My book 'Church Curiosities: Strange Objects & Bizarre Legends' (Shire/Bloomsbury). Full of pyramid tombs, reindeer-horned dancers, vampire graves, holy wells, weird #folklore, standing stones, execution bells, legendary skulls. #history #gothic #churches

Jack Frost is a figure in English #folklore said to leave fernlike patterns of ice on windows & to nip fingers & toes. The 1st known reference to Jack is in the book 'Round about our Coal Fire', 1732, but he may have roots in older personifications of winter. #FairytaleTuesday

@GothicAlice74 Hi Alicia, how are you doing?

Prometheus stole fire from the gods & gave it to humanity, for which he was severely punished. Seen as the author of human arts & sciences, he represented the striving for knowledge. The Romantics saw him as a genius, whose efforts could lead to tragedy. #FolkyFriday #folklore

Orpheus is a poet of Greek #mythology whose songs could charm wild beasts & make & trees dance. He visited the underworld & even won over Hades. After he was torn apart by followers of Dionysus, his head - still singing - floated down the River Hebrus #BookologyThursday #folklore

#London legend claims that the Celtic Queen Boudicca is buried beneath Platform 10 of Kings Cross Station and that she made her last stand against the Romans at nearby Battle Bridge on the now-buried River Fleet. #FairytaleTuesday #folklore #weird

@memizon You might be interested in this:

Some say St James Garlickhythe, City of London, is haunted by Dick Whittington's cat. Whittington was buried at nearby St Michael Paternoster Royal & a mummified cat was found during a search for his grave, but #folklore insists his cat haunts St James's. #FairytaleTuesday #weird

A Boxing Day custom was 'hunting the Wren', though these hunts made so much noise it's unlikely many wrens were caught. At most times of year, it was unlucky to kill the 'king of the birds' - this may be an example of a taboo act being allowed on special days. #folkloresunday

When Lord Byron was told he couldn’t keep a dog in his room at Cambridge University, his response was to acquire a different pet – a bear. As the regulations made no mention of bears, the university had to accept Byron’s unusual roommate. #Bookwormsat #literature #poets #poetry

Some dark superstitions concerned hats. Hanging a hat on a doorknob meant that anybody present would die. Anyone who put on a hat owned by a person in mourning would be in mourning themselves by the year's end. #WyrdWednesday #folklore #gothic #hats #weird

@johnhar24806545 I wrote quite a detailed article about this:

“I sung of Chaos and Eternal Night, Taught by the heav'nly Muse to venture down The dark descent, and up to reascend ...” John Milton, Paradise Lost #BookWormSat #Literature #books #poetry #folklore #poets #poems #art

Around Plough Monday - the 1st Monday after 6th Jan - 'plough lights' burned in churches to bless farmworkers' efforts. Often the village plough - loaned out to those who couldn't afford their own - was kept in the church & was the focus of blessings too. #FolklyFriday #folklore

In Aconbury, Herefordshire, #folklore claimed that at midnight on 12th Night (5th-6th January) the waters of St Ann's Well bubbled furiously & gave off a blue haze. Locals competed to get the first bucket of this liquid, which was believed to cure eye problems. #FairytaleTuesday

In the Middle Ages, people bent coins when making a wish, seeking a cure, or making a vow. While bending the coin, one had to remember to offer it to a saint. #MythologyMonday #folklore #history #medieval

RT @JudyCorbett: Storms and flooding apart, I love this time of year. It’s time for contemplation, for embracing the darkness and celebrati…

@l_u_n_a13 There seem to be a number of versions. In some, it's his mother - who happens to be an ogre - rather than his ex. More info here: