# folklorethursday gothic12tide fairytaletuesday ijulemørket owlishmonday faustianfriday wyrdwednesday christmas moomin midwinter moominvalley achristmascarol charlesdickens

It's St Andrew's Eve tonight, an auspicious date for divining weather & future lovers. It also marks the time when dark things come out and haunt the night: In Southeast European lore, Vampires are most active between St Andrew's and St George's Day in April!

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2021-11-30

THE LIMINAL When we are on a threshold, between the known & the unknown, between darkness & light, or bordering one year and the next, during any of these liminal moments, it is said that the Community of Shadows stands ready to claim us 🎨Froud

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2020-12-31

“A sad tale's best for winter: I have one of sprites and goblins” (Winter's Tale)

Well advised was who watched out during for Krampus, Belsnickel & Hans Trapp. During Twelvetide, Rauhnächte, bleak nights, even more dark things go bump in the night.

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2020-12-26

“Whenever five or six English-speaking people meet round a fire on Christmas Eve, they start telling each other ghost stories” (Jerome K. Jerome)

Dickens is the last survivor of the once popular tradition of telling Christmas ghost stories.

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2020-12-22

Dressed up as monsters, the Slavs used to sing songs and go trick-or-treating with a star on a stick to celebrate Koliada. Originated in our pagan past, that festival was so loved that it became part of Christmas celebrations.



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2020-12-22

In the 19th century ornaments on Christmas trees were said to represent wishes. Owls are symbolic of wisdom and, in Celtic lore, the power of prophesy-- useful wishes!

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2020-12-21

Art by the Surrealist and Gothic style painter, Yaroslav Gerzhedovich.

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2020-12-21

Mari Lwyd is an ancient Welsh Yule custom where revelers carrying the skull of a mare on a stick would attempt to gain entry to homes thru song. They would be discouraged by the homeowner, thru song and a song fest commenced until one side relented

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2020-12-18

For perhaps a few vintage cards to put you in the holiday mood.

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2020-12-16

From a 1968 edition of H.C.Andersen’s “The Snow Queen”, etchings by Danish artist Lars Bo (1924-1999). Lars Bo moved to Paris in 1947 to study at Atelier 17 and remained there until his death. Nicknamed “Wizard”, he was known for his surreal & fantastical motifs.

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2020-12-13

The Lady of the Cold is a character from Tove Jansson's 5th book 'Moominland (1957). She brings ice and snow to and is described as extremely beautiful. However if you look into her eyes she will instantly freeze you to death 🥶❄️🌨️

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2020-12-11

Scrooge:“Ghost of the future, I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company..."



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2020-12-11

Check you spelling, kids.
Or don’t 🎄😈

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2020-12-10

CALLICANTZAROS Winged demon & vampiric being confined to the underworld; only emerging for 12 days from 25th Dec to 7th Jan. The Greek Callicantzaros is uncannily referred to in English as the Christmas Vampire or Demon 🎨Bartolomé Bermejo

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2020-12-10

“It held a branch of green holly in its hand; and in singular contradiction to that wintry emblem, had its dress trimmed with summer flowers”

Join the Dark Queens tomorrow for with your tales and images of

Christmas Ghosts

We RT after 2 pm GMT!

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2020-12-10

Some delightful Victorian Christmas cards to fill your heart with terror this festive season.

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2020-12-09