Fabulous Folklore with Icy

Rue Folklore: Warding off Poison, Plague and Pestilence

29 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, poiso...

St John's Wort: The Folk Magic of the Midsummer Plant

22 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 plan...

Romanian and Irish Fairy Lore with Daniela Simina

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Daniela Simina is native of Romania, granddaughter of a Fairy Seer and medicine woman. She became acquainted with fairies through the local lore and f...

Lemon Balm Folklore: Sweet Smells & Folk Remedies

15 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lemon balm, or Melissa officinalis, is a member of the Lamiaceae family, along with mint, rosemary, marjoram, sage, basil, and lavender. Its popular n...

Poppy Folklore: The Symbol of Sleep, Death, War, and…Love?

08 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Iris Folklore: Perfume, Remedies, and a Rainbow Goddess

01 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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. Th...

Milan Legends of Dragons, Ghosts, and the Devil

25 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 livi...

Animism and Animistic Witchcraft with Althaea Sebastiani

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Althaea Sebastiani is a spiritworker and religious educator whose work focuses on helping people navigate the realities of deep spiritual practice. Th...

What was the Dancing Plague of 1518 in Strasbourg?

18 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 seem...

Pacific Legends and Folklore with Kamuela Kaneshiro

12 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, ...

Vienna Legends: Mozart, Elisabeth Bathory & Restless Ghosts

11 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 name...

Helsinki Legends: Haunted Theatres and Restless Ghosts

04 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 gh...

Meet Robin Hood, the Legendary Rebel of English Myth

27 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Robin Hood is perhaps the most recognisable figure in English folklore, darting through legend in Sherwood Forest.  Yet discussions in the past trie...

Who is Queen Mab? Queen of the Fairies in Folklore or in Literature?

20 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Elpham...

Elves in Germanic Folklore with Rose Aurora

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, spec...

Meet Herne the Hunter: Fact, Fiction, or Folklore?

13 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...we...

King Arthur in Folklore: A Sleeping King Or A Giant?

06 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ro...

The Folklore of Hill Figures: White Horses and Naked Giants

30 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The hill figures of southern England are enigmatic artworks, standing out with their stark white lines against the green grass of their home slopes. T...

Folklore of Barrows: Tales of Fairies, Gods, Ghosts, & the Devil

23 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether we're looking at barrows, cromlechs, or dolmens, ancient burial sites hold a certain fascination. They're linked with all manner of supernatu...

The Myth of Atlantis and Lemuria with Sian Ingham

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 k...

Folklore of Stone Circles: Petrified Dancers and Countless Stones

16 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

The Folklore of Standing Stones, Megaliths, and Menhirs

09 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

The Folklore of Wells: Healing, Wishing, Divining, and Cursing

02 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Archaeological evidence reveals a close relationship between people and the spiritual world back to the Bronze Age, often enacted through water. Sprin...

The Folklore of Forest Protectors and Guardians

24 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Forests are ambivalent places, both beautiful and tranquil, yet also dangerous to the unwary. They've always been a source of resources for people, wh...

Fungi Folklore, Or the Mysterious Forest Fruit

17 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mushrooms have captured humanity's attention for thousands of years. But they still confuse us. Mushrooms spring up overnight, many of them are dang...

Legends of Love from Pakistan with Komal Salman

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 c...

The Folklore of Woodland Trees: Alder, Birch & Blackthorn

10 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Folklore of Woodland Plants: Cowslips, Forget-Me-Nots, Lily of the Valley, Primroses & Red Campion

03 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Certain plants evoke particular areas, like grasslands, meadows, hedgerows, or gardens. Others are full of the mystery of the forest, splashing colour...

The Ambiguous Nature of Fairies with Morgan Daimler

28 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The Ghosts of Culloden Moor: Lost Soldiers on the Battlefield

27 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Legends of Denbigh Moors: Ghosts, Snow and the Tylwyth Teg

20 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Exmoor Folklore: Witches, Ghosts, and Fantastic Beasts

13 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The name 'Exmoor' conjures mental images of ponies, undulating moorland, and Lorna Doone, R D Blackmore's 1869 novel. It crosses the Somerset and Dev...

Newcastle's Town Moor: Fairs, Witches, and Common Land

06 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

50 Berkeley Square: The Most Haunted House in London

30 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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....

A Welsh Christmas Story with Owen Staton

23 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Fabulo...

Herbalism & the Plant Path with Sarah Corbett

17 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Tower of London Ghosts: From Anne Boleyn to the Phantom Bear

16 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Tower of London has been many things through its over 900 years of history. Royal palace, fortress, menagerie, armoury, treasury, Royal Mint, publ...

The Norse Legends and Runes with Dr Thomas Birkett

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Two London Ghosts and Messages from Beyond the Grave

09 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 om...

The Hammersmith Ghost: The 1803 Hoax That Went Wrong

02 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Glastonbury Tor: The Ancient Entrance to the Fairy Otherworld

25 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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. Standin...

Italian Folk Magic & Shamanism with Dr Angela Puca

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Univer...

Rescuing a Maiden: Dragon Legends on the Drachenfels

18 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 transl...

Fairy Legends of the Bannau Brycheiniog

11 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're off to the gorgeous surroundings of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) this week for the Folklore of Mountains and Hills.  According to M...

The Folklore of the Cheviots: Ghosts, Fairies & Smugglers

04 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There's something both primal and ancient about mountains. Beautiful and remote, they can provide a harsh and unforgiving environment for those who ve...

Two Ghost Hunters in Conversation at Newcastle Castle

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Hallowe'en! For a special 'festive' bonus, I recorded this episode at Newcastle Castle. I'm chatting with my fellow Geordie ghosthunter, Rob Kir...

Magical October 4 - Welsh Magical Practice & Myth with Mhara Starling

28 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Wels...

Explore Ancient & Medieval Britain with Amy Jeffs

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The History of Folk Witchcraft with Amaya Rourke

21 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Irelan...

Magical October 2 - Connecting with Nature with Emma Kathryn

14 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Notting...

Magical October 1 - Shetland Folk Magic & Tarot with Una Blyth

07 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Ùn...

Haunted Libraries: Footsteps and Shushes in the Stacks

30 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Haunted libraries became famous with Ghostbusters. Our heroes investigate disturbances at the New York Public Library and encounter a ghost that tells...

Haunted Prisons: Ghosts of Joliet, Shepton Mallet, and Barlinnie

23 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While schools and universities boast urban legends alongside ghosts, prisons tend to be more like hospitals. You find tales of hauntings, but little i...

The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts with Delyth Badder and Mark Norman

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Haunted Hospitals: Porters, Matrons, and Past Patients

16 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Infi...

University Folklore: Ghosts and Exam Failure Curses

09 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 envi...

School Folklore: Ghosts, Black Dogs, and Cautionary Tales

02 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ne...

Belfast Ghost Stories: A Prison, a Market, and a Railway Station

26 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

Cardiff Folklore: Ghosts, Tunnels, and Creatures in the Taff

19 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 sec...

Fabulous Folklore Presents...The Trickster Archetype with Shepherd Siegel

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The Mysterious Miniature Coffins found on Edinburgh's Arthur's Seat

12 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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, ...

Exploring the myths of the Charterhouse Plague Pit

05 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Charterhouse area of London has played host to a monastery, a School, and university buildings...as well as the Charterhouse Plague Pit.  Yet th...

Meet Minerva, Goddess of Intellect, Inspiration & the Arts

29 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Minerva was the Roman goddess associated with all things intelligence, crafts-related, and military strategy. How did she combine so many disciplines?...

Mythology & Graphic Novels with Daniel Clarke

24 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Meet Vulcan, Roman God of Fire, Volcanoes and Blacksmiths

22 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Vulca...

Meet Juno, Queen of the Gods and Protector of the Roman State

15 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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. ...

Meet Silvanus, Roman god of the wild and nature

08 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 goddes...

What Are Redcaps And Why Should You Avoid Their Lair?

24 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For the unwary visitor to their lair, redcaps can be deeply dangerous creatures. These malevolent little folk are classified ‘goblins’ and that’...

Fabulous Folklore Announcement!!

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I have an announcement to make... I have a folklore book coming out! Rebel Folklore: Empowering Tales of Spirits, Witches and Other Misfits from Anan...

What is the legend of the Brinkburn Bells in Northumberland?

17 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

Tales of Northern Vampires: Ancient Revenants in the Borders and Cumbria

10 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You might not expect to see northern vampires among the tales of Northumberland, the Borders and Cumbria. But they're there! William de Newburgh incl...

Are the Dancing Fairies of Northumbria Benign or Malevolent?

03 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 'fl...

4 Amsterdam Ghost Stories from the City of Canals

27 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Never mind canals, famous nightlife, and beautiful architecture - there is another side to the Dutch capital, one full of supernatural terrors and biz...

4 Barcelona Ghost Stories from the Catalonian Capital

20 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Barcelona lies on the Mediterranean Coast in Catalonia. It's a gorgeous city, famous for architect Antoni Gaudí, artist Joan Miró and writer Carlos ...

4 Paris Ghost Stories from the City of Light

13 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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, loiter...

3 creepy tales of the Devil, the helpful dead, and ghosts in Venice

06 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 se...

Folklore of Thistles: Protection from Evil, Predicting Rain, and a Mental Boost

29 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Thistles are a beautiful plant, and the beloved floral emblem of Scotland. But looks can be deceiving and thistles are considered an invasive plant. ...

Folklore of Daisies: Love Divination and Daisy Chains

22 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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, ...

Fabulous Folklore Presents...Queer as Folklore

17 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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....

The Folklore of Nettles: Edible Stings, Returning Curses, and Warding off Evil

15 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 nett...

Celandine Folklore: A Remedy To Keep Away Witches?

08 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plants often become unwanted plants when they're especially prolific. Celandine is one such plant, quickly spreading to fill an area with its glossy g...

Dandelions in Folklore: Making Wishes and Wetting the Bed

01 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dandelions are cheerful little splashes of colour in lawns and borders. They flower longer than any other plant, providing food for early pollinators....

Folklore, Food, and Fairytales with Rachel

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this 11th episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Rachel, the part-time storyteller and food lover behind the Folklore, Food and Fairyta...

Let Them Eat Cake: Cakes to Bring Love and Ward Off Witches

25 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 peopl...

Why does a London pub hang hot cross buns in the bar?

18 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Fruit Folklore: Healing Remedies, Nursery Rhymes, and Love Predictions!

11 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 pomegr...

Bread Folklore: Medicine, Divination Tool, and Love Magnet!

04 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Outerwear and Underwear: Folklore, Superstitions, and Lucky Pants

25 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Folklore and Filmmaking with George Popov

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this 10th episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with George Popov, the Bulgarian born writer-director behind the folk horror films, 'Hex' a...

The Folklore of Hats, Gloves and Belts: Wear Your Own Luck

18 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The Folklore of Clothes: Defying Fairies, Finding Love, and Bringing Luck

11 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The Folklore of Footwear: Shoes, Boots & Stockings

04 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Footwear is surprisingly common in folklore, with boots, shoes and stockings used for protection, divination, and medicine. Burning shoes, pinning st...

Royal Witches: 15th Century Women Fall Foul of Political Shenanigans

28 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you think of witchcraft in earlier centuries, you probably think of stereotypically wizened women, huddled around cauldrons or casting curses. Yo...

Shapeshifting Witches: From Witch to Hare and Back Again

21 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Shapeshifting witches appear in various British tales, in which witches appear as cats, hares or even hedgehogs. In other stories, they can magically ...

Shapeshifting Creatures of Folklore: Fairies, Selkies and Ghosts

14 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 shape...

The Folklore of Furniture: Beds, Tables and Chairs

07 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 impressi...

Welsh Death Omens with Dr Delyth Badder

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this 9th episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Dr Delyth Badder, a Welsh folklorist and antiquarian book collector based in Pontypridd...

A Darker Shade of Yule

23 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

The Christmas Rose: The Myth and Magic of the Black Hellebore

17 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 hellebor...

Conifers and Christmas: The Folklore of Pine, Spruce and Fir Trees

10 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 centre...