University Folklore: Ghosts and Exam Failure Curses

Selkies appear in the folklore of Ireland, Scotland, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland. But are they as dangerous as mermaids or sirens? Find out in this week's episode. See the images on the blog post ...

29 Juni 201913min

Thomas the Rhymer pops up in British folklore as a 13th-century prophet. How did he get the gift of prediction and how did he link to fairies? Find out in this week's episode. See the images on the b...

22 Juni 201914min

If you're not deterred by the dark tales of the fey folk, what trees or flowers should you plant to create a fairy friendly garden? And what kind of gardening practices should you adopt, even if you o...

15 Juni 201914min

Northumberland features many tales of the fey folk - and the Rothley fairies appear in not one but two stories! But what exactly happens if you cross them? This episode looks at exactly that - and off...

8 Juni 201913min

Fairies are actually tricksters, not the sweet cherubs of Disney. So what happened when a midwife in Northumberland was hired to deliver a fairy baby? Check out the accompanying blog post at http://w...

1 Juni 201913min

With thousands of species of beetle on Earth, what folklore surrounds them? Learn about scarabs, stag beetles, and the Deathwatch beetle in this week's episode. See the post at http://www.icysedgwick...

25 Maj 201914min

Symbol of good luck and modern-day pest control, the ladybird appears throughout the folklore of many cultures. In this episode, we're going to explore where ladybirds got their name, what it means if...

18 Maj 201913min

The dragonfly is at once a symbol of prosperity and good luck in Asia, and also an evil omen in Europe. In this episode, learn more of the regional differences in dragonfly folklore. Check out the im...

11 Maj 201913min