Here’s a little thought exercise: close your eyes and picture a witch. I’d bet top dollar that you’re seeing green skin, a black pointed hat, and a broom. Basically, the Halloween-store cosplay of a woman who never actually existed. The real history of “witches” is a lot stranger and a lot less costume-shop than that … Continue reading Folklore Thursday: Not All Witches Ride Broomsticks
Tag: iconic imagery
Fairytale Tuesday: The Godfather and Godfather Death
Note bene: I’ve been going through the Grimm’s 1812 volume of fairytales, one after the other for a few years. I’ll finish eventually, I promise. [CW: vague mention of child death] Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index type 332: Godfather Death Artist and Date Unknown Alrighty, y'all, as you can see from the title, we've got a two-fer-one deal today. We've … Continue reading Fairytale Tuesday: The Godfather and Godfather Death
Folklore Thursday: Back to the Hearth
Why Autumn is Storytelling Season... I'll be completely honest in admitting that this blog has been super quiet for way too long. But, in my defense, life got really loud, which pulled my focus away and, somewhere in there, my writing habits slipped sideways. But! October is here and the light is doing that low-gold … Continue reading Folklore Thursday: Back to the Hearth
Fairytale Tuesday: The Elves and The Shoemaker
It's been awhile since I posted so here's a reminder: I've been going through the Grimm's 1812 volume of fairytales, one after the other for a few years. I'll finish eventually but for now, let's move on to some cobbler-elf shenanigans This is one of those Grimm multi-part tales, which means multiple Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index classifications:"The … Continue reading Fairytale Tuesday: The Elves and The Shoemaker
#FolkloreThursday: Woman Wept
The purpose of the women's existence also varies, depending on the combination of elements that are driving their legend and the time and place in which the story is being told. Some are looking to rescue or replace the children that have been lost to them. Some appear to herald the deaths of others. And some find themselves stuck in a recursive loop, repeating their deaths over and over again, never resting and affecting nothing.
#FolkloreThursday: Demons in the Night
Before we understood the nature of sleep, and how our brain and body interact while we're sleeping, it was believed that this paralysis was caused by a literal demon, or night hag, sitting on the sleeper's chest. These night hags, or night mares, would ride the sleeper, leaving them terrified and exhausted come morning.
#FairytaleTuesday: Puss in Boots
The younger brother was surprised that the cat could talk but apparently got over that pretty fast and did what the cat asked. After the cat donned his fancy new boots, he gathered up a burlap sack of wheat and went walking away on his back feet. Using the wheat to trap some fat partridges, the cat then went off in search of a king.
#FolkloreThursday: Double, Double, Toil and Trouble
The general idea--which I think arises from the fact that so many poor women were accused of witchcraft--is that these women were often illiterate. As such, written spells and incantations would be useless.
#FolkloreThursday: What Do You Do When Everyone Wants To Set Fire To Your Workplace?
There are several stories that attempt to explain the loss of the Library of Alexandria. Some stories are very romantic and would have us believe that the library is intact but hidden beneath the sands, waiting for an intrepid librarian/explorer to find it and reveal its knowledge to the modern world.
#FairytaleTuesday: Little Red Cap
The basic theme of all of these stories, however, is that little girls that stray from the path will find themselves at the mercy of a Big Bad Wolf (or another vicious beastie). And no, in the Western versions we're not talking about actual wolves. IT'S A METAPHOR, PEOPLE!
