The Folklore Podcast

In this episode, Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman takes a look at some of the old (and a few of the modern) customs and traditions associated with Valentine's Day. From the medieval period, by way of early house visiting traditions and love divination, the episode explores many of the UK practices before travelling around the world to look at a selection of other ways that Valentine's is celebrated

Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman is joined in this episode by folklore blogger and film academic Icy Sedgwick to discuss the genre of horror and supernatural in film. The discussion explores the research being undertaken by Icy as part of her PhD on the representation of hauntings on the movie screen and particularly looks at the tropes we find in folkloric accounts of ghosts. Do these translate to the portrayal of the ghost in film, and do the films themselves create their own folklore and mythos which works its way back into our own cultures?

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To kick off Season 4 of The Folklore Podcast, host Mark Norman examines traditional New Year customs and celebrations around the world, noting the many similarities in different cultures as well as the unique aspects found from place to place.

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The Krampus has become a big folkloric figure at Christmas time in recent years. But less discussed and of equal interest are the female figures of the Perchten from the alpine regions. On this, the final episode of Season 3 of the Folklore Podcast, host Mark Norman redresses the balance in an interview with alpine folklore expert Al Ridenour, the creator of the Bone and Sickle podcast.

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In the first of two episodes of the podcast examining festive folklore for December, Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman looks at the history and origins of the Mummers Play and other Yuletide folk plays and traditions. Contesting the broad opinion that they plays 'are just pagan' the episode traces similarities and differences through other performances such as the pantomime and the Commedia Dell'arte before examining other similar practices such as the Mummering house visits of Newfoundland and the Irish Wrenboys. This episode also contains recordings of performances made in the field.

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Prejudices against people because of the colour of their skin are unacceptable. And yet, it is often socially accepted to make fun of people because of the colour of their hair. Why should this be any different? And is there any evidence to back up the beliefs?

In this episode Mark Norman, the creator of The Folklore Podcast, discusses the beliefs, superstitions and folklore attached to those sporting red hair.

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As beautifully performed and presented as it was, there is far more to the concept of the 'genie' than Disney's manic blue singing version in Aladdin. The genie is the Westernised version of the Jinn, the supernatural being from Islamic and Arabian mythology and lore. On this episode of the Folklore Podcast, host Mark Norman and researcher Tracey Norman are joined by Dedra Stevenson, an author from the UAE who draws on a lot of this folklore in her fiction writing. Dedra explains exactly what the Jinn are, and how they are a very real part of Muslim beliefs.

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The lullaby as a song type is found in cultures all over the world. Whilst the familiar interpretation is as a gentle song to lull a child to a restful sleep, in this episode podcast creator and host Mark Norman offers some alternative readings where the lyrics and back-story are somewhat darker and more likely to induce nightmares. The episode also features a guest talk from Armenian folklore researcher and lecturer Hasmik Matikyan on the lullaby as a form of work song, drawn from her own cultural experiences and interviews.

The mythology of the Norse peoples is a rich and varied one, but little is found in the archaeological record to tell us much for certain. Some things we speculate about, others we get from primary sources. But what are these sources?In this episode of the podcast, Noah Tetzner from the "History of Vikings" podcast gives a basic introduction to the area of Norse mythology, discussing the mythic landscape and beliefs from the Scandinavian regions.

A guest lecture from the great British folklorist Jeremy Harte who examines the character of the miller in folklore. Recorded live at the Folklore Society Conference at the Museum of English Rural Life in 2018.

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