It's time to say farewell to another year and as everyone settles into the internight days before the real start of 2026, we have a light hearted episode today on the Swan Princess movie! By now, you must be sick of Christmas classics and hallmark shows full of snow and Santa, so join Fox and Sparrow for a look back on one of Sparrow's favourite tales based on the ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. 

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It's only 8 days until Christmas which means its time for a Christmas ghost story! Join us as we tell the harrowing tale of the The Deacon of Dark River also known as The Deacon of Myrká. Unlike Scrooge, this Christmas ghost had an unfortunate death and wanted to drag his poor lover down into hell with him. Spooky festive cheer to all those who celebrate and those who don't! This story comes to us from Jón Árnason's translated version in Icelandic Legends. 

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It's almost like When Harry Met Sally, except Tawhaki literally climbs through the sky to get his girl. Straight from Edith Howes’ 1913 book titled, Maoriland Fairy Tales, we bring you a fairy story from New Zealand all about how having great upper body strength and carpentry skills can win you magic and love. 

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Welcome back to part two of our wild haunted ride at Pengersick Castle in Cornwall! Last time we left off with pirates and revenge and this time we'll pick up with Lord-Enchanter Pengersec and the Witch of Fraddam! He's less of a boy wizard and more of a reclusive-locked-up-in-his-tower-summoning-spirits type of wizard, but still makes for a great legend! 

We are continuing using Robert Hunt’s Popular Romances of the West of England which tells three stories based on ‘How Pengerswick became a Sorcerer,""The Lord of Pengerswick an Enchanter” and “The Witch of Fraddam and Pengerswick" as well as William Bottrell’s "Legends of Pengersec" from his Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall.

So settle in for Wizards and Witches at Pengersick Castle! Part two of our series on Pengersick castle. Be sure to listen to part one: Murder and Magic at Pengersick Castle! 

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Strange things are afoot at Pengersick Castle in Cornwall and they include (but are not limited to) murder, vengeful spirits, pirates, enchanters, witches, love potions, civil war and generational trauma! That's right, we are going to dive deep into the stories of Lord Pengersec using Robert Hunt’s Popular Romances of the West of England which tells three stories based on ‘How Pengerswick became a Sorcerer,""The Lord of Pengerswick an Enchanter” and “The Witch of Fraddam and Pengerswick" as well as William Bottrell’s "Legends of Pengersec" from his Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall.

So settle in for Murder and Magic at Pengersick Castle, Part One! 

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A monk comes across an odd priest and an even odder town. You see, on the first night after a death, the entire village empties out for fear of the flesh eater. Curious, the Monk chooses to stay and that night, he beholds a frightening sound...then a frightening shape...then- what happens next? Well, you'll have to listen or read the 1998 book, Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, by Lafcadio Hearn to find out more!

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R.F Kuang's Katabasis has reignited the discourse around journeying into the underworld as a storytelling device. We've covered many stories in the past with the theme of Katabasis (namely Inanna and Persephone), so why not deep dive into the various versions of Orpheus' myth especially with Supergiant Games' Hades II coming out! Join us as we trace Orpheus and Eurydice's story from Pindar to Virgil and Ovid all the way to Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Hadestown as we ask the age old question- why did Orpheus turn? 

Show notes for this episode can be found on our website at: https://talesfromtheenchantedforest.com/2025/09/24/katabasis-the-myth-of-orpheus/

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Sometimes when you find the Shadow-Daddy of your dreams, you won't care that you're dancing with the Devil. Instead, you'll hold him tight until he needs to find a way to get rid of you! Join Fox and Sparrow as they share a tale that frightens even the devil himself! It is the tale of Katcha and the Devil by Czech writer Božena Němcová from her collection Národní báchorky a powěsti (Folk Stories and Legends) with English translations from the book Czechoslovak Fairy Tales by Parker Filmore.

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What one single creation probably changed the course of human evolution? If you're thinking tools then you're close but we're thinking FIRE! If you're looking for a tutorial on how to make a fire in Australia then this is not the episode for you! However, if you are searching for a tale on how Bootoolgah, the crane, and Goonur, the kangaroo rat, created fire and then hid it away from everyone else- then you're in the right place! 

Today’s Australian folktale comes to us from the 1896 book, Australian Legendary Tales: folklore of the Noongahburrahs as told to the Piccaninnies, by K. Langloh Parker.

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Combining the stories of the "Goose Girl" and "Love like Salt," we have the tale of the Goose Girl at the Well from the Brothers Grimm! The moral lessons of this tale?

1. Sometimes helping a wild old lady do a meaningless task that feels like torture is worth the hassle.

2. Telling your father you love him like salt can lead to immediate exile...who knew Kings could be so salty? 

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