Folklore, Food & Fairytalesさんのイラストまとめ

It was once believed that if you dig under mugwort on Midsummer Eve, you will find a coal which would protect you from plague, carbuncles, lightning, a mild form of malaria & burning. Mugwort collected at Midsummer also protects against evil spirits & possession #SuperstitionSat

Refusing fairy food can often result in curses. a Devon ploughman once mended a fairy’s broken baking peel; cider was left in thanks, which the man happily drank.  His plough boy refused it as he was scared and was pinched black and blue by invisible hands. #FairyTaleTuesday

If you’re looking to attract love for #FairyTaleTuesday then you should track down some lemonbalm. If you plant it in your garden it will attract suitors to your door or leave some at the entrance of a beehive for 24 hours then dry & sew into your outfit for ‘swarms’ of interest!

On this #FairyTaleTuesday a theory for why the English like ghost stories at Christmas: This may be based on an old custom. In the 8thC St Bede wrote that Anglo-Saxons left food on tables overnight during the Xmas season so that visiting spirits could partake of the feast……

On this #FairyTaleTuesday you may like to revisit the bear in Snow White & Rose Red. A fierce, protective creature who is cursed by an evil dwarf so he can steal his treasure. The curse is finally broken and a prince appears in his stead.

Happy Birthday #FolkloreThursday ! Midwives of London in 1554 were instructed ‘a mydwyfe shall not use or exercise any witchecrafte, charmes, sorcerye, invocations or praiers other than suche as be allowable and may stand with the lawes and ordinances of the Catholic Churche’

@swampsunday It is said the more surreal elements appearing in the folktales of wild, isolated, desolate areas like the fenland were due to fever dreams from Malaria caused by undrained bogs & swamps. These were enhanced by the opium in the poppyhead tea that they took to cure it

Pentamerone or The Tale Of Tales by Giambattista Basile has a frame story of a false bride & 10 female storytellers that are hired to tell a story each over 5 nights (50 in total). The true bride (who has been disguised as a storyteller) is revealed at the end. #FolkloreThursday

The Hawthorn is an eternal symbol of spring & fertility. It is also said to be sacred to the fae who will seek revenge on anyone who damages a lone Hawthorn. Also known as the May tree, blossoms & boughs were collected at sunrise on May Day for the celebrations #FairyTaleTuesday

It was believed that if a married couple both ate the small violet star-shaped flowers of the same periwinkle plant they would continue to love each other. This plant was also known as ‘Sorcerer’s Violet’ & used against the evil eye. It is mildly poisonous #FolkloreThursday