Depending on where you are in the world, you might be lucky enough to see the iris bloom before it fades for the year. Where I am, they finished in mid-May, but with the changing climate, that might vary for you. The iris is one of those instantly recognisable flowers, showy and bright with its […]
folklore
What was the Dancing Plague of 1518 in Strasbourg?
When it comes to plague outbreaks in Europe, your mind probably doesn’t immediately jump to a so-called dancing plague. Yet that’s precisely what seemed to grip Strasbourg, France in the summer of 1518. Townspeople started dancing, seemingly against their will, and couldn’t stop for almost a month. Hundreds died of exhaustion, with contemporary commentators blaming […]
Vienna Legends: Mozart, Elisabeth Bathory & Restless Ghosts
Vienna has a long history, dating back to the 1st century CE Roman military camp of Vindobona. It was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is now the capital of Austria. And it’s been home to some pretty big names over the centuries. Mozart, Beethoven, Sigmund Freud, Gustav Klimt, Hedy Lamarr, Marie Antoinette and […]
Helsinki Legends: Haunted Theatres and Restless Ghosts
The Helsinki region has been inhabited for millennia, as proven by the Bronze Age burial mound in Kulosaari. Yet Gustav Vasa founded Helsinki as a city in 1550. Russia conquered Finland in 1808 and made Helsinki the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland, a region within the country. Finland finally gained independence in 1917. […]
Meet Robin Hood, the Legendary Rebel of English Myth
Robin Hood is perhaps the most recognisable figure in English folklore. Along with his band of Merry Men, Robin darts through legend, standing up to the wealthy and living in Sherwood Forest. Since the 20th century, plenty of different film and TV adaptations mean there is a Robin to suit everyone. Yet discussions in the […]
Who is Queen Mab? Queen of the Fairies in Folklore or in Literature?
The Queen of the Fairies is sometimes named Queen Mab, depending on the source material. She’s also known as the Queen of Elfland, the Queen of Elphame, and Titania. So who is Mab? Does she come from English folklore, or is Mab the name given by playwrights and poets to the Queen in folklore? Let’s […]
