Weddings are often a ‘stand out’ event in many people’s lives, whether as guests or members of the wedding 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 […]
Why do people love folklore? The people have spoken!
So what actually brought you to folklore? What got you interested in myth, legends and all things superstition based? Why do you love folklore? That was actually a question that I posed on Twitter a couple of weeks ago. The massive response amazed me, especially when you added Instagram and Facebook replies. So I’m curious! […]
Children’s Folklore: Games, Rhymes and Telling Fortunes
When it comes to ‘life stages’, childhood is the first we actually remember. It’s the time when we learn to communicate, gain our bearings, and try out hundreds of interests to see which ones ‘fit’. But how does it relate to ‘folklore’? Trying to decide what to include for this ‘folklore of childhood’ post ended […]
Pregnancy & Birth Folklore: All About Predictions and Protection
I’m sure we’ve probably all heard the famous rhyme, in which the day of your birth dictates your character. It’s a common form of birth folklore that many of us will find whimsical, at most. Monday’s child is fair of face,Tuesday’s child is full of grace,Wednesday’s child is full of woe,Thursday’s child has far to […]
Lammas Lore: Harvests, Fairs, and Home Protection
1 August marks the festival of Lammas, or Lughnasadh, depending on your tradition. It’s a time of harvests, feasting, and giving thanks. The names are often used interchangeably. Though, as we shall see, there is some debate as to whether the two festivals are the same thing. Either way, you’ll find plenty of Lammas lore […]
Marianne Stokes: Folk Life and Fairy Tales in Victorian Art
We’ve been examining the links between folklore, mythology and art in the Victorian period over the last few posts. Yes, the Victorians have a lot to answer for more widely. Yet this was also a period in which mythology and folklore appeared a lot in art. Some artists used these myths to explore dangerous female […]
