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folklorelibrary.bsky.social
The Folklore Library & Archive
@folklorelibrary.bsky.social
1.4K followers 110 following 370 posts
Registered Charity No: 1203418. Patrons: Michael Rosen, Joanne Harris.

Preserving traditional heritage and folklore materials for the future, and delivering these through open access. Focus on at-risk heritage.

Online at www.folklorelibrary.com
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folklorelibrary.bsky.social
Last call for tickets.

Online tonight at 8pm GMT we will be hosting a talk on Irish Death Customs with folklore collector Michael Fortune of folklore.ie

Tickets are £5 including recording of the event from bit.ly/flaevents

All proceeds support our and Michael’s folklore work
Irish Death Customs title card with a candle on a dark background
November 8, 2025 at 10:44 AM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
New online talk
Sat 15 Nov, 8pm

FEARLESS GIRLS, BRAVE WOMEN - THE FOLK TALES THEY DIDN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW

Book now for £5 at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fearless-g...

Janet Dowling digs deep into their origins and finds that some of our well known stories about women are not quite what they seem
Fearless Girls, Brave Women - the folk tales they didnt tell you. Janet Dowling is a storyteller and sometime folklorist. She digs deep into the origins of stories and finds that some of our well known stories about women are not quite what they seem as well as finding a few that never got told to us which were there all along. The presentation, which has previously featured at Sidmouth Folk Week and at International Women's Day, is a mixture of talk and tales. Ticket price includes access to a recording of the talk for all ticket holders, in case you cannot attend live or want to watch again later. All income supports the work of The Folklore Library and Archive, a registered charity collecting and preserving folklore and heritage materials for the future. The charity is custodian of much of Janet's material in its special collections.
November 5, 2025 at 12:33 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
Not long to go until we get to enjoy our next online talk, this coming Saturday at 8pm via Zoom. This one is delivered by Michael Fortune, who will be joining us to discuss Irish Death Customs.

Tickets are just £5 including access to a recording of the talk. Book on EventBrite at bit.ly/flaevents
Irish death customs banner graphic with a candle flame on a dark background, along with details of the talk as in the main body
November 3, 2025 at 5:04 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
Take a look at this short announcement about the completion of a new digital archive in our collections for @folkloristan.bsky.social and then follow the link below to browse the contents:

t6a6bcb709d708a60.starter3ua.preservica.com/portal/en-US...

#folklore #archives #pakistan
October 27, 2025 at 9:57 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
ONLINE TALK: Saturday 8th November at 8pm

IRISH DEATH CUSTOMS
with Michael Fortune of folklore.ie

Tickets £5 + booking fee, including recording, from

bit.ly/flaevents

An intriguing one-hour long talk on the superstitions, beliefs and practices surrounding death in Ireland, plus audience Q&A.
ONLINE TALK: Saturday 8th November at 8pm IRISH DEATH CUSTOMS with Michael Fortune of folklore.ie
October 24, 2025 at 8:40 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
We are delighted to be teaming up with Okehampton based charity WREN MUSIC to stage this concert of Devon and Newfoundland folk songs and music on Sunday 7th November at 2.30pm in Crediton Library, Devon.

Tickets are £10 (plus booking fee) from

bit.ly/flaevents
Shore To Shore Devon/Newfoundland folk concert We’re very excited to welcome back to Devon the folk singer, songwriter and musician Jim Payne direct from Newfoundland for our series of four ‘Shore to Shore’ folk concerts. As well as being one of the province’s most prolific songwriters, Jim is also a leading performer, collector and producer of traditional Newfoundland music. Jim will be joined by our very own Marilyn Tucker and Paul Wilson to present a concert exploring the links between Devon and Newfoundland. Expect hearty choruses, stomping tunes, poignant ballads and a whole lot of history - and probably some display dancing! Instruments will include 4-stop melodeon, guitars, accordions and tambourine. The concerts are in Appledore, Teignmouth, Barnstaple, and Crediton, with an additional short appearance at the Wren Folk Club in Okehampton. Thank you to the Devonshire Association and National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting the gigs in Appledore and Barnstaple. Full details Crediton concert: Sunday 9 November Crediton Library, Belle Parade 2.30pm – 4.30pm (doors 2pm) Tickets £10 Eventbrite Booking via library; or by phone or in person at the library bit.ly/flaevents
October 22, 2025 at 7:48 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
REVEALED!

Our next live event, on Fri 12 Dec at 7.30pm is

STEVE NALLON'S GHOST STORIES

Join Steve, the Spitting Image voice artist behind Margaret Thatcher, The Queen Mum and more for evening of ghost stories with some famous voices.

Tickets £10 plus booking fee from

bit.ly/flaevents
Poster advertising the event with a picture of Steve sat in front of a fire, with a cat on his lap and a ghost in a mirror next to him. The event is at the Boniface Centre in Crediton, Devon on 12 December at 7:30pm and tickets are £10 from bit.ly/flaevents
October 19, 2025 at 6:36 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
#Teaser time!

Something is coming to #Crediton in #Devon which you won't want to miss.

#SaveTheDate Fri 12 Dec 2025

We'll be back tomorrow with another teaser!

#WhatsOn #secret

Today's #clue:
Shot of a spooky table in front of a cinema screen. The cloth is red and gold, and there is a mantel clock, seveal candles, a skull, ans a small bust of the Spitting Image puppet of Margaret Thatcher. Cobwebs are draped liberally over these items.
October 18, 2025 at 2:59 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
Here is our (possibly) cursed May Doll, found in a charity shop and tidied a little. #folklore #tradition #custom #CursedDoll #eek
Photo of a (possibly) cursed doll. She is a baby doll, in a crawling pose, wearing a pretty floral romper and a headband of roses. She featured as a 'May Doll' in a museum exhibition in Crediton in 2024 and now lives with us. Eek. The (possibly) cursed doll in her role as 'May Doll'. This was a tradition where children would dress a doll in its best, put it in a box and go house to house, asking for a penny in return for a look at the doll - an alternative form of 'penny for the guy'. In this photo, the doll is resting on a bed of ivy leaves, and peeking out of a box in a slightly unsettling manner. We are not sure whether she is returning to the box or trying to leave it....
October 18, 2025 at 10:42 AM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
Just a few days left to book a ticket for our online talk this Saturday. Daniel Harms will be discussing British Grimoires and their place in our folklore.

Tickets are just £5 and include access to a recording of the event, which starts live at 7:30pm

Book now at bit.ly/flaevents
Picture of a grimoire with talk details
October 15, 2025 at 2:03 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
ONLINE TALK: Saturday 8th November at 8pm

IRISH DEATH CUSTOMS
with Michael Fortune of folklore.ie

Tickets £5 + booking fee, including recording, from

bit.ly/flaevents

An intriguing one-hour long talk on the superstitions, beliefs and practices surrounding death in Ireland, plus audience Q&A.
Join us for an intriguing one-hour long talk from Michael Fortune (folklore.ie) on the superstitions, beliefs and practices surrounding death in Ireland. November is a month associated with the dead and remembering in Ireland, and the talk will range from death customs and funeral practices to signs and omens. This talk will be relaxed and informal and he will share content he recorded, heard and experienced over his life. About the speaker: Speaking in October 2016, the late writer and broadcaster Manchán Magan stated that “There have only been a few true pioneers in the field offolklore collection in Ireland, guardians, sacred recorders of ourlore, who have collected and documented the treasures of folktradition, and without doubt, Michael Fortune is one of them. Inyears to come, he may be regarded as Ireland’s Alan Lomax.” This talk will be presented online, via Zoom, and will be followed by a Q&A with the audience. All ticket holders will receive access to a recording of the talk after the event, so if you cannot attend the whole event live you won't miss anything.
October 14, 2025 at 3:09 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
And this is how #folklore starts...

#wolfenoot

#custom #tradition #DogsOfBlueSky
Image of a social media post by Jax Goss which reads: 'My son has invented a holiday called Wolfenoot. It is when the Spirit of the Wolf brings and hides small gifts around the house for everyone. People who have, have had, or are kind to dogs get better gifts than anyone else. You eat roast meat (because wolves eat meat) and cake decorated like a full moon. A holiday to the spirit of wolves that celebrates people who are kind to dogs? I can 100% get behind this. So we will celebrating Wolfenoot. It's on the 23rd November if anyone else is moved to celebrate it (Wink emoji). (If you do, send me pics, so I can show my kid his idea spread. (Heart emoji)). ETA:Woah, this seems to be resonating and taking off. Please use #wolfenoot if you post pics or anything so he can see how it spreads. (Smile emoji) He's already excited that other people want to do it. (Heart emoji)
October 12, 2025 at 11:16 AM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
Tomorrow, we will be attending the press launch of DARK SECRETS, a new exhibition of occult and esoteric artefacts which opens on Saturday at the Vaults in Waterloo, London and runs until May.

You can find more details at www.thevaults.london/dark-secrets

The launch includes a Victorian seance :)
Cowled figure and the words Dark Secrets the Esoteric Exhibition
October 9, 2025 at 12:04 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
You can now purchase a filmed copy of our recent live event with our new patron @joannechocolat.bsky.social in conversation for just £5.

The film runs for around an hour and ALL money supports our charity

Order a copy from

www.thefolklorepodcast.com/store/p191/J...

Thanks to Pete Burnett Visuals
Mark Norman and Joanne Harris, seated and in conversation
October 6, 2025 at 10:24 AM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
Our next big event is coming to Crediton…

Save the date - Friday 12th December at 7:30pm

Watch this space.
Spitting Image logo
October 5, 2025 at 9:37 AM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
Dido the Archives Cat is being Very Helpful today.

She has decided to take the day off from being a furry trip hazard.

#ArchivesCat #CatsOfBlueSky #cats #folklore #TripHazard
Pictur of a black and white 'tuxedo' cat lying on a black bean bag in such a way as to make her look like she has fewer than the usual feline allocation of feet.
October 4, 2025 at 2:47 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
Our next online talk

FAIRIES, WITCH BOTTLES AND AZAZEL: British Grimoires and their Significance to the Study of Folklore

Saturday 18 October, 7:30pm
£5 plus booking fee

bit.ly/flaevents

All profits support our charity.

Ticket includes talk, Q&A and recording of the event
Our next online talk is now booking. On Saturday 18th October, we will be hosting a talk via Zoom on the subject of British Grimoires and their significance to folklore. Tickets are £5 (plus booking fee) via our EventBrite page and include a Q&A with the presenter, Daniel Harms, and access to a recording of the talk afterwards. All profits support our charitable work. To book, please visit bit.ly/flaevents
October 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
As we creep closer towards our public opening in our new premises, today is all about unpacking boxes from the collections donated by folklorist John Widdowson.

This is box 17 of the first delivery - books on play and childlore

Help our charity and learn more at bit.ly/flafundraising

Thank you
Tracey trying to open a box sealed with 2 miles of brown tape Tracey examining books on child lore in a box
October 1, 2025 at 12:06 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
We did! Here you are!

#DogsOfBlueSky #HatchTheTudorDog #MaryRose #Tudor #HistorySky #doggo
Image of the Goodest Boi from the Mary Rose - Hatch the Tudor Dog. Hatch was found in the doorway of thr carpenter's cabin when the Mary Rose was excavated, and now his skeleton guards the artefacts found in the cabin.
September 24, 2025 at 12:55 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
You look like you’ve had enough
Skeleton of a dog
September 24, 2025 at 12:48 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
We're delighted to be presenting this fascinating live event - FREE - on Oct 7, 2025. Reserve your place via
bit.ly/flaevents

#FolkloreThursday #folklore #survey #NationalFolkloreSurvey #WhatsOn #Devon #Crediton #custom #tradition #superstition #story #storytelling #sayings
Poster for a live event featuring the team behind the 2025 National Folklore Survey for England. The event is at Crediton Library on Tues 7 Oct 2025 at 7.30pm and is free to the public. Images on the poster show a variety of English folk customs - a group of men carrying a guy, a man bedecked in flowers and riding a white horse, a burning guy, and a man with a hobby horse (obby oss). The event is presented by The Folklore Library & Archive.
September 18, 2025 at 11:28 AM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
We are delighted to announce @joannechocolat.bsky.social as our new patron at the Folklore Library and Archive.

Joanne joins @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social who was our first patron, when we formed as a charity.

We look forward to working with Joanne in the future as we move forward
September 11, 2025 at 5:41 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
Join us on Saturday night at 8pm online as @icysedgwick.bsky.social gives a talk on Victorian spiritualism and mediumship.

Tickets £5 with recordings available for all ticket holders

Profits support our work.

Book now at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/northern-s...
Details of the talk
September 10, 2025 at 7:43 PM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
We're hosting an online lecture this coming Saturday with @icysedgwick.bsky.social looking at Victorian spiritualism and mediumship.

Tickets are just £5 (plus booking fee) and profits support @folklorelibrary.bsky.social

Ticket holders get a recording

Book at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/northern-s...
Picture of Icy next to the name of her talk
September 8, 2025 at 10:24 AM
folklorelibrary.bsky.social
We are taking on many of John Widdowson’s collections from the Centre for English Traditional Heritage as he turns 90 and decides to have a rest!

Boxes started to arrive today, including runs of the Folklore journal from issue 2 (1885) to supplement what we already have on the shelves
A big pile of cardboard boxes
September 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM