Fabulous Folklore with Icy

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...

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 a...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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/b...

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.myjewis...

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 haz...

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-folkl...

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 exclu...

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/englis...

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-traditio...

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-...

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.icysed...

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 bot...

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-f...

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/ Becom...

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.icysedgwi...

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/ Becom...

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 b...

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 referen...

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 mor...

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 ima...

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.icysed...