E is for Elementals The idea that every rock, wave, lick of flame and gust of wind has a spirit, a life, of its own has long been part of folklore. Folklore THE SECRET TEACHINGS OF ALL AGES by Manly P. Hall, [1928] The Elements and Their Inhabitants FOR the most comprehensive and lucid exposition …
D is for Dryad Trees coming alive and trees being inhabited by otherworldly beings have long been part of the stories we tell. Folklore BULFINCH’S MYTHOLOGY THE AGE OF FABLE OR STORIES OF GODS AND HEROES by Thomas Bulfinch [1855] The three last named were immortal, but the wood-nymphs, called Dryads or Hamadryads, were believed …
C is for Cat If stretching were wealth, the cat would be rich – African Proverb. Cats appear all over folklore. In superstitions, black cats are seen as unlucky and such. In some folklore they’re seen as soul-stealing monsters. In Ancient Egypt they were the keepers of the dead – guardians to the Underworld (if we’re …
B is for Black Solar eclipses have been seen as messages from the gods — or the work of dark magicians — since forever. Folklore The Golden Bough by Sir James George Frazer, [1922] The Magical Control of the Sun. AS THE MAGICIAN thinks he can make rain, so he fancies he can cause the …
A is for Anubis The god of the dead. The god of funeral rights. The jackal-headed god. No matter how you think of him, Anubis has a powerful effect on stories. Folklore Ancient Egyptian Legends, by M. A. Murray, [1920] Anubis.—A jackal-headed deity who presided over the embalming of the dead. He was said to …
Mountains have always held a mystical appeal to mortals. They’ve found their way into mythology, folklore and religion. Folklore HAWAIIAN LEGENDS OF GHOSTS and GHOST-GODS collected and translated from the Hawaiian by W. D. WESTERVELT [1916] THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN This is not a Hawaiian legend. It was written to show the superstitions …
I find witches fascinating. I wrote about them in a previous post and thought that I should explore Sea Witches in particular today. Folklore Popular Romances of the West of England collected and edited by Robert Hunt [1903, 3rd edition] THE WITCH OF FRADDAM AND THE ENCHANTER OF PENGERSWICK. …The Witch of Fraddâm still floats …
Sea Nymphs embody all that’s good about the sea. There’s something magical about them. Being so different from mermaids in general gives them an even greater ethereal quality. Folklore Fictitious and Symbolic Creatures in Art by John Vinycomb [1909] Amphitrite, his [Poseidon] wife, one of the Nereids in ancient art, is represented as a slim …
Z is for Zany. zany adjective amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic (Oxford English Dictionary) There’s this peculiar little creature from folklore that caught my fancy. He goes by two names. Yet no-one can disagree that he’s quite gross. Grogoch or Phynnodderee is the name of this Faery. The folklore attached to his origins is quite sad… …
Y is for Yule. Yule n archaic term for Christmas Oxford English Dictionary The Yule season is a time of rebirth and joy. But there are darker stories in folklore; creatures that make even the delinquents behave. Krampus is one of those creatures. Folklore Christmas in Ritual and Tradition by Clement A. Miles [1912] On …
