Introducing my new: "Folklore of Scotland" Come on a magical journey in faerie tales and folk horror, introducing almost 200 characters from Scottish folklore link: folkloreofscotland.com #folklore #Scotland  #booksky

#NaturePhotographyDay 🦋🐛 In lore, butterflies are souls of the dead waiting to pass through purgatory, and caterpillar is associated with transformation and magic #nature #folklore #photography 📷 by me

In Cumbrian dialects, 'watter-moose' is water vole Water vole, famously known as 'Ratty' in Kenneth Grahame's 'The Wind in the Willows' more: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #lakedistrict art: Ratty by Chris Dunn

#13th June: 12 gods were having dinner in Valhalla. Uninvited, Loki shows up as the 13th guest. He persuades Hoor, the blind son of Odin, to shoot Balder (another son) with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Balder dies, and the act is now associated with unlucky 13. art: Sam Flegal

In Cumbrian dialects, 'bullstang' is dragonfly They’re often known as the 'devil’s darning needle' and 'horse stinger'. In folklore, they embody the soul of a dragon bardofcumberland.com 📷 David Clarke #DragonflyDay

A mermaid found a swimming lad, Picked him up for her own, Pressed her body to his body, Laughed; and plunging down Forgot in cruel happiness That even lovers drown. ~ W. B. Yeats #botd 1865 art: The Mermaid by Howard Pyle

Clash of the Titans was released #onthisday 1981 Directed by Desmond Davis and loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus. It featured the final work of stop-motion visual effects artist Ray Harryhausen

In Cumbrian dialects, 'yar' is hare A symbol of femininity and rebirth, and a messenger, moving by moonlight between this world and The Otherworld more: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #lakedistrict art: Adam Oehlers

#InternationalLynxDay Although once found in Ireland, little is known of when the Lynx went extinct; but it left it's mark on Irish culture. It's Gaelic name 'llewn' has the same origin as Lugh, one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the People of the Goddess Danu. #LynxDay #mythology #ireland

James VI of Scotland was known for his love of unusual pets and owned a lion, tiger, beaver and armadillo. The armadillo regularly accompanied the King, carried on horseback by his groom. #bookwormsat #Scotland

It's #InternationalLynxDay although sadly extinct in the UK, lynx is an animal of magic and mystery. In Druidry it's the 'keeper of secrets' symbolising the power of clairvoyance #lynxday #mythology #druidry 📷 Bernard Landgraf

In my native Ayrshire and Cumbrian dialects, 'tod' is fox Fox in common with Otter, carries a magic pearl that brings good luck to whomever finds it more: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #lakedistrict art: Fox Spirits by Stephanie Bayles

In Cumbrian dialects, 'broc' is badger Badger is held in high esteem and 'brocan' means wise man. In lore, badgers protect against witchcraft and other evils more in: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #badgers #folklore #lakedistrict art: Lily Seika Jones

In Cumbrian dialects, 'urchin' is hedgehog. In a creation myth the entire world was just a giant lake, until a hedgehog brought sand in its spines to create land more: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #hedgehogs #folklore #lakedistrict art: Amy Brown

Roland the Farter was a medieval flatulist, a jester for King Henry II. Each year, he was obliged to perform "saltum, siffletum, pettum" (a jump, a whistle, and a fart) all done at once for the King's court at Christmas. #bookwormsat 💨

The tale of Dunmail, the last 'King of Cumbria' is perhaps based on the historical, Dyfnwal ab Owain, King of Strathclyde more: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #bookwormsat #lakedistrict 📷 "The Last King of Cumbria"; a short film I directed for Bardsea-Green Films

In Cumbrian dialects, 'urchin' is hedgehog In a creation myth the entire world was just a giant lake, until a hedgehog brought sand in its spines to create land more in my: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #hedgehogs #folklore #booksky art: Amy Brown

#WitchWednesday My own Witch Stone, also known as a Hagg Stone or Dobby Stone. A stone with a naturally occurring hole in it, used to ward off evil spirits. Hung around the neck of humans or livestock, or hung in the home or barn.

Perhaps one of the Lake District's most well-known ghost stories is that of "The Screaming Skulls of Calgarth" from: "Folklore of the Lake District" by Stephen G. Rae #wyrdwednesday #booksky art: Sleepless Buddha

Mahaha is a goblin-like being found only in the most coldest of areas. It's touch will freeze you to death; if that fails, it will tickle you to death! from: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin: an Encyclopedia of World Folklore" by Stephen G. Rae #goblins #folklore #encyclopedia

Muki, the 'pale goblin' from the high mountains of Peru, known for kidnapping unbaptised children and read more in: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin: An Encyclopedia of World Folklore" by Stephen G. Rae folklorepress.co.uk #goblin #folklore #encyclopedia

A pack of werewolves on the Isle of Mull? Read more in my: Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #werewolf #folklore #Scotland art: A.J. Manzanedo

In tradition, newly-weds would dance three times around an oak tree and carve a small cross on it for good luck. These trees are called 'marriage oaks' more in my "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com #FairytaleTuesday #booksky 📷 my favourite oak, Lake District

It's #DinosaurDay 🦕 Scientists first began studying the 'dinosaur' in the 19th century, with the word coined in 1841. Did you know that a 15th century Bishop of Carlisle had carvings of dinosaurs on his tomb? A Brachiosaurus? more in my: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com

Púca is a goblin-like being who brings both of good and bad fortune. A shapeshifter able to take the form of a goat, hare or cat in my: Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; an Encyclopedia of World Folklore bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #caturday #goblins #folklore art: Pascal Moguérou

Isles, the demonic cat from Scottish Highlands folklore. It will jump on passing travellers and drink their blood! more in my "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #caturday #folklore #Scotland art: Jester Pepita

"Folklore of Scotland" by Stephen G. Rae Elf and fairie; brownie and goblin; faerie animals; demons of land and sea; giants and ogre; wolf man and werewolf; Beast of Buchan, Gorbals Vampire folkloreofscotland.com #folklore #horror #Scotland

Nuckelavee, from the Orcadian 'knoggelvi', meaning 'devil of the sea' and is of both equine and human elements. It's breath is a poison more: "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #folklore #Scotland #booksky art: Stephen G. Rae

The "White Dobbie of Furness" is a ghost story from my book, "Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ film by 'Land of Lore Films' #folklore #ghoststories #booksky

#WorldOtterDay Otter carries a magical pearl that brings good luck to whomever finds it. Otter King is always accompanied by other otters and if captured, will grant any wish in exchange for his freedom more in my: "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com 📷 Nathan Talbot

The vampire of Croglin Grange is England's most famous vampire tale. The long fingernailed, flaming eyed being that broke into Amelia Cranswell's room to bite her throat more in my "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #WorldDraculaDay #booksky

Baobhan sith, the 'vampire fairie' who seduces her victims with her beauty, and the makes her escape by transforming into a crow or a raven more in my: "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #WorldDraculaDay #booksky art: Frances MacDonald

#OTD 1897 the publication of Bram Stoker's famous novel 'Dracula' #WorldDraculaDay Bram Stoker's Dracula, 1992 Director: Francis Ford Coppola Poster art: Leonardo Recupero

The natives of Renwick, Cumbria were once known as "bats" because of the monstrous bat-like being inhabiting their ruined church and read more in "Folklore of the Lake District" by Stephen G. Rae folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky art: Johan Egerkrans

In the Scottish Highlands, chief amongst the forest spirits is the Urisk, a half-human and half-goat being similar to a Faun more in my "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #folklorethursday #Scotland art: The Woods At Blight’s Hollow, by Corey Brickley

It's National Leprechaun Day ☘ "He is by profession a maker of brogues... discovered by the sounds which he makes hammering his brogues" ~ the Leprechaun by Thomas Keightley from my: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin" folklorepress.co.uk art: W. Anderson

Merlin, driven mad with grief when his men were slaughtered in battle, finds refuge in the Caledonian Forest. His loneliness interrupted by visits from forest creatures and elementals and gains the gift of prophecy. He is later seen running with wild animals art: Alan Lee #WyrdWednesday

12 gods were having dinner in Valhalla. Uninvited, Loki shows up as the 13th guest. He persuades Hoor, the blind son of Odin, to shoot Balder (another son) with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Balder dies, and the act is now associated with unlucky 13. #13thMay #WyrdWednesday art: Sam Flegal

A mermaid would swim up the River Stinchar to Knockdolian Castle at night, sit on a particular black stone, and sing. The inhabitants of the castle had the stone destroyed, so the mermaid put a curse on the family more: "Folklore of Scotland" #bookwormsat #folklore art: John William Waterhouse

Solway Firth: a mermaid fell in love with a sailor whom she rescued when his ship ran aground. She slipped a gold ring on his finger and promised to return to him, but after many years of waiting, he died, alone more: 'Folklore of the Lake District' #bookwormsat #folklore art: Arthur Rackham

"We moved from being a part of nature to being apart from nature." ~ Sir David Attenborough

Crocodile originally had beautiful smooth golden skin. During the day other animals would come and admire it. Everyday, exposing it's skin to the hot African sun, it got uglier, bumpier and thicker, and changed to what it is now. #bookwormsat #folklore

Introducing: "Folklore of Scotland" Come on a magical journey in faerie tales and folk horror, introducing almost 200 characters from Scottish folklore more: folkloreofscotland.com 📚 ships to UK via the website; and Worldwide via Amazon, Apple Books, etc. #folklore #scotland #booksky

Drake is a household spirit in the form of a dragon that keeps the hearth burning, only trouble is, he smells of rotten eggs from my: 'Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin: an Encyclopedia of World Folklore' bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #dragons #goblins #booksky art by me

It's #WorldCarnivorousPlantDay ☠ Little Shop of Horrors, 1986 dir. Frank Oz

Grýla is a Troll from Icelandic lore who lives in the mountains with her three husbands, scores of children, and Yule Cat; who collects, cooks and eats any naughty children around Christmas time. She is mother of the Yule Lads. #wyrdwednesday

In Scots language, bootrie or bower-tree is the elder tree. In Druidry she is the Elder Mother If your bath your eyes in the green juice of her elder wood, you might see faeries and witches #wyrdwednesday #Scotland art: Arthur Rackham

In Cumbrian dialects, thimble-flower is foxglove, tod is fox, bummel is bee in lore, faeries gave a fox, foxglove petals to put on it's toes - the fox's gloves - to raid the hen house without being heard more: 'Folklore of the Lake District' by Stephen G. Rae 📷 Alan McFadyen #FairytaleTuesday

Sadly little is known of 'Greyhound', a larger fox species that once lived high in the Lakeland fells from my: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #fairytaletuesday #lakedistrict