

Find Mhara on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/mhara_starling and on X at: https://twitter.com/MharaStarling

Buy Welsh Witchcraft: A Guide to the Spirits, Lore, and Magic of Wales: https://amzn.to/3Qxex6F (affiliate link)

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Explore Ancient & Medieval Britain with Amy Jeffs

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 08:30:12 +0000

This month, I've got the joy of introducing you to Amy Jeffs, the Somerset-based art historian and printmaker beyond the books Storyland and Wild. She's got expertise in medieval art and literature, and we chat about some of the myths in Britain's ancient past, whether such myths were seen as fact or fiction in earlier centuries, and the value of art to storytelling!

We did have a couple of issues with signal towards the beginning but rest assured we resolved it so don't worry if it sounds a bit Zoom-y at first!

Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain - https://amzn.to/48WqpX4 (affiliate link)

Wild: Tales from Early Medieval Britain - https://amzn.to/3M5cC74 (affiliate link)

Find Amy on Instagram at @amyjeffs_author or on X at @amy_historia.

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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The History of Folk Witchcraft with Amaya Rourke

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 08:30:06 +0000

As part of a month-long series on Fabulous Folklore about magical practice and witchcraft in the 21st century, I'm chatting to Amaya Rourke, an Ireland-based animist folk witch, diviner, and spirit worker.

We discuss folkloric witchcraft and how it relates to historical practices, the knowledge encoded in folklore and legends, the difference between witches and magicians, and the beauty of the natural world!

Find Amaya on Instagram at: https://instagram.com/amayarourke and on her website amayarourke.com

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Magical October 2 - Connecting with Nature with Emma Kathryn

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 08:30:14 +0000

As part of a month-long series on Fabulous Folklore about magical practice and witchcraft in the 21st century, I'm chatting to Emma Kathryn, a Nottinghamshire-based practitioner of non-Wiccan Traditional British Witchcraft, Obeah and Vodou.

We discuss the importance of the land to witchcraft and magical practices, why magical practices don't need to cost a lot of money, how witchcraft can be used as a tool of resistance, and why divination is a life skill!

Buy Witch Life at: https://amzn.to/46Cdf09 and Wild Witchcraft at: https://amzn.to/46GWn7R

Find Emma on X at: https://twitter.com/EK_WildWitch and on Instagram at: https://instagram.com/emmakathrynwildwitch

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Magical October 1 - Shetland Folk Magic & Tarot with Una Blyth

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 08:30:07 +0000

I'm kicking off a month-long series on Fabulous Folklore by talking to magical practitioners and witches in the 21st century. This week, I chat to Ùna Blyth, the Shetland-based folk magic practitioner and tarot reader.

We talk about what witchcraft and magically actually are, how the Shetland Islands offer different opportunities for folk magic, whether tarot is essential to witchcraft, and the misconceptions provoked by the glamourous makeover witchcraft has had in the Instagram Age!

We also discuss Ùna's forthcoming book, Muses No More: Portraits of Occult Women.

Find Ùna at https://www.unamariablyth.com/ or https://www.instagram.com/unaofthepeatbog.

Watch the interview on YouTube with captions: https://youtu.be/euu7P8Be4VE

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop

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Haunted Libraries: Footsteps and Shushes in the Stacks

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 08:30:11 +0000

Haunted libraries became famous with Ghostbusters. Our heroes investigate disturbances at the New York Public Library and encounter a ghost that tells them to shush.

Surprisingly, this doesn't seem to be so far off the mark if we look at tales of haunted libraries. What stories of ghosts are there from these book-loving spaces of calm?

Let's go ghost-hunting at the Lit & Phil in Newcastle, three libraries in Oxford, the Senate House Library, and Raglan Castle in Wales in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/haunted-libraries/

Ghosts of Senate House blog - https://ghostsofsenatehouse.blogspot.com/

Fancy dress and Halloween talk - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/from-guising-to-fancy-dress-the-lore-of-costumes-at-halloween-tickets-723296939617?aff=oddtdtcreator

Pre-recorded folklore talks: https://fabulousfolkloreschool.ezycourse.com/all-products?category=1035

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Haunted Prisons: Ghosts of Joliet, Shepton Mallet, and Barlinnie

Sat, 23 Sep 2023 08:30:12 +0000

While schools and universities boast urban legends alongside ghosts, prisons tend to be more like hospitals. You find tales of hauntings, but little in the way of folklore. It's probably due to the concentration of human life in one place - and the brutality that runs alongside it. Haunted prisons somehow don't seem so surprising.

Due to matters of space, our main focus is on just three prisons: Joliet Prison in Illinois, Shepton Mallet in Somerset, and Barlinnie Prison in Lanarkshire.

Let's dig into the newspapers and local history to find our tales of haunted prisons in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/haunted-prisons/

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://fabulousfolkloreschool.ezycourse.com/all-products?category=1035

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

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Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts with Delyth Badder and Mark Norman

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 08:30:13 +0000

This month, I've got the absolute pleasure of bringing back not one but two previous guests, since they've only gone and written a book together!

Yes, I mean Mark Norman and Dr Delyth Badder, co-authors of The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts.

So in this chat, we'll be talking about misconceptions about Welsh folklore, types of Welsh ghost, and what it's like co-writing a book! Enjoy...

Pre-order The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts from:

The Folklore Podcast Book Shop: http://www.thefolklorepodcast.com/store/p178/The_Folklore_of_Wales%3A_Ghosts_%28Hardback%29_PRE-ORDER.html

Calon Press: https://www.uwp.co.uk/book/the-folklore-of-wales-ghosts/

Bookshop.org: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-folklore-of-wales-ghosts-mark-norman/7513957?ean=9781915279507

Amazon: https://amzn.to/46ghBJu

Find Mark at https://twitter.com/folklorepod and Delyth at https://twitter.com/delythbadder

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Haunted Hospitals: Porters, Matrons, and Past Patients

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 08:30:09 +0000

If you go looking for ghost stories, you very quickly stumble across haunted hospitals. In fact, it was finding so many tales about Cardiff Royal Infirmary that prompted this post in the first place.

And not all of the stories are necessarily sad. The resident ghost at St Nicholas Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne is known as 'Matron', but she's also said to be friendly.

But we're going to go beyond the typical hospitals of the internet listicle. Let's dig into the newspapers and local history to find our tales of haunted hospitals in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/haunted-hospitals/

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://fabulousfolkloreschool.ezycourse.com/all-products?category=1035

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

University Folklore: Ghosts and Exam Failure Curses

Sat, 09 Sep 2023 08:30:07 +0000

In a lot of ways, it's hardly surprising there is a lot of university folklore. People are away from home, often for the first time, in a strange environment with a lot of new places. They're also often in old buildings where who only knows what has happened in the past.

So it's easy for unusual stories to emerge. Let's look at some university folklore, including myths about failing your exams in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/university-folklore/

The Uncanny podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m0010x7c

Order Rebel Folklore from Bookshop.org - https://bookshop.org/p/books/rebel-folklore-50-empowering-spirits-witches-and-misfits-from-baba-yaga-to-anansi-dk/19579447?ean=9780744084535

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://fabulousfolkloreschool.ezycourse.com/all-products?category=1035

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

School Folklore: Ghosts, Black Dogs, and Cautionary Tales

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 08:30:11 +0000

Think back to the schools you've attended. Did they have a Grey Lady in a disused corridor? A hell hound in a supply cupboard? A secret tunnel to a neighbouring building? The ghost of a former pupil, forever roaming the halls?

Many schools end up with urban legends and folklore attached to them. Yet these stories can be circulated both by students and by staff. They can be cautionary tales, or simply made up to frighten the younger children.

And it's fascinating how many of the stories I collected for this post involved: hazy details, a ghost in the building, or stories that changed over time. So let's explore some of the school-based folklore I collected in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/school-folklore/

[UK ONLY] Pre-order Rebel Folklore with a 20% discount with code REBEL20 until 6 September: https://www.waterstones.com/book/rebel-folklore/icy-sedgwick/melissa-jarram/9780241623008

Pre-order Rebel Folklore from Bookshop.org - https://bookshop.org/p/books/rebel-folklore-50-empowering-spirits-witches-and-misfits-from-baba-yaga-to-anansi-dk/19579447?ean=9780744084535

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://fabulousfolkloreschool.ezycourse.com/all-products?category=1035

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Belfast Ghost Stories: A Prison, a Market, and a Railway Station

Sat, 26 Aug 2023 08:30:10 +0000

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, and its site has been occupied since the Bronze Age. It's been a major port since the 19th century, and the Harland & Wolff shipyard built RMS Titanic here.

It's a city of much history, so it comes as no surprise that there are plenty of ghost stories linked with Belfast. Haunted prisons, railway stations, private homes, even roads - Belfast has the lot.

So let's explore some of these Belfast ghost stories - and a particularly weird experience at one of its Bronze Age sites - in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/belfast-ghost-stories/

Modern Fairy Sightings episode with Bethan Briggs-Miller: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-66-guest-host-takeover-2-icy-sedgwick-bethan-briggs/id1539352369?i=1000625051781

[UK ONLY] Pre-order Rebel Folklore with a 20% discount with code REBEL20 until 6 September: https://www.waterstones.com/book/rebel-folklore/icy-sedgwick/melissa-jarram/9780241623008

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://fabulousfolkloreschool.ezycourse.com/all-products?category=1035

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Cardiff Folklore: Ghosts, Tunnels, and Creatures in the Taff

Sat, 19 Aug 2023 08:30:14 +0000

Cardiff, capital of Wales, has a history that dates back some 6000 years. Naturally, it's amassed a lot of legends in all that time.

They include secret tunnels, the Beast of Leckwith, strange figures in Bute Park, phantom coaches, and a Royal Infirmary so haunted it needed an exorcism.

Let's explore some of Cardiff's ghost stories and other tales in this week's instalment of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/cardiff-folklore/

The White Witch Podcast interview episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fabulous-folklore/id1485567586?i=1000624658272

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://fabulousfolkloreschool.ezycourse.com/all-products?category=1035

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Fabulous Folklore Presents...The Trickster Archetype with Shepherd Siegel

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 09:30:08 +0000

In this 14th episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Dr Shepherd Siegel about the trickster archetype. Dr Siegel is the author of Tricking Power Into Performing Acts of Love: How Tricksters Through History Have Changed the World, an examination of the ways in which the trickster archetype appears across mythology and popular culture.

In this interview, we chat about what tricksters are in mythology, how you can recognise the archetype, why they're actually quite valuable (especially now) and why they're so well-suited to popular culture!

Shepherd's website: https://shepherdsiegel.com/

Tricking Power Into Performing Acts of Love: How Tricksters Through History Have Changed the World: https://bookshop.org/p/books/tricking-power-into-performing-acts-of-love-how-tricksters-through-history-have-changed-the-world-shepherd-siegel/17316974?ean=9781631957307

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

The Mysterious Miniature Coffins found on Edinburgh's Arthur's Seat

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 08:30:10 +0000

Arthur's Seat is the ancient, extinct volcano that lies just a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle. Myths cling to its peak like mist in the autumn, but one particular mystery is far from ancient.

In 1836, some boys hunting rabbits on the hill found a strange hoard of miniature coffins hidden in a small cave. Each held a rudimentary figure, clad in fabric, its eyes open as it stared across the ages.

Who did the figures represent? Why were they put there? And what theories have people come up with about this bizarre find? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/edinburgh-miniature-coffins/

Poisoner's Cabinet Burke & Hare episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/38MSs5JttIqHDiKtkB82Vp

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://fabulousfolkloreschool.ezycourse.com/all-products?category=1035

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Exploring the myths of the Charterhouse Plague Pit

Sat, 05 Aug 2023 08:30:09 +0000

The Charterhouse area of London has played host to a monastery, a School, and university buildings...as well as the Charterhouse Plague Pit.

Yet the plague pit gave rise to schoolyard rumours in the nearby school, with the dead seemingly still screaming in their grave. Ghost sightings of monks give the tranquil square a slightly different kind of appeal.

So what is the Charterhouse Plague Pit and why does this square seem so haunted? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/charterhouse-plague-pit/

Harvest folklore talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/when-the-reaper-comes-around-harvest-folklore-and-superstitions-tickets-676171576387?aff=oddtdtcreator

Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://fabulousfolkloreschool.ezycourse.com/all-products?category=1035

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Meet Minerva, Goddess of Intellect, Inspiration & the Arts

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 08:30:13 +0000

Minerva was the Roman goddess associated with all things intelligence, crafts-related, and military strategy. How did she combine so many disciplines? And how did people worship her?

Let's look at some of her myths and how people worshipped her in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/minerva-goddess-of-intellect/

Many Faces of Medusa Talk: https://fabulousfolkloreschool.ezycourse.com/course-detail/the-many-faces-of-medusa/3862

Harvest folklore talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/when-the-reaper-comes-around-harvest-folklore-and-superstitions-tickets-676171576387?aff=oddtdtcreator

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Mythology & Graphic Novels with Daniel Clarke

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 09:30:15 +0000

In this 13th episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Daniel Clarke, a Cape Town-based artist, illustrator and animator who has worked with BBC and Disney, among others.

He is the co-author of Kariba, a graphic novel with his brother James Clarke, which explores the Zimbabwean myth of Nyaminyami, the great river god of the Zambezi River.

In this interview, we chat about the building of modern mythology, who can tell which stories, and why AI might not be a great idea where art is concerned!

Daniel's website: https://danielclarkeart.com/

Daniel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/danielclarkeart/

Preorder Kariba here: https://www.catalystpress.org/young-adult-books/kariba/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Meet Vulcan, Roman God of Fire, Volcanoes and Blacksmiths

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 08:30:13 +0000

For some among you, Vulcan conjures mental images of Star Trek, with the name being that of the planet Spock calls home. For others, you'll know Vulcan as the Roman god of fire, volcanoes, and blacksmiths.

That's the incarnation of Vulcan we'll be looking at in this article. He's the equivalent of the Greek Hephaestus. His worship dates at least to the 8th century BCE, as far as records go, when the Romans built him a shrine.

He was an important god for the Romans, and like Silvanus and Juno, he was also important to ordinary people - not just the Roman state.

Let's look at some of his myths and how people worshipped him in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/vulcan-god-of-fire/

Harvest folklore talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/when-the-reaper-comes-around-harvest-folklore-and-superstitions-tickets-676171576387?aff=oddtdtcreator

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Meet Juno, Queen of the Gods and Protector of the Roman State

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 08:30:12 +0000

Depending on who you ask, Juno is either a NASA space probe studying Jupiter, or she's the Roman queen of the gods, wife of Jupiter, god of thunder.

As the Roman counterpart of Hera, the wife of Zeus in Greek mythology, she's often characterised as a jealous, bitter, and vindictive wife, often punishing the nymphs or goddesses with whom Jupiter had various dalliances.

That said, she does have some additional qualities that come with her absorption by the Roman state. These make Juno a much more interesting figure within Roman religion and daily life.

Let's go and meet Juno and find out explain why she was so popular in ancient Rome in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/juno-queen-of-the-gods/

Harvest folklore talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/when-the-reaper-comes-around-harvest-folklore-and-superstitions-tickets-676171576387?aff=oddtdtcreator

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Meet Silvanus, Roman god of the wild and nature

Sat, 08 Jul 2023 08:30:10 +0000

Roman mythology offers plenty of gods associated with the natural world - just look at Neptune and his dominion over the sea, or Luna's role as goddess of the moon. Yet it also offers a god of nature itself in the form of Silvanus.

But he was also so much more than a nature god.

Let's find out who Silvanus was and why he was so popular in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/silvanus-god/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

What Are Redcaps And Why Should You Avoid Their Lair?

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 08:30:14 +0000

For the unwary visitor to their lair, redcaps can be deeply dangerous creatures. These malevolent little folk are classified ‘goblins’ and that’s a word that’s rarely attached to anything positive. While they do appear in northern European folklore, they’re most often found in Border folklore.

In many ways, it’s hardly surprising. The Border region is a particularly blood-soaked part of the British Isles. The land was contested for centuries, though the redcaps appear in the castles in southern Scotland rather than northern England.

According to Sir Walter Scott, “Redcap is a popular appelation of that class of spirits which haunt old castles. Every ruined tower in the South of Scotland is supposed to have an inhabitant of this species”.

Since they’re so dangerous, let’s find out more about them in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/redcaps/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Fabulous Folklore Announcement!!

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 09:00:13 +0000

I have an announcement to make...

I have a folklore book coming out! Rebel Folklore: Empowering Tales of Spirits, Witches and Other Misfits from Anansi to Baba Yaga, illustrated by the fantastic Melissa Jarram, is due out in September.

In this episode, find out more about the book and hear one of the chapters (spoiler: it's Robin Hood)!

Preorder links are:

Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/p/books/rebel-folklore-50-empowering-spirits-witches-and-misfits-from-baba-yaga-to-anansi-dk/19579447?ean=9780744084535

Bookshop UK: https://geni.us/RebelFolkloreBookshop

Amazon: https://geni.us/RebelFolkloreAmazon

DK: https://www.dk.com/uk/book/9780241623008-rebel-folklore/

And for UK listeners, preorder at Waterstones.com from 26 June with the code REBEL20 to get 20% off!

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Love Fabulous Folklore and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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What is the legend of the Brinkburn Bells in Northumberland?

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 08:30:09 +0000

Church bells appear in a range of ways within folklore. Sometimes they continue to ring far beneath the waves in a church under the sea. Or perhaps their peeling in the darkness guided a lost traveller back to the path and away from danger. In some tales, they’re stolen by the Devil, or by mermaids.

Other times, they’re stolen by people. That’s the case in Northumbrian folklore, in which the Brinkburn Bells now ring in Durham Cathedral. That lies some 37 miles to the south of the original priory.

Or do they?

As with any legends, other versions exist that place the lost church bells in the nearby river Coquet. Perhaps the water carries the ringing of bells as it winds its way through Northumberland.

Either way, several tales of the Brinkburn Bells resound through local folklore. So let’s take a trip to the quiet spot in Northumberland and see what we can find in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/brinkburn-bells/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Tales of Northern Vampires: Ancient Revenants in the Borders and Cumbria

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 08:30:07 +0000

You might not expect to see northern vampires among the tales of Northumberland, the Borders and Cumbria. But they're there!

William de Newburgh included three stories of revenants at Berwick, Melrose and Alnwick in his Historia rerum Anglicarum, a collection of five volumes that told a history of England from 1066 to 1198.

And then there's the tale of the Vampire of Croglin Grange, made famous by Augustus Hare in 1896!

We'll explore all four stories of northern vampires in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/northern-vampires

The Vampire of Croglin Grange lecture: http://www.thefolklorepodcast.com/store/p113/The_Vampire_of_Croglin_Grange.html

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Are the Dancing Fairies of Northumbria Benign or Malevolent?

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 08:30:07 +0000

Tales of fairies exist all over the world, and there are hundreds to choose from right here in the British Isles. Yet they often have a particular 'flavour' or motif that lets you group them together. One of the common motifs of folk tales in the northeast of England is that of dancing fairies. It seems the fairies in these parts loved a good feast, or a sing-song after dark.

Many of the stories are benign, with fairies simply enjoying a good knees-up and largely leaving human witnesses alone. Others see the fairies try to invite humans to join them - many of whom are never seen again.

We'll explore some tales of Northumbrian fairies, including hunters that disappear into Fairyland, fairy hills, and a milkmaid with the power to see fairies in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/northern-dancing-fairies

The Modern Fairy Sightings Podcast: https://www.scarlettofthefae.com/the-modern-fairy-sightings-podcast/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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4 Amsterdam Ghost Stories from the City of Canals

Sat, 27 May 2023 08:30:10 +0000

Never mind canals, famous nightlife, and beautiful architecture - there is another side to the Dutch capital, one full of supernatural terrors and bizarre tales.

Think 13th-century magicians, fleeing families, ghostly monks, and vengeful sisters, and you’re partway there. Let’s go and meet them in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/amsterdam-ghost-stories

Harm in the Hedgerows talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/harm-in-the-hedgerows-the-folklore-of-poisonous-plants-tickets-626186419437?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Ghosts of the Garth talk tickets: https://www.newcastlecastle.co.uk/whats-on

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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4 Barcelona Ghost Stories from the Catalonian Capital

Sat, 20 May 2023 08:30:07 +0000

Barcelona lies on the Mediterranean Coast in Catalonia. It's a gorgeous city, famous for architect Antoni Gaudí, artist Joan Miró and writer Carlos Ruiz Zafón, among many others. Yet you'll find more than a few Barcelona ghost stories amid the winding streets and Gothic cathedrals.

Enjoy these 4 creepy ghost stories tales from Barcelona, featuring vengeful monks, poltergeists, and haunted Metro stations in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/barcelona-ghost-stories

Harm in the Hedgerows talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/harm-in-the-hedgerows-the-folklore-of-poisonous-plants-tickets-626186419437?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Ghosts of the Garth talk tickets: https://www.newcastlecastle.co.uk/whats-on

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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4 Paris Ghost Stories from the City of Light

Sat, 13 May 2023 08:30:07 +0000

The City of Light is an architectural and cultural wonder, packed with history, art, great food, and music. But there are also ghosts in Paris, loitering in the parks, wandering the boulevards, and sobbing on the bridges...

Enjoy these four ghost stories from Paris, featuring the Phantom of the Opera, a blood red omen of death, a Resistance conspirator, and a lonely musician in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://icysedgwick.com/paris-ghost-stories

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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3 creepy tales of the Devil, the helpful dead, and ghosts in Venice

Sat, 06 May 2023 08:30:05 +0000

The Jewel of the Adriatic is a gorgeous wonder, filled with masks, bridges, alleyways, and mystery. But there are also ghosts in Venice, often only seen in the brief half-light when daytime gives way to the night...

Enjoy these 3 creepy folk tales from Venice, featuring the Devil, the helpful dead, and even watery ghosts in Venice in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://icysedgwick.com/ghosts-in-venice

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Folklore of Thistles: Protection from Evil, Predicting Rain, and a Mental Boost

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 08:30:07 +0000

Thistles are a beautiful plant, and the beloved floral emblem of Scotland. But looks can be deceiving and thistles are considered an invasive plant.

According to the 1959 Weeds Act, landowners actually have a duty to stop thistles from spreading! But do they have any value in magical or medicinal terms?

Find out how thistles can banish evil, drive away gloomy thoughts, and protect your home in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/thistles-folklore/

Join Rowan + Sage's Herbaria to learn herbalism: https://school.rowanandsage.com/courses/herbaria?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Folklore of Daisies: Love Divination and Daisy Chains

Sat, 22 Apr 2023 08:30:10 +0000

Daisies are a familiar sight at this time of the year in the UK, popping up in lawns and on grass verges. Their proliferation, particularly on lawns, makes them an unwanted plant for some gardeners.

The flowers, or Bellis perennis, are also known as bairnwort, bruisewort, common daisy, English daisy, garden daisy, and wild daisy.

Yet they're more often associated with love, childhood, and divination! Let's look at the folklore behind daisy chains, pulling petals, and trampling on daisies in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/daisy-folklore/

Join Rowan + Sage's Herbaria to learn herbalism: https://school.rowanandsage.com/courses/herbaria?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Fabulous Folklore Presents...Queer as Folklore

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 09:30:11 +0000

In this 12th episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Sacha Coward, a queer historian who has been working in museums for the past 15 years. He is currently writing his first book about the queer history of mythology and folklore called Queer As Folklore.

In this interview, we chat about queer history, mermaids, and new ways to look at folklore!

Find Sacha on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/sacha_coward

Preorder Queer as Folklore here: https://unbound.com/books/queer-as-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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The Folklore of Nettles: Edible Stings, Returning Curses, and Warding off Evil

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 08:30:12 +0000

Most people at some point will have experienced the pain of a nettle sting. I once managed to fall hands-first from a fence into a whole patch of nettles. So it's hardly surprising that people consider them unwanted or unloved plants.

The stinging nettle, or common nettle (Urtica dioica) is Europe's most common nettle. Other names for the plant include burning weed, fire weed, and burning nettle.

It's (surprisingly) edible, and has a wealth of medicinal and magical lore in its spiky back pocket. Let's discover how you can use nettles to ward off witchcraft, boost your iron intake, and even dye fabric in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/nettles-folklore/

Join Rowan + Sage's Herbaria to learn herbalism: https://school.rowanandsage.com/courses/herbaria?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Celandine Folklore: A Remedy To Keep Away Witches?

Sat, 08 Apr 2023 08:30:11 +0000

Plants often become unwanted plants when they're especially prolific. Celandine is one such plant, quickly spreading to fill an area with its glossy green leaves and dizzyingly bright yellow flowers.

But celandine is also a confusing plant, since the two varieties with the same name are not related. The greater celandine Chelidonium majus is a member of the poppy family, while the lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria is in the buttercup family.

Still, it's worth exploring the folklore and legends of both varieties, especially since there is some overlap! Let's find out how we can use celandine to ward off witches, cure warts, and predict the weather in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/celandine-folklore/

Join Kitchen Herbcraft to learn herbalism: https://school.rowanandsage.com/courses/kitchenherbcraft?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Water, Water, Everywhere class for Miskatonic London: https://miskatonicinstitute.com/events/water-water-everywhere-british-sea-based-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

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Dandelions in Folklore: Making Wishes and Wetting the Bed

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 08:30:12 +0000

Dandelions are cheerful little splashes of colour in lawns and borders. They flower longer than any other plant, providing food for early pollinators. Sadly, not everyone loves them as much as I do. They're often considered weeds, and are somewhat unwanted plants.

But remember. Weeds are just flowers that grow where we don't necessarily want them to.

Still, they've grown up alongside us here in the British Isles so there's naturally plenty of folklore about these sunshine plants. Let's find out how we can use them to make wishes, cure warts, and predict the weather in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/dandelions-folklore/

Join Kitchen Herbcraft to learn herbalism: https://school.rowanandsage.com/courses/kitchenherbcraft?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Water, Water, Everywhere class for Miskatonic London: https://miskatonicinstitute.com/events/water-water-everywhere-british-sea-based-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Folklore, Food, and Fairytales with Rachel

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 13:00:13 +0000

In this 11th episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Rachel, the part-time storyteller and food lover behind the Folklore, Food and Fairytales podcast.

The Folklore, Food and Fairytales podcast features storytelling & folklore with connected recipes and food history and the importance of honouring the stories despite how tenuous the link to the recipes becomes. As well as the podcast Rachel has a (nearly) weekly newsletter featuring snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, remedies, herblore & the occasional cocktail.

In this interview, we chat about food history, food myths, and cheese pirates!

Find Rachel on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/FairytalesFood

Visit her blog for the podcast and Substack: https://hestiaskitchen.co.uk/

The book about cheese pirates that Rachel mentioned is A Cheesemonger’s History of The British Isles by Ned Palmer. The Italian stories mentioned are The Tale of Tales by Giambattista Basile.

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Let Them Eat Cake: Cakes to Bring Love and Ward Off Witches

Sat, 25 Mar 2023 09:30:12 +0000

According to the Venerable Bede, what we call February was called Sol-Monath by the ancient Britons. This translates to 'Month of Cakes' and the people gave cakes to the gods as offerings. I don't know about you, but that's a practice I could get behind.

It's worth bearing in mind that what we think of as 'cake' is not what people of earlier centuries had in mind. Often, early 'cake' was more like bread. The type of cake we eat now first emerges in its original form in the mid-17th century.

Yet that doesn't stop cake from accruing a whole range of folklore, helping people to ward off witches, find love, and celebrate important occasions. Let's explore this folklore in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/cake-folklore/

Water, Water, Everywhere class (Water in British Folklore) for Miskatonic London: https://miskatonicinstitute.com/events/water-water-everywhere-british-sea-based-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Why does a London pub hang hot cross buns in the bar?

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 09:30:08 +0000

The Widow's Son pub in Bromley-by-Bow is famous for its collection of hot cross buns above the bar. But why are they hanging there?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/hot-cross-buns/

Water, Water, Everywhere class for Miskatonic London: https://miskatonicinstitute.com/events/water-water-everywhere-british-sea-based-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Fruit Folklore: Healing Remedies, Nursery Rhymes, and Love Predictions!

Sat, 11 Mar 2023 09:30:13 +0000

We're told to eat fruit as part of our '5 a day' but people of years gone by had a range of uses! Apples could predict your future lover, while pomegranates kept witches at bay.

Let's discover some of these alternative uses for fruit in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fruit-folklore/

Water, Water, Everywhere class for Miskatonic London: https://miskatonicinstitute.com/events/water-water-everywhere-british-sea-based-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Bread Folklore: Medicine, Divination Tool, and Love Magnet!

Sat, 04 Mar 2023 09:30:07 +0000

Bread is a kitchen staple now, but it was once used to make predictions, bring love into your life, and cure sickness!

Let's discover some of these new uses for bread in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/bread-folklore/

Sin Eaters episode: https://pod.co/fabulous-folklore-with-icy/inviting-sin-eaters-to-a-funeral-fact-or-folklore

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Outerwear and Underwear: Folklore, Superstitions, and Lucky Pants

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 09:30:07 +0000

Coats are used to keep us warm and safe from the elements, while underwear can provide warmth and protection from our other clothes. For such intimate items, it's hardly surprising that we've got love divinations, superstitions, and lore associated with such undergarments.

And how do people develop traditions around lucky underwear?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/underwear-folklore/

Bernadette Banner video about corsets: https://youtu.be/rExJskBZcW0

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Folklore and Filmmaking with George Popov

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 09:30:08 +0000

In this 10th episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with George Popov, the Bulgarian born writer-director behind the folk horror films, 'Hex' and 'The Droving', and the 'Sideworld' documentary series.

These documentaries have seen George take on the role of narrator, guiding audiences through a trove of gothic ghost stories, folklore, mythology and lesser-known paranormal encounters.

In this interview, we chat about the resurgence of folklore, the link between folklore and filmmaking, and the importance of stories!

Find George on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheGeorgePopov

Learn more about Sideworld: https://www.rubiconfilms.co.uk/sideworld

Watch Sideworld: Damnation Village on Amazon Prime: https://amzn.to/3k5Fu4h

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

The Folklore of Hats, Gloves and Belts: Wear Your Own Luck

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 09:30:11 +0000

Hats and gloves end up subject to lots of folklore around dropping them, or putting them in the wrong place. But what does it all mean?

Which is a sign of luck, or that you'll invite misfortune?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/hats-gloves-folklore/

Water, Water, Everywhere class for Miskatonic London: https://miskatonicinstitute.com/events/water-water-everywhere-british-sea-based-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

The Folklore of Clothes: Defying Fairies, Finding Love, and Bringing Luck

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 09:30:08 +0000

The folklore of clothes contains ways to use the contents of your wardrobe to attract luck, discover who you'll marry, and defeat the fairies!

But how?

Let's discover some of these practices in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-clothes/

Centre for Folklore, Myth and Magic - https://www.folkloremythmagic.com/

The Folklore Library and Archive - https://www.folklorelibrary.com/home.html

Water, Water, Everywhere class for Miskatonic London: https://miskatonicinstitute.com/events/water-water-everywhere-british-sea-based-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

The Folklore of Footwear: Shoes, Boots & Stockings

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 09:30:07 +0000

Footwear is surprisingly common in folklore, with boots, shoes and stockings used for protection, divination, and medicine.

Burning shoes, pinning stockings, avoiding those who are barefoot—it's all in there.

Let's discover some of these practices in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/footwear-folklore/

Water, Water, Everywhere class for Miskatonic London: https://miskatonicinstitute.com/events/water-water-everywhere-british-sea-based-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Royal Witches: 15th Century Women Fall Foul of Political Shenanigans

Sat, 28 Jan 2023 09:30:09 +0000

When you think of witchcraft in earlier centuries, you probably think of stereotypically wizened women, huddled around cauldrons or casting curses. You probably wouldn't immediately think of royal witches.

Yet within the space of a single century, there were four women in England's royal family that fell prey to witchcraft accusations. Whether they actually practiced witchcraft is unknown, and quite honestly, it's unlikely they did. Rather, the accusations served a political purpose for those around them.

So who were Joan of Navarre, Eleanor Cobham, Jacquetta of Luxembourg, and Elizabeth Woodville?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/royal-witches/

Water, Water, Everywhere class for Miskatonic London: https://miskatonicinstitute.com/events/water-water-everywhere-british-sea-based-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Shapeshifting Witches: From Witch to Hare and Back Again

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 09:30:09 +0000

Shapeshifting witches appear in various British tales, in which witches appear as cats, hares or even hedgehogs. In other stories, they can magically transform humans into horses, to carry them to their meetings.

Let's look at shapeshifting witches in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

The Witch by Ronald Hutton - https://amzn.to/3ZE3483

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/shapeshifting-witches/

Water, Water, Everywhere class for Miskatonic London: https://miskatonicinstitute.com/events/water-water-everywhere-british-sea-based-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Shapeshifting Creatures of Folklore: Fairies, Selkies and Ghosts

Sat, 14 Jan 2023 13:30:09 +0000

Shapeshifting is an ancient ability that appears in cultures around the world across a vast period of time. It appears in an array of 'types' of shapeshifting. Some creatures can simply shift their form due to a natural ability. Gods often change their form (hello, Zeus), but they can also change the form of others. Demonic activity, sorcery, and being cursed might also lead to a person shifting their form.

Since this is such a vast and multifaceted topic, we'll focus on those creatures able to change their own shape at will, and as ever, I'll stick to the British Isles. Let's look at shapeshifting fairies and supernatural creatures in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/shapeshifting-creatures/

Water, Water, Everywhere class for Miskatonic London: https://miskatonicinstitute.com/events/water-water-everywhere-british-sea-based-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

The Folklore of Furniture: Beds, Tables and Chairs

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 09:30:13 +0000

Furniture tells us a lot about a period, people, or place. It's solid, so it can often be the only tangible artefact left. It often bears the impression of human activity through use, and they tell stories.

Items of furniture also carry their own traditions through the ways in which we use the things that we inherit. Quilts, that cosiest of furnishings, carry so much energy from one generation to the next.

But what about the folklore of furniture? Individual items of furniture, such as beds, chairs, and tables, also carry their own superstitions and rites. Let's explore them in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-furniture/

Water, Water, Everywhere class for Miskatonic London: https://miskatonicinstitute.com/events/water-water-everywhere-british-sea-based-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Welsh Death Omens with Dr Delyth Badder

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 09:30:13 +0000

In this 9th episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Dr Delyth Badder, a Welsh folklorist and antiquarian book collector based in Pontypridd in the south Wales valleys with a special interest in Welsh death omens and apparitions!

In this interview, we chat about death omens in Welsh folklore, the problems with sharing folklore on social media, exploring some eerie Welsh ghost stories, and the origins of the Mari Lwyd!

Find Delyth on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/delythbadder

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

A Darker Shade of Yule

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 10:15:01 +0000

This episode isn't strictly a Fabulous Folklore episode...it's actually the Eerie Essex Christmas special, but I appeared on it, along with Jo from the Modern Fairy Sightings Podcast!

So sit back with a mug of something warm, and enjoy ghost stories, tales of Christmas customs, and modern Santa encounters...

Eerie Essex Podcast - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1827712

The Modern Fairy Sightings Podcast - https://themodernfairysightingspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Knock Once for Yes episode - https://knockonceforyes.com/2022/12/13/episode-65-folklore-and-the-paranormal-with-icy-sedgwick/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

The Christmas Rose: The Myth and Magic of the Black Hellebore

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 09:30:10 +0000

One of the plants that bears a festive name actually has nothing to do with the period - and that's the Christmas Rose. It's actually a black hellebore, part of the buttercup family.

This is a plant accused of murdering Alexander the Great, believed to have cured insanity in ancient Greece, and used as a poison in warfare.

So what's the folklore associated with the black hellebore? How does it appear in mythology? Can you use them in magic? And what is their link with Christmas? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/christmas-rose/

The Podcast.co link and its search bar!: https://pod.co/fabulous-folklore-with-icy

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Amaya Rourke: https://www.empresscraft.com/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Conifers and Christmas: The Folklore of Pine, Spruce and Fir Trees

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 09:30:09 +0000

Few things are as synonymous with Christmas decorations than the tree itself. Pine, spruce and fir have all been used at some stage to form the centrepiece of the festive decorations.

But what exactly is the folklore associated with conifers? How do they appear in protective practices? Can you use them in magic? And what is their link with Christmas? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/conifers-folklore/

Weather folklore talk with Creswell Crags: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/red-sky-at-night-the-fascinating-world-of-weather-folklore-tickets-467289885627

'The Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present: The Spectres Haunting Newcastle's Streets' at Discovery Museum: https://discoverymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/the-ghosts-of-christmas-past-and-present-the-spectres-haunting-newcastles-streets

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

The Folklore of Ivy: Christmas, Divinations, and Magic

Sat, 03 Dec 2022 09:30:06 +0000

Many plants are linked with Christmas, including ivy. What is the folklore of this climbing plant? How is it used in magic? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-ivy/

Weather folklore talk with Creswell Crags: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/red-sky-at-night-the-fascinating-world-of-weather-folklore-tickets-467289885627

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Folklore of British Caves: Treasure, Cannibals, and Brownies

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 09:30:11 +0000

Treasure, stolen booty, graves, and other dark things lurk in the folklore of British caves. Let's go and explore a few legends in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-british-caves/

Weather folklore talk with Creswell Crags: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/red-sky-at-night-the-fascinating-world-of-weather-folklore-tickets-467289885627

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Folklore of Tunnels: Hidden Networks and Lost Pipers

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 09:30:10 +0000

Tunnels seem to accrue more folklore than most. Perhaps it's because we can't see where they go when we can only see the entrance. Or perhaps we've been so primed by fiction to believe tunnels must lead somewhere that we love the idea of a secret world beneath our feet.

Some tunnel legends are common and appear all over the British Isles, with people attempting to explore them and vanishing during the effort. Others are mere rumours, snaking beneath city centres to connect churches with other buildings.

But is there any truth to these stories? And why do we seem so attracted to legends of tunnels? Let's examine some examples of these stories to see how they work in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-tunnels/

Weather folklore talk with Creswell Crags: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/red-sky-at-night-the-fascinating-world-of-weather-folklore-tickets-467289885627

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Catacombs Folklore: Ghosts, Vampires & the Holy Grail

Sat, 12 Nov 2022 09:30:14 +0000

Catacombs are subterranean cemeteries, providing eternal rest to those who lie there. Yet they're also mysterious sites, sometimes open to tourists, and less often used for burial. Stretching away below ground as they do, it's easy to imagine what goes on away from prying eyes.

But what folklore is attached to these unique locations? Let's explore a handful and see what we find in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/catacombs-folklore/

See the Kensal Green Cemetery Catacombs: https://youtu.be/tskT_ylMorQ

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Wizard's Cave or Smuggler's Cave: Treasure in Tynemouth!

Sat, 05 Nov 2022 09:30:06 +0000

Legends tell of treasure beneath Tynemouth Castle & Priory. Did Walter the Bold really find the Wizard's Cave, or does it lie there still? Or was the cave the haunt of smugglers?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/wizards-cave/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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4 Weird Ghost Stories Direct From Real Life

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 08:30:07 +0000

These four weird ghost stories come directly from my own experience. I can't say if they happened, or I just imagined them, but listen with an open mind...

Happy Halloween!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/weird-ghost-stories

Read 'The Foundling' short story: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fridayflash-foundling/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Ghosts of Latin America with Mario Gongora

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 13:30:10 +0000

In this eighth episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Mario Góngora, professional voiceover talent and host of the podcast, “Yes, This Happened,” a paranormal show detailing supernatural accounts from real people who swear that what they experienced really happened.

These stories originate and are collected from the Caribbean, Mexico, and all of Latin America. Expect some ghostly goings-on and tales of the unusual!

Find “Yes, This Happened” here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yes-this-happened-esto-si-ocurrio/id1638420411

Visit Agua Media: https://www.aguamedia.com/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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How does the severed head appear in folklore?

Sat, 22 Oct 2022 08:30:11 +0000

The severed head is a common motif in horror films. But aside from the obvious examples, like Perseus and Medusa, or the head of Bran in Welsh legend, how does the severed head—and indeed the Headless Horseman—appear in folklore?

Let’s find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

CW: Discussion of execution.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/severed-head/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Frances Larson’s Severed: A History of Heads Lost and Heads Found.

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Just Hanging Around: The Gallows in English Folklore

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 08:30:07 +0000

The gallows loom large in the historical imagination. Indeed, it's quite the staple in many Hammer horror films, emerging from the mist as a crow caws off-screen. But how does it appear in the popular imagination of medicinal cures and folk magic?

Let’s explore the folklore of the English gallows in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

CW: Discussion of hanging and execution.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/the-gallows-in-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Fabulous Folklore Helen Nde, talking about Mythological Africans!

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 13:00:07 +0000

In this seventh episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Helen Nde, Cameroonian-born researcher, writer and artist and curator of the Mythological Africans platform!

In this interview, we chat about African folklore, the importance of mythology and storytelling, and Helen's new Kickstarter!

Find Mythological Africans on Twitter here: https://www.twitter.com/MythicAfricans

Support the Kickstarter for The Runaway Princess and Other Stories: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/helennde/the-runaway-princess-and-other-stories?ref=user_menu

Visit the Mythological Africans website: https://www.mythologicalafricans.com/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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Avoid disaster in the family with these death superstitions

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 08:30:10 +0000

Death superstitions provide a common theme throughout folklore. It’s hardly surprising. Before the advent of modern medicine and health and safety, communities may have felt more at the mercy of life’s whims. Following superstitions gives an element of control.

Indeed, many of them also have mundane roots. Hanging a dish cloth over a door knob meant there would be a death in the family. That said, this could stem from the tradition of tying crape to doorknobs to let people know the household was in mourning.

So let’s explore the world of death superstitions in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/death-superstitions/

Why do so many people fear the number 13? - https://www.icysedgwick.com/number-13/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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"I Can Feel It In My Bones": Skeletons in Folklore

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 08:30:09 +0000

Skeletons are a common costume choice at Halloween. But they’re the ultimate symbol of death. Let's be honest, if I see a skeleton, then I know I'm looking at a dead body.

So let’s explore the folklore of skeletons, and how they appear in art, in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

CW: Discussion of skeletons and human remains.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/skeletons-in-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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The Folklore of Seaside Plants: From Gorse to Mallow

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 08:30:12 +0000

Seaside plants have to be tough to survive in their salty, windy conditions.

Learn the tales associated with a collection of coastal plants in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/seaside-plants-folklore/

Learn Kitchen Herbalism with Rowan + Sage: https://school.rowanandsage.com/courses/kitchenherbcraft?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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Lighthouse Legends : Missing Keepers, Storms and Ghosts

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 08:30:12 +0000

Lighthouse legends cling to these odd buildings around the British Isles. And lighthouses ARE odd places.

Learn the tales associated with lighthouses in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/lighthouse-legends/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Grace Darling: The Victorian Folk Hero of Northumberland

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 08:30:11 +0000

Grace Darling helped save 9 people from a shipwreck in the North Sea in 1838. She went on to become a Victorian hero.

And naturally, that meant a few myths sprang up about her! Let's dig into the story of Grace Darling in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/grace-darling/

Donate to the RNLI: https://rnli.org/support-us/give-money/donate

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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The Folklore of Shells and Pearls: Scallops, Rhymes and Saints

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 08:30:09 +0000

Shells evoke days at the beach and the wonders of nature. But they are the remains of living creatures—so you can see why some people think it's bad luck to bring them indoors!

They're also associated with St James...and some think the 'she sells sea shells' tongue twister has an interesting origin! Let's dig into the folklore of shells in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-shells/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Ghosts and Witches of Appalachia with Ed Karshner

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 08:30:07 +0000

In this sixth episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Edward Karshner, Associate Professor of English at Robert Morris University!

In this interview, we chat about the folklore of Appalachia, including its ghosts, witches, and the strange sense of fatalism!

Find Ed on Twitter here: https://www.twitter.com/EdKarshner

The links we mentioned!

Seven Sisters of the Pleiades: Stories from Around the World by Munya Andrews - https://amzn.to/3AqqYIf

The Ghost: A Cultural History by Susan Owens - https://amzn.to/3wyGBwa

A Natural History of Ghosts: 500 Years of Hunting for Proof by Roger Clarke - https://amzn.to/3TnvjVu

The Folklore Library & Archive - https://www.folklorelibrary.com/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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The Folklore of Paper: Charms, Folk Songs, and Bibliomancy

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 08:30:10 +0000

Paper is a wonderful material. It's portable and light, and as an everyday material, charms made from paper can be easily overlooked. We can reshape it, recycle it, and completely destroy it...or we can use it to preserve ideas!

All of these qualities help explore why it can be a material of choice in some folk magic. Let's find out why it's perfect for spells and charms in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-paper/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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The Folklore of Glass: Slippers and Superstitions

Sat, 20 Aug 2022 08:30:11 +0000

Glass is a strange material. Its original source material is sand, but it needs human intervention through the application of heat and other processes to find form. We can see through it, but we can't touch what's on the other side. You can use it to concentrate a light source. Or it's helpful if you want to protect your eyes, but still see what you're doing. Both solid and fragile, it can be used to make art, or poison bottles.

It often depicts tales of myth or religious instruction through stained glass in churches. And we can't forget its appearance in fairy tales through glass coffins or slippers.

Let's take a look at how glass appears in the world of superstitions, fairy tales, and even fairy lore in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-glass/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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The Folklore of Stones: From Hag Stones to Healing

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 08:30:11 +0000

Stones are perhaps some of humanity's oldest friends. They provided building materials and became simple tools. But they also vary in size, making some of them very portable as amulets. It's no wonder that they've accrued both lore and superstition alike.

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-stones/

Elf Shot post - https://www.icysedgwick.com/old-english-medicine/

Sharon A. Hill Stone Tape Theory post - http://sharonahill.com/2017/05/11/the-stone-tape-theory-of-hauntings-a-geological-perspective/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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The Folklore of Metals: Gold, Silver, Iron & Copper

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 08:30:05 +0000

Different metals are often baked into mythology. Look at griffins and dragons with their hoard of gold. Or Bellerophon's use of molten lead to kill the deadly chimera. According to legend, people paid for their passage to the underworld with coins placed over their eyes.

But how do different metals turn up in folklore? Why is iron such a protective metal, while silver has a whole range of uses? How has copper become so useful to modern medicine?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-metals/

Alchemy post - https://www.icysedgwick.com/alchemy-history/

Money folklore post - https://www.icysedgwick.com/money-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Newcastle Oddities talk: https://newcastleoddities.eventbrite.co.uk/

Dragons, Griffins & Wyverns talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cathedral-creatures-dragons-griffins-and-wyverns-tickets-388727001927

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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The Folklore of Edible Plants: Basil, Bay, Chamomile, Dill, Fennel & Oregano

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 08:30:09 +0000

Herbs are useful for flavouring your food or drink, but they have a range of protective and magical uses too. How is basil linked with both love and hatred? Why was dill the magician's herb?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/edible-plants-folklore/

Learn Kitchen Herbalism with Rowan + Sage: https://school.rowanandsage.com/courses/kitchenherbcraft?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Thyme to Find Romance? Meet the Herb of Love & Courage

Sat, 23 Jul 2022 08:30:10 +0000

Thyme appears in folklore to bring courage, help bring love, guard against evil, and give fairies somewhere to live. What else can you use thyme for?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/thyme-folklore/

Learn Kitchen Herbalism with Rowan + Sage: https://school.rowanandsage.com/courses/kitchenherbcraft?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

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Rosemary Folklore: From Tudor Weddings to Victorian Funerals

Sat, 16 Jul 2022 08:30:09 +0000

Rosemary appears in folklore to aid remembrance, love divination, mourning, and protection from evil. What else can you use it for?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/rosemary-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Learn herbalism with Rowan + Sage: https://school.rowanandsage.com/courses/kitchenherbcraft?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Sage Folklore: Boost Your Love and Remembrance Spells

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 08:30:10 +0000

Sage is delicious and versatile, appearing in magic for love and remembrance, as well as a host of folk remedies. What can you use sage for?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/sage-folklore/

Learn herbalism with Rowan + Sage: https://school.rowanandsage.com/courses/kitchenherbcraft?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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The Folklore of Parsley, a herb for protection, love & death

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 08:30:12 +0000

Parsley has links with death dating to ancient Greece. How is it also linked to both love magic and protection?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/parsley-folklore/

Learn herbalism with Rowan + Sage: https://school.rowanandsage.com/courses/kitchenherbcraft?affcode=437598_3qokpyep

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Interview with Alessandra Pino, co-author of A Gothic Cookbook

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 21:32:08 +0000

In this fifth episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat to Dr Alessandra Pino, the author of A Gothic Cookbook! In an update since we recorded this episode, the book is now 100% funded, so you're guaranteed a copy if you support the project now!

You can also get 10% off your pledge with the code 'GOTHICPOD10'.

We talk about what how food works in Gothic texts, mostly literature but also film, and what A Gothic Cookbook promises!

Find Alessandra on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sasacharlie/

https://www.instagram.com/AGothicCookbook

Find (and back) A Gothic Cookbook on Unbound here: https://unbound.com/books/a-gothic-cookbook/

Become a Patron for exclusive episodes of Fabulous Folklore at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Shady Meg: The Burning Witch of King's Lynn

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 08:30:11 +0000

According to King's Lynn legend, the diamond-shaped brick emblazoned with a heart has a connection to Margaret Read, or Shady Meg, burned as a witch in 1590. How does this strange brick fit into this tale of witchcraft?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/shady-meg-kings-lynn/

Get your tickets for the Folklore Library Fairy Conference: https://bit.ly/fairycon

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Meg of Meldon: Northumberland's Famous Witch

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 08:30:08 +0000

Meg of Meldon is Northumberland's most famous witch. But was she really a witch, or just a hard-hearted businesswoman?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/Meg-of-Meldon/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Mother Red Cap: The Infamous Witch of Camden Town

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 08:30:12 +0000

Mother Red Cap once gave her name to a Camden pub, now known as the World's End on Camden High Street. Was she really a 17th-century witch, or simply a misunderstood old woman?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/mother-red-cap/

Tickets for The Summer Solstice: Myths and Mayhem of Midsummer talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-summer-solstice-myths-and-mayhem-of-midsummer-tickets-323265444647

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Witch of Wookey Hole: Petrified for All Time

Sat, 04 Jun 2022 08:30:07 +0000

Is the Witch of Wookey Hole really petrified in the famous Somerset cave system? Or is it just an old legend with a life of its own that now sustains a tourist attraction?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/witch-of-wookey-hole/

Grab your ticket for the Midsummer Day talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-summer-solstice-myths-and-mayhem-of-midsummer-tickets-323265444647

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Was the location of Callaly Castle really picked by fairies?

Sat, 28 May 2022 08:30:07 +0000

Callaly Castle stands around 9 miles west of Alnwick. It's a Grade I listed building, although there's no public access. Architects divided the house into private apartments in 1987, and it has been a private residence ever since.

Yet the castle features an odd history, as many castles in the north east of England do. The fairy folk make an appearance in the story of its foundation. Though, there's a slight whiff of the land spirit about these fairies.

Did they really choose the location of Callaly Castle? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/callaly-castle/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Interview with Brandi Spradling

Wed, 25 May 2022 08:30:09 +0000

In this fourth episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat to Brandi, the brains and beauty behind Venus in Retro Tarot!

We talk about what tarot and astrology can bring us in the 21st century, the importance of making sure divinatory systems are inclusive, and different ways of using tarot that don't involve fortune telling. We also talk about favourite cards and the weird leap big brands have made into Mercury Retrograde marketing gimmicks!

Find Venus in Retro Tarot on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/c/VenusInRetroTarot

Find Venus in Retro Tarot on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/venusinretrotarot/

Become a Patron for exclusive episodes of Fabulous Folklore at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Brownies in Folklore: Household Help or Hindrance?

Sat, 21 May 2022 08:30:12 +0000

Katharine Briggs considers the brownies as one of the "most easily described and most recognizable" fairy types. Their territory stretched from the Midlands, up through the north and east of England, and up into Scotland. They were known as the bwca in Wales, bodach in the Highlands, and fenodoree on the Isle of Man.

But what are brownies? How do they relate to their fairy cousins? And what links are there between brownies and ghost stories? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/brownies-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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The Barguest: Demon Dog, Silly Sprite or Spectral Hound?

Sat, 14 May 2022 08:30:08 +0000

The barguest is a fascinating creature, most often found in the folklore of northern England.

In many tales, the barguest was most popularly a death omen. In a most fitting way, Sir Walter Scott thought the name came from 'bahrgeist', or spirit of the bier, as in the bier on which a corpse was carried.

Some claim the barguest as a spectral hound, others describe it as a sprite. So is it a demon dog or a fairy creature? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/barguest-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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The Northumberland Silky: Mischievous Fairy or Lonely Ghost?

Sat, 07 May 2022 08:30:11 +0000

Many lonely and remote parts of the British Isles echo with tales of local spirits. Whether they're fairies, remnants of older mythologies, ghosts, or Land Spirits decked out in another guise, their stories live on. The north east of England has one such spirit known as Silky.

Silky is so named because she announces her presence with a sound like rustling silks. In some cases, the term refers to a ghost of a woman who had died in some unfortunate way. But she's also referred to as a 'local sprite'.

Is she a ghost or a fairy? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/northumberland-silky/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Cider Folklore: Wassailing and the Apple Tree Man

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 08:30:08 +0000

Cider has a long history, especially here in Britain. When the Romans arrived in Britain, they discovered the locals drinking a beverage made from apples. It wasn't quite cider yet, and no one knows how long this drink existed prior to this point.

But how does cider appear in folklore?

We'll learn a fairy legend, how the custom of wassailing works, and who the Apple Tree Man was in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/cider-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Meeting The Devil's Drink: Coffee Folklore in Legend and Ritual

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 08:30:12 +0000

Coffee is an incredibly popular drink all over the world. Director David Lynch reportedly said, "Even a bad cup of coffee is better than no coffee at all".

From Ethiopia to Yemen, and then on into Europe, coffee was even referred to as the Devil's drink until Pope Clement VIII tried it. According to legend, he decided it might be a better option than alcohol and gave coffee his blessing.

So let's take a look at some of coffee's origin stories, rituals associated with the drink, and even how it helps boost a little daily magic in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/coffee-folklore/

Get £5 off your first order with Pact Coffee: https://www.pactcoffee.com/coffee-plans/signup?voucher=ICY-8D9C58

Check out A Gothic Cookbook on Unbound: https://unbound.com/books/a-gothic-cookbook/

Turkish Coffee Reading: http://www.turkishstylegroundcoffee.com/turkish-coffee-reading/

The Ottomans and the Yemeni Coffee Trade: https://www.jstor.org/stable/25818052

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Wine and Witchcraft: A Beverage fit for Apotropaic Success

Sat, 16 Apr 2022 08:30:11 +0000

Like beer, wine has enjoyed a long and prosperous history. It's been enjoyed by the ancients, used as a safe alternative to water, prescribed as medicine, and offered in ritual. And like beer, wine also has patron deities from a range of cultures.

But how does it appear across mythology and folklore? What are its links to witchcraft and apotropaic magic? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/wine-and-witchcraft/

Catch my Easter folklore talk on 18 April: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/easter-folklore-tickets-303849410767

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Folklore of Tea: Magic, Predictions and Poison

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 08:30:09 +0000

The folklore of tea is woven through the history of this fascinating plant. Well-known for its use in fortune-telling, through reading tea leaves, it also has a range of magickal uses and appears in mundane folk remedies.

Let's explore the appearance of tea in folklore, its medicinal and magickal uses, and even its relationship to poison in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-tea/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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The Legends and Folklore of Beer: Remedies, Witches & Saints

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 08:30:07 +0000

Beer is a popular drink in many parts of the world. In the US, it's the most popular alcoholic beverage. Throughout the centuries, beer becomes the drink of choice in eras and places where drinking water is unsafe for consumption.

Yet its continued popularity over such a long timespan leaves it ripe for a whole host of legends and folklore to emerge. Linked with saints, gods, and even witches, beer has many stories to tell.

Let's explore some of them in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-beer/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Beer in Welsh legends and folklore on Mark Rees' Podcast: here

Telling the Bees and Other Customs: The Folklore of Rural Crafts by Mark Norman: here

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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The Lily and the Lady: Plants of Purity and Protection

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 09:30:09 +0000

There are few flowers quite as recognisable as the lily. Yet despite its beauty, the lily is a toxic plant. In some ways, this goes to show the contradictory nature of the flower, used in both bridal bouquets and funeral wreaths. Yet in other ways, its contradictory uses make sense since they often come from a common root—the link between the lily and purity.

Let's explore the appearance of lily in ancient folklore and Christianity, along with its medicinal and magickal uses, in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/lily-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Lavender Folklore: The Tales Behind The Calming Plant

Sat, 19 Mar 2022 09:30:14 +0000

From cleaning wounds to repelling plague, lavender has had a myriad of uses throughout the centuries. It’s come to represent devotion, purity, luck, cleanliness, compassion, constancy, faith, humility, and love. Yet in the Victorian language of flowers, it also meant distrust.

Let's explore the appearance of lavender in ancient folklore, medicinal uses, and even its magickal uses in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/lavender-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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From Medicine to Murder: How the Apothecary Garden Found Its Dark Side

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 09:30:06 +0000

The Alnwick Poison Garden is the modern descendant of the medieval apothecary garden.

Find out how these healing gardens found their dark side—and explore some poisonous plant folklore—in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/apothecary-garden-history/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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The Victorian Language of Flowers: Hiding Secret Messages in Plain Sight

Sat, 05 Mar 2022 09:37:05 +0000

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 explore where the language of flowers came from, how it developed, and how you can use it in the 21st century in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/language-of-flowers/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Donate to organisations helping Ukraine: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CdrWLAkEaOMV7fBbIWzHsgHmFz8s1GM6e_7a57oc3ug/edit?usp=sharing

Donate to help evacuate Afghan soldiers and their families from Kabul: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/afghanfamilies

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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The Not So Holy Ghost: England's Haunted Churches

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 09:30:05 +0000

Churches in England are often portrayed as quaint, picturesque centres of their community. But given they're also often one of the oldest buildings in a town or village, it's hardly surprising that we'd have so many tales of haunted churches too.

Some of these tales immortalise previous parishioners, but more usually, the tales commemorate dark deeds or criminal activity. Why not? Just look at the brutal murder of Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. And then there's the widespread desecration of churches during the Reformation and the tumultuous period afterwards.

Let's explore some of the tales behind England's haunted churches, including phantoms from the future, ghostly birds, spectral organ music, and lights in the churchyard, in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/haunted-churches/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Explore the Surprising Truth about Necromancy: https://www.icysedgwick.com/necromancy/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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For Whom the Bell Tolls: Folklore of Churches and Churchyards

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 09:30:08 +0000

Churches used to be a centre for the community. They were open to all classes of society, and through their association with births, marriages, and deaths, often had links to each stage in an individual's life. Add to that their open commemoration of the dead, and churches became a clear focal point.

So it's hardly surprising that the folklore of churches is rather common. Many of these stories here also appear in similar versions across the country, which implies that people came up with similar theories for strange or unexplained events.

Let's find out more about the folklore about churches in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-churches/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Interview with Rich Blackett, chair of Asatru UK

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 09:30:10 +0000

In this third interview-based episode of Fabulous Folklore, I chat to fellow northern Rich Blackett, chair of Asatru UK!

We talk about what heathenry can often look like (because it's more flexible than you think), the importance of inclusive spiritual traditions, and common misconceptions about heathenry. So if you've had questions about heathenry...it's likely Rich can answer them!

Find the Asatru UK website here: https://www.asatruuk.org/

Watch the Pascu y Rodri video, Loki: https://youtu.be/5mkketnxB34

Become a Patron for exclusive episodes of Fabulous Folklore at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

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Folklore About Pubs: Murderous Landlords, Famous Crimes & Ghosts

Sat, 12 Feb 2022 09:30:06 +0000

The pub is well entrenched in the cultural life of Britain. As such a hive of activity, it stands to reason that there would also be plenty of folklore about pubs around Britain. After all, the more activity there is in a place, the more opportunity there is for stories and legends to crop up about people and events.

And pubs try to find all sorts of ways to differentiate themselves. Look at Britain's most remote, highest, lowest or most haunted pubs. Promoting your folklore is another great way to stand out from your competitors!

Let's find out more about the folklore about pubs in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-about-pubs/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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The Last Drop & The Bucket of Blood: The Folklore of Odd Pub Names

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 09:30:07 +0000

The pub is well entrenched in the cultural life of Britain. As a hub of social contact and often a provider of decent food, pubs offer a central meeting point for many groups of people. Yet how often do we think about pub names and what they tell us about local history, famous figures, or half-forgotten stories?

There are far more strange pub names than I can include here, but I've tried to choose ones that had interesting stories associated with them.

Let's find out more about the folklore and legends attached to a selection of strange pub names in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/unusual-pub-names/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Elizabeth Bathory: Blood Countess or Framed Aristocrat?

Sat, 29 Jan 2022 09:30:09 +0000

When you say the name 'Elizabeth Bathory', a few things probably spring to mind. After all, she's widely known as the Blood Countess, so you probably imagine a woman in a bath of blood.

But did she really do this? Is it fair to call her one of history's worst serial killers? Or are the legends the over-exaggerations of a family hungry to get their hands on the wealth of a powerful woman?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

CW: This episode does include descriptions of torture. It's not suitable for children and if you think you might find it upsetting, then feel free to give it a miss!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/elizabeth-bathory/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Lady Godiva: The Naked Horseback Rider of Coventry

Sat, 22 Jan 2022 09:30:07 +0000

Lady Godiva has been immortalised in some strange ways, giving her name both to a brand of chocolates and a line in Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now'. Yet it's fascinating that the star of an 11th-century story continues to have an impact even now.

For some, she's simply the woman who rode naked through the streets of Coventry. To others, she's an icon of selfless actions to benefit the less privileged. The truth, we should suspect, is somewhat different—yet the story preserves the ethos, if not the actual fact, of what may have happened all those centuries ago.

So in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's go and meet Lady Godiva, and see if we can unravel some semblance of truth from the legends that have wrapped themselves around her...

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/lady-godiva/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Richard Whittington: The Real Man Behind the Pantomime

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 09:30:08 +0000

Every year, panto season rolls around again, and amid the usual mixture of fairy tales and family favourites, we often find several versions of Dick Whittington around the country. Unlike Sleeping Beauty or Snow White, Dick Whittington professes to be based on a real person.

Indeed, Richard Whittington was a real historical figure. But cats are mysteriously absent from his biography, and the rags-to-riches story from the pantomime is somewhat different in reality.

So what is his legend, and why did it become such a popular retelling of a real person's history? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/dick-whittington/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Boudica: The Legends of a Celtic Warrior Queen

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 09:30:11 +0000

The name 'Boudica' conjures up a range of associations, but most often we perhaps think of a flame-haired warrior standing up to the might of Rome. Freedom fighter, warrior queen, Celtic icon—she's perhaps all of these things and more. But the length of time between her lifetime and the general lack of primary evidence about her means she's become subject to a whole range of legends.

Let's learn about Boudica and her legendary grave in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/boudica-legends/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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New Year's Day Folklore: Rituals & Superstitions For Good Luck

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 09:30:07 +0000

New Year's Day has long been a time associated with gift-giving, visiting friends, and attempting to predict the fortunes of the year ahead. Unsurprisingly, it's also been a time of rituals and superstitions designed to influence the coming year.

Let's learn about old rituals to improve your luck and prospects in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/new-years-day-folklore/

Fortune-Telling Made Easy: 4 Strange Forms of Divination: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fortune-telling-2/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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Interview with Mark Norman, host of The Folklore Podcast

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 09:30:10 +0000

In this second interview-based episode of Fabulous Folklore, I chat to folklorist Mark Norman, host of The Folklore Podcast and author of Dark Folklore!

We talk about what may lie behind the resurgence of interest in folklore, why it's important to preserve folklore, and how can you get involved in collecting folklore yourself.

Find Mark's website here: http://www.thefolklorepodcast.com/

Buy Dark Folklore here: https://amzn.to/3m2U1eO

Check out Mark's course, Introduction to British Folklore: https://learnforpleasure.com/subjects/introduction-british-folklore/

Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/folklorepod

Follow the Folklore Library on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LibraryFolklore

Become a Patron for exclusive episodes of Fabulous Folklore at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

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Who is the Grey Man of Ben Macdui?

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 09:30:09 +0000

The Grey Man of Ben Macdui appears to haunt the summit of Ben Macdui in the Cairngorms—Scotland's second-highest mountain. Climbers have reported strange sounds, feelings of dread, and even glimpses of a tall figure in the mist.

Who is the Grey Man of Ben Macdui? Is he a yeti, a ghost, an alien...or something else? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/grey-man-of-ben-macdui/

Affleck Gray, The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui: https://amzn.to/3IMJga3

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Will O' The Wisp: A Fairy, Ghost or Guardian?

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 09:30:06 +0000

The Will O' The Wisp appears in a range of tales across the world. With varied names like corpse candles, fox fire, Jenny of the Lantern, and ignis fatuus, it also has a variety of origin stories!

Learn about the range of Will O' The Wisp types in northern Europe in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post:

https://www.icysedgwick.com/will-o-the-wisp/

Creswell Crags Christmas traditions talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-holly-and-the-ivy-the-folklore-of-festive-frills-tickets-211163544847

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Black Dogs and Englishmen: Black Shuck in English Folklore

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 09:30:36 +0000

Spectral black dogs, or Black Shuck, haunt the English countryside. But the stories vary as you travel around.

Some dogs are premonitions of disaster, others are linked with the Devil, while some even perform guardian roles. Learn about the range of Black Dog stories in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/black-dogs/

Get your copy of Black Dog & Other Gothic Tales: https://www.icysedgwick.com/book/black-dog-other-gothic-tales/

Buy Black Dog Folklore by Mark Norman: http://www.thefolklorepodcast.com/store/p24/blackdogfolklore.htm

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

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The Folklore of Air Travel: Gremlins, Superstitions & Gate 13

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 09:30:08 +0000

Air travel seems fraught with potential problems—and you have little to no control over any of them! Learn about the range of superstitions and rituals people use to reach their destination safely in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/air-travel/

Tefilat Haderech, The Traveler’s Prayer: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/tefilat-haderekh-the-travelers-prayer/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

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Seagulls and Storms: Seafaring Superstitions and Legends

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 09:30:08 +0000

It's hardly surprising that mariners would have a host of superstitions and folklore about seafaring. In earlier centuries, bad weather, poor communications with land, and disease could bring havoc to any journey.

Folklore both preserves ideas about what sailors feared and provides protections to keep dangers at bay. Learn more about omens related to seafaring, tales of ghost ships, and other hazards that might occur on the high seas in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/Seafaring-Superstitions/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

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London Underground: Corpses on the Tube & Other Lore

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 09:30:10 +0000

From corpses on the tube to ghostly figures that vanish, the London Underground is full of weird lore. Learn more about it in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post:

https://www.icysedgwick.com/london-underground/

'Ghost Train' short story: https://www.icysedgwick.com/ghost-train/

Midnight Screams at Holborn: https://pod.co/fabulous-folklore-with-icy/a-ghost-story-for-christmas

Black Nun of Threadneedle Street episode: https://pod.co/fabulous-folklore-with-icy/who-is-the-black-nun-of-threadneedle-street

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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All Aboard the Phantom Coaches of Folklore and Legend

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 09:30:05 +0000

Phantom coaches lurk along the highways and byways of the British Isles. Learn more about their folklore and legends in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post:

https://www.icysedgwick.com/phantom-coaches/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Meet the dreaded Mackenzie Poltergeist of Greyfriars Kirkyard

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 08:30:11 +0000

There have been over 350 reports of encounters with the Mackenzie Poltergeist. Who or what is Greyfriars Kirkyard's most dreaded inhabitant?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/mackenzie-poltergeist/

Interview with Joanna Penn about English Folklore: https://www.booksandtravel.page/english-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Who is the Black Nun of Threadneedle Street?

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 08:30:09 +0000

Old cities like London are bound to have their share of ghosts. But who is the Black Nun of Threadneedle Street?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/threadneedle-street/

Creswell Crags Halloween traditions talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/trick-or-treat-where-do-our-halloween-traditions-come-from-tickets-185723161977

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Is the ghost at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane a good omen?

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 08:30:09 +0000

Plenty of theatres boast tales of resident ghosts. Few have the same pedigree as the Drury Lane Theatre Royal. Who is the famous Man in Grey?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/theatre-royal/

Creswell Crags Halloween traditions talk: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/trick-or-treat-where-do-our-halloween-traditions-come-from-tickets-185723161977

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Meet the Grey Lady ghosts of Newcastle upon Tyne!

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 08:30:10 +0000

The Assembly Rooms and the Theatre Royal are two of Newcastle upon Tyne's glamourous Georgian buildings. Each of them boasts a Grey Lady ghost. But who are they?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/grey-lady/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Interview with Folk Witch and Astrologer Amaya Rourke

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 20:30:10 +0000

In this very first interview-based episode of Fabulous Folklore, I chat to astrologer and folk witch Amaya Rourke!

We talk about Hellenistic astrology and its connection to mythology, the importance of folklore and how/why it binds us, and Amaya relates the somewhat horrifying tale of Fairy Tell True.

Amaya is an animist, folk witch, astrological magician, and folk herbalist, who is fascinated both by our natural world and the hypnotic night sky.

Find Amaya's website here: http://heartwarriorpath.com/

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/feralvenefica

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartwarriorpath/

The regular 15min episodes will continue, this is just a new format that I'm adding on a bimonthly basis!

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Who was the Grey Man of Bellister Castle?

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 08:30:08 +0000

Who is the Grey Man of Bellister, whose appearance heralds tragedy? Does he still wander the lonely roads around the Northumberland ruins?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post:

https://www.icysedgwick.com/grey-man-bellister/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Hazel Trees in Folklore: Protection, Divination and Magic

Sat, 25 Sep 2021 08:30:05 +0000

Hazel trees appear as magical trees in both myth and legend. Learn how they were used for divination, magic, and protection from disaster in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/hazel-trees-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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The Fantastic Magic and Folklore of Ash Trees

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 08:30:10 +0000

Ash trees have links with the Nordic world and the folklore of Ireland and Britain. But why are they so magical and what are their links with healing?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post:

https://www.icysedgwick.com/ash-trees-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Ash Dieback article: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/tree-pests-and-diseases/key-tree-pests-and-diseases/ash-dieback/.

What Willow Folklore Surrounds This Beautiful Tree?

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 08:30:07 +0000

From witchcraft to Christian theology, much willow folklore surrounds this tree.

Let's take a look at some of these superstitions and traditions in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: http://www.icysedgwick.com/willow-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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Meet the Oak, the Favoured Tree of the Forest!

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 08:30:09 +0000

The oak tree is pretty synonymous with the British landscape, from the National Trust logo to the Major Oak that sheltered Robin Hood. Elsewhere, it's been an oracle, offered protection from lightning, and been the hiding place of royalty.

So let's take a look at some of these superstitions and traditions in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos, and references on the blog post: http://www.icysedgwick.com/oak-tree-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Moving House Superstitions: Brooms, Bread, Salt and Smoke

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 08:39:50 +0000

Moving house is surely one of the most stressful things you can do and a whole host of superstitions have sprung up to dictate everything from which day you move, to what you take into the new house first, and how to ensure good luck once you're there.

So let's take a look at some of these superstitions and traditions in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/moving-house-superstitions/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Althaea Sebastiani guide to House Spirits: https://www.ladyalthaea.com/every-day-is-magickal/acknowledging-the-spirits-in-your-home

Book your Rural Gothic: Harvest tickets: http://www.thefolklorepodcast.com/store/p129/August_28th:_RURAL_GOTHIC:_HARVEST.html

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Something Old, Something New: British Wedding Folklore & Traditions

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 08:30:10 +0000

Weddings are often a 'stand out' event in many people's lives, whether as guests or members of the bridal party. It's hardly surprising that such an important day has accrued so much wedding folklore to ensure the marriage goes well.

From the cake to the bouquet, the dress to the date itself, most elements of a wedding have helpful sayings, prohibitions, or dedicated rituals attached. Find out more about these traditions in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/wedding-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Buried Alive episode: https://pod.co/fabulous-folklore-with-icy/premature-burial-lived-once-buried-twice

Book your Rural Gothic: Harvest tickets: http://www.thefolklorepodcast.com/store/p129/August_28th:_RURAL_GOTHIC:_HARVEST.html

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Why Do People Love Folklore?

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 08:30:10 +0000

At the start of August, I asked people what brought them to folklore, or stimulated their original interest in it. I was amazed at the response, so having collated the answers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, I put together this episode exploring the six main pathways people followed to find folklore!

Find out what they are in this special interim episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/why-people-love-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Children's Folklore: Games, Rhymes and Telling Fortunes

Sat, 14 Aug 2021 08:30:13 +0000

Children's folklore refers to the study of lore passed between children. It differs from folklore about children since it's driven by the games, rhymes, and traditions that children share away from adults.

Find out more about childrens' games, legends, rhymes and fortune-telling in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/childrens-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren - https://amzn.to/2L7f7Y2

Children's Folklore: A Source Book - https://amzn.to/3lUpEYF

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Pregnancy & Birth Folklore: All About Predictions and Protection

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 08:30:10 +0000

A lot of birth folklore is about protecting the baby and mother. Some of it tries to predict or influence the future life of the baby.

Find out more about pregnancy and birth folklore in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/birth-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Lammas Lore: Harvests, Fairs, and Home Protection

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 08:30:07 +0000

Lammas is celebrated on 1 August to celebrate the first harvests. But how ancient is the festival, and how do people celebrate it now?

Find out more about Lammas lore in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/lammas-lore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain: https://amzn.to/373TYHM

Are selkies as dangerous as mermaids and sirens? https://pod.co/fabulous-folklore-with-icy/are-selkies-as-dangerous-as-mermaids-and-sirens

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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Marianne Stokes: Folk Life and Fairy Tales in Victorian Art

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 08:31:22 +0000

Marianne Stokes was a late Victorian artist who was important to the movement to revive tempera painting.

She also illustrated fairy tales, as well as creating a valuable visual record of traditional Slavic dress in the early 20th century.

Find out how she balanced images of folk life with fairy tales in her work in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/Marianne-Stokes/

Watch the video version on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/m290EfTo7Us

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Rural Gothic tickets: https://bit.ly/rgcult

'Hungary' book on archive.org: https://archive.org/details/hungary00stok

Mieder article: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.13110/marvelstales.28.1.0104

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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King Arthur and Folklore in the Art of Edward Burne-Jones

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 08:31:20 +0000

Artist Edward Burne-Jones was obsessed with King Arthur until the day he died. Find out which other fairy tales and myths he featured in his work in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/Edward-Burne-Jones/

Watch the video version on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/kMKQ0FoIaZU

Meet Fortuna, Goddess of Luck, Abundance, and Fate: https://pod.co/fabulous-folklore-with-icy/meet-fortuna-goddess-of-luck-abundance-and-fate

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Get tickets for Rural Gothic: Cult: https://bit.ly/rgcult

Drop your topic requests here: https://forms.gle/kNGir7TSGiJ54UjCA

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Evelyn De Morgan: Myths from a Female Perspective

Sat, 10 Jul 2021 08:30:34 +0000

Victorian artist Evelyn De Morgan presented a new perspective of many mythological women in her work. Find out which figures she re-represented in her own way in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

2:27 - Bio

5:41 - 'The Angel of Death'

8:08 - 'Clytie'

10:35 - 'Flora'

12:18 - 'Eos'

14:19 - 'Helen of Troy'

17:52 - 'The Love Potion'

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/Evelyn-De-Morgan/

Watch the video version on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/VMrd3fjEySs

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Drop your topic requests here: https://forms.gle/kNGir7TSGiJ54UjCA

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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Blending Folklore and Art in the work of John William Waterhouse

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 08:31:52 +0000

Victorian artist John William Waterhouse used many myths and legends to inspire his work. Greek goddess Circe, the Lady of Shalott, Pandora, and Odysseus all appear in his paintings, often more than once.

Let's explore the link between folklore and art in his work in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/sWzul5nKuWE

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/John-William-Waterhouse/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Drop your topic requests here: https://forms.gle/kNGir7TSGiJ54UjCA

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Telling Magpie Rhymes: Predicting the Future with Magpies

Sat, 26 Jun 2021 08:30:16 +0000

One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy... We've all heard some variation on this counting rhyme involving magpies. It's actually a form of divination, predicting the future using the number of birds you see.

But how did magpies go from being a death omen to a symbol of general bad luck? And what variations on the rhyme are there?

Find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/magpie-rhymes/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Drop your topic requests here: https://forms.gle/kNGir7TSGiJ54UjCA

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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British Big Cats: Ice Age Survivors or Escaped Illicit Pets?

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 08:31:58 +0000

British big cats are not true cryptids since some sightings are of genuine big cats. But what of the others? Are they mere urban legend or actually real?

Find out more about the 'alien big cat' phenomenon in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/british-big-cats/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Check out the episode about Midsummer: https://pod.co/fabulous-folklore-with-icy/the-summer-solstice-myths-and-madness-of-midsummer

Where are you more likely to see big cats in Wales? https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/new-map-shows-you-most-20556936

Drop your topic requests here: https://forms.gle/kNGir7TSGiJ54UjCA

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Support Fabulous Folklore at https://paypal.me/FabulousFolklore

Or buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

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The Folklore of Time: Clocks, Calendars, and Church Bells

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 08:30:59 +0000

From clocks to calendars, the folklore of time deals with omens and portents of doom. Find out more about these temporal superstitions here.

Find out more about some unusual place names in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-time/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Learn more about the witching hour: https://www.icysedgwick.com/witching-hour/

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The Folklore of Unusual Place Names: From Pity Me to Wetwang

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 08:30:16 +0000

Place names can be a treasure trove of information. They also attract folklore, so how do you sort the origin from the myth?

Find out more about some unusual place names in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-place-names/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Meet Antenociticus, The God Adopted By The Romans

Sat, 29 May 2021 08:30:54 +0000

An altar to Antenociticus stands in Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne. He doesn't appear elsewhere in the Empire. So who was he and why did he have his own temple?

Find out more about this potentially Celtic god adopted by the Romans in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/antenociticus/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Meet Jupiter Optimus Maximus - The Greatest and Best!

Sat, 22 May 2021 08:30:15 +0000

Jupiter was the chief of the Roman gods, but also the representative of the Roman state.

Find out more about this famous thunder god in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/jupiter-optimus-maximus/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Meet Mars, the Roman God of War and...Agriculture?!

Sat, 15 May 2021 08:30:15 +0000

Mars is the Roman god of war. But it turns out there's more to him than swinging a sword around!

Learn about this versatile god in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/mars-god-of-war/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Grab your tickets for Rural Gothic: Suburban Wyrd at https://bit.ly/SuburbanWyrd

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Find the lost Temple of Mithras under a London office block

Sat, 08 May 2021 08:30:31 +0000

The Temple of Mithras lies under a London office block. But who discovered it and what was it for?

Learn about this mysterious god—and this fascinating archaeological find—in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images, videos and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/temple-of-mithras/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Roman gods in Newcastle upon Tyne: Neptune and Oceanus

Sat, 01 May 2021 08:30:16 +0000

The Great North Museum is stuffed with altars dedicated to Roman gods - but what was the fascination with Neptune and Oceanus?

Learn about these two Roman gods—and their connection to Newcastle upon Tyne—in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/roman-gods-newcastle/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Toxic Trees: Folklore of Juniper, Laburnum and Oleander

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 08:30:13 +0000

Many blogs and books focus on poisonous plant folklore but they don't place as much emphasis on toxic trees. Learn some of the folklore of juniper, laburnum, and oleander in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/toxic-trees/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Magical Plant Folklore: Larkspur, Periwinkle and Wormwood

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 08:30:10 +0000

Toxic plants often still possess magical properties, although extreme caution is required.

Learn some of the folklore of larkspur, periwinkle and wormwood in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/magical-plant-folklore

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Folklore of Bluebells, Daffodils & Hydrangeas

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 08:30:13 +0000

Common garden flowers can be just as exciting as their showy toxic counterparts.

Learn some of the folklore of bluebells, daffodils and hydrangeas in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

2:23 Daffodils

6:02 Bluebells

9:08 Hydrangeas

This episode is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. These are toxic plants and should be treated accordingly.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/common-garden-flowers/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Folklore of Nightshade, Foxgloves & Angel’s Trumpet

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 08:31:03 +0000

The folklore of flowers is a huge topic, but it's often among the poisonous plants that we find the most interesting stories. This episode focuses on the folklore and magical properties of Deadly Nightshade, Foxgloves and Angel's Trumpet.

2:38 Deadly Nightshade

8:13 Foxgloves

11:38 Angel's Trumpet

This episode is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. These are toxic plants and should be treated accordingly.

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-flowers/

From Medicine to Murder: How the Apothecary Garden Found Its Dark Side: https://folklorethursday.com/folklife/from-medicine-to-murder-how-the-apothecary-garden-found-its-dark-side/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Wonderful Waterfall Folklore, Myths & Legends

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 09:30:54 +0000

Waterfalls attract tourists and photographers alike. What tales lurk beneath their waters?

Learn some of their origin tales and associated legends in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/waterfall-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Avoid the Dark Depths! Dangers Lurk in Lake Folklore

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 09:30:08 +0000

Pools and lakes hold many secrets beneath their dark, quiet surface. Dark spirits, the restless dead, and even mermaids are among the dangers to avoid!

Learn more of these tales in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/lake-folklore/

Buy tickets for Rural Gothic: Vernal Equinox at https://bit.ly/rgvernal

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Strange River Folklore: River Gods and Dark Spirits

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 09:30:15 +0000

What strange spirits or superstitions lurk in the depths of river folklore? Why do so many rivers have legends of patron gods and goddesses? Find out about Peg Powler and her watery kind in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/river-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Why Are Kelpies So Feared in Scottish Folklore?

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 09:30:18 +0000

Kelpies are water horses in Scottish folklore. Their appearances aren't at all welcome, given their tendency to drag would-be riders to a watery grave. Find out what made them so fearsome in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/kelpies-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Money Folklore: Coins, Wishes, and Fairy Gold

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 09:30:15 +0000

Money folklore covers the ways people try to use coins to bring luck, offer protection, or even bind a deal.

Find out about the way people have used money to make wishes or attract more of it in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the image on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/money-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Using Amulets: The Folklore of Protection, Luck & Boosting Health

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 09:30:11 +0000

Called both lucky charms or amulets, certain objects have a long history of protecting people, bringing luck, or boosting health.

Find out about the amulets people wore, carried, and kept handy in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the image on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/protection-amulets/

Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Love Magic and Folklore: How to Create Visions of Your Beloved

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 09:30:26 +0000

Love magic offers perhaps one of the most popular types of ritual. Find out about the charms and divination people used to find love in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the image on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/love-magic-folklore/

Halloween Love Spells: https://www.icysedgwick.com/halloween-spells-for-protection-romance-loved-ones/

Mirror Love Spells: https://www.icysedgwick.com/mirrors-spells/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Home Protection the Folklore Way: Apotropaic Magic

Sat, 06 Feb 2021 09:30:14 +0000

Home protection now involves tech, but in earlier times, people resorted to more magical means.

Find out what they were in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the image on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/home-protection/

Witch bottles: https://www.icysedgwick.com/witch-bottles/

Corpse roads: https://www.icysedgwick.com/corpse-roads/

By Rust of Nail & Prick of Thorn: The Theory & Practice of Effective Home Warding by Althaea Sebastiani: https://amzn.to/3jduEV0

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Star Gazing: Constellation Origin Myths and Star Superstitions

Sat, 30 Jan 2021 09:31:25 +0000

What ancient stories and legends do the stars spell out for us?

Find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore, with these constellation origin myths, based on the Greek tales!

Find the images on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/Constellation-Origin-Myths/

John Dee episode: https://pod.co/fabulous-folklore-with-icy/john-dee-the-magician-and-the-devil-in-manchester

Weather portents episode: https://pod.co/fabulous-folklore-with-icy/weather-lore-a-tale-of-portents-and-omens

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Origin Myths of the Zodiac's Water Signs

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 09:30:52 +0000

The signs of the Zodiac each have their own origin myths.

In this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's look at the legends behind the water signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces!

Find the images on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/zodiac-water-signs/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Origin Myths of the Zodiac's Air Signs

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 09:30:11 +0000

The signs of the Zodiac each have their own origin myths.

In this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's look at the legends behind the air signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius!

Find the image on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/zodiac-air-signs/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Origin Myths of the Zodiac's Earth Signs

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 09:30:16 +0000

The signs of the Zodiac each have their own origin myths.

In this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's look at the legends behind the earth signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn!

Find the image on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/zodiac-earth-signs/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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The Origin Myths of the Zodiac's Fire Signs

Sat, 02 Jan 2021 09:30:11 +0000

The signs of the Zodiac each have their own origin myths.

In this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's look at the legends behind the fire signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius!

Find the image on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/zodiac-fire-signs/

Book a natal chart reading with Amaya Rourke: http://heartwarriorpath.com/holiday-special

Learn about why signs and constellations aren't the same thing: http://astrologyclub.org/ophiuchus-13th-zodiac-sign-no/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Why do we tell ghost stories at Christmas?

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 09:30:07 +0000

Perhaps more than Halloween, Midwinter is often a time traditionally associated with ghost stories. But why do we tell ghost stories at this time of year? Why do ghosts continue to preoccupy us? And are there ways to keep troublesome ghosts at bay at Midwinter?

This talk in conjunction with the Creswell Crags Folklore Festival will explore these ideas as we seek to get closer to the spirits...

Find out more about Creswell Crags: https://www.creswell-crags.org.uk/

If you enjoyed the talk, donate to the Creswell Crags Folklore Festival fund: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/CreswellCragsFolkloreFestival2020

Buy Stations Of The Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain by Ronald Hutton: https://amzn.to/3mESmJI

Buy Spellbound: Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft by Sophie Page and Marina Wallace: https://amzn.to/3ateLY8

Buy Magical House Protection: The Archaeology of Counter-Witchcraft by Brian Hoggard: https://amzn.to/3paoVkp

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Why do people still see ghostly monks in the UK?

Sat, 19 Dec 2020 09:30:10 +0000

Among the nations of the UK, sightings of ghostly monks still appear from time to time.

But why are they such common figures to manifest? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the image on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/ghostly-monks/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Exploring Strange Tales Of Civil War Ghosts In England

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 09:31:30 +0000

Tales of Civil War ghosts are common in England, whose Civil War marked a bloody 9 year period.

Let's explore haunted battlefields and pubs in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the image on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/civil-war-ghosts/

Grab your copy of The Stolen Ghosts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/book/the-stolen-ghosts/

Pick up The English Civil War: A People's History by Diane Purkiss: https://amzn.to/39OhyuB (affiliate link)

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Follow Icy on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

These 5 UK Castles Feature A Green Lady Ghost

Sat, 05 Dec 2020 09:30:21 +0000

Grey or white ladies are famous in British ghost stories. But what about the Green Lady?

Some think she's a nature elemental, others a fairy woman. Or is she a sad spirit of a lonely woman?

Find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the image on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/green-lady/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Watch the video about Crathes Castle: https://youtu.be/I5jvCZX20aw

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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Hawthorn Folklore: Fairies and the May Day tree

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 09:30:11 +0000

The hawthorn is believed to be the fairy tree and it's unlucky to bring indoors. What other folklore should you know about this magical tree?

Find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the image on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/hawthorn-folklore

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Try the guided meditation: https://youtu.be/3tv4WaM_KnQ

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Elder Trees: Medicine, Protection, and Witches

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 09:30:14 +0000

Elder trees are a common sight in the UK. They're also complex, between protection from and for witches.

Which of these roles is true? Learn more of their folklore here.

Find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the image on the blog posts: https://www.icysedgwick.com/elder-tree-folklore

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Churches, Death and Resurrection: The Yew in Folklore

Sat, 14 Nov 2020 09:30:06 +0000

Yew trees are often the oldest trees found in ancient churchyards. But what do they represent, and how do they appear in British folklore?

And is there more to them than longbows?

Find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the image on the blog posts: http://icysedgwick.com/yew

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus exclusive episodes at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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How to use rowan to protect your house (and livestock)

Sat, 07 Nov 2020 09:30:08 +0000

Rowan is a popular tree for protection against witchcraft and fairies. You often find its wood or branches being used in building work, or even to haul enchanted people out of fairy rings!

How did people use rowan to get the most from its protective abilities?

Find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/rowan-folklore/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Vote for the winner of the 'Name the Plague Doctor!' competition: https://icy8.typeform.com/to/xHwqBboo

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Halloween Fiction: Icy Reads 'The Dead-House'

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 09:50:36 +0000

Earlier today I published an episode about the folklore of the dead house.

I wrote a short story inspired by this folklore, which you can now find in my Black Dog & Other Gothic Tales collection.

Here's an audio version as my Halloween gift to you!

Enjoy...

Get your copy of Black Dog & Other Gothic Tales: https://books2read.com/u/47Z967

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this story? Buy Icy a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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The Folklore and Ghosts of the Dead House

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 09:30:12 +0000

The dead house was a common occurrence in the days before refrigerated mortuaries.

People stored bodies at the graveyard in the dead house prior to a regular burial, and the authorities kept the dead in them until the bodies could be claimed.

But are these spaces likely to be haunted - or just eerie?

Find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/dead-house/

Vote for the winner of the 'Name the Plague Doctor!' competition: https://icy8.typeform.com/to/xHwqBboo

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus content at

https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Follow Icy on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick

Meet Charon: the legendary ferryman of Greek myth!

Sat, 24 Oct 2020 08:30:10 +0000

Charon, the ancient ferryman of Greek myth, is one of those figures that pops up even where other deities get ignored or forgotten. Sometimes people simply call him ‘the ferryman’ and he loses his name, but we all know who we’re referring to.

But who was Charon, and what is the folklore surrounding him?

Find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/charon/

Enter the 'Name the Plague Doctor!' competition: https://forms.gle/6L3r1TmYqp223Em86

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Why Is The Fetch Seen As A Death Omen in Irish Folklore?

Sat, 17 Oct 2020 08:30:15 +0000

The fetch appears in folklore as an apparition seen when another is apparently dead or dying.

But what is it? Is it always a death omen? And why do people keep seeing them even now?

Find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fetch-folklore/

Enter the 'Name the Plague Doctor!' competition: https://forms.gle/6L3r1TmYqp223Em86

Folklore Thursday article about doppelgangers: http://folklorethursday.com/folktales/doppelganger-double-meaning-folklore/#sthash.1MjGPDYq.dpbs

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Why is the Bean Nighe seen as an omen of death in folklore?

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 08:30:12 +0000

You've probably heard about the banshee, announcing deaths with her keening cry. But what of the 'washerwoman of the ford', the Bean Nighe?

She haunts rivers and pools in Scotland and Ireland. But who is she and why is she an omen of death?

Find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/bean-nighe/

Enter the 'Name the Plague Doctor!' competition: https://forms.gle/6L3r1TmYqp223Em86

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Autumn Superstitions: Conkers, Roses, and Falling Leaves

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 08:30:12 +0000

The 'season of mists and mellow fruitfulness' is upon us again! It's a time of harvest, and watching the natural world prepare for sleep.

In days gone by, autumn was also a time to prepare for the harsh reality of winter! There's no wonder it has a range of superstitions predicting what the weather might be like, or how good your crops might be.

And then there's the use of conkers to ward off spiders. Seriously.

Find out some more autumn superstitions in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/autumn-superstitions/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Why did these 3 hybrid mythical beasts fall out of fashion?

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 08:30:15 +0000

Not all mythological creatures are as popular as the unicorn or dragon.

Some of the more strange hybrid mythical beasts, like the manticore, Chimera, and cockatrice, have faded from art and literature.

But why? Find out in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/hybrid-mythical-beasts/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Tickets for the Spiritualism talk: https://bit.ly/2FDWYjD

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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'Like' Icy Sedgwick on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/miss.icy.sedgwick

Unicorns: The Myths & Legends Behind the Glitter & Rainbows

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 08:30:11 +0000

Unicorns might be more popular as children's decorations, or even as 'themes' in makeup collections for adults.

But how do these gentle creatures appear in legend? Where did they come from and what do they represent?

Let's find out in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/unicorns-in-legend/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Tickets for the Spiritualism talk: https://bit.ly/2FDWYjD

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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Dragons in Folklore: The Lambton Worm and the Laidly Worm

Sat, 12 Sep 2020 08:30:18 +0000

There are tales of dragons in folklore all over the world. But how do the worm tales of northern England differ from traditional dragon legends?

Let's learn more about the Lambton Worm of County Durham and the Laidly Worm of Northumberland in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/dragons-in-folklore/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Book tickets for the Spiritualism talk with the Folklore Podcast here: https://bit.ly/2FCegxj

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Folk-a-pa-lore-za Part 2 of 2!

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 10:00:10 +0000

Welcome to Part 2 of this special edition of Fabulous Folklore - the 2020 Folk-a-pa-lore-za!

In August, 12 folklore podcasts from the UK, US, and Australia (including Fabulous Folklore) met up on Zoom to put forward their favourite tales from folklore and myth.

And then we decided which was the best!

In Part 1, published last week, we put forward the stories.

In this Part 2 episode, hear us decide which tale is the winner of this Battle Royale of Folklore...

Featuring:

The Folklore Podcast - http://www.thefolklorepodcast.com/

The Sacred Isle - https://www.wihtlore.uk/

Tales of the British Isles - https://www.patreon.com/BritIsleTales

Celtic Myths & Legends Podcast - http://celticmythspodcast.com/

The Loremen Podcast - http://www.loremenpodcast.com/

Of Lore and Legend - https://www.loreandlegend.co.uk/

History and Folklore Podcast - https://historyandfolklorepodcast.libsyn.com/

The Faerie Folk podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-faerie-folk/id1493430057

Bone & Sickle - https://www.boneandsickle.com/

Tales of Rat City - https://twitter.com/DavidWa57473731

House of Legends - https://www.houseoflegends.me/

Check them out!

Griffins of Legend: A Tale of Fossils, Guardians, and Heraldry

Sat, 05 Sep 2020 08:30:15 +0000

Griffins are popular symbols in art and heraldry. They're also common statues outside banks and stately homes.

But what legends are associated with these mythical beasts?

Let's find out in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/griffins-legends/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Book tickets for the Spiritualism talk with the Folklore Podcast here: https://bit.ly/2FCegxj

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Follow Icy on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Icy Sedgwick on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/miss.icy.sedgwick

Folk-a-pa-lore-za Part 1 of 2

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 18:45:55 +0000

Welcome to this special edition of Fabulous Folklore - the 2020 Folk-a-pa-lore-za!

In August, 12 folklore podcasts from the UK, US, and Australia (including Fabulous Folklore) met up on Zoom to put forward their favourite tales from folklore and myth.

And then we decided which was the best!

In this episode, hear us each put forward our contenders in this Battle Royale of Folklore...

Featuring:

The Folklore Podcast - http://www.thefolklorepodcast.com/

The Sacred Isle - https://www.wihtlore.uk/

Tales of the British Isles - https://www.patreon.com/BritIsleTales

Celtic Myths & Legends Podcast - http://celticmythspodcast.com/

The Loremen Podcast - http://www.loremenpodcast.com/

Of Lore and Legend - https://www.loreandlegend.co.uk/

History and Folklore Podcast - https://historyandfolklorepodcast.libsyn.com/

The Faerie Folk podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-faerie-folk/id1493430057

Bone & Sickle - https://www.boneandsickle.com/

Tales of Rat City - https://twitter.com/DavidWa57473731

House of Legends - https://www.houseoflegends.me/

Check them out!

Sleep Folklore: Demons, Poppies, and Saving Your Soul

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 08:30:12 +0000

Sleep is a mysterious process, yet it's also when we're most vulnerable. For centuries, people have developed ways to protect themselves, get a good night's sleep, and even keep others awake.

How did they do it?

Let's find out in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/sleep-folklore/

Get your free guide to protecting your house with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Book tickets for the Spiritualism talk with the Folklore Podcast here: https://bit.ly/2FCegxj

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Follow Icy on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Icy Sedgwick on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/miss.icy.sedgwick

Plague Folklore: Strange Doctors, Cures, and the Black Death

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 08:30:07 +0000

From strange remedies involving live pigeons to supernatural theories of its cause, there is plenty of plague folklore throughout history.

How much of it is true?

Let's find out in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/plague-folklore/

The myth of the Charterhouse plague pit: https://www.icysedgwick.com/charterhouse-plague-pit/

Get your free copy of Harbingers here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/harbingers

Read 'Abandon Hope' here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fridayflash-abandon-hope/

Book tickets for the Spiritualism talk with the Folklore Podcast here: https://bit.ly/2FCegxj

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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'Like' Icy Sedgwick on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/miss.icy.sedgwick

The Tooth Fairy: Buying Teeth Since 1900

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 08:30:10 +0000

The loss of your first tooth is a pretty important event in your life. Providing you carefully place the tooth under your pillow and leave it for the Tooth Fairy, it can also be your first experience of earning money.

But who is the Tooth Fairy, and where did she come from?

Let's meet her, and find out some folklore remedies for toothache, in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images and read the original article here: https://folklorethursday.com/folktales/tooth-fairy-buying-teeth-since-1900/

Read Edgar Allan Poe's 'Berenice': http://www.free-short-stories.org.uk/edgar-allen-poe-berenice.htm

Get your free guide to home protection folklore-style here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Elf-Shot: Old English Medicine and Magical Remedies

Sat, 08 Aug 2020 08:30:07 +0000

People often believe Old English medicine would be primitive or superstitious. Yet one remedy found in a 9th century medical text can cure MRSA.

What did people believe called illness in this era? How did their remedies work?

Let's find out in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/old-english-medicine/

Get your free guide to home protection folklore-style here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Need healing? You Need Aesculapius, Roman God of Medicine

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 08:30:16 +0000

Aesculapius was the Roman God of Healing and Medicine (Asclepius in Greece).

But who is he and why is he such a fascinating figure in the study of ancient Greece and Rome?

And what does he have to do with Ophiuchus, the 'missing' 13th star sign?

Let's meet him in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/aesculapius/

Get your free guide to home protection folklore-style here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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9ghaaa9g

The Boy Who Lost His Shadow: Shadow People, Doubles, and Peter Pan

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 08:30:08 +0000

Shadows have become associated with all things dark and dangerous. Is that fair?

And where on earth did the stories of the Shadow People come from?

We'll look at superstitions and folklore involving shadows in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/shadows-in-folklore/

Get your free guide to home protection folklore-style here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

'Like' Icy Sedgwick on Facebook at http://facebook.com/miss.icy.sedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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Numbers in folklore: Why are 3, 7 and 9 important?

Sat, 18 Jul 2020 08:30:11 +0000

When you think of fairy tales, you'll often notice patterns in the numbers that appear. Think of the three bears, the seven dwarves, or seven-league boots.

But how and why are numbers so important in folklore?

We'll look at superstitions and stories involving the numbers 3, 7 and 9 in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/numbers-in-folklore/

Get your free collection of my short stories here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/harbingers

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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How are reflections important in western folklore?

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 08:30:11 +0000

Reflections, or their lack, appear within horror tales and superstitions alike.

Beyond vampires, how are reflections important in western folklore?

We'll look at the superstitions about love, luck, and even the soul in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/reflections/

Get your guide to home protection using folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus episodes at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Enjoyed this episode? Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

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Spells & Scrying: Mirrors in Magic, Mythology & Folklore

Sat, 04 Jul 2020 08:30:13 +0000

Mirrors are often linked with witches, like Snow White's Evil Queen. Used for scrying, or divination, and casting spells, mirrors hold pride of place among magical traditions.

But how do they work?

We'll look at the folklore, superstitions and mythology surrounding mirrors in this episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/mirrors-spells/

Vote for Fabulous Folklore in the British Podcast Awards here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote

Just enter 'Fabulous Folklore' in the search bar and click vote!

Get your guide to home protection using folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/

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Meet 3 Famous Witches of Legend: Befana, Baba Yaba & Circe

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 14:44:18 +0000

Witches in history often meet a sorry fate. The fates of witches like the Pendle Witches, the Witches of Warboys, and Isobel Gowdie are well known.

But what about the witches of myth?

In this episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's meet three famous witches of legend: Befana, Baba Yaba & Circe.

See the images or get the blog post transcript here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/3-famous-witches-of-legend/

Vote for Fabulous Folklore in the British Podcast Awards here:

https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote

Just enter 'Fabulous Folklore' in the search bar and click vote!

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The Summer Solstice: Myths and Madness of Midsummer

Sat, 20 Jun 2020 08:30:05 +0000

The summer solstice is often known as midsummer. But is it really an ancient pagan festival?

In this episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's some of the ways that both the solstice and midsummer are celebrated!

We'll also check out what its significance is...

To see the images on the blog posts, click here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/summer-solstice/

Check out the livestreamed solstice sunrise: https://www.facebook.com/englishheritage/posts/10157582980540748

Jess Carlson's ways to honour the solstice: https://jesscarlson.com/simple-summer-solstice/

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Explore the Surprising Truth about Necromancy

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 09:30:10 +0000

Is necromancy really about raising the dead, or is it a form of artful divination?

In this episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's explore this strange practice that dates to ancient Egypt and Greece! We'll also check out how it worked in the medieval period - and how it works now...

See the images on the blog post here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/necromancy/

Check out The Necromancer's Apprentice: https://www.icysedgwick.com/book/the-necromancers-apprentice/

The work of Althaea Sebastiani: https://www.ladyalthaea.com/

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What Charms Did Witches Use In Their Magic Spells?

Sat, 06 Jun 2020 09:30:06 +0000

Pop culture lets witches speak cool or pithy charms. But what charms did actually witches use in reality?

In this episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's check the historical record to learn how to shapeshift into animals, steal milk, protect lives, and protect against witchcraft (I know, the irony)!

See the images on the blog post here:

https://www.icysedgwick.com/witches-charms/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Ways to Support #BlackLivesMatter: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

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How are the Heinzelmännchen related to the Elves and the Shoemaker?

Sat, 30 May 2020 09:30:14 +0000

Most people have heard the story of the Elves & the Shoemaker, but what is the Heinzelmännchen variation associated with Cologne, Germany?

In this episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's meet the elves, hobgoblins, gnomes and dwarfs that help shoemakers (and other tradesmen) and their strange terms of work!

See the images on the blog post here:

http://www.icysedgwick.com/heinzelmannchen/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Spinning in Folklore: Impossible Bets and Crafting With the Fates

Sat, 23 May 2020 12:42:27 +0000

There are many tales of spinning in folklore, often involving trickery or the creation of fate.

In this episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's meet the Fates from ancient Greece, spinners from famous fairy tales, and the spinster herself!

See the images on the blog post here:

http://www.icysedgwick.com/spinning-in-folklore/

Check out my short story inspired by the Greek Fates:

http://www.icysedgwick.com/fridayflash-weaving/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

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Weaving in Mythology: Creating Fate and Fantastic Images

Sat, 16 May 2020 09:30:11 +0000

Many cultures have myths involving creator deities or legendary figures who weave fate into a tapestry of destiny.

In this episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's meet the goddesses and makers from ancient Greece, the Norse legends, and Victorian literature!

See the images on the blog post here:

http://www.icysedgwick.com/weaving-in-mythology/

Check out the review of Tudor Folk Tales:

http://www.icysedgwick.com/tudor-folk-tales/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

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Blacksmith Gods: Making Magical Items of Myth and Mayhem

Sat, 09 May 2020 10:41:59 +0000

Many cultures have myths involving blacksmith gods, or creatures that forge magical items for the gods.

In this episode of Fabulous Folklore, let's meet the gods and makers from ancient Greece, the Norse legends, and Irish mythology!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/blacksmith-gods/

Check out the previous episode on blacksmiths in folklore: http://www.icysedgwick.com/blacksmiths-folklore/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

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Blacksmiths of Legend: Wicked Wizards of Metal and Flame

Sat, 02 May 2020 16:28:17 +0000

Blacksmiths have long been revered and feared thanks to their skills with fire and metal. In legend, saints and sinners play the role of smith.

Let's find out more about the blacksmiths of legend in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/blacksmiths-folklore/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Weather Lore: A Tale of Portents and Omens

Sat, 25 Apr 2020 14:50:37 +0000

Humans love knowing what lies in the future and predicting the weather is no different. But how does weather lore differ from the wacky world of superstitions?

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/weather-lore/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

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Persephone: Goddess of Spring and Queen of the Dead

Sat, 18 Apr 2020 09:30:07 +0000

Most people know Persephone due to her abduction by the god Hades. But how does she balance her role as spring goddess and Queen of the Dead?

Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/persephone-spring-goddess

Pick up your copy of the The Stolen Ghosts here: https://books2read.com/u/3nYQwB

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

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Jack-in-the-Green and the Green Man: One and the Same?

Sat, 11 Apr 2020 10:30:45 +0000

You'll find the Jack-in-the-Green as part of May Day celebrations around England. But he's sometimes confused with or linked with the famous 'Green Man' found in English churches.

Are these figure representations of ancient pagan gods? Let's find out more in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/jack-in-the-green

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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What Do Eggs, Bunnies, and Bonnets Have to Do With Easter?

Sat, 04 Apr 2020 12:35:56 +0000

We often associate eggs, rabbits, and fancy hats with Easter. But where did these links come from? And was the festival really named after an ancient pagan goddess?

Let's find out more about all these Easter traditions in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/easter-lore/

The article about the Widow's Son Tavern: http://www.icysedgwick.com/hot-cross-buns/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

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A Joker in the Pack: The Folklore of Playing Cards

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 10:30:10 +0000

When you think of fortune telling, you'll probably think of tarot cards. You wouldn't think of playing cards - they're for poker and bridge, right? Wrong! You can absolutely use them for fortune telling too.

Let's find out about playing cards in both fortune telling and folklore in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/playing-cards/

Pick up your free copy of Dead Man's Hand here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/grey-freebie

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Fortune-Telling Made Easy: 4 Strange Forms of Divination

Sat, 21 Mar 2020 10:30:10 +0000

People often turn to fortune-telling for comfort in times of crisis. They might suddenly try augury, phrenology, tasseography, and many more, just to get a sense of control over an uncertain future.

Let's find out more about different types of fortune-telling in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fortune-telling/

Necromancy in my Magic and Mayhem novels: http://www.icysedgwick.com/book-series/magic-and-mayhem/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

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From the Fool to the World: The History and Folklore of Tarot Cards

Sat, 14 Mar 2020 10:30:05 +0000

When you think of fortune telling, you might think of tarot cards. Perhaps you think of a woman poring over strange images in a darkened room. Or maybe you think they're evil, only capable of foretelling doom.

Let's find out if this is really the case in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images on the blog post here: https://folklorethursday.com/folklife/from-the-fool-to-the-world-the-history-and-folklore-of-tarot-cards/

Find the Commonplace Tarot deck by Nell Latimer here: https://nelllatimer.bigcartel.com/product/commonplace-tarot-deck-preorder

Or pick up the Influence of the Angels tarot deck here (aff link): https://amzn.to/2IrLaz6

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

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Meet Fortuna, Goddess of Luck, Abundance, and Fate

Sat, 07 Mar 2020 10:30:15 +0000

Need to bring a little luck or good fortune into your life? Click here to learn about Fortuna, the Roman goddess of all things fortunate. But beware the bad luck, too...

Let's meet her in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fortuna/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Who was Spring-heeled Jack, the Victorian scourge of London?

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 10:30:13 +0000

Spring-heeled Jack looms large in Victorian folklore, springing through gaslit streets.

Who was he and why did he terrorise London's streets?

Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/spring-heeled-jack/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Inviting Sin-Eaters to a Funeral: Fact or Folklore?

Sat, 22 Feb 2020 10:30:08 +0000

Sin-eaters appear in Welsh records back to the 1680s. Though there is some dispute as to whether the custom was genuine, or misinterpreted by an over-zealous scholar. Were they real, or a neat snippet of folklore? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/sin-eaters/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Find out more about what happens to the body after death in Carla Valentine's Past Mortems: https://amzn.to/2OZjbub

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Cemetery superstitions: How to avoid bad luck in a graveyard

Sat, 15 Feb 2020 10:30:15 +0000

Cemeteries are either fascinating monuments to social history, or eerie gardens populated by the dead. There are also a plethora of superstitions that dictate how a burial should happen, how people should move around them, and even what the weather needs to be like. But is their creepy reputation deserved?

Find out more about the superstitions and folklore of cemeteries and graveyards in this episode!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/cemetery-superstitions/

Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

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Roses are Red: The Sinister Side of Valentine's Day Folklore

Sat, 08 Feb 2020 10:30:08 +0000

Sending mean cards? Eating mashed earthworms? Using jack o’lanterns to light medieval love banquets? They’re all surprising yet vaguely sinister ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Find out more about the weird and sometimes sinister traditions of Valentine's Day in this episode!

See the images on the blog post here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/valentines-day-folklore/

Check out the blog post about roses here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/roses-folklore/

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Premature Burial: Lived Once, Buried Twice

Sat, 01 Feb 2020 10:30:12 +0000

Fears around premature burial were very real in earlier centuries, leading to the invention of devices like the cemetery bell. But how many of the stories are true, and how many are mere folklore?

Find out more about the fears of being buried alive in this episode!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/premature-burial/

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Moths in Folklore: Bringers of Death and Letters

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 10:30:07 +0000

Moths are the darker twin of the butterfly, representing death, bad omens, and...getting letters! They're also linked to urban legends through the figure of the Mothman.

But is their creepy reputation deserved? Click here to learn more about moth superstitions and folklore.

Find out more about them in this episode!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/moths-folklore

Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Rats in Folklore: Signs of Bad Luck and Harbingers of Doom

Sat, 18 Jan 2020 10:25:15 +0000

Many associate rats with portents of doom or incoming bad luck. But how else do they appear in folklore and superstition?

Find out more about them in this episode!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/rats-folklore

Become a Patron for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

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Bats in Folklore: Vampires, Familiars and Death Omens

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 09:44:34 +0000

Bats are fascinating creatures and they're helpful to humans. But they fall foul of old folklore and superstitions about them - people once saw them as witches' familiars or evil death omens.

Find out more about them in this episode!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/bats-folklore

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Boost your New Year with Twelfth Night folklore!

Sat, 04 Jan 2020 10:30:09 +0000

The presents have long been opened. No one can find anything decent to watch on TV. It feels weird to still say 'Merry Christmas' so we've all switched to saying 'Happy New Year' instead. But no matter! We still have Twelfth Night to celebrate!

Find out what folklore surrounds this often forgotten festival!

See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/twelfth-night-folklore/

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What is first-footing and can it improve your year?

Sat, 28 Dec 2019 10:30:10 +0000

It's almost the turn of a new year, and while many of us are thinking of setting resolutions for the year ahead, others are planning how to make it the 'best year ever'.

Have you considered turning to folklore to give your efforts a bit of a boost?

This week, we're looking at the custom of first-footing and how can it improve your year...

Good luck!

Find the blog post and all the links here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/first-footing/

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A Ghost Story for Christmas

Sat, 21 Dec 2019 10:30:07 +0000

Telling ghost stories at Christmas is a time-honoured tradition, from Charles Dickens and his Christmas Carol, to the BBC adaptations of MR James ghost stories!

So here at Fabulous Folklore, I figured why not keep it up?!

In true folklore style, this ghost story is inspired by a London legend. This episode almost marks #50 so it's a bit of a landmark!

Without further ado, I give you 'Midnight Screams at Holborn'!

'Midnight Screams at Holborn' comes from the Black Dog and Other Gothic Tales collection, which you can buy here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/book/black-dog-other-gothic-tales/

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What strange folklore lies behind mistletoe and Christmas?

Sat, 14 Dec 2019 10:30:06 +0000

Mistletoe seems a natural part of modern Christmas decorations. But why has it become linked with kissing during the festive period? Find out in this week's episode.

See the images on the blog post at: http://www.icysedgwick.com/mistletoe-and-christmas/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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What are the festive links with holly and Christmas?

Sat, 07 Dec 2019 10:30:13 +0000

Holly and Christmas go together like bacon and eggs...but where did the links first come from? And who is the Holly King, who must battle the Oak King? Find out in this week's episode!

See the images on the blog post at: http://www.icysedgwick.com/holly-and-christmas/

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Sign up for updates about episodes and get your guide to protecting your home using folklore at: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

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Who Is Krampus And How Is He Linked To Christmas?

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 10:59:53 +0000

Krampus, sometimes seen as the Anti Santa, emerged into the mainstream in 2015 with his own movie. But who is he and how is he linked to Christmas? Find out in this week's episode!

See the images on the blog post at: http://www.icysedgwick.com/krampus/

Buy Icy at coffee at https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Sign up for updates about episodes and get your guide to protecting your home using folklore at http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Book Review 03 - Tudor Folk Tales & The Pre-Raphaelite Language of Flowers

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 14:07:13 +0000

In this episode, I review Tudor Folk Tales and The Pre-Raphaelite Language of Flowers!

Find out more about Tudor Folk Tales here - http://www.icysedgwick.com/tudor-folk-tales/

Find out more about The Pre-Raphaelite Language of Flowers here - http://www.icysedgwick.com/pre-raphaelite-language-of-flowers/

Buy Icy at coffee at https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Who are the Knockers of Cornish folklore?

Sat, 23 Nov 2019 12:01:43 +0000

Knockers, Bucca, Tommyknockers; they're all mysterious spirits who live in mines. But who are they, and why do they warn miners of cave-ins? Find out in this week's episode!

See the images on the blog post at http://www.icysedgwick.com/knockers/

Buy Icy at coffee at https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Sign up for updates about episodes and get your guide to protecting your home using folklore at http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

What 4 weird things you might find at an English crossroads?

Sat, 16 Nov 2019 21:37:41 +0000

Crossroads appear in folklore and myths all over the world. What 4 weird things might you encounter if you ventured down to an English crossroads at dusk?

See the blog post at http://www.icysedgwick.com/3-weird-things-at-crossroads

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Are the Simonside dwarfs like the miners of Middle Earth?

Sat, 09 Nov 2019 11:45:28 +0000

The Simonside Dwarfs live in the hills near Rothbury. They lurk in the darkness, ready to lure unwitting travellers to their doom. Let's go and meet them...

See the images at http://www.icysedgwick.com/simonside-dwarfs/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Or buy Icy a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Dartmoor: Home of Hairy Hands, Spectral Dogs, and the Watching Place

Sat, 02 Nov 2019 13:29:08 +0000

Dartmoor conjures images of wild, untamed beauty. But amid the forbidding landscape hide spectral dogs, hairy hands, and weird places with names like the Watching Place. Learn more in this week's episode!

Find the images at the blog post: http://www.icysedgwick.com/dartmoor-legends/

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Halloween spells for Protection, Romance & Loved Ones

Sat, 26 Oct 2019 09:37:49 +0000

October 31 is a time of spookiness and chills. But it's also a powerful time of magic and fortune telling. In this episode, find out about some simple Halloween spells and divination you can try on the big day!

See the blog post and images at http://www.icysedgwick.com/halloween-spells-for-protection-romance-loved-ones/

Support the show on Patreon and get exclusive bonuses: https://www.patreon.com/IcySedgwick

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Check out Icy's dark fantasy Magic & Mayhem series: http://www.icysedgwick.com/book-series/magic-and-mayhem/

Why do we use the jack o' lantern at Halloween?

Sat, 19 Oct 2019 10:11:14 +0000

The Jack o' Lantern, like trick or treating and fancy dress, is synonymous with Halloween. But why do we use them, and where does the custom come from? Find out in this episode!

See the images at the accompanying blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/jack-o-lantern/

Get exclusive content by becoming a patron here: https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Follow the podcast on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/fabulousfolklorepodcast/

Tweet Icy at: https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

The Broomstick In Folklore: The Witch's Ideal Transport

Sat, 12 Oct 2019 12:08:48 +0000

We've all seen images of witches astride a broomstick, zooming through the night sky. But where does the image come from, and what other folklore exists about broomsticks?

Listen to hear more folklore about this strange mode of transport!

See the images at the accompanying blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/broomstick/

Get exclusive content by becoming a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Tweet Icy at: https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Book Review 02 - The Magpie & The Wardrobe and A Treasure of British Folklore

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 20:26:04 +0000

Here's this month's book review episode!

Check out A Treasury of British Folklore by Dee Dee Chainey: http://www.icysedgwick.com/treasury-of-british-folklore/

And The Magpie & The Wardrobe: http://www.icysedgwick.com/magpie-wardrobe-curiosity/

Why do so many people fear the number 13?

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 11:30:37 +0000

Some people fear the number 13 so much they take the day off work! So why is it such a reviled number? Where did that association come from? Find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Find the post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/number-13/

Check out my folklore photos on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/fabulousfolklorepodcast/

Tweet me at: https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Get exclusive content through Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Cats In Folklore: Not Just A Witch’s Familiar

Sat, 28 Sep 2019 11:34:39 +0000

There are plenty of tales about cats in folklore, from the tales of ancient Egypt to superstitions around having cats on board ship. As Halloween approaches, let's look at these fascinating superstitions about our feline friends.

Find the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/cats-in-folklore

Danny Elfman's short animation, The Yule Cat: https://indi.com/8xcwq

Join the Fabulous Folklore Family: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Who or what is the Vampire Rabbit of Newcastle upon Tyne?

Sat, 21 Sep 2019 12:57:04 +0000

If you venture behind Cathedral Buildings in Newcastle upon Tyne, you'll find a rather unusual grotesque perched on a lintel. But why is the Vampire Rabbit there? Find out in this episode!

See the accompanying images here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/vampire-rabbit-newcastle/

Tweet me at: https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Support the show on Patreon and get exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Time Slips: Urban Legend, Ghost Story, or Utter Nonsense?

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 15:09:52 +0000

The Moberly-Jourdain Incident is the most famous of the time slip stories, when two academics appeared to encounter Marie Antoinette in the gardens of Versailles one August afternoon in 1901. Are such tales simply fantasy, or do some people get a peek into a bygone world? Listen to this episode to learn more about this fascinating phenomenon.

See the images here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/time-slips/

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Follow the podcast on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/fabulousfolklorepodcast/

Who is the Phantom Hitchhiker that haunts the Blackwall Tunnel?

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 11:29:39 +0000

Lonely stretches of roads often host tales of a phantom hitchhiker or two. London's notorious Blackwall Tunnel is no exception. Who is the spectral hitchhiker and where did he come from? Find out in this episode.

See photos of the Blackwall Tunnel here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/phantom-hitchhiker/

Tweet Icy at: https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Book Review 01 - Witchcraft Titles by Willow Winsham

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 22:48:50 +0000

We're starting a new monthly feature here on Fabulous Folklore - the book review! Every month, I'll review one or more books either about folklore, or fiction inspired by folklore.

First up for September, we have a pair of books by Folklore Thursday's very own Willow Winsham.

Check out Accused: British Witches Throughout History: http://www.icysedgwick.com/british-witches/

And England’s Witchcraft Trials: http://www.icysedgwick.com/englands-witchcraft-trials/

Psychogeography and Folklore: Walking the City's Legends

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 15:13:47 +0000

Psychogeography is a practice that involves 'walking the city' as an observer. Pick a starting point, set off on foot, and pay attention to your surroundings. But can it be used as a way to encounter folklore? Learn more in this episode!

See the images at the blog post: http://www.icysedgwick.com/psychogeography/

Tweet Icy at: https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

What is alchemy and did it ever work?

Sat, 24 Aug 2019 11:48:47 +0000

Many think alchemy was the process of turning lead into gold. Was there more to it than that, and did it ever work? Find out in this episode!

Check out the images at the accompanying blog post: http://www.icysedgwick.com/alchemy-history

Tweet me with requests at https://twitter.com/icysedgwick

Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

The Brazen Head: Medieval Prophecy Machine or Tall Tale?

Sat, 17 Aug 2019 11:34:38 +0000

The brazen head is a legendary automaton capable of answering any question you ask of it. Was it a real fortune telling machine, or a tall medieval tale? Find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!

Subscribe here for updates and get your free guide to protecting your home using folklore: http://icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore

See the images and accompanying blog post at: http://www.icysedgwick.com/brazen-head/

Or support the show on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

John Dee: The Magician and the Devil in Manchester

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 12:05:52 +0000

John Dee is a fascinating Elizabethan figure linked with the occult. But did this magician really conjure the devil while living in Manchester? Find out in this week's episode.

See the accompanying blog post at: http://www.icysedgwick.com/john-dee/

Become a Patron on Patreon at: https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Daemonologie: Or, How A King Whipped Up a Witch Craze

Sat, 03 Aug 2019 11:48:41 +0000

King James I wrote *Daemonologie* as his manifesto about witches. But how influential was it? And what impact did it have on 17th century witch hunts? Find out in this episode!

See the accompanying blog post at http://www.icysedgwick.com/daemonologie/

Follow me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Witches' Familiars: The Good, the Bad, and the Weird

Sat, 27 Jul 2019 12:44:15 +0000

Many think of cats or toads when they think of witches' familiars. But what else acted as familiars? And what did they actually do? Find out about the good, the bad and the weird among witch familiars in this week's episode! Let's kick off Magical Month in style...

Check the blog post for images and links to recommended reading; http://www.icysedgwick.com/witches-familiars/

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

What were the three types of water nymph in ancient Greece?

Sat, 20 Jul 2019 12:31:06 +0000

The naiads, nereids and oceanids were all water nymphs in ancient Greek mythology. But who were they and what made them different from each other? Were any of them dangerous? And how are they all related? Find out in this week's episode!

Read the blog post and see the images at http://www.icysedgwick.com/water-nymphs/

Tweet Icy requests for episode topics at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Why do people confuse sirens with mermaids?

Sat, 13 Jul 2019 21:08:48 +0000

Many think sirens were beautiful creatures who sang to lure sailors to their death. But why do images show them with fish tails when they were bird women? In this episode, we'll explore the original myths about the sirens, and investigate why their representation changed over the centuries.

See the images on the blog post - http://www.icysedgwick.com/sirens-mythology

Tweet me at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at: https://www.patreon.com/IcySedgwick

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Are the mermaids of folklore as vicious as the legends suggest?

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 13:01:10 +0000

People believe mermaids are either sweet sea-dwelling souls who dream of dry land, or vicious monsters who lure sailors to their deaths. Which is more true? Find out in this week's episode!

See the images on the blog post at: http://www.icysedgwick.com/mermaids-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at: https://www.patreon.com/IcySedgwick

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Are selkies as dangerous as mermaids and sirens?

Sat, 29 Jun 2019 11:26:57 +0000

Selkies appear in the folklore of Ireland, Scotland, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland. But are they as dangerous as mermaids or sirens? Find out in this week's episode.

See the images on the blog post at: http://www.icysedgwick.com/selkies-folklore/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at: https://www.patreon.com/IcySedgwick

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Thomas The Rhymer and His Predilection For Prediction

Sat, 22 Jun 2019 12:08:55 +0000

Thomas the Rhymer pops up in British folklore as a 13th-century prophet. How did he get the gift of prediction and how did he link to fairies? Find out in this week's episode.

See the images on the blog post at: http://www.icysedgwick.com/thomas-the-rhymer/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at: https://www.patreon.com/IcySedgwick

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

How To Make A Fairy Friendly Garden Using Folklore

Sat, 15 Jun 2019 12:43:51 +0000

If you're not deterred by the dark tales of the fey folk, what trees or flowers should you plant to create a fairy friendly garden? And what kind of gardening practices should you adopt, even if you only have a balcony or small patio?

Find out in this episode.

Find the images on the accompanying blog post: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fairy-friendly-garden

Or tweet Icy questions and comments at https://twitter.com/icysedgwick

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at: https://www.patreon.com/IcySedgwick

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Who are the Rothley fairies and what happens if you cross them?

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 10:26:03 +0000

Northumberland features many tales of the fey folk - and the Rothley fairies appear in not one but two stories! But what exactly happens if you cross them? This episode looks at exactly that - and offers some advice for how to handle the situation should you find yourself in a similar one...

Find more information on the blog at http://www.icysedgwick.com/rothley-fairies/

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at: https://www.patreon.com/IcySedgwick

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

What happened when a midwife met the fairies in Northumberland?

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 13:21:38 +0000

Fairies are actually tricksters, not the sweet cherubs of Disney. So what happened when a midwife in Northumberland was hired to deliver a fairy baby?

Check out the accompanying blog post at http://www.icysedgwick.com/fairies

Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family at: https://www.patreon.com/IcySedgwick

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Beetles Folklore: Scarabs, Stags, and the Deathwatch

Sat, 25 May 2019 13:54:19 +0000

With thousands of species of beetle on Earth, what folklore surrounds them? Learn about scarabs, stag beetles, and the Deathwatch beetle in this week's episode.

See the post at http://www.icysedgwick.com/beetles-folklore/

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Ladybird Folklore: Good Fortune and Nursery Rhymes

Sat, 18 May 2019 11:46:16 +0000

Symbol of good luck and modern-day pest control, the ladybird appears throughout the folklore of many cultures. In this episode, we're going to explore where ladybirds got their name, what it means if a ladybird lands on you, and why there's a slightly creepy nursery rhyme about them.

Check out the post at http://www.icysedgwick.com/ladybird-folklore/

Contact Icy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

The Dragonfly in Folklore: Good Luck Symbol & Weigher of Souls

Sat, 11 May 2019 16:37:54 +0000

The dragonfly is at once a symbol of prosperity and good luck in Asia, and also an evil omen in Europe. In this episode, learn more of the regional differences in dragonfly folklore.

Check out the images on the accompanying blog post at http://www.icysedgwick.com/dragonfly-folklore

Become a Patron on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Why Are Bees Considered Such Good Luck In Folklore?

Sat, 04 May 2019 11:53:54 +0000

Bees hold an important place in folklore, representing a range of positive associations. But why are they considered symbols of good luck? Find out in this week's episode.

Read the post and follow the links at http://www.icysedgwick.com/bees-folklore/

Friends of the Earth - Help the Bees at https://friendsoftheearth.uk/bees/bee-cause-what-you-can-do

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Butterflies in Folklore: Love, Death and the Soul

Sat, 27 Apr 2019 11:40:02 +0000

Butterflies aren't just a harbinger of summer. They also bring romance - and death. In this episode, learn more about their symbolism and superstitions.

Check out the accompanying blog post for images and to leave comments at http://www.icysedgwick.com/butterflies-folklore/

Read the butterfly myth from Irish legend at https://aliisaacstoryteller.com/2014/07/24/dealan-de-the-butterfly-in-irish-mythology/

And support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Brân the Blessed: The Talking Head to Protect Britain

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 11:37:19 +0000

Brân the Blessed was believed to have gifted his head to protect Britain from invasion. Some believe it still lies beneath the Tower of London. We're looking at his story this week as a form of 'King in the mountain'.

See the images and leave a comment at http://www.icysedgwick.com/bran-the-blessed/

You can also read about the severed head in folklore here - http://www.icysedgwick.com/severed-head/

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Drake's Drum: A Hero Slumbers Awaiting His Call

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 22:42:44 +0000

Tudor hero Sir Francis Drake left his drum behind, to be beat in times of national peril. Has anyone beaten Drake's Drum since his death in 1596? Lets find out!

See the images at the accompanying blog post - http://www.icysedgwick.com/drake-drum/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Can King Arthur be found sleeping under Sewingshields Castle?

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 21:40:41 +0000

King Arthur continues to hold a fascination for folklorists and the public alike. After all, the deeds of Arthur and his knights are now legendary. They’ve become part of Britain’s mythology.

But did you know he was linked with the Northumberland castle of Sewingshields?

Find out more about King Arthur and this particular legend in this week's episode.

See the images or leave a comment at http://www.icysedgwick.com/king-arthur/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

What Is The King In The Mountain Folklore Trope?

Sat, 30 Mar 2019 16:40:20 +0000

The King in the Mountain trope appears in both folklore and popular culture. But what is it and why does it crop up in so many legends? Find out in this week's episode!

See images and leave a comment at http://www.icysedgwick.com/king-in-the-mountain/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Why are these 3 plants essential in a witch's toolkit?

Sat, 23 Mar 2019 12:47:12 +0000

Toxic plants have interesting folklore, but find out why henbane, wolfsbane and mandrake are an essential part of any witch's toolkit!

Find the images and further links at http://www.icysedgwick.com/henbane-wolfsbane-mandrake/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Candles and Folklore: Finding Spirits, Bringing Luck and Casting Spells

Sat, 16 Mar 2019 10:03:52 +0000

Candles might be used for everything from home decor to aromatherapy, but how can you use them to get wishes and protect your home?

Read the blog post to check out the images and links, or to leave a comment, at http://www.icysedgwick.com/candles

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

What are witch bottles and how do you make one?

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 12:31:01 +0000

Witch bottles have been used since the 1600s to protect homes and individuals from evil spells. Are they relevant in 2019, or are they just a folk tale?

Read the accompanying blog post, check out the links and see all the pictures at www.icysedgwick.com/witch-bottles

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

What Is The Witching Hour And Does It Exist?

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 21:03:55 +0000

Popular culture puts the witching hour in the dead of night - and it's a time for all sorts of shenanigans. But what is it - and does it really exist?

Join Icy in this week's episode as she explores the background of the witching hour - aka the Devil's Hour. Investigate the stories and the folklore tied in with this peculiar concept.

See the images or leave a comment about your own experiences on the blog post, http://www.icysedgwick.com/witching-hour/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Spring Has Sprung: Origin Myths And Crocus Folklore

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 23:23:15 +0000

The humble crocus pops up every spring. But where does mythology say it came from? Find out more about its origins and folklore in this week's episode!

Check out the images and text-based version at http://www.icysedgwick.com/crocus-folklore

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Violets Are Blue: The Folklore Of February’s Birth Flower

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 21:23:21 +0000

Violets are February's birth flower. But what other folklore and legends surround this shy little flower? Find out in this week's episode.

See the images on the blog post at: http://www.icysedgwick.com/violets-folklore/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

Say It With Roses: Folklore Of The Queen Of All Flowers

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 22:12:35 +0000

Roses are popular symbols of love and romance. But did you know they were once unpopular with the Church? Learn more about roses folklore in this episode!

Check out the accompanying blog post at http://www.icysedgwick.com/roses-folklore/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Become a Patron for $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595

Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick

February favourites: Do snowdrops appear in folklore?

Sat, 02 Feb 2019 16:06:42 +0000

Snowdrops are the first flowers to bloom in spring. In this episode, we'll learn more about the folklore and legends around these beautiful alpine blossoms!

Go to http://www.icysedgwick.com/snowdrops-folklore to see the accompanying blog post and images.

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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Take a walk along the old Corpse Roads

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 21:22:48 +0000

Corpse roads meander through the British countryside, a forgotten relic of the rural communities we once had. But what folklore has grown up around them? Find out in episode 3 of Fabulous Folklore with Icy!

Check out the photos in the accompanying blog post here - http://www.icysedgwick.com/corpse-roads/

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Can You Stop Faeries Swapping Your Kids for Changelings?

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 15:59:59 +0000

In folklore, changelings are beings left to replace stolen children. Are they sad victims of faery politics, or cunning creatures intent on an easy life?

Check out the accompanying blog post at http://www.icysedgwick.com/changelings-friend-foe/

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Did the Hand of Glory really work or is it a myth?

Sat, 12 Jan 2019 20:58:20 +0000

The Hand of Glory granted robbers the power to enter a house undetected while its inhabitants slept. But was there actually any truth in the stories? Find out in this episode!

For images and more details, check out the accompanying blog post here; http://www.icysedgwick.com/hand-of-glory/

Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

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Buy Icy a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick