Many parts of the UK have tales related to dragons or giant worms. Northumberland has the Laidley Worm, while County Durham boasts the tale of the Lambton Worm. There are varying versions of the story, but I’m discussing the first version I heard. It links the Worm with Penshaw Hill, near Houghton-le-Spring. Other versions associate […]
folklore
What Are The Flying Heads In Iroquois Folklore?
Heads make a range of appearances in folklore and legend. It’s hardly surprising; heads are recognisable body parts, and the ability to speak or otherwise function after decapitation takes them into the realm of the uncanny. But we’re interested in folklore here, not Freud. I’ve already covered the headless horseman and severed heads this month. […]
Did the Queen Rat of London really live in the sewers?
If you’ve read China Miéville’s King Rat, then you’ll know dark things can stir beneath London. But perhaps it’s not a King Rat. Perhaps it’s a Queen Rat. Only those who venture into the deep, dark places would encounter such a creature. Let me introduce you to the toshers. What does a tosher do? When the River […]
Why are riddles and wordplay so important to folklore?
Riddles and wordplay feature strongly in a lot of the English folklore I’ve read. So I’ve handed over the reins of my blog to Charlotte Bond, who’ll explain the fascination with riddles, and just why they appear so often in folklore! Riddles in folklore I’ve been fascinated by riddles and word games in stories ever since […]
The Magpie & The Wardrobe: A Curiosity of Folklore, Magic and Spells
Curiosity is indeed an apt subtitle for this particular folklore collection, as it stimulates your curiosity as well as your interest. So just how good is The Magpie & The Wardrobe: A Curiosity of Folklore, Magic and Spells? You can watch this as a video review over on Youtube below, or keep reading if you prefer text! […]
3 powerful people to meet at the crossroads!
Last week we looked at what 3 weird things you might find at an English crossroads. A lot of people on Twitter wanted to know more, so I’ve widened my focus to include more global crossroads legends! This week we’ll look at a more well-known legend about the Devil and the Deep South, a Vodou figure, […]
