FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #19 - In Search of Santa Part II

This week on Folklore Flashback we continue our festive investigations of the history and mystery of Santa Claus! And so, here are Parts III and IV of a truly epic podcast series revealing everything you need to know about the man with the bag! 

In the next leg of our epic investigation of the history and mystery of Santa Claus, we examine the development of his image through 19th century America, his appearances in Victorian England, and how he came to inhabit grottoes in our stores come December time! 

HYPNOGORIA 25 – In Search of Santa Part III

DIRECT DOWNLOAD -  In Search of Santa Part III 

In the final chapter of this epic festive investigation, Mr Jim Moon explores the history of the British Father Christmas, goes on the trail of the German Weihnachtsmann, and perhaps finally gets to the bottom of where Santa Claus really comes from!

HYPNOGORIA 26 – In Search of Santa Part IV
DIRECT DOWNLOAD -  In Search of Santa Part IV

Finally, here is a gallery showing the images mentioned in the shows above, depicting Santa Claus through the ages -

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/in-search-of-santa-gallery.html

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #18 - In Search of Santa Part I

This week in Folklore Flashback we are revisiting my epic investigation from last Christmas - the curious case of the man with the bag! Known variously as Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, or Father Christmas, in this podcast series we attempt to uncover the long and strange history of a fellow who's said to be the embodiment of the festive spirit itself! 

Travelling down the centuries in a borrowed magic sleigh, we bust some myths about the Bearded Gentleman himself, before uncovering the roles played by the poem A Visit From St. Nicholas, the writings of Mr Washington Irving, and the drawings of Mr Thomas Nast in the development of legend of Santa Claus.

HYPNOGORIA 23 – In Search of Santa Part I

DIRECT DOWNLOAD -  In Search of Santa Part I 

In the second part of our very special Christmas series, we further investigate the origins of Santa Claus, exploring the life and legend of St. Nicholas, his role in the tradition of Christmas presents, the assorted magical gift bringers he transmuted into in Europe, bring light to the dark rumours of Krampus and satanic Santas, and examine the forgotten alternative American Santa Belsnickel 

HYPNOGORIA 24 – In Search of Santa Part II
DIRECT DOWNLOAD -  In Search of Santa Part II 

Finally, here is a gallery showing the images mentioned in the shows above, depicting Santa Claus through the ages -

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/in-search-of-santa-gallery.html

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #17 When the Red Red Robin....

Well dear friends, currently it would appear that certain waterfowls appear to be ballooning and elderly gentlemen are reporting their headgear filling up with loose change. This can only mean one thing - Christmas is coming once again!  And to get you in the come for the coming festivities, here's a little series I wrote exploring the folklore behind one of the great icons of Yuletide, the humble robin redbreast! 

Part 1 - In which we examine superstitions surrounding the robin redbreast
http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/folklore-on-friday-who-killed-cock-robin.html

Part 2 - The origin of these supserstitions and the robins role in Babes in the Woods
http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/folklore-on-fridays-robin-in-woods.html

Part 3 - the folklore behind Babes in the Woods
http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/folklore-on-friday-babes-in-woods.html

Part 4 - The robin and his associations with Christmas
http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/microgoria-22-christmas-and-robin.html

Furthermore, if all of that looks like an awful lot of reading, last Christmas I created an audio version, adapting this little series into a podcast, which you can find here -

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/microgoria-22-christmas-and-robin.html

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #16 - Headless and Chained!

illustration by Russ Nicholson

To compliment our on-going current series running on Folklore on Friday, Species of Spectres, here's a round-up of previous entries on the subject of ghost,s and specifically how they appear in folklore. Firstly we examine why it is that spooks and spectres are so often depicted as wearing manacles and chains -

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/folklore-on-friday-chained-ghosts.html

And then we have a  brace of articles that explores that other great ghostly cliche - the headless phantom! Here we encounter many spirits that go about sans bonce, and take a look at one of the most famous examples of this type of decapitated denizen of the dark, the shade of Anne Boleyn! 

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/folklore-on-friday-dont-lose-your-head.html

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/folklore-on-friday-dont-lose-your-head_16.html

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #15 - Time Flies

Once again it's reached that time of the year when we start wondering where all the time has gone. Is it really nearly Christmas once again? It doesn't seem that long ago we were resolving to eat less and do more exercise... 

However as much as we sometimes desire a break from the tyranny of clock and calendar, in the past time pieces behaving erratically was generally seen as an ill omen...

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/folklore-on-friday-clocking-on.html

And as much as we often wish we could stop the advance of those two hands around the dial, a stopped clock was often the herald of dark times. And there is even a true story behind that old song about a stopped grandfather clock too...

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/folklore-on-friday-even-stopped-clock.html

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #14 - Northern Haunters

This week on Folklore Flashback we are delving into the archives to resurrect some night terrors from the North! First up we are journeying to Yorkshire, to Burton Agnes, where we will encounter a peculiarly British sort of haunting - the tale of a screaming skull! 

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/folklore-on-friday-screaming-skull-of.html

Next we travel further northwards, to discover a very strange being that haunted a lonely stretch of road on the River Tees, between Hurworth and Neasham - a terrifying beast known as the Headless Hob!

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/folklore-on-friday-headless-hobgoblin.html

Finally we travel a little further into the North, past Darlington, to the little village of Sedgefield. Here we'll find a haunting with a very unusual tale behind it - the story of the Pickled Parson! 

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/folklore-on-friday-pickled-parson-of.html

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #13 - Stone Free

This week on Folklore Flashback, we are unearthing some very old lore on strange stones. First up we travel to the little village of Shebbear where November sees the an age-old annual ritual called the turning of the Devil's Stone carried out. Meanwhile in our second offering we discover the assorted magical uses of certain rocks and pebbles called Dobbie stones...

THE DEVIL'S STONE
http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/folklore-on-friday-turning-devils-stone.html

DOBBIE STONES
http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/folklore-on-friday-stone-free.html

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #12 Species of Spectres: The story so far

Over the past few weeks on Folklore on Friday, we've been attempted to devise ways of categorising ghosts, spooks and spectres based upon how they manifest in folklore and old legends. So far we've uncovered distinctly different types of phantoms depending on when and where they appear... 

PART I
http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/folklore-on-friday-species-of-spectres.html

PART II
http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/folklore-on-friday-species-of-spectres_14.html

PART III
http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/folklore-on-friday-species-of-spectres_21.html

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #11 - The Secrets of Halloween!

Well the end of October is approaching fast, and everyone's getting ready to celebrate the spookiest night of the year - Hallowe'en! And unsurprisingly in the past I've made several forays into the folklore of All Hallows Eve... 

So then, first of we have a round-up of assorted Halloween charms and rites - 

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/folklore-on-friday-hallowed-by-thy.html

For a more in-depth look into the origins and history of Halloween, check out my epic length podcast, in which I untangle a great many myths about the holiday and discover the real roots of our modern customs and traditions -

The Origins of Halloween

Now this show was such a success, that the following year, I produced a sequel show, that explored how Halloween has evolved from folk customs to being part of modern day pop culture -

The Origins of Halloween Part II

And coming this week, I shall be presenting the 3rd part of what has turned into an annual exploration of the history of Halloween! Find it this weekend on this blog or go here to subscribe -

http://hypnobobs.geekplanetonline.com/

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #8 - Of Pasties and Pixies

This week on Folklore Flashback, we are headed down to Cornwall, to sample one of the all-time great British delicacies, the Cornish pasty!

Now not only is this a delicious snack, but the Cornish pasty has a long history that is interwoven with much folklore. In particular, this great British food is closely associated with a certain species of faery, that are said to dwell in the tin mines of Cornwall, the Knockers...

Part I can be found here -
http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/folklore-on-friday-of-piskies-and.html

And Part II lives here -
http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/folklore-on-friday-of-pasties-and.html

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #7

This week on Folklore Flashback we round up some of the denizens of the supernatural world, in particular various local entities of a distinctly dangerous aspect...

First up we meet a Highland terror, the aquatic predator known as the Kelpie

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/folklore-on-friday-legend-of-kelpie.html

Next we travel a little further south to discover a particular unpleasant species of dwarf, known as a Redcap, and one of this breed that served a dark master in the wilds of Northern borders -

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/folklore-on-friday-rampages-of-robin.html

And finally we head down south to the fen-lands of England, to learn of a powerful local sprite -

http://hypnogoria.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/folklore-on-friday-curse-of-tiddy-mun.html

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #5 - The Legend of the Holbeach Gamesters

In this week's Folklore Flashback, we revisit a little investigation from earlier this year, tracing the origins of a Lincolnshire legend. A little old church is said to be a place to avoid after dark, and that after sunset any lights or noises seen or heard coming from within are to be ignored. The reasons why tell a tale of gambling, grave-robbing and ghostly goblins!

The legend of the Holbeach Gamesters Part I

The legend of the Holbeach Gamesters Part II

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #4 - The Mystery of the Hammersmith Ghost

In the early 1800s, London was a very different place to the brightly lit city that it is today. This London was a maze of winding streets and dark lanes, and a dangerous place to be out and about in after nightfall. And one winter there came a tale of spectre haunting Hammersmith...

This dread phantom did not only terrorise the good citizens of Hammersmith, but when it was reportedly physically attacking folks, vigilantes joined the hunt... Which would lead to one of the odder trials ever to take place in the Old Bailey...

 Discover what exactly occurred in the curious case of the Hammersmith Ghost here! 

The Mystery of the Hammer Smith Ghost Part I 

The Mystery of the Hammer Smith Ghost Part II 

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #2 - The Fairy Coffins of Edinburgh

Now then, last year I did some investigation into a very curious case. In the early 19th century, a strange discovery was made just outside Edinburgh - a little tomb containing a cache of miniature coffins. Over the years these little caskets and weird occupants have been the source of much speculation, and here's what I could uncover...

The Fairy Coffins of Edinburgh Part I

The Fairy Coffins of Edinburgh Part II

FOLKLORE FLASHBACK #1 - Fairy Finds

Welcome to the first in a new series of occasional blog entries. As some of you may know, for the last few years I've been writing a regular (well, mostly) weekly feature called Folklore on Friday in which we explore various old tales, legends and superstitions. However over the years, several little articles have turned into longer works and have been released in parts over several weeks. So then, I thought it would be a good idea to occasionally put a post together collecting all the links to assorted series together in one place... 

Over  the years several items have been discovered that are said to been the work of the faeries. Of course, few of these objects have offered convincing evidence of the existence of the Little People, but these objects do have some interesting tales to tell nonetheless... 

The Luck of Edenhall

The Fairy Flag of Dunvegan Castle

The Fairy Shoe of Beara Penisular

If you're wondering where Fairy Finds II is, that mini series of articles will be collected together next time...