It’s easy for mythical birds to capture the imagination, whether it’s the phoenix rising from the ashes, or Aethon eternally pecking Prometheus’ liver. And let’s not forget Odin with his ravens, Huginn and Muninn, or Memory and Thought. In Norse myth, they travelled out into the world and flew back to Odin to report on […]
Blog
Folklore of Ornamental Birds: From Holy Birds to Death Omens
Humans have found a whole range of uses for birds over the centuries. Hunting with them, keeping them for their song, using them for food or divination—and as ornamental birds, because some of them are uncommonly pretty. Look at the magnificent peacock with its elaborate tail or the sweet little goldfinch with its black and […]
The Folklore of Garden Birds: Blackbirds, Sparrows, Wrens & Robins
It’s often easy to overlook what we see every day, or at least regularly. Perhaps that’s why we overlook our humble garden birds in favour of majestic eagles or mischievous ravens as our favourite birds. Yet the commonality of these small, yet often noisy, garden birds explains why there is a comparative wealth of folklore […]
The Folklore of Birds of Prey: Companions and Competition
Birds of prey have an interesting relationship with humans, having been both competing predators and avian companions for leisure pursuits. They’ve provided omens through the practice of augury, or divination by flight pattern. They appear in heraldic badges or become associated with deities in mythology. But they also have links with ordinary people who shared […]
The Folklore of Aquatic Birds of Cliffs, Lakes and Rivers
Few watery scenes are quite complete without aquatic birds in the picture. Ducks drifting across a country pond. Gulls wheeling in the sky above the beach, before they divebomb an unsuspecting tourist for their chips. Kingfishers flashing along a river, a bright dazzle of colour against the water. They’re so much a part of the […]
Sunderland Ghost Stories: Grey Ladies, Serial Killers & Poltergeists
Sunderland began life as three separate settlements on the River Wear. While there is evidence of activity in the area long before, these settlements date to 674. King Ecgfrith of Northumbria granted land to Benedict Biscop, who founded Monkwearmouth Monastery in the area. Later, the Bishop of Durham gained these lands and they became Bishopwearmouth. […]
