#FolkloreThursday

Word of the #FolkloreThursday: “axle-tree” — an arboreal version of the “Axis Mundi” which, in many belief systems, is a sacred natural site joining Heaven, Earth & Underworld: e.g. Yggdrasil “The World Tree” (Norse); Ağaç Ana (Turkic), Iroko (Yoruba). Send me your axle-trees...

The Primula veris, or cowslip, is also known as St. Peter's Keys. Legend tells that one spring day as St. Peter stood by Heaven's gate he dropped his bunch of keys. They fell to earth where, landing in a meadow, they were transformed into these golden flowers. #FolkloreThursday

How many counties have road signs like this? It's just one I think - Lancashire ... please let me know if you have them near you. #FolkloreThursday

Narcissus Poeticus is the last daffodil to flower, well into March. It features in Greek legend, as Narcissus was turned into the white daffodil by Nemesis, & is also the flower that Persephone was gathering when she was abducted by Pluto. #FolkloreThursday Img: Cicely Barker

St. Fiacre, a 7th century Irish monk, is the patron saint of haemorrhoid sufferers. He cured his own crop by sitting on a sacred, healing stone and praying. Haemorrhoids were once known as St. Fiacre's curse 🍇 #FolkloreThursday #saints

Maybe one of the coolest Saints of all Saint Gertrude of Nivelles the patron saint of Cats and Cat lovers 💕😊🐱🐈 #Folklorethursday https://t.co/AVC069G0Jd

Ravens protected the body of St. Vincent of Saragossa from being devoured by vultures until his followers recovered it. #FolkloreThursday

Saint Gobnait.. Patron saint of beekeeping #HarryClarke #FolkloreThursday

After Christ’s crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea is said to have brought the Holy Grail to Britain. On a hill overlooking #Glastonbury, he thrust his staff into the ground where it took root. One of its divine properties is the ability to flower twice a year. #FolkloreThursday

#Cowslips have also been called ‘St. Peter’s keys’ or ‘keys of heaven’ because the one-sided flower heads looked like a set of keys, and it has been said that cowslips grew where Peter dropped the key of Earth https://t.co/10R5OIewKe #FolkloreThursday

The statue of St Domenico is covered in snakes each May 1st in in Cocullo, Italy. The saint was known for his ability to heal those who had been bitten by venomous snakes. #FolkloreThursday

In #pagan times, #easter eggs were colored and offered to the Goddess Eostre. As pagan traditions were outlawed, they could not abandon beautiful Eostre. They still brightly colored the eggs, asked for #spring and then hid the offering not to get caught. #FolkloreThursday

Did you know, goldcrests used to be known as ‘woodcock pilots’? No-one could believe such a tiny bird (weighing only 6 grams!) could migrate here across the North Sea and must have hitched a ride on the backs of woodcocks! #FolkloreThursday

King Arthur's Stone (Maen Ceti) in Gower is a chambered cairn dating from around 2,500 BC. A 10-ton section of the capstone has been broken off, and according to legend St. David cleaved it with his sword in protest of Druid worship. #folklorethursday #wales #ThursdayThoughts

The nature and folklore of March, art featuring the King of Hares, by the magical @MariaStrutz #FolkloreThursday #FolklorePlants https://t.co/wLawHsfk7I

#FolkloreThursday Following a ship wreck during the Napoleonic Wars, a monkey washed up on the beach of Hartlepool. The people there had never seen a monkey, and thought it a French spy. A brief trial was held, and after failing to answer any questions, the monkey was hanged.

"The spots on the moon are accounted for in the following way in #Wales: A man went out gathering faggots of wood on Sunday, and God punished him by transporting him to the moon. There he is doomed to walk for ever with a large bundle of sticks on his back." #FolkloreThursday

The 1,000 year-old Darley Oak is the largest #oak in Cornwall. It is thought that if you pass through the venerable tree's hollow stem, make a wish and then circle round the #tree, your wish will be granted! #FolkloreThursday

Londoners know of St Pancras as a train station, but he was a 14-year-old boy, beheaded for being a Christian in 304 AD. He's the patron saint of children. #FolkloreThursday

Comets were supposed to appear before the birth or death of a King, a Prince, or a very exalted person. The birth of Owain Glyndŵr was said to be heralded by a comet and curious meteors, with falling stars. #FolkloreThursday #Wales #History

Corpse Candles 🕯 St. David prayed that the Welsh would have some kind of warning to prepare them for death. They would never again be unprepared; for they would be forewarned by the dim light of mysterious tapers when/where a death might be expected. #FolkloreThursday #Wales

Drake's Drum travelled all around the world. Shortly before Drake died he vowed that if England were ever in danger and someone was to beat the drum he would return to defend the country. It's time, sir! #FolkloreThursday #BrexitMayhem #legends https://t.co/7eIotrp6rc

A late 5th-century text describes St. Denis performing his last miracle after death. Supposedly, after being executed, he carried his own decapitated head to where the Benedictine abbey at Saint Denis currently stands. (Img: Thesupermat) #FolkloreThursday #saint

'St Dunstan, as the story goes, Once pull'd the devil by the nose With red-hot tongs, which made him roar, That he was heard three miles or more' #FolkloreThursday Dunstan, 10th century Bishop of London and patron saint of blacksmiths. Pictured church is St Dunstan in the East https://t.co/pNLwxsYWTn

#FolkloreThursday Animal kindly St Silyn befriended a stag. One day the king went hunting giving chase to the terrified stag. Silyn stood between the stag & the king & no matter how many times arrows where fired, Silyn stood his ground & saved the stag. (art: Lynne Denman)

St Stephen was a Jew of Greek descent. Converting to Christianity he preached in Jerusalem. Saul, (later St Paul) led a mob who stoned him to death making him the 1st Christian martyr in 35AD and due to the nature of his death the Patron Saint of Stonemasons. #FolkloreThursday

#FolkloreThursday Saint Bibiana is the patron saint of Hangovers. It’s said that upon her burial, ‘mysterious and magical’ herbs grew around her grave. These had restorative powers, including presumably, the ability to cure hangovers. Image: St. Bibiana, 1626 by Bernini

#FolkloreThursday The fascinating notion of sainthood and "incorrupt" bodies, which were believed a sign of holiness. This is the body of St. Bernadette, originally found intact, but now displayed with wax face & hands because the skin had darkened.

#FolkloreThursday a silesian folk belief says that Redpolls are in reality mice which in wintertime transform to Redpools and back to mice in summertime.

Teresa of Avila was a 16th century mystic who saw numerous demons of hideous aspect who had their horns around a priest’s throat during Mass. She writes, "An abominable form, his mouth was horrible. Out of his body came a great flame, which cast no shadow.” #FolkloreThursday https://t.co/hNbtGKvlBV

Cthulhu has risen https://t.co/8hbkxi7RHI #FolkloreThursday #folklore #Lovecraft #Paranormal #sea #ocean #seamonster

Many are familiar with St. Brendan the Navigator and his fantastical voyage (pictured below in a 15th-century manuscript). However, it's possible that the story of Brendan's voyage was inspired by an older story rooted in #IrishMythology: the Voyage of Máel Dúin #FolkloreThursday

Legend says that St. Brendan the Navigator sailed from Ireland in a curragh (a trad Irish wicker boat with animal hides) and hung out in the USA. In the 6th century. He beat the Vikings by hundreds of years. (curraghs rock). #storytelling #FolkloreThursday

Good #LuckIn5WordsOrLess? Adopt a black cat: https://t.co/31ovqI5F8p. 😺🖤 #FolkloreThursday https://t.co/liBxYw1oNY

Hildegard of Bingen. Abbess. Saint. Teacher. Poet. Composer, christian mystic and scientist. She was praised as an inspiration for her time, e.g. she wrote about natur and healing, but also about questions of theology, the world, animals, trees and elements. #FolkloreThursday https://t.co/PA9nUBQYfL

"(..) when he opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth (..)" Rev. 6:12-13, 🎨 from the Augsburg Book of Wonders. #FolkloreThursday

"Cephalophores" (head-carriers) are a class of saints said to walk about after martyrdom by decapitation. France has St. Denis, UK St. Edmund (whose bodiless head was guarded by wolves). Hear more starting with John the Baptist here. #FolkloreThursday https://t.co/EZNhBVN7Nb

#FolkloreThursday #Keening at funerals is at least 25,000 years old - the oldest rite of humanity. To keen is to howl with grief in the presence of the dead, a catharsis of emotion that creates a psychic unity amongst the mourners that is intrinsically therapeutic #MyFathersWake

Whoops! @FolkloreThurs has exceeded tweet limit! #FolkloreThursday will return at 1pm GMT with @MythCrafts! (Image: St Valentine baptising St Lucilla, via wikimedia commons)

St. Hildegard of Bingen, also known as the Sibyl of the Rhine, was a 12th century visionary, mystic, philosopher, writer and composer. Her visions came to her in what she called the "shades of the living light." #FolkloreThursday https://t.co/b2ZQ4qzoBu

#folklorethursday A legend about the Norwegian saint Olaf tells how he challenged Harald Hardrada to a sailing race. Harald got a big headstart, but Olaf won after his ship left the water and sailed over the mountains. A ballad tells the tale. (my artwork for The Faraway North)

The Fairy King holds a grudge w Fionn. His daughters draw the men into a cave where they become weak. The dogs have better sense and refuse to enter. The Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran - Irish Fairy Tales - Arthur Rackham https://t.co/jHVdKydESD via @redbubble #FolkloreThursday

#FolkloreThursday St Frideswide: Oxford's patron saint with a pig Once there was an #AngloSaxon princess who fled the court when King Algar sought her hand in marriage. She hid in a byre in either Bampton or Binsey and then joined a fellowship of nuns. When she returned to Oxford

Hundreds of years ago the Devil attempted to carry the whole of Canterbury off to Hell (due to it being so sinful) but feared the shrine of St Thomas Beckett.... the rest is too much to fit in a tweet, so here's what happened next... nice one Great Harry... #folklorethursday https://t.co/SJCwFmINWO

#FolkloreThursday There was a custom of "punishing" the image of a saint until a petition was granted. Images of Lisbon’s patron, St. Anthony were put in a box or into the cistern until lost objects were restored. If successful, the statue was put back in its place of honour.

In the spirit of #St.Patrick’sDay coming up this weekend, we thought for this #FolkloreThursday to bring you some Irish themed flower mythology, and what better than the enchanting woodland #bluebells. 💙 #gardening #plants #blue #flowers #spring #Ireland #wildflowers

One of St Patrick's famous converts was Oisín, son of Fionn. During the baptism he stuck his crozier in the ground. It also went through Oisín’s foot, but thinking it a part of the ceremony, he didn't flinch or say a word. #FolkloreThursday #StPatricksDay https://t.co/Ugf0JTij0i

Pyrassouppi, bestia de dos cuernos similar al unicornio: https://t.co/JOBfzzGfeK #FolkloreThursday Imagen de la "Cosmografía Universal" de André Thevet.

St. Odile of Alsace is patroness #saint of good eyesight, ocular afflictions & ear diseases. Known as Odilia, she's depicted in paintings with a pair of eyes on a book, & is affiliated with larkspur, since it was a flower believed to cure eye disease. #FolkloreThursday https://t.co/41HfvOJja5

From Owens’ “Ghosts” During a visit to St Edith of Wilton’s tomb, Cnut the Great mocked Edith’s sainthood saying her father King Edgar was a tyrant. He demanded that Edith’s tomb be opened to prove her incorruption + as he peered in she sat up and struck him #FolkloreThursday

Super collection of #folklorethursday records @duchas_ie also lots of photos -came across this super print - “Emigrants at #Cork”, c. 1840 by Nathaniel Grogan https://t.co/tQaAurkdIZ @CrawfordArtGall

The Prior of Durham claimed to have received a vision of Saint Cuthbert, ordering him to take the cloth of the saint and raise it on a spear point near the battlefield, protecting them from harm. Maybe this story inspired Gygax's St. Cuthbert in #DnD? #FolkloreThursday https://t.co/uTmkJn3Kmv

I have a reprint of Folkhard's Plant Lore, Legends and Lyrics, which was first published in 1884. Here's the entry for Saint's Plants... and a link to a scanned in version of this amazing book: https://t.co/HxW1qWy6Zn #FolkloreThursday #FolklorePlants

#FolkloreThursday there is a common tradition of wild saints, with John the Baptist as one of best examples. Learn about some of the more wild, less hermit fellows here! https://t.co/bbC9kZMRv4

In Saint Winifred's life, her head was cut off but her uncle St. #Beuno picked it up and re-attached it and she lived on. We reproduced this with clever effects (and a fake head with matching wig) in our production on St. #Winifred #FolkloreThursday https://t.co/QNAMPJTQ3z https://t.co/O6yhoYCQ4U

Pere Cheney Ghost Town: The Folklore surrounding this location; The town was cursed by a witch... Check out the details at --> https://t.co/PKRIl6KJ4r <-- #paranormal #ghosts #parapeeps #haunted #panicd #ourhauntedtravels #ghoststories #ghosts #exploring #FolkloreThursday https://t.co/a0IsNDXtmO

At the turn of the 20th century people believed that if #molehills were picked up on St Sylvester’s Day (31 December) the moles would not throw up earth again... More at https://t.co/aVW8yxIr1R #folklorethursday #wildlife

Saint Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall & he is said to have floated there from Ireland on a millstone... https://t.co/AzoSGyrPrJ #folklorethursday #saintfolklore

One of my favorite topics! I will include the most intriguing tweets on both Catholic and folk saints in my next @Patheos column https://t.co/MKgWuYYCN8 #FolkloreThursday https://t.co/DpzXLnZBv0

Some @iupress books for #FolkloreThursday: Hoosier Folk Legends ◦ The First Book of Jewish Jokes ◦ African Folktales in the New World ◦ Making Intangible Heritage ◦ American Folklore and the Mass Media ◦ Palestinian Music and Song. More titles: https://t.co/hTTCjf9XDe

For a very holy #folklorethursday, I present the Miraculous Life of St. Brigid Who Is Totally NOT a Christian Expy of the Goddess of the Same Name Or “Brace Yourself, [Everyone Except] Brigid” IMAGE: Woodcut from Nuremberg Chronicle, Michel Wolgemut & Wilhelm Pleydenwurff, 1493

Good #LuckIn5WordsOrLess? Adopt a black cat: https://t.co/Mq4tAhd3mU. 😺🖤 #FolkloreThursday https://t.co/4mpcZdswGD — Morris Animal Refuge (MorrisAnimal) March 14, 2019

In the Inuit folktale of Kunuuksaayuka, an endless blizzard is unwittingly caused by a giant shoveling snow with his magic adze (snow shovel). The hero Kunuuksaayuka uses wordplay to trick him into breaking it, but the giant finds it so funny he’s not even angry.#FolkloreThursday