Steph Rae Moran
@stephraemoran.bsky.social
Folklore-inspired writer (fiction, blog, newsletter)
Reader of fantasy, historical fiction, and mystery
Loves nature, museums, and lattes
🌈 bi
newsletter: https://stephraemoran.substack.com/
website & folklore blog : https://stephraemoran.com/
Reader of fantasy, historical fiction, and mystery
Loves nature, museums, and lattes
🌈 bi
newsletter: https://stephraemoran.substack.com/
website & folklore blog : https://stephraemoran.com/
The bones of Fred McFee and I wish you a spooky Halloween! When my kids were young, Eve Bunting's book, The Bones of Fred McFee, was a favorite read during this time of year. And one year we found our own Fred McFee to help us celebrate the season. He's been hanging around ever since. 🎃
October 31, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The bones of Fred McFee and I wish you a spooky Halloween! When my kids were young, Eve Bunting's book, The Bones of Fred McFee, was a favorite read during this time of year. And one year we found our own Fred McFee to help us celebrate the season. He's been hanging around ever since. 🎃
I have a Halloween folklore post for you this month! In the Welsh calendar, Oct 31 is known as Nos Galan Gaeaf (Winter’s Eve / Hallowe’en). It was once celebrated throughout Wales and while it included traditional customs and food, it was also considered to be a night of ghosts, spirits, and bogies.
Nos Galan Gaeaf: A Traditional Night of the Supernatural - Steph Rae Moran
In the Welsh calendar, October 31 is known as Nos Galan Gaeaf (Winter’s Eve, but also All Hallows’ Eve or Hallowe’en) and was once celebrated throughout Wales.
stephraemoran.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I have a Halloween folklore post for you this month! In the Welsh calendar, Oct 31 is known as Nos Galan Gaeaf (Winter’s Eve / Hallowe’en). It was once celebrated throughout Wales and while it included traditional customs and food, it was also considered to be a night of ghosts, spirits, and bogies.
Reposted by Steph Rae Moran
Anna Fiteni examines the influence of Welsh culture on Fleetwood Mac, Lord of the Rings, Hayao Miyazaki, and so much more.
The Outsize Influence of Wales on Fantasy, Music, and Movies
Wales is a country with a population of 3.1 million. It’s about 8,000 square miles, which means it could fit inside Texas roughly 26 times. People like to debate whether Wales even counts as a coun…
buff.ly
October 22, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Anna Fiteni examines the influence of Welsh culture on Fleetwood Mac, Lord of the Rings, Hayao Miyazaki, and so much more.
I think I can safely thank Taylor Swift's new song, "The Fate of Ophelia," for the sudden increase in traffic to my blog post on Ophelia. It's my top-ranking post for the week and impressions got a huge boost. :)
stephraemoran.com/the-owl-was-...
stephraemoran.com/the-owl-was-...
October 8, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I think I can safely thank Taylor Swift's new song, "The Fate of Ophelia," for the sudden increase in traffic to my blog post on Ophelia. It's my top-ranking post for the week and impressions got a huge boost. :)
stephraemoran.com/the-owl-was-...
stephraemoran.com/the-owl-was-...
Pop-up roller skating in downtown LA last night!
October 5, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Pop-up roller skating in downtown LA last night!
I’ve always been fascinated by cows, and they've inspired this month’s folklore topic! In the British Isles, there are many legends of a magical cow that produces limitless amounts of milk. This post looks at some regional stories featuring this cow and ends with an early medieval tale about her.
The Dun Cow and Other “Cows of Abundance” in the British Isles - Steph Rae Moran
In the British Isles, there are many legends and tales of a magical cow (like the Dun Cow) that produces seemingly limitless amounts of milk.
stephraemoran.com
September 25, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I’ve always been fascinated by cows, and they've inspired this month’s folklore topic! In the British Isles, there are many legends of a magical cow that produces limitless amounts of milk. This post looks at some regional stories featuring this cow and ends with an early medieval tale about her.
I attended Barbara DeMarco-Barrett's book launch party on Sunday. I love the cover! Can't wait to dive in and read her short story collection.
September 22, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I attended Barbara DeMarco-Barrett's book launch party on Sunday. I love the cover! Can't wait to dive in and read her short story collection.
Sights from a recent day at the beach. 😊
September 13, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Sights from a recent day at the beach. 😊
Do you like folk songs? I do! As I began researching folk songs for my blog, I soon came across work songs. Work songs were incorporated into a variety of tasks, bought cheer and a sense of community, and were a vital part of daily life in Ireland and Scotland during the nineteenth century.
How Work Songs Improved Daily Life in Ireland and Scotland - Steph Rae Moran
This article explores how work songs were a vital part of daily life in Ireland and Scotland during the nineteenth century.
stephraemoran.com
August 28, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Do you like folk songs? I do! As I began researching folk songs for my blog, I soon came across work songs. Work songs were incorporated into a variety of tasks, bought cheer and a sense of community, and were a vital part of daily life in Ireland and Scotland during the nineteenth century.
Where do you like to walk? I always enjoy this wilderness path. It's shady there in the afternoon, which is generally when I go walking. 🌳
August 6, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Where do you like to walk? I always enjoy this wilderness path. It's shady there in the afternoon, which is generally when I go walking. 🌳
So cool!
I’m excited to learn that the Brownies have introduced a folklore badge, and even more excited to have someone getting me one.
Thanks @wutheringalice.bsky.social for this news
#folklore #brownies @girlguidingcymru.bsky.social @girlguidingscot.bsky.social
Thanks @wutheringalice.bsky.social for this news
#folklore #brownies @girlguidingcymru.bsky.social @girlguidingscot.bsky.social
July 26, 2025 at 6:57 PM
So cool!
To collect folklore, folklorists often traveled on foot or by horse in order to visit with people and learn about local traditions and tales. This post takes a behind-the-scenes look at some of the challenges early folklorists encountered while collecting folklore and how they overcame them.
Collecting Folklore Wasn’t Always Easy for the Early Folklorists - Steph Rae Moran
In this post we take a behind-the-scenes look at some of the challenges early folklorists encountered while collecting folklore and how they overcame them.
stephraemoran.com
July 24, 2025 at 1:03 AM
To collect folklore, folklorists often traveled on foot or by horse in order to visit with people and learn about local traditions and tales. This post takes a behind-the-scenes look at some of the challenges early folklorists encountered while collecting folklore and how they overcame them.
I love this view! You can see so much of Los Angeles from the Getty, which is perched on the hillside. I recently had the chance to visit @gettymuseum.bsky.social. It's a lovely museum that offers a range of art (from medieval to contemporary), plus it has unique architecture and beautiful gardens.
July 21, 2025 at 12:02 AM
I love this view! You can see so much of Los Angeles from the Getty, which is perched on the hillside. I recently had the chance to visit @gettymuseum.bsky.social. It's a lovely museum that offers a range of art (from medieval to contemporary), plus it has unique architecture and beautiful gardens.
I ran into a few animal friends on my walks this week: a mule deer, a black-crowned night heron, and a sea lion. :) I love that even though I live in an urban area, I still have opportunities to see lots of wildlife. 💜
July 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I ran into a few animal friends on my walks this week: a mule deer, a black-crowned night heron, and a sea lion. :) I love that even though I live in an urban area, I still have opportunities to see lots of wildlife. 💜
This month's blog post explores Irish faerie folklore! First we look at their mythological history, then we learn about Irish faerie structure, and finally we touch on a few specific examples of Irish faeries.
An Introduction to Irish Faerie Folklore - Steph Rae Moran
In this month’s post we explore Irish faerie folklore, including Irish faerie structure and a few specific examples of Irish faeries.
stephraemoran.com
June 28, 2025 at 9:26 PM
This month's blog post explores Irish faerie folklore! First we look at their mythological history, then we learn about Irish faerie structure, and finally we touch on a few specific examples of Irish faeries.
On a recent walk I saw several butterflies dancing. 🥰 I tried to catch one on video. 🦋
June 20, 2025 at 2:28 AM
On a recent walk I saw several butterflies dancing. 🥰 I tried to catch one on video. 🦋
I hope you enjoy this month's post. It explores a folktale referenced by the character Ophelia in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
“The Owl Was a Baker’s Daughter”: Unpacking Ophelia’s Folkloric Remark - Steph Rae Moran
This month we explore a folktale ("the owl was a baker’s daughter") referenced by the character Ophelia in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
stephraemoran.com
May 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I hope you enjoy this month's post. It explores a folktale referenced by the character Ophelia in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Do you have a favorite walking path? This is one of mine. 🌼
May 22, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Do you have a favorite walking path? This is one of mine. 🌼
I just learned of the following tradition: say "rabbit" as your first word on the first day of the month to receive a present!Source: Notes and Queries (Mar-27-1909).
I came across this cottontail on the side of the trail recently. Not sure if it was posing for me or just too terrified to run, lol.
I came across this cottontail on the side of the trail recently. Not sure if it was posing for me or just too terrified to run, lol.
May 1, 2025 at 9:39 PM
I just learned of the following tradition: say "rabbit" as your first word on the first day of the month to receive a present!Source: Notes and Queries (Mar-27-1909).
I came across this cottontail on the side of the trail recently. Not sure if it was posing for me or just too terrified to run, lol.
I came across this cottontail on the side of the trail recently. Not sure if it was posing for me or just too terrified to run, lol.
This month's post is the first in a two-month owl folklore theme. It explores British owl folklore and the story of Blodeuwedd (a maiden who was transformed into an owl).🦉
If you enjoy my blog posts, you might like my newsletter. See the link in my profile.
If you enjoy my blog posts, you might like my newsletter. See the link in my profile.
Owl Folklore, Blodeuwedd, and the Concept of Transformation - Steph Rae Moran
This post explores British owl folklore, the story of Blodeuwedd, and the idea of transformation.
stephraemoran.com
April 24, 2025 at 1:03 AM
This month's post is the first in a two-month owl folklore theme. It explores British owl folklore and the story of Blodeuwedd (a maiden who was transformed into an owl).🦉
If you enjoy my blog posts, you might like my newsletter. See the link in my profile.
If you enjoy my blog posts, you might like my newsletter. See the link in my profile.
I’m excited—I just discovered that people are beginning to cite my posts as sources for their own work! A playwright referenced my article on apple tree folklore in her show’s program, and a podcast listed my post on Cŵn Annwn as a source. :) Feeling grateful! ✨
April 11, 2025 at 1:43 AM
I’m excited—I just discovered that people are beginning to cite my posts as sources for their own work! A playwright referenced my article on apple tree folklore in her show’s program, and a podcast listed my post on Cŵn Annwn as a source. :) Feeling grateful! ✨
I'm beginning to see some pretty, spring flowers on my walks. :)
April 9, 2025 at 3:49 AM
I'm beginning to see some pretty, spring flowers on my walks. :)
Reposted by Steph Rae Moran
Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, fell for one of the greatest hoaxes of the 20th century when he became convinced that the "fairy photographs" taken by two girls from Yorkshire in the 1920s were real. Mary Losure explores: buff.ly/11byRMg #AprilFools
April 1, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, fell for one of the greatest hoaxes of the 20th century when he became convinced that the "fairy photographs" taken by two girls from Yorkshire in the 1920s were real. Mary Losure explores: buff.ly/11byRMg #AprilFools
I enjoyed attending the AWP Conference & Bookfair on Saturday. One of the highlights for me was that Cardiff University had a booth, and I had fun talking folklore and practicing Welsh pronunciation with their representatives. And they gave me a welshcake, which was delicious!
April 1, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I enjoyed attending the AWP Conference & Bookfair on Saturday. One of the highlights for me was that Cardiff University had a booth, and I had fun talking folklore and practicing Welsh pronunciation with their representatives. And they gave me a welshcake, which was delicious!
Granting wishes wasn't the only folkloric use of a four-leaf clover. They were also used to see through faerie glamour, bring good fortune, and for love divination. 🍀
If you enjoy my blog posts, you might like my newsletter. See the link in my profile.
If you enjoy my blog posts, you might like my newsletter. See the link in my profile.
Four-Leaf Clover Uses in Faerie Folklore and Love Divination - Steph Rae Moran
Granting wishes wasn't the only folkloric use of a four-leaf clover. They were also used to see through glamour, bring good fortune, and in love divination.
stephraemoran.com
March 24, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Granting wishes wasn't the only folkloric use of a four-leaf clover. They were also used to see through faerie glamour, bring good fortune, and for love divination. 🍀
If you enjoy my blog posts, you might like my newsletter. See the link in my profile.
If you enjoy my blog posts, you might like my newsletter. See the link in my profile.