Somewhere in my web meanderings, I came across a music video from a band I’d never heard. Called Folknery, I pulled this self description off of their… Read more “A Ukrainian Folk-song About Love, Murder and Ghosts: Karchata”
Category: Folktales
Hebrew Folk Magic and Lilith
Even if you casually read the first few pages of the Biblical book of Genesis, you’ll notice something. There isn’t just one creation account – there are… Read more “Hebrew Folk Magic and Lilith”
Werewolves Versus Witches: the Peculiar Trial of Theiss of Kaltenbrun
Imagine this: the year is 1691, and you are a judge for the Swedish town of Jürgensburg. Recently, there was a theft from the local Lutheran Church,… Read more “Werewolves Versus Witches: the Peculiar Trial of Theiss of Kaltenbrun”
White Woman Creek: A Kansas Ghost Story
Western Kansas is desolate, even today. Imagine what it was like over a century ago. Yet, white settlers pushed on through it… They pushed through, but it… Read more “White Woman Creek: A Kansas Ghost Story”
Rat Tales From Around the World
Rats have pretty bad press, none of which was helped by the Black Death. Still, where there are people, there are rats; likewise, where there are people,… Read more “Rat Tales From Around the World”
Mae Nak: A Thai Ghost Story
Imagine this: you are a newlywed, living in Thailand, then known as Siam. Your wife, Mae, is beautiful, and madly in love with you. Life is good,… Read more “Mae Nak: A Thai Ghost Story”
The Kitchen God, Hopping Corpses and Other Things the Master Would Not Discuss
The Kitchen God, also sometimes known as the Stove God, is common to Chinese Folk Religion and Daoism. He goes by several other names; Zao Jun, Zao Shen and… Read more “The Kitchen God, Hopping Corpses and Other Things the Master Would Not Discuss”
The Fox as Familiar: Japanese Witchcraft
In the folklore of witchcraft, it isn’t unusual for a witch to a have an animal assistant, known as a familiar. Depending on the animal – and… Read more “The Fox as Familiar: Japanese Witchcraft”
The Farmer’s Wife: the Gwraig of the Golden Boat
Once upon a time, there lived a young farmer. Though he was hard working, the Lord had not blessed him with a wife, and his loneliness had… Read more “The Farmer’s Wife: the Gwraig of the Golden Boat”
Coyote and the Seven Sisters: the Stars that Fed Us
One day, after a tribal dance, Coyote and Raccoon spotted Squirrel’s hole. Not only that, but they spotted a secret back door. They conspired together: after all,… Read more “Coyote and the Seven Sisters: the Stars that Fed Us”
