Fabulous Folklore with Icy
Episodes
Time Slips: Urban Legend, Ghost Story, or Utter Nonsense?
15 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Who is the Phantom Hitchhiker that haunts the Blackwall Tunnel?
07 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 hi...
Book Review 01 - Witchcraft Titles by Willow Winsham
01 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Psychogeography and Folklore: Walking the City's Legends
31 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 surro...
What is alchemy and did it ever work?
24 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
The Brazen Head: Medieval Prophecy Machine or Tall Tale?
17 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 ta...
John Dee: The Magician and the Devil in Manchester
10 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
John Dee is a fascinating Elizabethan figure linked with the occult. But did this magician really conjure the devil while living in Manchester? Find o...
Daemonologie: Or, How A King Whipped Up a Witch Craze
03 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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?...
Witches' Familiars: The Good, the Bad, and the Weird
27 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
What were the three types of water nymph in ancient Greece?
20 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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? Wer...
Why do people confuse sirens with mermaids?
13 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 wo...
Are the mermaids of folklore as vicious as the legends suggest?
06 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Are selkies as dangerous as mermaids and sirens?
29 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Thomas The Rhymer and His Predilection For Prediction
22 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 ou...
How To Make A Fairy Friendly Garden Using Folklore
15 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 g...
Who are the Rothley fairies and what happens if you cross them?
08 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
What happened when a midwife met the fairies in Northumberland?
01 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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?...
Beetles Folklore: Scarabs, Stags, and the Deathwatch
25 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With thousands of species of beetle on Earth, what folklore surrounds them? Learn about scarabs, stag beetles, and the Deathwatch beetle in this week'...
Ladybird Folklore: Good Fortune and Nursery Rhymes
18 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 explor...
The Dragonfly in Folklore: Good Luck Symbol & Weigher of Souls
11 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 di...
Why Are Bees Considered Such Good Luck In Folklore?
04 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Butterflies in Folklore: Love, Death and the Soul
27 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Butterflies aren't just a harbinger of summer. They also bring romance - and death. In this episode, learn more about their symbolism and superstition...
Brân the Blessed: The Talking Head to Protect Britain
20 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Drake's Drum: A Hero Slumbers Awaiting His Call
12 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Can King Arthur be found sleeping under Sewingshields Castle?
05 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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. Th...
What Is The King In The Mountain Folklore Trope?
30 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
Why are these 3 plants essential in a witch's toolkit?
23 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Toxic plants have interesting folklore, but find out why henbane, wolfsbane and mandrake are an essential part of any witch's toolkit! Find the image...
Candles and Folklore: Finding Spirits, Bringing Luck and Casting Spells
16 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 pos...
What are witch bottles and how do you make one?
09 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 tal...
What Is The Witching Hour And Does It Exist?
03 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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?...
Spring Has Sprung: Origin Myths And Crocus Folklore
24 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Violets Are Blue: The Folklore Of February’s Birth Flower
17 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 im...
Say It With Roses: Folklore Of The Queen Of All Flowers
10 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 epis...
February favourites: Do snowdrops appear in folklore?
02 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 blo...
Take a walk along the old Corpse Roads
27 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Corpse roads meander through the British countryside, a forgotten relic of the rural communities we once had. But what folklore has grown up around th...
Can You Stop Faeries Swapping Your Kids for Changelings?
22 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In folklore, changelings are beings left to replace stolen children. Are they sad victims of faery politics, or cunning creatures intent on an easy li...
Did the Hand of Glory really work or is it a myth?
12 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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? ...