In this episode we continue our look at the folk traditions surrounding the early harvest feast. This time we look at the fairs of Tailtiu or Carmen; plus we play 'an hour in the hay', and mull over the significance of that very first loaf.

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A look at the folk traditions surrounding the early August feast that opens the harvest, also known at Lugh's Funeral Games.

Stay tuned for part 2, coming this week.

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Travel with us to Wivenhoe, north Essex, as we muse over the role of folklore today, fairy trees, plus bizarre lockdown sightings with folklore researcher Bethan Briggs-Miller.

BBM's work:

🎧 Eerie Essex Podcast https://t.ly/p8tw

🎧 Spectre of the Sea Podcast https://t.ly/KKxZ

📺 Death and the Landscape: Glamorgan and the Llynfi Valley https://t.ly/V98h

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Enjoy this adventure to folklorist Bethan Briggs-Miller's childhood home in Tondu, Wales. Bethan is a great raconteur and regales us with tales of the spectres that may still linger at the family fireplace... A frank, vivid, and personal conversation.

BBM's work:

📺 Death and the Landscape: Glamorgan and the Llynfi Valley https://t.ly/V98h

🎧 Spectre of the Sea Podcast https://t.ly/KKxZ

🎧 Eerie Essex Podcast https://t.ly/p8tw

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🎧 Soundtrack by ⁠⁠@big.big.sky⁠⁠

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Welcome to Season 3! Today we're exploring time-slips and their link to the Otherworld...

Featured:

Niamh and Oisín (Ireland)

King Herla (England)

Shon ap Shenkin / Sion ap Siencyn (Wales)

The lad from Scorrybreac (Scotland)

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Oss Oss Wee Oss! https://bit.ly/42dLat8

❄️🌞 Enjoy Icebreak in full https://bit.ly/3ljU2NO ❄️🌞

🎧 Soundtrack by @big.big.sky

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Welcome to the next episode in our series The Otherworld. Part 4: Gifts from the Gods.  🎁✨

Today we delve into some of the mystical presents that have been imparted from 'beyond the veil', including a fairy flag and stories of music and artistry. 

This one's for all the dreamers out there...

✍️ Full episode script + show notes

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✍️  SCRIPT + SHOW NOTES  ✍️ 

1/2  https://bit.ly/3ZdytxU

2/2 https://bit.ly/3icNwYd

Welcome to the next episode in our series The Otherworld. Part 3: The Adventures of Cherry of Zennor.

✍️ Full episode script + show notes 

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|  LINKS + SOURCES  |

Hunt, Robert 'Popular Romances of the West of England' (Palala Press, 2018) 

Hartland, Edwin Sidney 'English Fairy and Other Folk Tales' (2022)

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Ditchfield, P.H. 'Old English Customs: Extant at the Present Time'. (London: Methuen, 1896) https://bit.ly/3vMRKKf

Dunlop and Tirion 'Night Sky Almanac: A Stargazer's guider to 2022'. (Glasgow: Collins, 2021) https://amzn.to/3FTHfqL

Hutton, Ronald 'The Stations of The Sun'. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997) https://bit.ly/3hG1Wft

Lagram, Anne Marie 'Country Wisdom and Folklore Almanac'. (Talking Trees Books, 2020) https://www.talkingtreesbooks.co.uk

Leendertz, Lia 'The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2022'. (London: Gaia/Octopus Publishing Group, 2021) https://www.lialeendertz.com/

Roud, Steve 'The English Year'. (London: Penguin Books, 2008) https://bit.ly/3txP9RQ

Wright, Jonathan 'The Forager's Calendar'. (London: Profile Books Ltd, 2019) https://www.foragerscalendar.net

Welcome to the second episode in our series The Otherworld, where we take a cautious step into liminal spaces.

✍️ Full episode script + show notes

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Additional research this month by Tamsin Howard.

|  LINKS + SOURCES  |

Davidson, Hilda 'Boundaries and Thresholds: Papers from the Katharine Briggs Club' (Exeter: The Thimble Press, 1993) https://bit.ly/3PnfACy

Sikes, Wirt 'British Goblins' (London: The Lost Library, 2010) https://bit.ly/3bTTz0k

Wilde, Jane 'Legends, Charms and Superstitions of Ireland'. (London: Dover Publications, 2006) https://amzn.to/3bWX3z9

Bottrell, William 'Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall'. (London: Franklin Classics, 2018) https://bit.ly/3bZGa6Z

✍️ FULL SHOW NOTES (Including the - likely! - location of the cave)

--------

ALMANAC

Ditchfield, P.H. 'Old English Customs: Extant at the Present Time'. (London: Methuen, 1896) https://bit.ly/3vMRKKf

Dunlop and Tirion 'Night Sky Almanac: A Stargazer's guider to 2022'. (Glasgow: Collins, 2021) https://amzn.to/3FTHfqL

Hutton, Ronald 'The Stations of The Sun'. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997) https://bit.ly/3hG1Wft

Lagram, Anne Marie 'Country Wisdom and Folklore Almanac'. (Talking Trees Books, 2020) https://www.talkingtreesbooks.co.uk

Leendertz, Lia 'The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2022'. (London: Gaia/Octopus Publishing Group, 2021) https://www.lialeendertz.com/

Roud, Steve 'The English Year'. (London: Penguin Books, 2008) https://bit.ly/3txP9RQ

Wright, Jonathan 'The Forager's Calendar'. (London: Profile Books Ltd, 2019) https://www.foragerscalendar.net

What is the connection between the dead, fairies and the otherworld? Let's explore some of the main themes in this first part of The Otherworld series.

✍️ Full episode script + show notes

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Welcome to the first episode in our unique series Folklore (Why Bother?) Part 1: The Land

Men who eat Ringforts https://bit.ly/3KysPxT

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The show returns with the second instalment of atmospheric folk tale The Bells of Minsmere.

Also included is April's mini-almanac, where we wash white lions in the tower of London, buy some striped paint, as well as beg for eggs at our neighbours' doors.

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|  LINKS + SOURCES  |

The Bells of Minsmere is a folk tale that has almost disappeared. It has been compiled from our own orally-collected sources, combined with Kirsty Hartsiotis's excellent work in the publication below.

Hartsiotis, Kirsty 'Suffolk Folk Tales'. Gloucestershire: The History Press https://bit.ly/3KffGtO

Hill, Susan 'The Magic Apple Tree'. London: Hamish Hamilton https://amzn.to/3JwpFvn

--------

Ditchfield, P.H. 'Old English Customs: Extant at the Present Time'. (London: Methuen, 1896) https://bit.ly/3vMRKKf

Dunlop and Tirion 'Night Sky Almanac: A Stargazer's guider to 2022'. (Glasgow: Collins, 2021) https://amzn.to/3FTHfqL

Hutton, Ronald 'The Stations of The Sun'. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997) https://bit.ly/3hG1Wft

Lagram, Anne Marie 'Country Wisdom and Folklore Almanac'. (Talking Trees Books, 2020) https://www.talkingtreesbooks.co.uk

Leendertz, Lia 'The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2022'. (London: Gaia/Octopus Publishing Group, 2021) https://www.lialeendertz.com/

Roud, Steve 'The English Year'. (London: Penguin Books, 2008) https://bit.ly/3txP9RQ

Wright, Jonathan 'The Forager's Calendar'. (London: Profile Books Ltd, 2019) https://www.foragerscalendar.net

A warm welcome to the first episode of Season 2, where we're heading deep into the marshes for the Bells of Minsmere.

Also included is March's mini-almanac, where we muse the Spring Equinox, do some 'shriving' and learn the true origin of Mothering Sunday.

Soundtrack to The Bells of Minsmere by Big Big Sky https://spoti.fi/3hwjFG4

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|  LINKS + SOURCES  |

The Bells of Minsmere is a folk tale that has almost disappeared. It has been compiled from our own orally-collected sources, combined with Kirsty Hartsiotis's work (see below). Please become a Friend of Folkways to review more detailed show notes.

Hartsiotis, Kirsty 'Suffolk Folk Tales'. Gloucestershire: The History Press https://bit.ly/3KffGtO

Hill, Susan 'The Magic Apple Tree'. London: Hamish Hamilton https://amzn.to/3JwpFvn

--------

Ditchfield, P.H. 'Old English Customs: Extant at the Present Time'. (London: Methuen, 1896) https://bit.ly/3vMRKKf

Dunlop and Tirion 'Night Sky Almanac: A Stargazer's guider to 2022'. (Glasgow: Collins, 2021) https://amzn.to/3FTHfqL

Hutton, Ronald 'The Stations of The Sun'. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997) https://bit.ly/3hG1Wft

Lagram, Anne Marie 'Country Wisdom and Folklore Almanac'. (Talking Trees Books, 2020) https://www.talkingtreesbooks.co.uk

Leendertz, Lia 'The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2022'. (London: Gaia/Octopus Publishing Group, 2021) https://www.lialeendertz.com/

Roud, Steve 'The English Year'. (London: Penguin Books, 2008) https://bit.ly/3txP9RQ

Wright, Jonathan 'The Forager's Calendar'. (London: Profile Books Ltd, 2019) https://www.foragerscalendar.net

Solstice greetings! The longest night of the year is upon us.

To help pass the dark hours, why not listen to this conversation between Folkways and Eerie Essex, in which we contemplate the darker side of this time of year. 

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💌 If you have any thoughts on today’s show, please get in contact [email protected]

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It's Christmas Eve! Wrap up warm, pour yourself a mulled cider and hop on board as tonight we take a sleigh ride through Christmas. We're visiting Newgrange for the Winter Solstice, dropping by on a Roman Saturnalia, as well as encountering the Holly King and that jolly Saint Nick. 

If you enjoyed, feel free to buy me a coffee https://bit.ly/3dxssVw

If you have any thoughts on today’s show, please get in contact [email protected] | Connect with Folkways on Instagram or Twitter @folkwayschannel

Music by Big Big Sky @big.big.sky  |  Excluding Many Points of Light by Judson Lee | Christmas piano carols by Roberto Diana

The final instalment in our popular mini-series Still Waters Run Deep. Today we hike through both Snowdonia and the Otherworld as we discover further tales of the Gwragedd Annwn, or, the ladies of the lakes.

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💌 If you have any thoughts on today’s show, please get in contact [email protected]

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Soundtrack by Big Big Sky @big.big.sky  |  Excluding Many Points of Light by Judson Lee

|  LINKS + SOURCES  |

1. Myddfai Memories https://bit.ly/2WboSIN (with thanks to William Britton)
2. Davies, Jonathan Ceredig 'Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales' Ebook, P. 93 https://bit.ly/3mk5Fio
3. Further discussion of Nelferch from lake Llyn y Forwyn https://bit.ly/2Lq8zp9
4. Folklore of the Welsh Lakes overview  https://bit.ly/3nJWLfm.
5. Sikes, Wirt (1880) ‘British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions’. Reprint, Glastonbury: The Lost Library, 2010 https://bit.ly/3lCV95U
6. Ralls-Maclead, Karen (2000) 'Music and the Celtic Otherworld'. Edinburgh: Polygon https://bit.ly/37n3Ugx
7. Stevenson, Peter ‘Welsh Folk Tales’ Gloucestershire: The History Press, 2017 https://bit.ly/3nSqR10
   

Soundtrack by Big Big Sky @big.big.sky  |  Excluding Many Points of Light by Judson Lee 

We’re returning to our exploration of the the Ladies of the Lakes as we rejoin Rhiwallon in the Brecon Beacons, as the dramatisation of the lady of Llyn y Fan Fach concludes. The second episode in a three-part mini-series.

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Soundtrack by Big Big Sky @big.big.sky  |  Excluding Many Points of Light by Judson Lee  |  Maenwen and Rhiwallon played by voice actors Ruth Pownall and Dafydd.

|  LINKS + SOURCES  |  

1. 1. Llyn y Fan Fach and directions (Coordinates 51°52′55″N 3°44′31″W)  https://bit.ly/36YfNrx   
2. Folklore of the Welsh Lakes  https://bit.ly/3nJWLfm.   
3. YHA Youth Hostel Info  https://bit.ly/395p5Vr.   
4. Sikes, Wirt (1880) ‘British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions’. Reprint, Glastonbury: The Lost Library, 2010 https://bit.ly/3lCV95U    
5. Stevenson, Peter ‘Welsh Folk Tales’ Gloucestershire: The History Press, 2017 https://bit.ly/3nSqR10        

Today we’re getting out our hiking boots and heading into the mountains to dive into the world of the Gwragedd Annwn: the water women of the Welsh lakes. We start with the most famous lake lady of all - the keeper of Excalibur in the legends of King Arthur - before finding ourselves in the Brecon Beacons for the story of Rhiwallon and the Lady of Llyn y Fan Fach. The first of a three-part mini-series.

☕️ If you enjoyed, feel free to buy me a coffee https://bit.ly/3dxssVw 

💌 If you have any thoughts on today’s show, please get in contact [email protected]   

🤝 Connect with Folkways on Instagram or Twitter @folkwayschannel 

🎧 Soundtrack by Big Big Sky @big.big.sky https://spoti.fi/3wqTA2d  |  Excluding Many Points of Light by Judson Lee

|  LINKS + SOURCES  |   

1. Sikes, Wirt (1880) ‘British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions’. Reprint, Glastonbury: The Lost Library, 2010 https://bit.ly/3lCV95U
2. Stevenson, Peter ‘Welsh Folk Tales’ Gloucestershire: The History Press, 2017 https://bit.ly/3nSqR10      
3. Malory, Thomas (1485) ‘Le Morte D’Arthur’. Reprint, Independently published, 2019  https://amzn.to/2FiGmhl     

We’re talking to Rob Jones of Black Dog Zine - a striking new publication looking at East Anglian landscape and lore. We talk cities that fell in the sea, black dogs, white dogs and green children. Plus our relationship with the landscape around us, experimental music scenes, “deep touristing” and the lingering touch of MR James. Not to be missed!     

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🤝 Connect with Folkways on Instagram or Twitter @folkwayschannel

🎧 Soundtrack by Big Big Sky @big.big.sky https://spoti.fi/3wqTA2d  |  Excluding Many Points of Light by Judson Lee

|  LINKS + SOURCES  |   

1. Black Dog Zine www.blackdogzine.co.uk Instagram @blackdogzine   
2. Newell, Martin (1999) 'Black Shuck: The Ghost Dog of Eastern England'. https://bit.ly/2ZE9I0y    
3. Mike Burgess, 'Shuckland: The biggest collection anywhere of East Anglian legends and encounters with the ghostly hound Black Shuck' https://bit.ly/35A71Rz    
4. Mike Burgess, 'Hidden East Anglia: Landscape Legends of Eastern England' http://www.hiddenea.com    
5. Abraham Fleming, 'A Strange and Terrible Wunder' Original pamphlet published in 1578 https://bit.ly/3lVr6rm    
6. Unlikely Records https://bit.ly/2RsEvJu    
7. Leendertz, Lia (2019) 'The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2020.' London: Octopus Publishing Group Ltd. https://bit.ly/3iqf72N    
8. Toulson, Shirley (1979) 'East Anglia: Walking the Ley Lines and Ancient Tracks'. London: Wildwood House. https://bit.ly/2ZEoXqp   
9. Adam Scovell, ’“No Diggin’ ‘Ere!” Revisiting the ghostly locations of A Warning to the Curious’ BFI.org.uk, 28 October 2018. https://bit.ly/2QW92Pl   

Welcome to the show's second episode on Midsummer! We're taking a deep-dive into the customs surrounding the Summer Solstice - from fires on the hill tops of Ireland, dreaming of your future lover, to the occult past of St John's Wort.      

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🤝 Connect with Folkways on Instagram or Twitter @folkwayschannel 

🎧 Soundtrack by Big Big Sky @big.big.sky https://spoti.fi/3wqTA2d  |  Excluding Many Points of Light by Judson Lee

Additional thanks to voice actor Johnpaul Wright.   

Welcome to our maiden voyage! This is the first of 2 episodes on the folklore of Midsummer - that period celebrated between 19 - 25 June, with Midsummer's Day traditionally falling on the 24. We'll be providing context for sun worship in the modern age, pausing for a moment to smell the damn roses, and issuing a warning about stone circles that come alive and dance on Old Midsommers Eve...     

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🤝 Connect with Folkways on Instagram or Twitter @folkwayschannel

🎧 Soundtrack by Big Big Sky @big.big.sky https://spoti.fi/3wqTA2d  |  Excluding Many Points of Light by Judson Lee