Maybe there are folk historians here who can help me.

I notice in the UK places where geological or ancient features are explained with stories involving the devil (the devil's jumps in West Sussex, The Devil's Dyke near Brighton, the Devil's Chair in Shropshire).

The devil in those stories doesn't sound like the Christian devil.

Are these pre-Christian tales that originally related to other gods/daemons and after Christianisation were all lumped as "the devil" ?

#folk #history #folkhistory

Woman King

Jack in the Green festival, Hastings, England. Spring 2025.

#festival #pagan #folkhistory #englishhistory #folklore #tradition

#Perth #FolkHistory #FamousLuigis #Luigi #WesternAustralia

Back, way back, even before #MastersHardware tried to compete with #Bunnings, there was #WASalvage and their iconic figurehead Luigi. He wore a knotted handkerchief on his head, a #BlueyGarbo, shorts and gumboots. And diced English into an Italian minestrone when performing for TV ads.

Found this paint tin in the #BackShed.

I took a little trespass off the path yesterday, to explore a valley where a 19th century source claimed there was once an illicit whisky still hidden in a cave.

Hidden whisky stills are often associated with the Scottish Highlands, where archaeologists believe thousands lie undiscovered. However it's also well known that there were a number up remote valleys in the Cheviot Hills, here in Northumberland. This location is much less remote and close to several villages; it's also, as far as I know, completely unknown locally.

I didn't find the cave. It was a little hard going due to the lack of paths through the woods, the steep banks, and the marshy patches. But it was also obvious that the banks are very crumbly and there have been multiple rockfall and earth slips in the last two centuries, so the cave is probably long gone. Wonder what happened to the still.

#Northumberland #History #histodons #FolkHistory #WaterfallWednesday

Pancakes have been made and consumed, although I'm one of those people who does Pancake Day without doing Lent, because I'm non-religious but I just like sweet food. Although I do like the folk tradition too!

A record of Northumbrian folkways collected in the 1920s claims that pancakes are eaten here on Shrove Tuesday, "and always have been", a bold claim that I love for what it says about folk memory.

Other customs for the day included the ringing of the "Pancake Bell"(otherwise known as the Shriving Bell), a holiday for apprentices, and the playing of football matches - one of which is still famously played on the Pastures at Alnwick on Shrove Tuesday.

#Folklore #Folkways #PancakeDay #ShroveTuesday #Northumberland #FolkHistory @folklore

Joyous Là Fhèill Brìghde/Imbolc/etc. Hail to She of Many Talents, The Ever Flame, Exalted One. Thank you for the blessings of your healing cloak. Blessings to all who celebrate her day.

#imbolc #imbolg #brighid #brighidsday #brighidiscome #bride #brighde #stbrighid #Pagan #pagans #pagansofmastadon #gael #celt #celticpagan #IrishPagan #witch #witchy #witchesofmastodon #paganism #polytheism #polytheist #polytheistic #oldways #spring #folkhistory #saintsday #saintbrighid

Imbolc. St Brigid's Day. 1st of February.

Imbolc is recorded in early medieval Irish sources and was also historically celebrated in Scotland and the Isle of Man. It's generally believed that the origin is older, pre-Christian, and the date is important to many modern pagans as the start of spring. It's also the feast day of St Brigid, mother saint of Ireland, and traditions included the weaving of Brigid's Crosses from rushes. Many believe that Brigid is a Christianised version of a pre-Christian goddess, although she is also recorded as a real historic figure who founded the Abbey of Kildare. It may be that two figures have been conflated.

Imbolc is not recorded as ever being celebrated here in Northumberland, but the reasons for celebrating it as an agricultural festival would have been just as important here. The season for sowing, the start of the lambing, the return of the light, and the promise of warmer, less lean days to come.

#Imbolc #SaintBrigid #StBrigidsDay #folklore #folkways #FolkHistory #SaintsDays #history #spring #February #Pagan #RuralLife #OldWays #sunshine #nature #wildflowers #northumberland #aconites #snowdrops #landscape #landscapephotography

These stone steps beside the gates of Ford Church date to the days when many people rode ponies to church from the outlying farms and hamlets of this rural parish.The steps allowed a rider to step down from the pony easily, particularly used by women in their Sunday dresses.

#Northumberland #History #LocalHistory #RuralHistory #FolkHistory