Place names are important and pass on a lot of valuable information, even if we no longer understand how to interpret it. Within them, they tell us who used to live in an area, or what natural features were important. Some of them even end up with a range of legends to explain names that […]
Goats in Folklore: From the Farmyard Doctor to the Devil
When I decided to write about goats in folklore, I thought I would find plenty of content. After all, they appear in mythology. Look at Amalthea, the goat reputed to have raised Zeus in Greek myth. Or the goats associated with the goatherd in the Auriga constellation. That’s before we get anywhere near the sign […]
Pigs in Folklore: From Piggy Banks to Spectral Sows
Pigs appear in folklore in somewhat unusual ways. Sometimes, they choose the location where a church should be built. Or they appear as phantoms, haunting misty moorland. Sailors or fishermen considered pigs unlucky, and wouldn’t even say ‘pig’ at sea. If they met a pig on their way to the boat, they would postpone sailing. […]
Cows in Folklore: From Fairy Cattle to Spectral Calves
Certain animals might spring to mind when it comes to folklore. Hares, horses, deer, cats – they all have an otherworldly quality to them. Would you consider the same of cows? There’s a surprising amount of folklore about cows. They can be death omens, fairy cattle, consumption cures, or even the guardians of treasure. That’s […]
Sheep in Folklore: From Medical Remedies to Good Luck Charms
Following on from 2024’s theme of the Folklore of Animals, this month we’ll examine the Folklore of Agricultural Animals. This week, we’ll explore the folklore, legends, and even folk medicine associated with sheep. Sheep are not native to the UK. Neolithic settlers brought them to Britain from southwest Asia in around 3000 BCE. Sheepskin and […]
Mourning Folklore: From Giving Rings to Wearing Black
If you think of the phrase “to be in mourning”, you’ll probably imagine a Victorian scene. Perhaps a black-clad widow ushers similarly black-clad children to a desolate graveyard in the depths of autumn. Or maybe you picture a grand house, shuttered up against the world that continues outside, while life is paused for those inside […]
