It’s late at night. You’re near Newcastle Central station, walking through the Georgian streets by the railway arches. Drunks fall past you, revellers in body-con dresses and white t-shirts, tramping back up towards the Bigg Market in search of a greasy kebab and trebles for a cheap price. You turn left past the castle, the … Continue reading A Vicious Streak a Mile Wide – the Vampire Bunny of Newcastle
folklore
Medieval Magic, Folklore and Superstition: the Dissertation Stirs…
I've been rather quiet recently because I've been a busy bee working on my masters degree. All the teaching is out of the way now, so it's time to get my teeth into some proper research. Like my very good friend over at Grendel's Handbag (who you should go and check out RIGHT NOW, especially … Continue reading Medieval Magic, Folklore and Superstition: the Dissertation Stirs…
On St George’s Day
Today – the 23rd April – is St George’s Day. Patron saint of England, soldiers, boy scouts and one of the most famous early martyrs across the world. It’s well known that St George was not from England, so how did he end up as the country’s patron saint? And where has his medieval popularity … Continue reading On St George’s Day
On St Cuthbert’s Day
This week saw the Feast Day of St Cuthbert on Friday 20th March. No doubt on this date you were all still getting over your St Patrick’s Day super-hangovers, but I’m here to educate you about Cuthbert, one of the famous Northumbrian saints from the early middle ages. Amongst his fans are ill people, proud … Continue reading On St Cuthbert’s Day
On Valentine’s Day Traditions
Walking through a well-known supermarket this week, I came across a large display of pink wine, red heart-shaped chocolate boxes, more pink wine and cards. This was accompanied by a sign, where it was writ, in big letters, “Discover Valentine’s Day”. Eh? “Discover”? How many people are there wandering around wondering why shops are decorated … Continue reading On Valentine’s Day Traditions
On New Year’s Resolutions, and the Origins Thereof
So it’s now a week or so after New Year – broken any resolutions yet? No? Well done. They say it takes a month for a change to become a real habit, so keep it up and you’ll be flying. You have? Fair enough, you’re only human. Most people finish with their resolutions because they’ve … Continue reading On New Year’s Resolutions, and the Origins Thereof
On New Year’s Traditions
Out with the old and in with the new. The changing of the calendar and turning of the year is marked, of course, by New Year’s Eve (and frankly, if you didn’t know that, I’d be worried about you). This event is celebrated in many different ways across the world but I’m here to talk … Continue reading On New Year’s Traditions
On Halloween Traditions
Today is, of course, Halloween (or properly Hallowe’en), the perfect excuse to have a night in with a spooky DVD, demand sweets with menaces or just get smashed while dressed as the zombie you’ll undoubtedly feel like in the morning. I used to quite like (‘scuse split infinitive) Halloween at home in North-East England because, … Continue reading On Halloween Traditions
Scranshums 