Witch bottles date to at least the 1600s in both England and the US. Despite the name, witches did not make the bottles. Rather, ordinary people made them to repel a witch’s power. If you thought a witch had cast a spell against you, then you’d create one of these to counteract it. In this post, […]
Folklore
What time is the witching hour and does it even exist?
If you’ve hung around folklore for long, you’ve probably heard of the witching hour. In occult terms, it’s apparently that time when witches (and demons) are at their most powerful. It’s sometimes referred to as a ‘chime hour’. The phrase does also have uses in different areas. So the time your baby might cry every […]
Spring Has Sprung: Origin Myths And Crocus Folklore
One of the best things about spring is seeing the crocus pop up in random patches. My next door neighbour enjoys a ‘runway’ of crocuses across the lawn. I’ve also seen them in weird-shaped gatherings beside the motorway. So what better way to round off the fabulous folklore of February flowers than with this seasonal […]
Violets Are Blue: The Folklore Of February’s Birth Flower
As we’re still in the latter half of February, it seemed only right to look at the folklore of violets! This pretty little purple plant is the birth flower for February. And it’s been forever linked with the month through the common ‘Roses are red, violets are blue’ Valentine’s phrase. Also known as wild pansy, […]
Say It With Roses: Folklore Of The Queen Of All Flowers
From Poison’s Every Rose Has A Thorn to Cadbury’s Roses, these beautiful flowers enjoy a strong link with love and romance. Well, they do now. It hasn’t always been like that. As it’s Valentine’s Day, I figured now was as good a time as any to explore the folklore and legends of roses! You can read my other flower […]
February favourites: Do snowdrops appear in folklore?
Seeing snowdrops pop up is one of the first signs that spring is on the way. So named for their appearance soon after (or even during) the January snow, snowdrops are a perennial favourite among flower fans. Some fans take their love to such extremes that they’re known as galanthophiles…which is a bit weird but […]
