Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees

Halloween in Wales: The secret history of Nos Calan Gaeaf In Wales, October 31 is a magical night when ghosts, fairies, and all manner of supernatural creatures may be encountered. On this special Halloween podcast episode, join Mark Rees ( author of Ghosts of Wales / Paranormal Wales etc.) as he goes in search of the secret origins of Nos Calan Gaeaf , the Welsh Halloween. In the early 1900s a pi...

The Welsh jack-o’-lantern is far more terrifying than some carved pumpkin.  While the image of a grinning orange vegetable might be a modern-day staple of Halloween, in Wales it was traditionally carved from a swede and was known as Jack y Lantern. This "dreaded ghost" was thought to be a diabolical form of corpse candle that would lure lonely travellers away to a fate worse than death in the dark...

The History of Halloween: Join Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales/ Paranormal Wales etc.) for a whirlwind tour through the history of All Hallows' Eve. From ancient Celtic festivals to modern-day America, this concise journey through the dark past of the spookiest day of the year takes a look at such questions as: Where did Halloween originate? What vital role did Christianity play in things? Ho...

Dare you cross the Devil's Bridge? In this episode of the GHOSTS & FOLKLORE podcast, join Mark Rees (author of "Ghosts of Wales"/ Paranormal Wales" etc.) for a journey in search of Satan himself who, it is claimed, built a bridge over a great chasm in west Wales in exchange for the soul of an old Welsh widow. This story is one of Wales' most popular folk tales, and while it might seem a little...

In this real-life ghost story, a terrified Welsh farmer is forced to flee from a spectral locomotive as it hurtles around the idyllic landscape. But this was no ordinary ghost train - according to the witness, it was a ghost train from the future. Join MARK REES (author of "Ghosts of Wales/ Paranormal Wales") as he delves into the archives in search of evidence surrounding this extremely rare type...

Did a Welsh witch really invent beer in her magical cauldron? And what macabre part did it play in the funeral traditions of old? Join MARK REES (author of "Ghosts of Wales"/ "Paranormal Wales" etc.) as he goes in search of the often dark and Gothic myths, legends and folklore surrounding the history of beer in this episode of the GHOSTS & FOLKLORE podcast. Considered to be the "national drink...

The world is full of magical tales about fairies, but have you ever wondered where they come from? According to Welsh folklore, the little folk originated in either north Wales or south Wales, and the answer to that question - along with many others - is revealed in this episode of the GHOSTS & FOLKLORE podcast with Mark Rees (author of " Ghosts of Wales "/ "Paranormal Wales" etc.). In the com...

Can a murderer return from beyond the grave to haunt their former neighbours? In this episode of the GHOSTS & FOLKLORE podcast, join your host MARK REES (author of Ghosts of Wales/ Paranormal Wales etc.) as he goes in search of the facts surrounding the "Wraith of a Murderer", a ghost which was said to be haunting his old home in the late Victorian age. In a tale which combines a real-life lon...

Ever hear about the ghost of a headless Jesus who was seen by a man of the cloth charging along a dark Welsh road at night at the helm of a carriage pulled by spectral horses? No? What about the pesky poltergeists which were scaring a married couple in their new home nearby, and even "some holy ladies"? In this special bonus episode of Ghosts & Folklore of Wales, join MARK REES (author of Ghos...

Storytellers have the magical ability to whisk us away to distant times and places, and that's exactly what special guest Owen Staton does in this episode of the GHOSTS & FOLKLORE podcast. In conversation with MARK REES (author Ghosts of Wales/ Curious Wales/ Paranormal Wales etc.), they talk about ghost stories and eerie Welsh folk tales from the past and present. Some of these stories have b...

What can the cast and crew of TV show "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" expect to find when they film inside a haunted Welsh castle? Strange supernatural sights have been reported by a diverse cast of witnesses, from a title-winning boxer to the castle's duty manager, and include an undead butler and even a phantom horse. Join MARK REES (author of Ghosts of Wales/ Paranormal Wales etc.) as...

Did you know that fairies used to ride corgis into battle? And that the name corgi is derived from Welsh folklore? Join MARK REES (Ghosts of Wales) for an uplifting journey in search of positive dog lore from across 'haunted Wales', with tales of the fairy folk rewarding those who show kindness to their pets, a wizard's friendly familiar which helped lonely travellers at night, and ghostly four-le...

Does the ghost of Dylan Thomas visit his old haunts? Has he gone gently in that good night, or does his spirit rage, rage, against the dying of the light? Join MARK REES (Ghosts of Wales) as he investigates reports that the great Welsh poet is still active today, and that during his lifetime he was a believer in an afterlife and claimed to have seen a ghost himself. This is an epic journey which s...

Have you heard about the "dog of darkness" which stalks the haunted lanes at night? This "hound of hell" has patrolled the Welsh roads of centuries, and bears many similarities with other four-legged paranormal creatures seen across Britain and Ireland. But what exactly is the Gwyllgi, how dangerous is it, and what does it have to do with Dylan Thomas? Join MARK REES (Ghosts of Wales/ Curious Wale...

Did you know... a real-life Scooby-Doo dog once caught a ghost in a Welsh village? Join MARK REES (Ghosts of Wales/ Curious Wales) as he explores the crimes of the paranormal hoaxers, the dastardly villains who impersonated ghosts in the Victorian era, and the clever people - and pets - who busted them in three long-lost stories from the archives. For more weird and wonderful tales of the paranorm...

Is there any truth to Wales' most famous folk tale? Did a dog named Gelert really fight with a gigantic wolf for the life of the Prince of Wales' son and heir? Join MARK REES (Ghosts of Wales/ Paranormal Wales) as he goes in search of the secret origins of the tragic tale, in which a heroic hound pays the ultimate price for being man's best friend. It's a journey which begins with a piece of folkl...

Do some ghosts really swear at people? And do other ghosts dress up in the clothing of the clergy? Join MARK REES as he investigates the supernatural secrets of two eerie real-life tales of a 'woman in white' haunting on both sides of the Severn Bridge. In Wales she left 'superstitious' residents in the Vale of Glamorgan too terrified to walk about after dark, while in England two ghostbusters cla...

Did a ghost really help the police discover a buried skull? In this real-life ghost story MARK REES, author of "Ghosts of Wales", investigates the facts surrounding a Victorian spectre which haunted Swansea's 'most haunted' home. Not only did the spook have the whole city talking, but the police paid a visit when things took an unexpected turn. In a real-life scene which sounds like a work of Goth...

Can a statue really be cursed? And can it really destroy a church? The Swansea Devil is a "cursed" Victorian work of art which, if the legend is true, was responsible for burning down a Welsh church. It then disappeared without a trace, only to reappear a long way from home... Join MARK REES, author of "Ghosts of Wales", as he goes in search of the truth behind one of Wales' most infamous sculptur...

How can a ghost have two heads? The secret might shock you! Join MARK REES, author of "Ghosts of Wales: Accounts from the Victorian Archives", who discovered the long-lost real-life story of a two-headed phantom which haunted - and hunted - a Welsh community in the 19th century. BUY MARK REES A COFFEE: If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee...

New to the podcast? In just 60 seconds, here's your guide to Welsh ghosts, haunted castles, and folklore. Join journalist, author and cultural adventurer Mark Rees as he explores the weird and wonderful - spine-chilling tales of paranormal Wales, strange creatures, and seasonal traditions from the heart of Cymru. Whether you believe in things that go bump in the night or just love a good legend, p...

New to the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast? Start here!   In this short and sweet introduction, author and journalist Mark Rees explains what this weird and wonderful podcast is all about — and why it might be better to not start at episode one. Discover the stories behind the show, how it began as a DIY lockdown project, and what kind of spooky Welsh tales await you — from ghosts and goblins...