Posts about folklore

Here's a fun thing I just learned: barnacle geese are so named because Medieval scholars believed they hatched from... goose barnacles! Read More  

I'm in Newfoundland right now, spotting wildlife and soaking up the justifiably-famous scenery. But did you know that Newfoundland's Memorial University also has the best folklore department in Canada? It's true - and here's a snippet from Dr. Barbara ... Read More  

Ghost. That one word has a strange power. All I have to do is announce that I’m going to tell a ghost story and children sharpen to attention. Grownups too. It seems that we are all touched by ghosts, ... Read More  

The phrase “witch hunt” has been tossed around pretty casually lately, but here’s a case where it might actually apply: an Ontario psychic has just been charged with practicing witchcraft. Or, more accurately, with pretending to practice witchcraft. Fun ... Read More