To think more should be made of our local myths, folklore and traditions

[Feelingathomenow]

Britain, and indeed the whole of the western world, seems to be becoming increasingly divided. Political ideologies v political ideology, Religion against religion, race against race, sex against sex.

For a society to be strong, it needs common values, common beliefs and common rituals. It needs shared stories we can relate to and make reference to.

This is where myths and traditions have always played a vital part. Britain is full of local stories that people have all eagerly shared, stories everyone knew that brought people together. story telling is so very important to humanity and always has been. Traditions where everyone played their part either as participator or spectator, either way it brought a community together, these kinds of rituals have proven benefits for all.

People in Devon and Cornwall always knew about the pixies and people round here often blame/thank the Pixies for good/bad luck. We have the Tar barrels every November which provides a focus for people, newer traditions referencing the old, like the pirate festival, celebrations around the landing of William of Orange etc. People talk about hairy hands grabbing the steering wheel of your car on a certain road, people know about Kitty Jays grave where fresh flowers appear on the grave of a suicide victim buried at cross roads even if your back is turned for a second or the Devil riding out across the moors with his hell hounds.

Many of these myths and legends have made it into some of the most popular stories, The hell hounds on Dartmoor made it into the hounds of the Baskerville (thanks to Doyle’s coach driver (a mr Baskerville) when he visited Dartmoor.obviously the Fantastic JK Rowling has introduced Dobies and Boggarts to children far beyond Scotland/East of England respectively. People across the world read these stories

So should we be talking about these things more, esp in schools to give common stories of Britain (or wherever you live) not so tied to the big religions or political ideologies, things that do however, fulfil the need for common stories and rituals based in the landscape of where people live? Should more be done to encourage everyone to take part in local traditions to bring communities together? Also interested to hear of any local legends/traditions etc.

But most folklore in England isn't 'indigenous culture,' I don't think?

Celts are linked to modern day Templar knights in the brand of dodgy racist commentary Trump is associated with in the US - Celtic crosses are a common symbol alongside the 'deus vult' slogan.

Why on earth do you think that's funny?

I didn't know there was a dept in ucd. That's fantastic

If you’re interested have a read of ‘The burning of Bridget Cleary’.

It’s written by an academic but in an easy to access way. It’s about a woman who was murdered by her husband and her whole family ended up involved because of their belief in the supernatural and fairies.

Yeah it used to be pretty closed off and only accessible, even to UCD students, by appointment. But I think they do more and have a library now.

I guess I’m any group there will always be one.

Thankfully, morris does seem to be changing and I know a few women who have joined in recent years

The older I get the more I see the importance of marking the seasons and points in the year. Being connected with nature and the land and the elements. So, yes I do think things like marking Mayday with dawn Morris dancing and singing and maypole dances, making turnip jack-o-lanterns for Samhain/Halloween, wassailing in apple orchards, and making wreaths / bringing Christmas trees indoors for midwinter are good traditions to maintain. I don’t particularly care about the authenticity of the custom, it’s more about ways of coming together with community and marking the occasion together. That’s the important thing for me, not so much the scary stories and mythical beasts.

I love that.

Because I’m laughing at the people who make that link - there’s so many people knocking round who claim to descend from the Knights Templar who haven’t a clue.

That’s great - do you find a sense of community with others who do the same kinds of practices, even if what you do is solitary?

I think it’s a growing interest. Growing number of books, articles and pod-casts, plus increasing popularity in events linked to things like this. I think it’s great as I’ve always been interested.

Of course.

But I just find it scary, not funny - it is a horrible, horrible twisting of mythology and history into something really dangerous. I don't think these people are less scary just because they 'don't have a clue' - they think they do have a clue; they honestly seem to believe they are reclaiming some superior white Christian civilisation. It frightens me that we've gone from that being a fringe neo-Nazi view that popped up occasionally, to being something that the supporters of an elected president can openly admit to.

I'd like to think it wouldn't gain ground in the same way in this country, but I am not sure.

My DS is in year 7 and spent the first half term learning about mythology but they spent all the time on Greek, Roman, Nordic myths as examples. I mean I love that stuff (my degree is in Greek and Roman Civilization) but it was a real missed opportunity to bring in English and Celtic myths. Even when he has to do some independent research and I tried to bring in some Celtic and Irish ones (have loads of books at home) he preferred to go back to Thor and Loki and Odin etc.

I’d agree with you. I was at a performance the other day which had council/ arts funding on the legend of a local dragon. There was fire juggling and circus style acrobats. It was fab and the children were enchanted.

There is a lack of cohesion within society. I think in years gone by perhaps the bible/ religion was a cornerstone of society. Nowadays we have a lot of freedom but it’s come at the expense of the social contract in a way.

The National Curriculum has effectively put a stop to teaching/exploring local history (it's incredibly prescriptive).
I remember (at primary school)learning so much about our local area (including going out of school, finding landmarks/buildings etc all with stories attached). We made maps, did research in the local library.
The opportunity to do this, combined with the sheer enthusiasm of a couple of great teachers, left me with a fascination for local history, traditions etc both where I lived and further afield.
Parents can still introduce kids to all this though ...

I love folklore, myths, legends .... these takes were passed down by grandparents just like my parents shared with my son - visits to Beddgelert and Alderney Edge and beyond.

Whilst it would be nice to be included in schools, the curriculum is already too full. Maybe parents could actually talk to their kids and tell these stories?

And it's mentioned in one of the episodes of Tony Robinson's Gods and Monsters series... it's still on YouTube I think.

But I guess it’s just some kind of talisman, if it wasn’t that, it would be something else. They would be dressing up as 19th/19th century industrialists claiming that white people were technologically superior.

Thanks will take a look

@KimberleyClark Oh definitely! Good reminder! I was only chatting to someone last week about Bardsey Island (and the last king!) Brilliant, thanks for sharing, I will read and remind myself!

Mmm, I am not sure. I think folklore is particularly susceptible to this kind of interpretation, precisely because it comes to use with a gloss of being democratised and accessible to all.

Unfortunately, I suspect many parents wouldn’t know.

I think there is such a cohesive potential with it though it’s something that deserves to be prioritised

Morris dancer here...it is no longer ridiculed as people realise how cool it actually is! See Boss Morris.

I agree, although I think a national awareness of our shared history of people's protests, land rights, voting and democratic reforms, abolition of slavery, women's rights, religious and church reforms by and for the people, working class and intellectual history, human rights, children's rights, animal welfare, universal suffrage, welfare, etc. would be more universally appealing and unifying.

We have such a rich history of working to ensure the rights and wellbeing of all, yet this is barely taught or talked about.

I took DC to see Three Acres and a Cow, as a start, and it was brilliant.

I know what you mean but it’s not the fault of the legends that racists misuse them. Might as well blame the cliffs of Dover for being used in xenophobic cartoons.

What I like to spot is stuff the Victorian men definitely wouldn’t have liked - stories with a more complex morality or amorality, and where I’m from there’s quite a lot of bringing back traditions banned by the Victorians for being too rowdy.

You could argue it about anything though. You could say atheism has been co-opted by the Left as being somehow superior to faith. Education about these things is the way of combating all forms of cultural (mis) appropriation don’t you think?