Foxes appear in literature and legend across the world. Look at Brer Fox in the American South. In Rebel Folklore, I discussed the Jiuwei Hu of China, or nine-tailed fox, who drains men of their life force. Korea’s kumiho is a similar spirit, while Japan has the supernatural fox spirit, the kitsune. Scholar Al-Biruni, magician […]
animals
Hedgehogs in Folklore: Witches, Familiars, and Milk Thieves
Hedgehogs are one of the stranger mammals you might encounter. They’re nocturnal, they hibernate, they’re prone to rolling into a ball when frightened, and they’re extremely vulnerable to habitat loss. While some of you will undoubtedly have first thought of Sonic, others might have thought of Mrs Tiggywinkle from the Beatrix Potter books. Either way, […]
Moles in Folklore: Folk Remedies and Weather Omens
Moles are fascinating creatures. They’re phenomenal diggers and while they weigh around 120g, they can shift 540 times their body weight of earth (BMCR 2025). Given they live entirely underground, they’re a rarely seen mammal, and we only know they’re there when we see their molehills. Surprisingly, there is more folklore about them than more […]
Otters in Folklore: Brave Helpers or Fearsome Monsters
Otters are some of the most charming mammals you might encounter. Sometimes nicknamed the “water sausage” by the internet, otters are playful, intelligent, and capable of using tools. They also appear in popular culture, most notably in Tarka the Otter and The Wind in the Willows. Yet in reality, they’re incredibly elusive. They might live […]
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. […]
