Lighthouses descend from an ancient concept. The ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Greeks built towers to house beacons. Over time, these buildings developed to include more technology. They either mark dangerous places for rocks or guide ships into safe harbours. For example, the lighthouses on the north and south piers mark the entrance to the river […]
folklore
The Folklore of Paper: Charms, Folk Songs, and Bibliomancy
Paper as a material first appeared around 2000 years ago in China. The earliest paper sheets were likely made from mulberry bark, rags, and hemp. The secret of papermaking travelled to north Africa and western Asia in the 8th century. In the 11th century, papermaking finally arrived in Europe via Spain and Sicily. Until this […]
The Folklore of Glass: Slippers and Superstitions
Glass is a strange material. Its original source material is sand, but it needs human intervention through the application of heat and other processes to find form. We can see through it, but we can’t touch what’s on the other side. You can use it to concentrate a light source. Or it’s helpful if you […]
The Folklore of Stones: From Hag Stones to Healing
Stones are perhaps some of humanity’s oldest friends. They provided building materials and became simple tools. But they also vary in size, making some of them very portable as amulets. It’s no wonder that they’ve accrued both lore and superstition alike. For example, the heaviness and general permanence of stone slabs led to their use […]
The Folklore of Metals: Gold, Silver, Iron & Copper
Different metals are often baked into mythology. Look at griffins and dragons with their hoard of gold. Or Bellerophon’s use of molten lead to kill the deadly chimera. According to legend, people paid for their passage to the underworld with coins placed over their eyes. But how do different metals turn up in folklore? Why […]
The Folklore of Edible Plants: Basil, Bay, Chamomile, Dill, Fennel & Oregano
There is something almost glamourous about poisonous plants. From their showy blossoms to their exotic names, they cry out for attention. So it’s easy to overlook the folklore associated with the far more humble edible plants. These are the herbs we cook with. We might pass them in the dried herbs section. Or we see […]
