In Cumbrian dialects, 'bull-tree' is the elder tree. If your bath your eyes in the green juice of the elder wood, you might see faeries and witches! art: Arthur Rackham

Thankfully a win for our precious Cumbrian wildlife. The quarry is now a biodiversity treasure.

Brilliant documentary that explores the role that mosses have played in the Earth's evolution - the magical world of moss

Europe's 'ghost cat' is returning; tracking the elusive Wildcat.

It's #RedSquirrelAppreciationDay in Cumbrian dialects, 'con' and 'swirrel' is red squirrel It's said that at one time a red squirrel could travel from Carlisle to Penrith without ever touching the ground. art: Robert E. Fuller

In Cumbrian dialects, 'urchin' is hedgehog the entire world was once a big lake, and it was a giant hedgehog who brought earth in it's needles to create dry land more: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky art: Hannah Kugelfant

"the stars are shining, the moon's so bright the boggart can't come out tonight" and there are more boggart tales in my: 'Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; an encyclopedia of world folklore' #goblins #folklore #booksky

In Cumbrian dialects, 'pyat' is magpie: One is for sorrow, but two for mirth, three's for a wedding, four for a death, five for heaven, six for hell, but seven's the divil's oan sel more in my: 'Folklore of the Lake District" #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky art: Christian Schmidt-Ramussen

Let's head to Scotland for #BlueMonday and discover 'The Blue Men of the Minch', beings from folklore who inhabit a stretch of water between the Outer Hebrides and mainland Scotland, looking for sailors to drown and stricken boats to sink.

In Cumbrian dialects, dandelion is dog-posy or pissibed The floating seeds are called 'faeries' and it's lucky to catch one more nature lore and dialect in my "Folklore of the Lake District" #nature #folklore #booksky art: Adam Oehlers

Susanna Blamire was a dialect poet of the Romantic age. Her poems reflected the reality of rural life, and her 'And ye shall walk in silk attire' was referenced by Dickens in his 'The Old Curiosity Shop' more: 'Folklore of the Lake District' by Stephen G. Rae #bookwormsat #folklore #lakedistrict

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

In Cumbrian dialects, mooas or mause is mouse Don't set out on a perilous journey if you see a mouse. Just stay inside and read my "Folklore of the Lake District" 🐭 bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #booksky art: Anna Matveeva

"For just across the Lune's broad stream, A man once lived could solve a dream" local wizard, William Fairer's 'Book of Black Art' was too dangerous to open and went missing after his death more: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #bookologythursday #booksky

In Cumbrian dialects, 'mowdiwarp' is mole In lore, if you hold a dying mole in your hands until it passes, your hands will acquire the power of healing from: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #booksky art: Fern Forest Fables

My first Lake District snowdrops 🤍 spring is just around the corner

Bear has been venerated as a 'brother' for thousands of years; from the ancient hunter tribes to modern Shamanic people. Within Druidry, the bear is regarded as the 'King of all Animals'. art: Kevin Peterson

In Cumbrian dialects, 'sweetmart' is pine marten in lore, pine martens are believed to plait horses’ manes during the night more: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #lakedistrict art: Robert E. Fuller

In Cumbrian dialects, 'yar' is hare Mountain Hare is the only hare species native to the UK. Outwith the Scottish Highlands, its known as the Snow Hare. They are a 'priority species' at risk from the effects of climate change. 📷 Paul Hobson

walking in Torridon my only companion distant barking dog from: "often I stop and look back" bardofcumberland.com/poetry/ #bookwormsat #haiku #poetry art: 'cu sìth' is the 'faerie dog'; it will let out three barks, only three, as an ill omen

"Animists are people who recognize that the world is full of persons, only some of whom are human" ~ Prof. Graham Harvey art: Ed Org

Fairy Rock is associated with a Fairie Queen who falls in love with a human. The Fairies would dance in the moonlight to entice handsome young men into their grotto more in my: "Folklore of the Lake District" art: The Fairy Dance by Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach

Remembering David Bowie, #botd 1947 "It's a crystal. Nothing more. But if you turn it this way and look into it, it will show you your dreams" ~ Jareth Labyrinth, 1986 Dir. Jim Henson

Here's a fruity treat, a 1810 recipe for Fig Sewe: chopped figs bread cut into small cubes boiled in ale seasoned with treacle and nutmeg more in: 'Folklore of the Lake District' bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #bookologythursday #folklore

Remembering one of my favourite artists, Richard Dadd, who died #otd 1886 He was perhaps best known for his depictions of fairies. His most notable paintings were created while a patient at Bethlem and Broadmoor hospitals. Dadd convinced his father was the Devil, had killed him.

In Cumbrian dialects, 'thimble-flower' is foxglove, 'bummel' is bee, and 'tod' is fox in lore, fox carries a magical pearl, that brings good luck to whomever finds it more: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #booksky 📷 Alan McFadyen

in winter's twilight owls and Buddhas from: "often I stop and look back" bardofcumberland.com/poetry art: Ohara Koson

"Everytime a child says 'I don't believe in fairies' there is a a little fairy somewhere that falls down dead." ~ James M. Barrie 📷 Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye by Jack Anstey

through an open window come my winter visitors sparrows and snowflakes from: "often I stop and look back" bardofcumberland.com/poetry #haiku #poetry #booksky

Thanks to @thefolklorepress.bsky.social for bringing to my attention these quirky illustrations by Slovak illustrator Peter Klúcik for an unpublished edition of The Hobbit. They’re simply delightful! It’s as if Roald Dahl grew a very long beard and relocated to Middle Earth! #TolkienDay

"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger" ~ J.R.R. Tolkien #botd #TolkienDay #BookWormSat art: Gandalf and Shadowfax by Antonello Venditti

The first full moon of 2026 will illuminate the skies on 3 January. Known as the #WolfMoon, it will be the fourth supermoon in a row; and the first of 13 full moons this year. Named by both Europeans and Indigenous Peoples due to the lupine howling that haunted midwinter.

I'm currently writing a folklore of Scotland: "Not the seed of Adam are we, Nor is Abraham our father, But of the seed of the Proud Angel, Driven forth from Heaven" In the Highlands, there was a belief that faeries were fallen angels. #faeriefriday #folklore #booksky

The January 2026 edition of 'Cumbria and Lakeland Walker magazine' is out now It includes my regular article on Cumbrian folklore, and this month, ghost stories cumbriamagazine.co.uk #folklore #ghoststories #Cumbria

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year 💚 May the warmth of the sun, nurture you; The cool waters, cleanse you; Nature's bounty, replenish you; The song of the trees, comfort you; The knowledge of the bees, guide you. ~ Druid Blessing by Stephen G. Rae

What a year, and many thanks to all who have supported my writing endeavours Especially @samreadbookseller.bsky.social and @bookendscarlisle.bsky.social 💚 #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky

Our 20 top selling books at Sam Read's for 2025 look like this! Top 5 were: 1. Rory Stewart, Middleland 2. Polly Atkin, The Company of Owls HB 3. Esther Rutter, All Before Me 4. David Nicholls, You Are Here 5. Stephen G Rae, Folklore of the Lake District

#WinterSolstice blessings 💚 "May the warmth of the sun, nurture you; The cool waters, cleanse you; Nature's bounty, replenish you; The song of the trees, comfort you; The knowledge of the bees, guide you." ~ Stephen G. Rae

Here's a Festive treat, a 1810 recipe for Fig Sewe: chopped figs bread cut into small cubes boiled in ale seasoned with treacle and nutmeg more: 'Folklore of the Lake District' bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #bookwormsat #folklore

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 evil entities more in my: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #badgers #folklore #booksky art: Lily Seika Jones

Delighted to announce that I shall be giving a talk at "Words by the Water" next year

Every plant and tree is considered sacred in Druidry, and so too is every animal. Oak and mistletoe receive special veneration, as does the red deer, both stag and hind, which are especially sacred. art: the fabulous @samcannonart.bsky.social

The natives of Renwick were once known as "bats" because of the monstrous bat-like being inhabiting their ruined church read more in: "Folklore of the Lake District" by Stephen G. Rae #bookologythursday #folklore

In the Lakes for a holiday and picked up this little wonder by @stephengrae.bsky.social at the lovely @samreadbookseller.bsky.social in Grasmere. Really looking forward to reading some local tales on a wet December night.

"The Devil hissel' made lawyers an' 'tornies, and put them in Ul'ston and Dawson in Furness" more: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #bookwormsat #folklore

#NationalHorseDay the horse in Druidry is associated with Epona, the Great Mare, a Horse Goddess associated with the Gauls. There is still a rich legacy of inscriptions and monuments dedicated to Epona art: Kinuko Y. Craft

Furness Book Fair, 2026 Open to an indie authors and indie bookshops in the South Lakes area. Contact me for more details.

#InternationalMountainDay 🗻 on a winters morn' Coniston Old Man's nightshirt drifts back to the moon bardofcumberland.com/poetry/ #haiku #mountains #lakedistrict art: A Winter Landscape over Coniston Fell by Jill M. Aldersley

#InternationalMountainDay 🗻 upon Helvellyn lichen-covered boulders beckon winter's snow bardofcumberland.com/poetry/ #haiku #mountains #lakedistrict art: Fresh Snow on Helvellyn by Elijah Walton

Trow live in mounds called Trowie Knowes, venturing out at dusk to play music. The best fiddle music on Orkney and Shetland has been gifted by the Trows more: "Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; an encyclopedia of world folklore" #bookologythursday #folklore