Skeletons are a common costume choice at Halloween. But they’re the ultimate symbol of death. Let’s be honest, if I see a skeleton, then I know I’m looking at a dead body. Finding lost or buried bones is common in Gothic stories. Revealing the bones brings forth a hidden secret. There’s even a profession dedicated […]
The Folklore of Seaside Plants: From Gorse to Mallow
When you think of the seaside, you might think of warm sand, vast open skies, grassy dunes, and waves breaking on the shore. You might not think of plant life. Yet coastal areas often host a plethora of seaside plants. Make no mistake, these are tough plants. They need to be, to endure salty, sandy, […]
Lighthouse Legends: Missing Keepers, Storms and Ghosts
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 […]
Grace Darling: The Victorian Folk Hero of Northumberland
In the days before air travel, travelling by sea was one of the fastest ways to travel. Yet it was fraught with dangers, such as running aground on rocks and heading into storms. In 1838, the SS Forfarshire did both in the North Sea, off the coast of Northumberland. While many of the crew and […]
The Folklore of Shells and Pearls: Scallops, Rhymes and Saints
Seashells evoke days at the beach and the beauty of nature. In other cultures and times, people used shells as both currencies, and as decoration. Look at the Italian grottoes festooned with seashells that gave us the word ‘grotesque’. They’re also useful in other ways. Neptune’s son, Triton, used a conch shell as a trumpet. […]
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 […]
