#Legends and folklore

[nexusofsorcery]

From The Depths: The Enchanting Secrets of Sea Witches

What are Sea Witches? Sea witches are mystical beings who have a deep connection to the sea and its elements. They are often depicted as powerful sorceresses who possess magical abilities related to water, storms, and marine life. Sea witches are believed to harness the energy of the ocean to cast spells, perform rituals, and communicate with sea creatures. They are known for their knowledge of…

[rrcraft-and-lore]

It's a bright sunny day (maybe???) and Egyptians sailors come across a shipwreck in the Red Sea. There is only one survivor. DUN. DUN. DUNNNNNNNNN. It is an Indian man. NAAAAAAAAAAAAANIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII? The Egyptians took him to the king's court in Alexandria.

The Indian sailor soon learned to speak Greek and offered his services by offering to help guide Egyptians ships to India -- good idea to the king, who commanded Eudoxus of Cyzicus- a greek sailor and trader.

The Indian sailor taught Eudoxus (say that 10 times fast...don't, I already hate typing it) the "secrets" of sailing using Indian monsoon winds and their patterns/directions in summer and winter and as you can imagine - kerboom. Egyptian and Indian maritime trade routes established. Eventually land routes followed and were developed from places such as Anatolia - watch towers began to pop up along the way, eventually Roman soldiers guarding ways.

Because bandits were a thing. So, what did India trade? Well, so damn much. Silverware, printed clothes, perfumes/scented oils, spices. Ice. Yes, mountain ice. Salts. Gems. Everything. And this trade benefitted India FAR more than the countries coming to it. Also coral. Yeah, that wasn't just for 2000's teens wearing it in necklaces. If you know...you know. Also, animals. There was a huge "Exotic" animal trade as well - tigers, rhinos, serpents were exported.

[mythosblogging]

With the Lunar New Year fast approaching, it is time to say goodbye to the Year of the Rabbit and hello to the Year of the Dragon.

Most people will have at the very least a passing familiarity with the Chinese Zodiac – a twelve-year cycle in which each year relates to a corresponding animal. These twelve animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Those born under a specific sign are said to have certain characteristics, for example, rats being generous, dogs being loyal and dragons being adventurous.

This Zodiac has been used for over 2000 years, and there is one famous story about how it came to be and, specifically, how each animal came to take their place in the order of the Zodiac.

Once, the Jade Emperor – the ruler of heaven - decided that there should be a way to measure time. On his birthday he called for a race between the animals, a year would be named for each of them in the order that they had finished the race. The animals would have to race across a mighty river with strong currents. When the day came the animals lined up along the opposite bank in anticipation, waiting for the race to start.

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[talesofloreandlegend]

The Soul of Jonah Jones

GUEST EPISODE

Storyteller: Tim Ralphs Host: Rick Scott

Tim Ralphs tells the story of 'The Soul of Jonah Jones'.

​​Rick speaks to Tim about his path towards becoming a professional storyteller, and the challenges and experiences that have defined his career so far.

You can follow Tim's work as a professional storyteller at www.timralphs.com, or follow him on Twitter @TimRalphs.

[all-turkic]

Dede Korkut: Emren Son of Begil (EN)

[longreads]

In today's new Longreads essay, Elizabeth Friend examines the vanishing hitchhiker tale, and one spooky North Carolina story in particular: the tale of a young woman named Lydia. 

There are countless variations on Lydia’s story. Sometimes her dress is a specific color. Sometimes a different family member opens the door. Sometimes the young man drapes his jacket over the girl’s shoulders, only to find it later on her grave.

Elizabeth explores how folklore passed down over generations reveals our anxieties during times of change. The ghost story of Lydia reflects the shifting expectations of American women in the first half of the 20th century. 

Read “The Lessons of Lore” on Longreads.

[phinnsyreads]

"The Deadname Meme"

by Queerious

Our Pride episode for 2024 has been released, featuring guest @demilypyro and returning guest @circeofjagd, as well as @iridethedirt, Lee Daniel, and Breck Wilhite!

You can find more of Demily on Twitch (https://twitch.tv/demilypyro) and the ruins that were once Twitter (https://twitter.com/demilypyro).

Happy Pride!

[fallbabylon]

Devils and the Mouth of Hell details from South Leigh doom painting 15th C- South Leigh, UK

[candela888]

Legends and folklore from Mexico by region

Legends from Northern Mexico

Legends from Mexico City

Legends from the Baja California Peninsula

Legends from Southern Mexico

Legends from Central Mexico

Legends from South-Central Mexico

Legends from the Yucatan Peninsula

Legends from Mexico

[bluebellowl]

I had this great realisation that Sneasel sounds mad close to ‚weasel‘ and whoops I went deep into the Japanese folklore of the Kamaitachi, which are lightning fast blade wielding weasels who cut your legs in cold climates.

There‘s a great 16 min youtube podcast that explains the folklore far better. Go show them some love!

[strangeoctober]

I find it interesting that people talk and write about fairies these days like they're these horrible, Machiavellian monsters that you mustn't ever risk dealing with. Even saying your name near them will forever put you in their thrall, forever! (Or something to that effect) But when you dig into the folklore, you find countless stories of fairies just getting dunked on in just the daftest ways.

I've been reading "The Lore of Scotland", by Jennifer Westwood and Sophia Kingshill, and when I noticed this trend, I started taking count of who wins in fairies vs. human confrontations. I'm only about a fifth through, and while it's not clear cut, the humans are winning by three points!

By way of example, let me tell you one of my favourite stories so far. Once upon a time, a young woman was abducted by the fay and carried away to a fairie mound. There, she was placed in the arms of the great fay giantess who ruled those halls. "I've got you now!" said the giantess, "I'm going to hold you as tight and as close as vine on tree, forever more!" Certainly in a pickle, the young woman considered her dire situation and simply replied, "I wish it was shit you were holding." The fay giantess was so completely appalled and disgusted by the coarse manner of the young woman that she let her go immediately and had her taken back to her home.

Not only do I find this really funny, I enjoy the fact that even centuries ago, the forthright manner and direct problem solving of Scottish women was well established.

[illustratus]

Faust and Mephistopheles by Gaston Cervelli

[ollyrewind]

The stars tell us of a great king. They rise, the pole star will ascend the heavens with the constellations of the king's namesake upon the higher cycles of the Earth, foretelling his rise and the golden age that he will bring. His age will go on and on and reach its peak in the far future when the pole star comes to occupy the truest central position in the heavens.

Like Every Tree Stands on Its Own by wonderful @mightybog

[talesofloreandlegend]

The Hart & The Hind

SERIES · I  EPISODE · X

Storyteller: Sebastian Odell Host: Rick Scott

Thomas now reached the end of his last tale. When it was done, all his listeners were breathless. Other skies and suns, the Fortunate isle, a gift from the Queen of Elfland herself…  they could hardly believe that it was all true, except that it had tumbled from the lips of True Thomas, he who was never heard to speak a lie...

​As  Thomas the Rhymer regales the gathered throng at the feast in his Tower  at Ercildoune, the eyes of the hidden folk are watching…

Seb and Rick close the series by discussing the fate of Thomas the Rhymer, the landscape and geopolitics of Elf-Land, and what they've learned from the experience of creating Lore & Legend season one. Stay tuned for our next Lore Talk, our monthly guest episodes, our holiday specials, and Season 2, out in 2020.

FOLK SONGS INSPIRED BY THIS SEASON OF LORE AND LEGEND

We've curated a list of folk songs on Spotify which are versions of tales from series one, or closely related to their ideas and themes.  We round out the collection with the famous Steel Eye Span version of the Thomas the Rhymer ballad.

Be sure to follow the playlist on Spotify, and watch out for future playlists from the Lore & Legend team!

​

SOURCE MATERIAL

Medieval Romance Thomas, the Rhymer, 1220?-1297?; Murray, James Augustus Henry, Sir, 1837-1915 The romance and prophecies of Thomas of Erceldoune : printed from five manuscripts, with illustrations from the prophetic literature of the 15th and 16th centuries, Published 1875

Songs & Ballads "Thomas Rymer, no. 37", Child's Collected Ballads by Francis James Child

"Thomas the Rhymer and the Queen of Elfland" in Jamieson, Robert, 1780?-1844, Popular ballads and songs, from tradition, manuscripts, and scarce editions; with translations of similar pieces from the ancient Danish language, and a few originals by the editor, Volume 2,  Published 1806 "Thomas the Rhymer" in Scott, Walter, Sir, 1771-1832, Minstrelsy of the Scottish border; consisting of historical and romantic ballads, Volume 2, Published 1802 "Thomas the Rhymer/True Thomas" on Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music

Research Sources

"Thomas the Rhymer." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 30 May. 2019. Web. 28 Jun. 2019.

[all-turkic]

Dede Korkut: Kan Turalı Son of Kanli Koja (EN)

[marzipanandminutiae]

seriously though, when DID 3 AM As The Spooky Hour enter folklore?

some sources online insist that it's traditional, but I never heard of it until maybe high school at the earliest (2008-2011). and then it was often phrased as "many people think midnight is the Spooky Hour, but AKSHULLY it's 3 AM!!!!" like a diversion from normal ideas, not something that had been in the zeitgeist forever

sadly nobody has done a deep dive into this online, with actual sources, and I don't really have the resources to do more than poke around on Google Books and be like "well, no English-language writing from the 19th century that's been digitized in this specific database mentions it!"

thoughts?