One of the enduring images of witches is the lone figure, hunched over a bubbling cauldron, a handful of roots in one hand, and a questionable bundle of ingredients in the other. We’ve basically got Shakespeare to thank for that. “Hubble bubble, boil and trouble,”and so on. And such an image nearly always involves plants […]
Folklore
Candles and Folklore: Bringing Luck and Casting Spells
Candles are a common item around the modern home. We use them for emergency lighting during a power cut. Or we light them to alter the mood during a romantic dinner or a pampering bath. They’re also synonymous with magic – think of wishing on your birthday cake or lighting candles for a spell! Today […]
How to make easy witch bottles to protect your home!
Witch bottles date to at least the 1600s in both England and the US. Despite the name, witches did not make the bottles. Rather, ordinary people made them to repel a witch’s power. If you thought a witch had cast a spell against you, then you’d create one of these to counteract it. In this post, […]
What time is the witching hour and does it even exist?
If you’ve hung around folklore for long, you’ve probably heard of the witching hour. In occult terms, it’s apparently that time when witches (and demons) are at their most powerful. It’s sometimes referred to as a ‘chime hour’. The phrase does also have uses in different areas. So the time your baby might cry every […]
Spring Has Sprung: Origin Myths And Crocus Folklore
One of the best things about spring is seeing the crocus pop up in random patches. My next door neighbour enjoys a ‘runway’ of crocuses across the lawn. I’ve also seen them in weird-shaped gatherings beside the motorway. So what better way to round off the fabulous folklore of February flowers than with this seasonal […]
Violets Are Blue: The Folklore Of February’s Birth Flower
As we’re still in the latter half of February, it seemed only right to look at the folklore of violets! This pretty little purple plant is the birth flower for February. And it’s been forever linked with the month through the common ‘Roses are red, violets are blue’ Valentine’s phrase. Also known as wild pansy, […]
