Fabulous Folklore with Icy
Episodes
The Folklore of Ivy: Christmas, Divinations, and Magic
03 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 wee...
Folklore of British Caves: Treasure, Cannibals, and Brownies
26 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Folklore of Tunnels: Hidden Networks and Lost Pipers
19 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 be...
Catacombs Folklore: Ghosts, Vampires & the Holy Grail
12 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Catacombs are subterranean cemeteries, providing eternal rest to those who lie there. Yet they're also mysterious sites, sometimes open to tourists, a...
Wizard's Cave or Smuggler's Cave: Treasure in Tynemouth!
05 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
4 Weird Ghost Stories Direct From Real Life
29 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 mi...
Ghosts of Latin America with Mario Gongora
24 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this eighth episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Mario Góngora, professional voiceover talent and host of the podcast, “Yes, This ...
How does the severed head appear in folklore?
22 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
Just Hanging Around: The Gallows in English Folklore
15 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Fabulous Folklore Helen Nde, talking about Mythological Africans!
09 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this seventh episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Helen Nde, Cameroonian-born researcher, writer and artist and curator of the Mythol...
Avoid disaster in the family with these death superstitions
08 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Death superstitions provide a common theme throughout folklore. It’s hardly surprising. Before the advent of modern medicine and health and safety, ...
"I Can Feel It In My Bones": Skeletons in Folklore
01 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Folklore of Seaside Plants: From Gorse to Mallow
24 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 w...
Lighthouse Legends : Missing Keepers, Storms and Ghosts
17 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lighthouse legends cling to these odd buildings around the British Isles. And lighthouses ARE odd places. Learn the tales associated with lighthouses...
Grace Darling: The Victorian Folk Hero of Northumberland
10 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Folklore of Shells and Pearls: Scallops, Rhymes and Saints
03 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ghosts and Witches of Appalachia with Ed Karshner
29 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this sixth episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Edward Karshner, Associate Professor of English at Robert Morris University! In thi...
The Folklore of Paper: Charms, Folk Songs, and Bibliomancy
27 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
The Folklore of Glass: Slippers and Superstitions
20 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Glass is a strange material. Its original source material is sand, but it needs human intervention through the application of heat and other processes...
The Folklore of Stones: From Hag Stones to Healing
13 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Stones are perhaps some of humanity's oldest friends. They provided building materials and became simple tools. But they also vary in size, making som...
The Folklore of Metals: Gold, Silver, Iron & Copper
06 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
The Folklore of Edible Plants: Basil, Bay, Chamomile, Dill, Fennel & Oregano
30 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 h...
Thyme to Find Romance? Meet the Herb of Love & Courage
23 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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? ...
Rosemary Folklore: From Tudor Weddings to Victorian Funerals
16 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Sage Folklore: Boost Your Love and Remembrance Spells
09 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 fi...
The Folklore of Parsley, a herb for protection, love & death
02 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Interview with Alessandra Pino, co-author of A Gothic Cookbook
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 thi...
Shady Meg: The Burning Witch of King's Lynn
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
Meg of Meldon: Northumberland's Famous Witch
18 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Mother Red Cap: The Infamous Witch of Camden Town
11 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Witch of Wookey Hole: Petrified for All Time
04 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Was the location of Callaly Castle really picked by fairies?
28 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Interview with Brandi Spradling
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Brownies in Folklore: Household Help or Hindrance?
21 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Katharine Briggs considers the brownies as one of the "most easily described and most recognizable" fairy types. Their territory stretched from the Mi...
The Barguest: Demon Dog, Silly Sprite or Spectral Hound?
14 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Northumberland Silky: Mischievous Fairy or Lonely Ghost?
07 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Cider Folklore: Wassailing and the Apple Tree Man
30 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cider has a long history, especially here in Britain. When the Romans arrived in Britain, they discovered the locals drinking a beverage made from app...
Meeting The Devil's Drink: Coffee Folklore in Legend and Ritual
23 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Wine and Witchcraft: A Beverage fit for Apotropaic Success
16 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 medic...
The Folklore of Tea: Magic, Predictions and Poison
09 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Legends and Folklore of Beer: Remedies, Witches & Saints
02 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 dr...
The Lily and the Lady: Plants of Purity and Protection
26 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 contra...
Lavender Folklore: The Tales Behind The Calming Plant
19 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From cleaning wounds to repelling plague, lavender has had a myriad of uses throughout the centuries. It’s come to represent devotion, purity, luck,...
From Medicine to Murder: How the Apothecary Garden Found Its Dark Side
12 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Alnwick Poison Garden is the modern descendant of the medieval apothecary garden. Find out how these healing gardens found their dark side—and...
The Victorian Language of Flowers: Hiding Secret Messages in Plain Sight
05 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 Vi...
The Not So Holy Ghost: England's Haunted Churches
26 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
For Whom the Bell Tolls: Folklore of Churches and Churchyards
19 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 de...
Interview with Rich Blackett, chair of Asatru UK
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Folklore About Pubs: Murderous Landlords, Famous Crimes & Ghosts
12 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 folklor...
The Last Drop & The Bucket of Blood: The Folklore of Odd Pub Names
05 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 meeti...
Elizabeth Bathory: Blood Countess or Framed Aristocrat?
29 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Lady Godiva: The Naked Horseback Rider of Coventry
22 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
Richard Whittington: The Real Man Behind the Pantomime
15 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 W...
Boudica: The Legends of a Celtic Warrior Queen
08 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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. Fr...
New Year's Day Folklore: Rituals & Superstitions For Good Luck
01 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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. Unsurpris...
Interview with Mark Norman, host of The Folklore Podcast
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this second interview-based episode of Fabulous Folklore, I chat to folklorist Mark Norman, host of The Folklore Podcast and author of Dark Folklor...
Who is the Grey Man of Ben Macdui?
18 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 st...
Will O' The Wisp: A Fairy, Ghost or Guardian?
11 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 fa...
Black Dogs and Englishmen: Black Shuck in English Folklore
04 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Spectral black dogs, or Black Shuck, haunt the English countryside. But the stories vary as you travel around. Some dogs are premonitions of disaste...
The Folklore of Air Travel: Gremlins, Superstitions & Gate 13
27 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ritu...
Seagulls and Storms: Seafaring Superstitions and Legends
20 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's hardly surprising that mariners would have a host of superstitions and folklore about seafaring. In earlier centuries, bad weather, poor communic...
London Underground: Corpses on the Tube & Other Lore
13 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 F...
All Aboard the Phantom Coaches of Folklore and Legend
06 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 Fabulou...
Meet the dreaded Mackenzie Poltergeist of Greyfriars Kirkyard
30 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There have been over 350 reports of encounters with the Mackenzie Poltergeist. Who or what is Greyfriars Kirkyard's most dreaded inhabitant? Let's ...
Who is the Black Nun of Threadneedle Street?
23 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 epis...
Is the ghost at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane a good omen?
16 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 f...
Meet the Grey Lady ghosts of Newcastle upon Tyne!
09 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 wh...
Interview with Folk Witch and Astrologer Amaya Rourke
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this very first interview-based episode of Fabulous Folklore, I chat to astrologer and folk witch Amaya Rourke! We talk about Hellenistic astrolo...
Who was the Grey Man of Bellister Castle?
02 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Hazel Trees in Folklore: Protection, Divination and Magic
25 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Fantastic Magic and Folklore of Ash Trees
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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?...
What Willow Folklore Surrounds This Beautiful Tree?
11 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From witchcraft to Christian theology, much willow folklore surrounds this tree. Let's take a look at some of these superstitions and traditions in t...
Meet the Oak, the Favoured Tree of the Forest!
04 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Moving House Superstitions: Brooms, Bread, Salt and Smoke
28 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 d...
Something Old, Something New: British Wedding Folklore & Traditions
21 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
Why Do People Love Folklore?
18 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ha...
Children's Folklore: Games, Rhymes and Telling Fortunes
14 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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, rhyme...
Pregnancy & Birth Folklore: All About Predictions and Protection
07 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 mor...
Lammas Lore: Harvests, Fairs, and Home Protection
31 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 mor...
Marianne Stokes: Folk Life and Fairy Tales in Victorian Art
24 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Marianne Stokes was a late Victorian artist who was important to the movement to revive tempera painting. She also illustrated fairy tales, as well ...
King Arthur and Folklore in the Art of Edward Burne-Jones
17 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Evelyn De Morgan: Myths from a Female Perspective
10 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Blending Folklore and Art in the work of John William Waterhouse
03 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Victorian artist John William Waterhouse used many myths and legends to inspire his work. Greek goddess Circe, the Lady of Shalott, Pandora, and Odyss...
Telling Magpie Rhymes: Predicting the Future with Magpies
26 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 actuall...
British Big Cats: Ice Age Survivors or Escaped Illicit Pets?
19 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 re...
The Folklore of Time: Clocks, Calendars, and Church Bells
12 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Folklore of Unusual Place Names: From Pity Me to Wetwang
05 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 so...
Meet Antenociticus, The God Adopted By The Romans
29 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Meet Jupiter Optimus Maximus - The Greatest and Best!
22 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 e...
Meet Mars, the Roman God of War and...Agriculture?!
15 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 episod...
Find the lost Temple of Mithras under a London office block
08 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 fasci...
Roman gods in Newcastle upon Tyne: Neptune and Oceanus
01 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Toxic Trees: Folklore of Juniper, Laburnum and Oleander
24 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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, la...
Magical Plant Folklore: Larkspur, Periwinkle and Wormwood
17 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Toxic plants often still possess magical properties, although extreme caution is required. Learn some of the folklore of larkspur, periwinkle and w...
Folklore of Bluebells, Daffodils & Hydrangeas
10 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Common garden flowers can be just as exciting as their showy toxic counterparts. Learn some of the folklore of bluebells, daffodils and hydrangeas ...
The Folklore of Nightshade, Foxgloves & Angel’s Trumpet
03 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Wonderful Waterfall Folklore, Myths & Legends
27 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Waterfalls attract tourists and photographers alike. What tales lurk beneath their waters? Learn some of their origin tales and associated legends ...
Avoid the Dark Depths! Dangers Lurk in Lake Folklore
20 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Strange River Folklore: River Gods and Dark Spirits
13 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Why Are Kelpies So Feared in Scottish Folklore?
06 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...