PrairieBones

A great way to invite fairies into your garden is to plant a ring of flowers. However, if you find a ring of mushrooms, be careful not to step into it. Humans disappear into the fairy realm because of their own curiosity. #WyrdWednesday #LegendaryWednesday

Alice (1988) is a surrealist dark fantasy film by Czech film director Jan Švankmajer. It follows Alice as she wanders around a Wonderland full of bones, puppets, and taxidermy animals. #WyrdWednesday

Hares in folklore are sometimes considered unlucky, as they are often associated with witches. It is especially unlucky to kill a hare before dawn. A witch could take revenge on the hunter for destroying their animal body. #BookologyThursday

Glastonbury Abbey, Lady Chapel ruins, original photograph, published in 1898.

Armored Maidens

Fairy tales do not start, nor do they end, at the dark forest. ~Theodore Lasso Join us for our #BookologyThursday theme: ✨🍄🦊🌲The Flora and Fauna of the Deep, Dark Forest🌲🦊🍄✨ In literature, myth, folklore and art.

'Plucking the Sage tree' was a popular Shropshire charm. On All Saints Eve, young women would enter the garden at midnight and pick nine sage leaves as the clock struck. If she was to be wed, she'd see her future husband. If not, she would see a coffin. ⚰️ #Divination #Folklore

Soucouyants are described as female vampires in Caribbean folklore, shedding their skin by night and traveling as a ball of flame to hunt. If a person finds their skin before dawn and rubs salt and pepper on it, the Soucouyant is destroyed. #WyrdWednesday Art: Horrorpedia

The Lilium auratum is known as the ‘Queen of Lilies,’ its radiant white petals with golden bands symbolize purity and nobility. In Japanese folk tales, the Lily said to bloom where spirits linger, guiding lost souls with its spicy-sweet scent. #folkloresunday #folklore✨

Mo'o of Hawaiian legend are aquatic dragons that often appear as beautiful women, geckos, and giant lizards. In one tale, volcano goddess Pele sends her younger sister, Hi'iaka, on an errand to slay three mo'o and rescue her mortal sweetheart. #BookologyThursday Art: ArkaEdri

The gargoyles of Notre Dame Cathedral are also called "grotesques" or chimeras. They are built to resemble human-animal hybrids. Some function as water drainage, while others are purely ornamental and contribute to the imposing atmosphere of the church. #WyrdWednesday

The pomegranate is a symbol of love, marriage, and rebirth, and is linked to the myth of Persephone and Demeter. In Greece, the New Year is welcomed by opening a pomegranate, many believe you can make a wish on the fruit for a prosperous new year.✨

Most famous today through the Simon and Garfunkle rendition of "Scarborough Fair," the original Scarborough Fair was established by Royal Charter in 1253, traditionally held on August 15 and lasting up until potentially September 29, drawing folk from all over. #FolkyFriday

The Witch-Cat Trial of 1719 William Montgomery, a mason by trade, had his house overrun by many cats. One night, he found five cats by the fireside, and a servant told him that they were "speaking amongst themselves." #BookologyThursday

Kitsunebi are fire orbs created by fox spirits, a sign that other yokai are nearby. Malevolent foxes sometimes create them to lure travelers off of forest paths, and also during the night parade of one hundred demons. #WyrdWednesday Hiroshige, New Year's Eve Foxfires (1857)

The red valerian was known in Shropshire by the name "kiss-me-at-the-wicket" due to its habit of growing near gates. Its folklore is numerous, ranging from association with drunkenness (gaining the name "Drunken Willy" in parts of Devon) to attracting cats and deterring witches.

Maiden's garlands typically commemorated those who died early in life. These crown-shaped funeral mementos were often made from paper flowers, rosettes, and ribbons, and carried on the coffin before being displayed in the church. These are two of Minsterley church's garlands.

The Demon Hour, or Witching Hour, is the time at night between 3:00am-4:00am when demons are said to be at their most powerful. #WyrdWednesday Art: Dragan Bibin

The Irish word for fairy is sheehogue [sidheóg], a diminutive of “shee” in banshee. Fairies are deenee shee [daoine sidhe](fairy people). ~W.B. Yeats Fairy & Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry art by Sophie Gengembre Anderson