The gathering of May dew (a belief in its wonderful virtues for cleansing, whitening, softening and in all ways beautifying the skin not yet being dead) is still most carefully attended to by many of our bonny maidens.
A company of maidens go forth together. The leader doth carry a garland pole gaily bedecked with flowers and coloured ribbands. The staff of the pole being pointed, they do drive it into the ground at the entrance to any wood or field which they may enter
David Naitby. Bedale
I bought a copy of this publication yesterday, it’s wonderful, I’d highly recommend it.
I bought my copy from the excellent Book Corner in Saltburn. Its available as a printed book or digital format, the printed version is selling out quickly so you may have to hunt down a copy. Further details can be found here.
My friend Emily Hesse has a exhibition at The Tetley in Leeds. If you are in the area I’d recommend a visit.
Ingratitude is worse than witchcraft.
Never talk of witches on a Friday.
Friday is the witches’ sabbath.
Witches are most apt to confess on a Friday.
Fairies comb goats’ beards every Friday.
To hug one as the devil hugs a witch.
A favourite cry of the fairies, waters locked! waters locked!!
Wednesday is the fairies’ sabbath.
A witch is afraid of her own blood.
A witch cannot weep.
To be fairy struck (paralysis).
A hairy man’s a geary man, but a hairy wife’s a witch.
You’re like a witch, you say your prayers backwards.
You’re half a witch (cunning).
Turn your cloaks for fairy folks are in old oaks.
Kittens born in May are even still proverbially spoken of and looked upon as bad mousers. I only within the present year heard a female say that “she wad nivver mair keep a May kitten as lang as she lived, for they were just good for naught at all!” [They are unlucky to keep; and besides, they suck the breath of very young infants: Long Benton, Newcastle.}
DT 1859
Nine circles do I round ye run,
on each a black bean. Every one
to a black beetle turneth.
Nine spiders now about you spin their arran webs,
to ward off what’s out, to guard what’s in,
should ill clouds hang aboon ye.
Nine feathers now round ye fly,
each bird doth watch baith yeth and sky,
should ought ill come again ye
From Marvels, Magic & Witchcraft in the North Riding of Yorkshire. David Kirby. 2005
Graeme Chappell has a new blog called Arcanum. Graeme is an author, researcher and explorer of the landscape. His knowledge of the folklore, landscape and prehistory of Northern Britain is second to none. I’m really looking forward to visiting his blog on a regular basis. I’d would recommend that you take a look and bookmark his blog. it can be found here
Mares’ tails and mackerel scales make lofty ships to carry low sails.
A sure sign that spring is on its way is the appearance of ramsons (Wild Garlic). They are just starting to poke through and will soon carpet the woodland floor. Traditionally they were used as a spring green and were thought to be good for digestive problems. It was also said that rabbits would not cross a boundary planted with ramsons.
They can be picked and eaten raw or used as a herb. They are at their best before the flowers appears. Pick the leaf and leave the bulb, if you remove the bulb the plant will not return.
The Smell of Water 