Mention ‘ladybird’ to most British people of a certain age and they’ll think of the well-loved Ladybird series of small, hard-backed books. I’ve even read one of the newer series aimed at mature readers, the so-called ‘Ladybird Expert’ series. Suzannah’s Lipscomb’s volume on Witchcraft is a highly recommended read! (Affiliate link) But anyway. We’re talking […]
folklore
The Dragonfly in Folklore: Good Luck Symbol and Weigher of Souls
There’s something magical about seeing a dragonfly darting between the reeds on a spring day. With their jewel-like colours and ability to fly backward, they’re quite the aerial specialist. The dragonfly is one of the oldest of the insect species. They also represent both air and water, since their larvae often hatch out of water. […]
Why Are Bees Considered Such Good Luck In Folklore?
The world watched in horror as one of the most famous cathedrals burned. But amid the billowing smoke and crackling flames, a tiny miracle happened. The 180,000 bees who live on the roof of Notre Dame decided to take a nap, no doubt inspired by the carbon dioxide in the smoke. And survived the fire. […]
Butterflies in Folklore: Love, Death and the Soul
Spring has sprung in the northern hemisphere, even way up here in northern England. Birds sing and bees are starting to drift around on warmer days. It won’t be long until we start seeing butterflies too. Some species have even been sighted as long ago as late February in the UK. But what superstitions or […]
Brân the Blessed: The Talking Head to Protect Britain
We’ve been looking at the ‘King in the Mountain‘ folklore trope this month. We’ve had Frederick Barbarossa, sleeping beneath a German mountain. Or King Arthur, asleep under Sewingshields Castle in Northumberland. And Sir Francis Drake, awaiting the summons of his drum near Plymouth. This week, we’re looking at Brân the Blessed – another slightly different […]
Drake’s Drum: A Hero Slumbers Awaiting His Call
English folklore is crammed with variations on the ‘king in the mountain‘ story. In these tales, legendary heroes sleep away the centuries in some remote or hidden place. There’s a version of the Arthurian legends that claims Arthur and his court lie suspended in time beneath Sewingshields Castle. But the stories often focus on kings or […]
