Fabulous Folklore with Icy

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...

People often turn to fortune-telling for comfort in times of crisis. They might suddenly try augury, phrenology, tasseography, and many more, just to get a sense of control over an uncertain future. Let's find out more about different types of fortune-telling in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!  See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fortune-telling/ Necromancy i...

When you think of fortune telling, you might think of tarot cards. Perhaps you think of a woman poring over strange images in a darkened room. Or maybe you think they're evil, only capable of foretelling doom.  Let's find out if this is really the case in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!  See the images on the blog post here: https://folklorethursday.com/folklife/from-the-fool-to-the-worl...

Need to bring a little luck or good fortune into your life? Click here to learn about Fortuna, the Roman goddess of all things fortunate. But beware the bad luck, too...  Let's meet her in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!  See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fortuna/ Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folk...

Spring-heeled Jack looms large in Victorian folklore, springing through gaslit streets. Who was he and why did he terrorise London's streets? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.  See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/spring-heeled-jack/ Get your guide to protecting your home with folklore here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore Become a Patr...

Sin-eaters appear in Welsh records back to the 1680s. Though there is some dispute as to whether the custom was genuine, or misinterpreted by an over-zealous scholar. Were they real, or a neat snippet of folklore? Let's find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore.  See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/sin-eaters/ Get your guide to protecting your home with folk...

Cemeteries are either fascinating monuments to social history, or eerie gardens populated by the dead. There are also a plethora of superstitions that dictate how a burial should happen, how people should move around them, and even what the weather needs to be like. But is their creepy reputation deserved?  Find out more about the superstitions and folklore of cemeteries and graveyards in this epi...

Sending mean cards? Eating mashed earthworms? Using jack o’lanterns to light medieval love banquets? They’re all surprising yet vaguely sinister ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  Find out more about the weird and sometimes sinister traditions of Valentine's Day in this episode! See the images on the blog post here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/valentines-day-folklore/ Check out the blog post abou...

Fears around premature burial were very real in earlier centuries, leading to the invention of devices like the cemetery bell. But how many of the stories are true, and how many are mere folklore?  Find out more about the fears of being buried alive in this episode! See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/premature-burial/ Become a Patron for bonus content at https://www.p...

Moths are the darker twin of the butterfly, representing death, bad omens, and...getting letters! They're also linked to urban legends through the figure of the Mothman. But is their creepy reputation deserved? Click here to learn more about moth superstitions and folklore. Find out more about them in this episode! See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/moths-folklore Bec...

Many associate rats with portents of doom or incoming bad luck. But how else do they appear in folklore and superstition?  Find out more about them in this episode! See the images on the blog post here:  http://www.icysedgwick.com/rats-folklore Become a Patron for as little as $1 a month at  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595 Buy Icy a coffee at:  https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick Tweet Icy at...

Bats are fascinating creatures and they're helpful to humans. But they fall foul of old folklore and superstitions about them - people once saw them as witches' familiars or evil death omens.  Find out more about them in this episode! See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/bats-folklore Become a Patron for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380...

The presents have long been opened. No one can find anything decent to watch on TV. It feels weird to still say 'Merry Christmas' so we've all switched to saying 'Happy New Year' instead. But no matter! We still have Twelfth Night to celebrate! Find out what folklore surrounds this often forgotten festival! See the images on the blog post here: http://www.icysedgwick.com/twelfth-night-folklore/ Be...

It's almost the turn of a new year, and while many of us are thinking of setting resolutions for the year ahead, others are planning how to make it the 'best year ever'. Have you considered turning to folklore to give your efforts a bit of a boost? This week, we're looking at the custom of first-footing and how can it improve your year... Good luck! Find the blog post and all the links here: https...

Telling ghost stories at Christmas is a time-honoured tradition, from Charles Dickens and his Christmas Carol , to the BBC adaptations of MR James ghost stories!  So here at Fabulous Folklore, I figured why not keep it up?!  In true folklore style, this ghost story is inspired by a London legend. This episode almost marks #50 so it's a bit of a landmark! Without further ado, I give you 'Midnight S...

Mistletoe seems a natural part of modern Christmas decorations. But why has it become linked with kissing during the festive period? Find out in this week's episode. See the images on the blog post at: http://www.icysedgwick.com/mistletoe-and-christmas/ Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick Follow Icy on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/icysedgwick/ Become a Patron for $1 a month at h...