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From Lupercalia to Love: The Roman Roots of Valentine’s Day Revealed!

18 Feb

Greetings, myth enthusiasts! Today, we embark on a romantic journey back in time to ancient Rome, where the origin story of Valentine’s Day takes a turn that even Cupid might find amusing. Strap in for the wild ride from Lupercalia to heart-shaped chocolates!

Lupercalia – The OG Roman Love Fest

Picture this: ancient Rome, February 15th, a time when Romans celebrated Lupercalia – the OG love festival. Lupercalia wasn’t just about roses and sweet nothings; it was a wild, pagan party that could make modern Valentine’s Day seem like a tea party.

Lupercalia was dedicated to the Roman god of fertility, Faunus, and involved priests clad in goatskins, engaging in rituals that included a dash of nudity and a sprinkle of sacrificial offerings. If that doesn’t scream romance, what does?

The Cupid Connection

Enter Cupid, the cherubic mischief-maker. Romans believed that Cupid’s arrows had the power to make people fall madly in love. So, it’s only fitting that the transition from Lupercalia to Valentine’s Day involved a bit of Cupid’s magic.

As Christianity started gaining traction, the early Church sought to Christianise pagan celebrations. Lupercalia, with its questionable activities, needed a makeover. And voilà! February 14th was designated as St. Valentine’s Day – a more saintly and significantly clothed version of the Roman love extravaganza.

The Mysterious Saint Valentine

Now, who was this St. Valentine, and why did he get a day dedicated to love? Legend has it that there were multiple St. Valentines, but the most popular tale involves a Roman priest who defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriages for young men. This defiant Valentine continued to perform marriages in secret, leading to his eventual martyrdom. Talk about a romantic rebel!

Chaucer Adds Some Poetry Flair

Fast forward to medieval England, where the concept of courtly love was all the rage. Geoffrey Chaucer, the wordsmith extraordinaire, penned a poem linking St. Valentine’s Day with the mating season of birds. Suddenly, exchanging love notes and gifts on February 14th became the medieval equivalent of swiping right.

The Loveable Evolution

And there you have it – the quirky, humorous evolution of Valentine’s Day from the raucous Lupercalia to the lovey-dovey celebration we know today. From goatskin-clad priests to heart-shaped chocolates, the journey has been nothing short of amusing.

So, as you embark on your own Valentine’s Day festivities, take a moment to appreciate the ancient Roman roots of this love-filled occasion. Who knew that a festival involving goatskin-clad romantics would lay the foundation for heart-shaped cards and candlelit dinners? Love, it seems, has a way of turning even the wildest traditions into something sweeter than a box of chocolates.

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Jingling Bells and Jolly Jigs: Unravelling the Mysteries of Morris Dancing in English Folklore

21 Jan

Greetings, folklore enthusiasts! Today, let’s dive into the quirky world of Morris Dancing, a tradition as English as tea and a good old-fashioned queue. We’ll unravel the enigmatic origins of this peculiar dance form and find out if it’s still kicking up its heels in the present day.

The Ancient Origins of Morris Dancing

Morris Dancing is like that eccentric aunt at family gatherings – no one quite knows where it came from, but everyone secretly loves it. The dance has roots that go back centuries, with its first documented appearance dating to the 15th century. Some historians believe it may have ancient pagan origins, while others argue it’s a celebration of springtime fertility. Frankly, it could have started as a bet between a couple of medieval peasants – we may never know!

The Dance of Bells and Handkerchiefs

Picture this: a group of merry folks adorned in bells, ribbons and handkerchiefs, prancing around with as much enthusiasm as a Labrador discovering a mud puddle. Morris Dancing is characterised by its lively footwork, the jingling of bells attached to the dancers’ shins and intricate handkerchief-twirling manoeuvres that would make a seasoned matador jealous.

Survival in the Present Day

Now, you might be wondering if Morris Dancing is just a relic of the past, like powdered wigs or the belief in dragons (spoiler alert: dragons totally exist in folklore). Fear not! Morris Dancing has proven to be as resilient as a cockroach in a nuclear apocalypse.

Despite the ebb and flow of trends, Morris troupes – known as “sides” – still dot the English countryside, town squares, and even make surprise appearances at weddings and festivals. In fact, Morris enthusiasts are more passionate than ever, recruiting new members and keeping the tradition alive, proving that Morris Dancing is the ultimate dance revolution – no neon leg warmers required.

Why Morris Dancing Endures

There’s something inherently charming about Morris Dancing that transcends the boundaries of time. Perhaps it’s the infectious joy of the dancers, the whimsical costumes, or the fact that it’s a dance form that welcomes everyone – regardless of skill level or coordination.

In a world that often takes itself too seriously, Morris Dancing is a delightful reminder that traditions don’t have to be stuffy or rigid. They can be as lively and spontaneous as a Morris dancer’s footwork.

So, there you have it – the curious origins and enduring charm of Morris Dancing. Whether you’re a history buff, a dance enthusiast, or just someone looking for an excuse to wear bells on your shins, Morris Dancing has a place for you in its merry circle.

As we celebrate the past, let’s not forget to twirl our metaphorical handkerchiefs in honor of the present and future of this timeless English tradition. After all, who wouldn’t want to join a dance that’s been shaking its bells for centuries?

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Unlocking the Mystery: The Enigmatic Origins of the Rollright Stones

12 Nov

Welcome, dear readers, to the fascinating world of British folklore, myth, and legend! Today, we are going to explore the mysterious Whispering Knights, King’s Men, and Rollright Stones and try to uncover the truth behind their eerie presence.

Now, these ancient stone formations are located in the idyllic Cotswolds countryside of England and are said to date back to the Bronze Age. According to popular belief, they were once a group of soldiers turned to stone by a sorcerer for their misdeeds.

Legend has it that if you visit the stones at night, you can hear the whispers of the petrified knights, plotting their revenge against the sorcerer who cursed them. Spooky stuff, right?

But let’s take a step back and look at the actual history of these stones. Archaeologists believe that they were actually erected over several centuries, starting around 2500 BC, as part of a burial site. The Rollright Stones themselves are made up of three separate groups: the Whispering Knights, King’s Men, and the King Stone.

The Whispering Knights are a group of four upright stones that are said to resemble a group of knights huddled together in a conspiratorial whisper. The King’s Men are a circle of seventy-seven stones, while the King Stone is a single standing stone that was possibly used for ritualistic purposes.

While the exact reason for their construction remains a mystery, one thing is for sure – the Rollright Stones have captured the imaginations of people for thousands of years. They have been the subject of countless myths and legends, inspiring everything from poetry to modern-day witchcraft.

So, what is the true story behind the Whispering Knights, King’s Men, and Rollright Stones? The answer, my friends, is shrouded in the mists of time. Perhaps they were indeed a group of cursed knights, turned to stone for their wickedness. Or maybe they were simply erected by ancient people as a way of marking their dead.

Either way, we can all agree that the Rollright Stones are a fascinating glimpse into Britain’s rich history and should be on everyone’s bucket list of places to visit. Just don’t go there at night, unless you want to risk hearing the whispers of the cursed knights!

Until next time, stay curious and keep exploring the strange and mysterious world around us.

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The Hollow Earth Theory

18 Apr

The Hollow Earth is a concept proposing that the planet Earth is entirely hollow or contains a substantial interior space. In recent decades, the idea has become a staple of the science fiction and adventure genres across films, most recently in Warner Bros’ MonsterVerse movies. Godzilla vs King Kong for example is loosely based on a real-life idea that dates back hundreds of years. Ancient civilizations had myths about an entire world that exists underground, hidden from the eyes of humans. In the 18th century, there were scientists who firmly believed in a ‘Hollow Earth’ theory, which postulated that the planet was actually hollow, and that there’s a massive, empty space under the surface. In most versions of the legend there are people or creatures living within it. This can vary depending on the theory or story, but Hollow Earth tales generally feature an entirely subterranean culture and community miles underneath the surface of our home planet. It’s not just fictional, though. There are people who claim our true Earth is hollow too. Some of those proponents even claim that there is a secondary sun within our planet, fueling those who live within the Hollow Earth. While it might seem utterly wild, it has as a theory at times been supported by famed scientists like Edmund Halley – who potentially came up with the idea – while also becoming a staple of science fiction storytelling as well as a popular conspiracy theory.

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A Plague on Both Your Houses

13 Sep

Susanna Gregory is the pseudonym of Elizabeth Cruwys, a Cambridge academic who was previously a coroner’s officer. She writes detective fiction, and is noted for her series of medieval mysteries featuring Matthew Bartholomew, a teacher of medicine and investigator of murders in 14th-century Cambridge.These books may have some aspects in common with the Ellis Peters Cadfael series, the mediaeval adventures of two men, a highly intelligent physician and a Benedictine monk who is senior proctor of Cambridge University. Matthew Bartholomew’s activities as a healer, including examination of corpses, embroil him in a series of mysterious crimes, both secular and monastic, and he reluctantly assumes the role of an amateur sleuth. Sceptical of superstition, he is somewhat ahead of his time, and much accurate historical detail is woven into the adventures. But there any resemblance to the comparatively warm-hearted Cadfael series ends: the tone and subject matter of the Gregory novels is far darker and does not shrink from portraying the harsh realities of life in the Middle Ages. The first in the series, A Plague on Both Your Houses (1996) is set against the ravages of the Black Death and subsequent novels take much of their subject matter from the attempts of society to recover from this disaster. These novels bear the marks of much detailed research into medieval conditions – many of the supporting characters have names taken from the documentation of the time, referenced at the end of each book – and bring vividly to life the all-pervading squalor of living conditions in England during the Middle Ages. The deep-rooted and pervasive practice of traditional leechcraft as it contrasts with the dawning science of evidence-based medicine is a common bone of contention between Matthew and the students he teaches at Michaelhouse College (now part of Trinity College, Cambridge), whilst the conflict between the students of Cambridge and the townsfolk continually threatens to escalate into violence.

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The Three Investigators

14 Jun

The Three Investigators was a young adult detective book series written by Robert Arthur. It centered on a trio of high school boys who live in the fictional town of Rocky Beach, California. They are: Jupiter Jones, First Investigator, who is a leader known for his remarkable powers of observation and deduction; Pete Crenshaw, Second Investigator, who is a tower of strength in any kind of trouble; and Bob Andrews, Records and Research, who is something of a scholarly type with an adventurous spirit. The boys spend their free time solving various mysteries rather than true crimes, mysteries which tended to be far more bizarre, unusual, complex, and intriguing than those of other Kid Detective books of the day, with protagonists who were simply ordinary, middle-class American boys, without the riches or special advantages of sleuths such as The Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew, both of whom had famous fathers who helped them out in their cases a great deal. Headquarters for The Three Investigators is a damaged 30-foot mobile home trailer within the salvage yard run by Jupiter’s Uncle Titus and Aunt Mathilda which has been cleverly hidden from view by stacks of junk which surround it. For travelling long distances, the boys have the use of a gold-plated Rolls Royce, complete with a chauffeur, Worthington, whom Jupiter won the use of in a contest. Adding to this quasi-realism was the real-life movie director, Alfred Hitchcock, who appeared in the original texts of the first thirty titles. His character provided the introductory and closing remarks in each book and, acting as a mentor, he was occasionally called upon by The Three Investigators during the course of solving a mystery. The real Alfred Hitchcock had little to do with the creation of these books. He was simply paid a handsome percentage for the use of his name and character. This provided brand-name recognition and helped boost sales of the books. Following Robert Arthur’s death, the writing of the series was taken over by several successive authors — two titles by Nick West (pseudonym of Kin Platt), three by Marc Brandel, and the bulk of them penned by William Arden (pseudonym of Dennis Lynds) and M V Carey.

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The Case of Gervase Fen

17 May

The detective Gervase Fen and his creator ‘Edmund Crispin’ were born (or, to be more accurate, conceived) sometime in April 1942, when a twenty-one-year-old Oxford undergraduate named Robert Bruce Montgomery was arguing about books over a congenial pint at a pub. His friend, the actor John Maxwell, was astonished that Montgomery had not read the detective stories of John Dickson Carr, famous as the creator of Dr Gideon Fell and master of locked-room mysteries and seemingly impossible crimes. Montgomery later recalled that in those days he was ‘a prig and an intellectual snob,’ but he agreed to read Carr’s shuddery novel of witch cults and rational detection, The Crooked Hinge. ‘I went to bed with it not expecting very much,’ Montgomery said. ‘But at two o’clock in the morning I was still sitting up with my eyes popping out of their sockets at the end of one of the sections—I think the third [actually it was the second]—with the doctor looking after the nerve-racked maid, saying, “You devil up there, what have you done?” And of course I finished the book that night. It was to be the seminal moment in my career, and to alter it entirely, for although subsequently I read and enjoyed other detective-story writers, in particular Michael Innes and Gladys Mitchell, it was Carr primarily who induced me to try my hand at one myself, thus creating Edmund Crispin.’

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Jerusalem Syndrome

21 Jul

Jerusalem syndrome is a mental disorder characterised by delusions, fantasies or other similar states of mind triggered by a visit to the city of Jerusalem. It is not endemic to one single religion or denomination but has affected Jews, Christians, and Muslims of many different backgrounds. The syndrome manifests itself in different ways. Sufferers could be convinced they are biblical figures, like Ronald Hodge who started referring to himself as the Messiah during his time in Israel. After turning 40 and experiencing the dissolution of his marriage, Hodge (who was given a pseudonym) turned to the Bible for comfort and embarked on a trip to Jerusalem. There, he began referring to himself as the Messiah and received treatment at Herzog Medical Centre in Jerusalem. Others may become obsessed with an idea or duty that they need to fulfill. In 2007, Dr. Pesach Lichtenberg, who was the head of men’s psychiatry at Herzog Medical Centr at the time, said many sufferers feel a relentless need to make the world better and they believe they have a messianic mission which they must fulfill. The most contentious point of debate among scholars of Jerusalem Syndrome is what one group of doctors has called Type III cases: people with no history of mental illness who become overwhelmed by the city’s religiosity and temporarily lose their minds.

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Secrets of the Pow-wow

12 Feb

Early Pennsylvania was a melting pot of various religious persuasions, as William Penn’s promise of religious freedom opened the doors for many Christian sects: the Anabaptists, Quakers, Lutherans, German Reformed Catholics, and all manner of religious mystics and free-thinkers. It is from this blending that the Pennsylvania German Pow-wow tradition was born. Despite the appropriation of “pow-wow”, taken from an Algonquian word for a gathering of medicine men, the tradition is actually a collection of European magic spells, recipes, and folk remedies of a type familiar to students of folklore. Although the name was taken from the Algonquian term for shamans, Pow-wow relates directly to the European culture from which the Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants came. While immigrants from the Netherlands did make their homes in Philadelphia, the term Pennsylvania Dutch actually refers to immigrants from the Rhine region in Germany (the name being a corruption of the word ‘Deutsch’). These peoples fled religious persecution at home and settled in and around Philadelphia in the late 17th and early 18th century. The moniker has expanded in modern times to include a broader variety of immigrants from the Germanic region in Europe, especially those who cling tightly to their traditional religious perspectives, as it is a magical tradition that combines Catholic prayers with intonations or inscriptions of mystical words, folk rituals, and recipes to create cures for various ailments and illnesses. While modern Pennsylvania Dutch most often profess little to no belief or practice of the culture’s ancient magic, the traditions have not been entirely lost, and it is still possible to find devotees of the old ways in the city to this day.

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The Secret History of Sherlock Holmes

18 Oct

While Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional master detective, Sherlock Holmes, is known for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise and his use of forensic science to solve difficult cases, rather less is known about his early life and family. This is in part due to the nature of Doyle’s stories, which purposely focus on the investigation rather than the detective and eschew details about Holmes himself, often using the framing device of his colleague Doctor Watson’s narration. Although this is highly effective as a narrative device, it raises as many questions as it answers when it comes to Sherlock the man, as opposed to Holmes the master investigator. Where was he born and educated, did he have any family apart from his brother Mycroft, what happened to him after he finally retired from detective work? etc. Whilst Doyle’s stories allude only distantly to these issues, the many fans of Sherlock Holmes have, somewhat appropriately, through careful detective work of their own, managed to come up with a number of theories, explanations and answers in what is usually described as ‘The Great Game’: a concerted attempt to resolve anomalies and clarify details about Holmes and Watson from the Conan Doyle canon. You may be surprised to hear that, as a result of this exercise, evidence has been found in Doyle’s own work that, among other things, Holmes and Mycroft have another elder brother and even a younger sister!

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