The veil is thinning and soon Samhain, the scariest night of the year, will be upon us. But what is it that makes this night, the 31st of October, just so spooky? In this episode Jenny explores the ancient Celtic roots of Samhain, traditional protective rituals, divination games, and tells the tale of a lass who decided to peek behind the veil to find out who her future husband would be. 

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What happens when death is not final? In Scottish folklore people returning from the dead is not only rare, but also, as we find out in this episode, absolutely terrifying. 

The three tales Jenny tells make up a spooky sandwich of scary stories: the first, ‘A Dead Wife Among the Fairies’ comes from North Ronaldsay on Orkney, the second, 

‘The Water or Life’ comes from the shores of Loch Fyne, and the third, 

‘Wizard Rising After Death’ comes from the remote hills of Ross-shire. 

But beware, these tales are not for the faint of heart, so listen at your own peril!

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In Scotland, to see your doppelganger is not good news. First off, it probably means you have the second sight, or, as the Gaelic puts it, dà shealladh, ‘the two sights’, which is no easy burden to bear. Secondly, it means you’re most likely gonna die soon.

In Scottish folklore, these uncanny supernatural doubles are called fetches, or taibhse, and eerie tales that swirl around their appearances can be found all over the country. In this episode, Jenny tells of fetches in Skye, Lewis, and Galloway, as well as the Aberdeenshire tale 'Thrummy Cap: A Legend of the Castle of Fiddes.'

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Let’s tie the knot! In this episode Jenny explores some old customs and superstitions surrounding the big day, and tells two tales all about wild weddings in Scottish folklore: The Shepherd Fiddler and The Earl of Mar’s Daughter.

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Treasure is said to lie in the depths of many a Scottish cave, and so in this episode Jenny goes in search of gold! On her journey under the earth she visits Shetland, Skye, Thurso, and Arran uncovering tales of viking kings, brave bagpipers, betrayed mermaids, and fickle fairies.

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Ye-olde gender roles don’t stand a chance in this age-old tale! The Goodwife of Auchtermuchty is a poem that was first written down in the 16th century, but is likely much older, and it tells of a husband and wife mixing things up for a day!

Read the original poem in old Scots as well as translation into English here

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Bannocks are a traditional type of bread that was a staple of the Scottish diet for centuries, and because of this they roll right on through Scottish culture and folklore. In this episode Jenny explores some of the lore and tradition around ritual bannocks, which were baked on important days of the year, as well as their use in divination, healing, and protecting those udders!

She also tells two traditional tales that have mischievous wee bannocks: ‘The Fox and the Little Bannock’, and ‘The Good Housewife and her Night Helpers’.

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Harvest time was an incredibly important time of year for the hardworking folk of Scotland, it started on the 1st of August with Lughnasadh or Lammas celebrations, and ran through to Samhain at the end of October.

Although a time of back-breaking work, the folk were rewarded with the bounty of the fertile earth, and so naturally there are many folktales all about, or around, the harvest! 

In this episode Jenny tells two of these harvest time tales, ‘The Lady’s Loaf Field’ and ‘The Spòg Bhuidhe’.

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Whuppity Stoorie is a classic Scottish folktale from down in the Debatable Lands, the area around what is now Scotland’s border with England. The tale tells of the Goodwife of Kittlerumpit and her run in with a fairy like no other.

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Assynt is one of Scotland’s most spectacular spots, but it’s not just the landscape that will take your breath away. The land here is steeped in lore, and the shores of Loch Assynt are not only home to the crumbling ruins of Ardvreck Castle and Calda House, but also many ancient stories filled with fire, betrayal, murder and the devil himself. 

Listen in to hear Jenny tell the tales of The Mermaid of Assynt and The Lady of Ardvreck Castle, as well as covering some clan history of the MacLeods and Mackenzies.

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