The BabaYaga Project

Historical marriages took many forms, from monogamous arranged marriages to marriages involving multiple wives and concubines. But when did romantic love enter the picture? This week, Sonya and Devin discuss how marriage went from a financial and political transaction, to the romantic, love based partnerships of today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do we watch a groundhog on February 2nd to see if he sees his shadow? The answer has to do with ancient divination through animal omens, fortune telling, and solar cycles. This week, Sonya and Devin discuss the ancient art of divination! From good and bad omens to astrology to casting lots, we’re discussing how people have sought to understand the world and see the future. Hosted on Acast. See...

How did people in the past survive the winter? Was there any fresh food in the cold months? And can you really use juniper berries as contraception? This week, Sonya and Devin discuss all this and more as we talk about the foods that can be foraged in the wintertime. From juniper berry contraception to maple syrup harvesting, we explore the ways people used winter’s plants to their advantage. Host...

What really happened at the Salem witch trials? How far into the 1800s did witch trials continue? And how did European witch beliefs combine with Native American beliefs to create a whole new idea of witches? Join us this week as Devin and Sonya discuss the witch trials of the USA! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every new year, people resolve to lose weight and get thin - but when, and why, did we become obsessed with being thin? And how is it linked to race and racism? We discuss centuries of changing beauty standards, the invention of race “science”, and how thinness became linked to eugenics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What did the New Year mean to people in the past? And what, exactly, is the feast of Epiphany all about? Join us this week as Devin and our guest Esther discuss the history and ritual surrounding these two January traditions! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas, a concept, has existed for over a millennia. It's been a solemn day of prayer and a time of drunken feasting, it's been banned and then reinstated, it's been humbly celebrated and treated as the commercial zenith of the year. This week,Devin and Sonya trace the development of this holiday over the centuries, and discuss how we got to where we are today! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

As the daylight gets shorter and shorter, and the nights grow longer and darker, we in the modern world have the luxury of well heated homes and electric lights. But how did people historically deal with the growing darkness? And how did they celebrate and mark the longest night of the year? In this week’s episode, Devin discusses the history of the winter solstice! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

As the long, dark nights of winter wear on, our ancestors turned to feasting and celebrations to bring some joy to their lives. How did these traditions get started, and what kinds of food would have been served? On this week’s episode, Sonya and Devin discuss the foods and feasts of Hanukkah, Saturnalia, Yule, and Christmas! Find out what people cooked, how they cooked it, and why people used to...

The holiday season typically involves giving of gifts both big and small, and this week Sonya and Devin discuss the history and culture of gift-giving across cultures. What did giving and receiving gifts mean in Indigenous societies in America? What did people give as gifts in the Middle Ages? And why did the king of England receive an elephant as a present? All this and more as we discuss gifts a...

How and why did the first Thanksgiving really happen? When did it find its way to Canada? And why do we eat turkey anyway? Find out on this week’s episode as Devin and Sonya dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly about this holiday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Indigenous people, European colonisers, and enslaved West Africans all had unique beliefs surrounding witchcraft. What happened when these disparate and often contradictory belief systems collided in the “New World” colonies? Devin and Sonya discuss the ways witch beliefs across cultures came together to form a uniquely North American idea of witches, and how this shaped the way we think about wit...

How do you process the death of a loved one? And how do you come to terms with your own mortality? This week, Devin, Sonya, and heir guest Taylor (a death studies scholar) will dive into the history of death rituals, dead bodies, and how people throughout history have dealt with death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For centuries, October 31st has been believed to be a night of great supernatural power, when the spirits of the dead returned and witches were at the height of their power. Where did these ideas come from, and how did it turn into a children’s holiday? Sonya and Devin discuss all this and more in this Halloween episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Witches had a place in Europe for centuries, so why did they suddenly come under attack between 1450-1750? And what, exactly, is a witch anyway? Sonya and Devin, two historians, discuss witchcraft, magic, and why these women were hunted and killed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What kind of food and medicinal plants can be found in fields and forests? How have people used these plants and fungi through history? And what kinds of supernatural beings are associated with the mushrooms, nuts, and berries of the woods? Two historians weigh in to discuss everything you need to know about foraging in the Fall, from how to stay safe from toxins, to how to avoid angering the fair...

Birthdays are milestones for us, and we celebrate with candles on a cake, the birthday song, presents, and cards. But how did these traditions start? And why do we celebrate the day we’re born anyway? This week, Sonya and Devin take a look at a ubiquitous, but relatively new, tradition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? Or is that just a marketing ploy? This week Sonya and Devin dive into the history and folklore surrounding common fall foods, like apples and squash. How were these foods eaten and harvested, what kinds of rituals surrounded them, and what did they mean to people of the past? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do people celebrate the autumn equinox? What rituals did they perform at this time? And does pumpkin spice latte actually contain pumpkin? All this and more on this week’s episode about the Autumn Equinox! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do we have a summer break? When did a time to go “back to school” become standardised? And why do we all have to go to school anyway? All this and more on this weeks’ episode, where Devin and Sonya talk about the history and cultural impact of public education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where did labour day come from? How was it historically celebrated? And are there really ghosts of mine bosses terrorising current miners? All this and more on this week’s episode of The BabaYaga Project! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wheat and bread have long held social and spiritual significance. In this week’s episode, Sonya and Devin discuss Lammas, a celebration of wheat and bread dating back to the early Middle Ages. We’ll also discuss the place of wheat socially and culturally, and how it reshaped the physical and mental landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Green Corn Ceremony is an important religious ritual for many indigenous people in what is now the United States. What is this ceremony and what meaning does it hold for participants? And how has it been impacted by the American state and colonisation? Find out this week as Devin and Sonya discuss the history of this important ceremony, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

What was it like to live through the Black Death? How did people cope in the midst of this mysterious disease? And did people really eat spoilt meat in the Middle Ages? Devin and Sonya discuss all this and more on this week’s episode of The BabaYaga Project where we’ll see what we can learn from the past while living through a modern global pandemic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

This week, Devin and Sonya discuss the way private property ownership developed from the Middle Ages to the present day, and how this has been used to oppress marginalised people in North America. In particular, Devin discusses the ways private property ownership has affected the Cherokee Nation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.