Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Olivia

SelineSigil @selinesigil.bsky.social · 2d

Old Michaelmas Day falls on 11th October each year, 11 days after the modern Michaelmas celebration on 29th September. This date shift carries with it centuries of history, from calendar reforms to rural traditions that shaped British life for generations. thesarahcoles.co.uk/old-michaelm...

✅Old Michaelmas Day: A Forgotten Celebration - Sarah Coles ✅

Discover Old Michaelmas Day's fascinating history, traditional celebrations & how this forgotten British harvest festival shaped rural communities for centuries

thesarahcoles.co.uk

3 7

Reposted by Olivia

hookland.bsky.social @hookland.bsky.social · 2d

The wood is a constant promise to the witch. It whispers of magics, wild harvest and omens to be found on its paths. It never breaks it oaths to her. – #EmilyCBanting, 1982 #WitchSky

1 34 210

Reposted by Olivia

Folk Horror Revival 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @folkhorrorrevival.bsky.social · 5d

"What moved the pale, raptorial owl
Then, to squall above the level
Of streetlights and wires, its wall to wall
Wingspread in control

Of the ferrying currents, belly
Dense-feathered, fearfully soft to
Look upon? Rats' teeth gut the city
Shaken by owl cry."

Sylvia Plath #OwlishMonday

Painting of a town at night with an owl swooping down on a group of rats who are scattering in terror

Artist unknown but published on page 733 of German journal Die Gartenlaube in 1879

12 41

Olivia @oliviaarmstrong.bsky.social · 5d

Yes, he is a Demon King in Talmudic stories. He is a wild cat when met by the book's (anti) hero and is an amazing character! Household loved cats.

2

Olivia @oliviaarmstrong.bsky.social · 5d

🖤Yes! He he is such a wonderful character in the book!

3

Olivia @oliviaarmstrong.bsky.social · 6d

Asmodeus took to his toy enthusiastically. In another week he permitted me to stroke him, producing a raucous purr, but, in order to save his face, pretending to be asleep.
― Geoffrey Household, Rogue Male
#BookWormSat

a black cat with vampire fangs wearing a vampire cape.

4 12 140

Reposted by Olivia

BookWormSat @bookwormsat.bsky.social · 7d

‘I don't like the looks of it,' said the King: 'however, it may kiss my hand, if it likes.'
'I'd rather not,' the Cat remarked.’ ~ Lewis Carroll

For World Animal Day tomorrow, #BookWormSat will roar, growl, bark, oink, miaow, neigh and bleat its way through the animals of literature. Do join us.

🖼️ Tenniel
An illustration from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, featuring the Cheshire Cat's disembodied head floating above the King and Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit, and other characters.

2 28 88

Reposted by Olivia

Sdanley Bat 🦇 @stanleybad.bsky.social · 17d

Saw this in a book called Ghosts.

1 2 6

Reposted by Olivia

FolkloreThursday @folklorethursday.bsky.social · 8d

That's the end of another #FolkloreThursday 🔥🎃🌙

Today's theme was folklore of Ghosts, Monsters, and All Things Spooky! This is @shanonsinn.bsky.social signing off - your last host today! Wishing you the best Spooktober ever 🍁

1883 Bernard Gillam - Gambling with death

A detail from a colour magazine or newspaper illustration. A man in a top hat is smoking a cigar while seated at a table. A skeletal ghost-like figure in white robes is rolling dice from a cup and standing over the man while pointing to the table, which is shaped like a coffin.

1 6 25

Reposted by Olivia

Three Ravens Podcast @threeravenspod.bsky.social · 22d

Nymphs and fauns, it's time to 'crack on' with another #FolkyFriday! 🖤

Ahead of Devil's Nutting Day on Sunday, our theme today is:

"The Lore of Apples, Nuts, and Harvest!"

Tag related posts, art, legends and customs #FolkyFriday for shares from 10am-6pm.

Let our cornucopias overflow!

a cartoon of a nutcracker holding a nut in his mouth

ALT: a cartoon of a nutcracker holding a nut in his mouth

media.tenor.com

15 34

Reposted by Olivia

Folk Horror Revival 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @folkhorrorrevival.bsky.social · 22d

#BookologyThursday shoutout to Meg and her cat Mog, from the book series by Helen Nicoll and illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski

Front cover for the children's book 'Meg & Mog' by Helen Nicoll and illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski (1972). The cover shows a cartoon witch Meg flying on her broomstick with a cauldron in the night sky with a crescent Moon and stars. With her on the broom is her black and white striped cat Mog.

2 7 40

Reposted by Olivia

SelineSigil @selinesigil.bsky.social · 23d

Mabon Ritual: Finding Balance In An Unbalanced World
www.patheos.com/blogs/witchi...

Mabon Ritual: Finding Balance In An Unbalanced World

A ritual for Mabon to restore balance for yourself in an unbalanced world.

www.patheos.com

1 2 7

Reposted by Olivia

SelineSigil @selinesigil.bsky.social · Sep 10

Chervil! Eating a whole plant would cure hiccups; chervil was said to warm old and cold stomachs. (I may need some
🤣) #Folklore

2 2

Olivia @oliviaarmstrong.bsky.social · Sep 10

Phantom & MIss.X

2

Reposted by Olivia

The Ghost Monk @theghostmonk.bsky.social · Sep 5

In the earliest #folklore regarding fairies there was a belief that they were in fact spirits of the dead. There are tales of men seeing their deceased wives dancing with them. A refinement of this belief is that they were spirits of the pre-Christian, unbaptised dead.
#PhantomsFriday #FolkyFriday

A 17th century woodcut of fairies dancing in a circle, with trees on either side and either the sun or the moon shining down on them.

3 21 82

Olivia @oliviaarmstrong.bsky.social · Sep 4

those vampires look so happy together!🧛

Olivia @oliviaarmstrong.bsky.social · Sep 4

Beware! Even if a vampire has been felled by a silver bullet, if it is left in the moonlight, it could still rejuvenate, especially if it is the light of a full moon... #FolkloreThursday
🎨Edward Gorey

A family of vampires, mainly with skull faces and huge bat wings, flock together.

4 17 74

Reposted by Olivia

Shanon Sinn @shanonsinn.bsky.social · Sep 4

Many Tarot readers interpret The Star card as connecting to the universe, creation, and divine guidance. Stars also appear on The Chariot card, on The Empress’s crown, and in The Hermit’s lantern. As pentacles, they have their own suit #FolkloreThursday

1909 Pamela Coleman Smith (colour U.S. Games)

Card illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith for A. E. Waite’s tarot deck. It shows an old man with a long beard and a long grey cloak with a hood on it. The background is plain blue sky. He looks to be standing on a snowy mountain peak. He has a walking staff and is holding a lantern with a star in it. At the bottom it says “The Hermit.”

Card illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith for A. E. Waite’s tarot deck. The card shows a beautiful and regal woman seated on a throne holding up a sceptre. She has a crown with twelve stars on it. Grain grows in front of her and a forest with a river is behind her. At the bottom of the card it says, "The Empress."

1 8 39

Olivia @oliviaarmstrong.bsky.social · Sep 4

The Yuracaré people interpreted the Moon's spots as a four-eyed jaguar that escaped to the skies... #FolkloreThursday
🎨Janelle Penner

A jaguar looks back over its shoulder. It sits beneath a fruit tree facing the big red sun. The painting is joyful and playful.

3 17

Olivia @oliviaarmstrong.bsky.social · Sep 4

It always feels like old times when I post on your shift. So lovely you are here🐺🐈

1 1

Olivia @oliviaarmstrong.bsky.social · Sep 4

In Paraguayan lore the Moon's spots are actually his intestines, disembowelled, when ducks that he was trying to catch, tore him to pieces... #FolkloreThursday
🎨Olav Stromme

A large four winged creature is in flight. Behind it a gold moon and on the immediate top left a tiny gold moon. The rest of the painting is all in shades of earthy brown.

2 7

Olivia @oliviaarmstrong.bsky.social · Sep 4

What a beautiful painting!

1 1

Reposted by Olivia

FolkloreThursday @folklorethursday.bsky.social · Sep 4

Hello everyone and happy #FolkloreThursday ✨🌛✨

Thank you to @crystalponti.bsky.social for hosting before the break! I'm @shanonsinn.bsky.social and I will be your folklore host for the next one hour.

Today's theme is "The Folklore of the Stars and Skies"

1872 Eleanor Vere Boyle

A tiny fairy woman is riding a songbird in flight. In the background is a body of water with an island visible and the far shore. In the foreground beneath her are white flowers and ivy with several other fairies looking up at her.

2 4 18

Reposted by Olivia

FolkloreThursday @folklorethursday.bsky.social · Sep 4

And that’s me shooting off like a stray comet. ☄️ I’m @crystalponti.bsky.social signing off. Don't wander too far! The skies sparkle again at 6:30 BST when @shanonsinn.bsky.social steps in to host the final hour of #FolkloreThursday. Until next time, my friends!

Art: Universitätsbibliothek Kassel

A medieval-style painting of a radiant sun with a human face, glowing with golden rays and trailing a long red comet-like tail across a cloudy sky. Beneath the dramatic heavens lies a dark, moody landscape with jagged mountains, a river, a small church with spires, and a boat carrying figures across the water. The horizon glows in bands of deep red and orange, fading into the dark blues and blacks of the stormy sky.

1 5 27

Olivia @oliviaarmstrong.bsky.social · Sep 4

Thank you so much♥️! One of my favourite moon paintings!

1