Dec 20, 2019
Is Father Christmas a deep folk memory of the ancient Yulefather? Are Santa Claus, Sinterklaas, Saint Nicholas of Myra, and Sir Christmas all memories of this same pagan character? How do reindeer figure in the Christmas tradition? What is Yule? What is a Yule Goat? When is the Night of Mothers? Who is Zwarte Piet? Who...
Dec 5, 2019
Visit Dozymary pool in Cornwall and discover why The
Enchantress, Coventina, Vagdavercustis, Ceridwen, Viviane / Nimue
and even Saint Brigid of Kildare might all be the same
character:
The Lady of the Lake.
Nov 13, 2019
Discover why Harry is a warlock and not, strictly speaking, a wizard. Delve into the earliest origins of Wōden Wizard mythology before examining the definition of a warlock and touch upon witch trials in early-modern Scotland. Take a look at Daemonologie. Think about the Roman roads of Britannia and how they...
Nov 7, 2019
What is the definition of a wizard? Here we examine the origin of Merlin the wizard and see how he is curiously connected with all later wizards — both imaginary and real — from Faust to Nostradamus, to Doctor John Dee and Sir Edward Kelley — and onto Gandalf, Dumbledore, The Doctor (Who) and even Obi-Wan Kenobi. ...
Oct 30, 2019
This week we look at how boundaries between our earthly world and the netherworld become blurred during the liminal period of Hallowe'en and during Diwali. we also discover the origin of Jack o' Lantern and look at Yalis. Magical plant: Neeps.