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Previous Folklore Society Events

‘Dear Father Christmas’: Tracing the history of a folkloric custom

  • 13/12/2022
  • 18:00-19:30
  • Online talk

Dr Ceri Houlbrook (University of Hertfordshire) explores the tradition of children writing letters to Santa Claus. Online talk, Tuesday 13 December 2022, 18:00 This talk traces the history of the folkloric custom of writing letters to Santa Claus and other Western personifications of Christmas. When did it start? Where is it practiced? What folklore surrounds...

Cornwall’s Knockers, Sea Monsters, and Pesky Piskies

  • 21/06/2022
  • 18:00-19:30
  • Online talk

Folklorist and historian Ronald L. ‘Ron’ James looks at how industrialisation, emigration, and modernisation and media affected Cornish folklore in the mines, on land, and in the sea. Online talk, Tuesday 21 June 2022, 18:00-19:30 The folklore of Cornwall has a unique character, shaped by its remote environment and by talented droll tellers, artists who...

The Green Children of Woolpit: “the true old fairy mythology”?

  • 05/04/2022
  • 18:00-19:30
  • Online talk

John Clark (Emeritus Curator, The Museum of London), ‘The Green Children of Woolpit: “the true old fairy mythology”?’ Tuesday 5 April 2022, 18:00, online The story of the two ‘Green Children’ who appeared in the Suffolk village of Woolpit in the middle of the 12th century, reported by two medieval historians, has been popular ever...

Traditions of British Army Uniforms: From Leek to Lego and Beyond

  • 08/03/2022
  • 18:00-19:30
  • Online talk

Dr William Roberts explores the traditions and imagery of British Army uniforms Online talk, Tuesday 8 March, 18:00-19:30 The uniforms of the British Army show a remarkable variety in their overall appearance and details. The underlying reason is historical: the earliest cavalry and infantry regiments were established by local worthies from their own area, and...

Shepherdess Saints and Sinister Seigneurs: The Social History of a Local/Global Cult

  • 22/03/2022
  • 18:00-19:30
  • Online talk

Shepherdess Saints and Sinister Seigneurs: The Social History of a Local/Global Cult Online talk by Prof. David Hopkin (University of Oxford) Tuesday 22 March 2022, 18:00-19:30 GMT All over Europe, rural communities honour shepherdesses, as saints, murdered by lords. What does this cult reveal about social relations? Every third Sunday in July, pilgrims gather at...

When Unicorns Walked the Earth

  • 08/02/2022
  • 18:00-19:30
  • Online talk

The unicorn has returned! This talk examines its history as a classical, medieval and modern fantasy creature Online talk by Dr Juliette Wood (University of Cardiff): “When Unicorns walked the earth” Tuesday 8 February 2022, 18:00-19:30 Unicorns have always been elusive, and like so many mythical creatures, their history is not straight-forward. Classical sources placed...

The Sin-eater: Lives and Afterlives

  • 22/02/2022
  • 18:00-19:30
  • Online talk

Dr Helen Frisby (University of the West of England) explores the historical custom of sin-eating, together with its afterlife in film, TV and literature. “The Sin-eater: lives and afterlives”: online talk, Tuesday 22 February 2022, 18:00-19:30. A sin-eater was a ‘long, leane, ugly, lamentable poor raskal’ (Aubrey, 1687) who, by eating a special ritual meal,...

Fraisketten, or Convulsion Chains

  • 19/04/2022
  • 18:00-19:30
  • Online talk

Chris Duffin (Natural History Museum) explores the Austro-Bavarian tradition of ‘Fraisketten’ or convulsion chains–polyamuletic chains combining items of religious and folk medicine origin. Online talk, Tuesday 19 April 2022, 18:00 Fraisketten are strings of amuletic beads and other items, closely related structurally to rosaries. They are a distinctively Austro-Bavarian means of protection against ‘Frais’ –...

Wealth-Giving Magic in Present-Day South Africa: Sorcery, Spirits and Deadly Seductions

  • 11/01/2022
  • 18:00-19:30
  • Online talk

Prof. Felicity Wood (University of Fort Hare, South Africa) talks about a South African form of wealth-giving magic, “ukuthwala”, believed to involve ownership of a dangerous spirit, “mamlambo” Online talk, Tuesday 11 January 2022, 18:00-19:30 This talk discusses the practice of ukuthwala, a dangerous, powerful procedure for long-term wealth, believed to involve the ownership of...

Open Voices: Folklore for All, Folklore of All

  • 06-08/05/2022
  • 3 days, 09:30-17:30
  • Online

Open Voices: Folklore for All, Folklore of All The Folklore Society’s Annual Conference  Friday 6 to Sunday 8 May 2022, 09:30-17:30, Online Keynote speaker: Prof. Sadhana Naithani (Jawaharlal Nehru University): ‘Since All are Never One: Margins, Borders and Folklore,’ Saturday 7 May at 14:00 Once upon a time, ‘folklore’ was thought of as the traditions...