The Christmas tree is a much loved symbol instantly calling up images of gifts and family jollity. There are many beautiful connections to ancient traditions. Egyptian and Roman customs, early Christian practices and Victorian nostalgia are all combined in our modern Christmas tree. Seguir leyendo »

Mistletoe has symbolised the emasculator of the old king, a sexual symbol which is latent with fertility, or a good luck charm for a dairy herd. It’s been used as an antidote for poison, a fire suppressant, a protection against evil spirits, a pain reliever for rheumatoid arthritis and as a gift of peace between warring neighbours. Seguir leyendo »

Beowulf again

Eaters of the Dead

Eaters of the Dead is a retelling of the classic Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf from the perspective of an Arab diplomat who ends up joining Beowulf’s party to hunt the fearsome monster who has been ravaging the Northmen. Seguir leyendo »

Poets and story tellers were highly esteemed in the the Anglo-Saxon period of England. They were the historians of the tribe, the chroniclers of society who ensured that everyone remembered the important heroes, the war chiefs, the important battles and the folklore of the tribe. Seguir leyendo »

Woden was the chief god of the Germanic warrior tribes, including the Angles and Saxons, and most Saxon kings of England claimed descent from Woden. Among them were Hengest and Horsa, the legendary founders of the English nation. Seguir leyendo »

My Great Aunt Nell taught me to wish on the White Horse for good luck, especially while traveling. The horse is a powerful symbol in mythology, and a half-forgotten folk memory can end up 10,000 miles from its origins. Seguir leyendo »