All along Atlantic Europe, we can find magic stones to which healing properties are attributed. For example, Saint Declan's Stone (Ard Mhór, #Ireland) and the "Pedra dos Cadrís" (Muxía, #Galicia) are said to cure back and hips pain by passing under them.

Knotwork patterns on a #Scottish kilt and on a #Galician Iron Age torc. Same elegant and functional designs that span different eras and geographies.

Frontpage of the 1925 Christmas issue of the newspaper "Galicia".
The design (by #Castelao) introduces some common elements in the iconography of Galician nationalism at the time, such as the Holy Grail and the #dolmen or #trilithon at dawn.

2️⃣ SAMAIÕES (Chaves, Northern #Portugal), maybe from an ancient *Samanones? The famous "Feira dos Santos" is held here every November 1. The "feiras" (fairs) are, in many ways, continuations of the ancient Celtic assemblies.

1️⃣ SAMOS (#Galicia), former "Samanos". Here the once most important monastery in #Galicia (where kings themselves were raised and educated) was based. Maybe a former assembly center converted into a Christian religious center?

Two place names that might derive from Proto-Celtic *samoni- 'assembly, (feast of the) first month of the year' in former #Gallaecia (nowadays #Galicia and Northern #Portugal) 🧵

As mischievous as Scottish "kelpie" or Calaisien "qu'vau blanc", Galician "diaño burleiro" used to turn into a night horse who magically stretched himself to carry up to seven or eight boys on his back. But when they reached a river, he suddenly bursted 💥 and all the lads fell into the water 🌊🙆‍♂️

#HillfortsWednesday

The so called "Tetas da Vinculeira" ('the heir's tits' in Galician 😅) are thought to be two monumental towers that would mark the entrance to the hillfort of Chao do Castro (co. Burela, #Galicia).

📸 Burela Turismo

#MythologyMonday
In #Galicia, the so called "Diaño Burleiro" can turn into a white, beautiful horse that appears to several boys at night. He magically stretches himself to carry many boys on his back, but, while he is crossing a river, he suddenly vanishes and all of them fall into the water.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

In this church of Saint Nicholas (A Coruña) several Irish expats were buried: Leonor McSweeney, Thady O'Sullivan Mór, Cornelius O'Driscoll...
They, like many others, arrived in the Kingdom of #Galicia as exiles after the Nine Years' War.

📸 Suso Vila

#FolkyFriday
Were you born on Christmas Eve or Good Friday? 📅
Are you the seventh or ninth son to your parents? 👪
Then, according to Galician beliefs, you are probably a "lobishome" (werewolf) 🤷‍♂️
But don't worry: the curse will only last for a maximum of seven years.

A piper from San Francisco's church (Betanzos) and a harper from the Gelmires Palace (Santiago de Compostela).
Artwork by Alfredo Erias (2012).