One of the plants that bears a festive name actually has nothing to do with the period – and that’s the Christmas Rose. It’s actually a black hellebore, part of the buttercup family. This is a plant accused of murdering Alexander the Great, believed to have cured insanity in ancient Greece, and used as a…

Few things are as synonymous with Christmas decorations than the tree itself. Pine, spruce and fir have all been used at some stage to form the centrepiece of the festive decorations. But what exactly is the folklore associated with conifers? How do they appear in protective practices? Can you use them in magic? And what…

Many plants are linked with Christmas, including ivy. What is the folklore of this climbing plant? How is it used in magic? Let’s find out in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-ivy/ Weather folklore talk with Creswell Crags: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/red-sky-at-night-the-fascinating-world-of-weather-folklore-tickets-467289885627 Get your free guide to home…

Treasure, stolen booty, graves, and other dark things lurk in the folklore of British caves. Let’s go and explore a few legends in this week’s episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-british-caves/ Weather folklore talk with Creswell Crags: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/red-sky-at-night-the-fascinating-world-of-weather-folklore-tickets-467289885627 Get your free guide to home protection the folklore…

Tunnels seem to accrue more folklore than most. Perhaps it’s because we can’t see where they go when we can only see the entrance. Or perhaps we’ve been so primed by fiction to believe tunnels must lead somewhere that we love the idea of a secret world beneath our feet. Some tunnel legends are common…

Catacombs are subterranean cemeteries, providing eternal rest to those who lie there. Yet they’re also mysterious sites, sometimes open to tourists, and less often used for burial. Stretching away below ground as they do, it’s easy to imagine what goes on away from prying eyes. But what folklore is attached to these unique locations? Let’s…