Fabulous Folklore with Icy

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...

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...

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 yo...

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-pla...

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...

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 guid...

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 you...

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-styl...

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.c...

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 he...

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/mirror...

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-le...

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...

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 :...

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...

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...

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.icysedgwic...

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.icy...

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.co...

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.i...

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-folk...

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 p...

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...

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.icys...

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-c...