WillowWinsham
@willowwinsham.bsky.social
Author and historian, specialising in witchcraft, folklore and cats. Co-founder of #FolkloreThursday
The Story of Witches - Out Now
https://bit.ly/3PNy8yC
willowwinsham.com
The Story of Witches - Out Now
https://bit.ly/3PNy8yC
willowwinsham.com
I'm sure it's already been said, but although as Traitors fans we highly approve of the latest storm here in the UK being named Claudia, surely Celia would be more fitting due to all the wind?!(Joking aside, stay safe, people. It's rough out there.) #CelebrityTraitors
November 14, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I'm sure it's already been said, but although as Traitors fans we highly approve of the latest storm here in the UK being named Claudia, surely Celia would be more fitting due to all the wind?!(Joking aside, stay safe, people. It's rough out there.) #CelebrityTraitors
Reposted by WillowWinsham
#FolkloreThursday
Eccles Wakes: Racing for the Smock, Joseph Parry, 1808
Held on the 1st Sunday in September for 3 days, with "ancient and modern sports," and feasting on Eccles cakes, this painting shows men racing on donkeys to win the smock held aloft at the right.
artuk.org/discover/art...
Eccles Wakes: Racing for the Smock, Joseph Parry, 1808
Held on the 1st Sunday in September for 3 days, with "ancient and modern sports," and feasting on Eccles cakes, this painting shows men racing on donkeys to win the smock held aloft at the right.
artuk.org/discover/art...
November 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM
#FolkloreThursday
Eccles Wakes: Racing for the Smock, Joseph Parry, 1808
Held on the 1st Sunday in September for 3 days, with "ancient and modern sports," and feasting on Eccles cakes, this painting shows men racing on donkeys to win the smock held aloft at the right.
artuk.org/discover/art...
Eccles Wakes: Racing for the Smock, Joseph Parry, 1808
Held on the 1st Sunday in September for 3 days, with "ancient and modern sports," and feasting on Eccles cakes, this painting shows men racing on donkeys to win the smock held aloft at the right.
artuk.org/discover/art...
Reposted by WillowWinsham
In 1283, Alphonso X of Castile commissioned the Libro de los Juegos (Book of Games); a treatise on the games of chess, dice and tables (early backgammon) based on Arabic works. Regarded as "the greatest source of information on board games ever compiled during the Middle Ages." #FolkloreThursday
November 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM
In 1283, Alphonso X of Castile commissioned the Libro de los Juegos (Book of Games); a treatise on the games of chess, dice and tables (early backgammon) based on Arabic works. Regarded as "the greatest source of information on board games ever compiled during the Middle Ages." #FolkloreThursday
Reposted by WillowWinsham
When the Egyptian folk hero Setne broke into the tomb of Prince Naneferkaptah to steal a magic book, the prince's mummy challenged him to senet, an old Egyptian board game. The more Setne lost the game, the more the floor enveloped him. However, he used magic amulets to break free.
#FolkloreThursday
#FolkloreThursday
November 13, 2025 at 2:50 PM
When the Egyptian folk hero Setne broke into the tomb of Prince Naneferkaptah to steal a magic book, the prince's mummy challenged him to senet, an old Egyptian board game. The more Setne lost the game, the more the floor enveloped him. However, he used magic amulets to break free.
#FolkloreThursday
#FolkloreThursday
Reposted by WillowWinsham
The Tlingit game ahl-kar or stick game involved moving sticks around in piles while they were hidden and wrapped in cedar bark. The goal was to guess where a marked stick was located. The marked fish was called "naq" or which means "devil fish" and was used as bait when fishing.
#folklorethursday
#folklorethursday
November 13, 2025 at 3:03 PM
The Tlingit game ahl-kar or stick game involved moving sticks around in piles while they were hidden and wrapped in cedar bark. The goal was to guess where a marked stick was located. The marked fish was called "naq" or which means "devil fish" and was used as bait when fishing.
#folklorethursday
#folklorethursday
Reposted by WillowWinsham
"Snapdragon. - Drawn By C. Keene.
The room was darkened, and around the flaming dish stood a merry group snatching forth blazing raisins with shouts of boisterous merriment."
The Illustrated London News 25.12.1858.
#FolkloreThursday #Snapdragon #Christmas #Games #1850s
The room was darkened, and around the flaming dish stood a merry group snatching forth blazing raisins with shouts of boisterous merriment."
The Illustrated London News 25.12.1858.
#FolkloreThursday #Snapdragon #Christmas #Games #1850s
November 13, 2025 at 12:20 PM
"Snapdragon. - Drawn By C. Keene.
The room was darkened, and around the flaming dish stood a merry group snatching forth blazing raisins with shouts of boisterous merriment."
The Illustrated London News 25.12.1858.
#FolkloreThursday #Snapdragon #Christmas #Games #1850s
The room was darkened, and around the flaming dish stood a merry group snatching forth blazing raisins with shouts of boisterous merriment."
The Illustrated London News 25.12.1858.
#FolkloreThursday #Snapdragon #Christmas #Games #1850s
Reposted by WillowWinsham
#FolkloreThursday
Who remembers this skipping rhyme?
Raspberry, strawberry, gooseberry jam,
Tell me the name of your young man.
A, B, C, D….
Do you love him or not?
Yes, no, yes, no…
How many kisses did you give him?
5, 10, 15, 20…
What colour dress were you wearing?
Red, white, black…
Who remembers this skipping rhyme?
Raspberry, strawberry, gooseberry jam,
Tell me the name of your young man.
A, B, C, D….
Do you love him or not?
Yes, no, yes, no…
How many kisses did you give him?
5, 10, 15, 20…
What colour dress were you wearing?
Red, white, black…
November 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
#FolkloreThursday
Who remembers this skipping rhyme?
Raspberry, strawberry, gooseberry jam,
Tell me the name of your young man.
A, B, C, D….
Do you love him or not?
Yes, no, yes, no…
How many kisses did you give him?
5, 10, 15, 20…
What colour dress were you wearing?
Red, white, black…
Who remembers this skipping rhyme?
Raspberry, strawberry, gooseberry jam,
Tell me the name of your young man.
A, B, C, D….
Do you love him or not?
Yes, no, yes, no…
How many kisses did you give him?
5, 10, 15, 20…
What colour dress were you wearing?
Red, white, black…
Reposted by WillowWinsham
One of the most complex games ever made despite its simplicity, Go was invented in China around the 4th century BCE. Black and white stones are placed on intersections, with the goal of owning the most territory by game's end. #FolkloreThursday
November 13, 2025 at 12:43 PM
One of the most complex games ever made despite its simplicity, Go was invented in China around the 4th century BCE. Black and white stones are placed on intersections, with the goal of owning the most territory by game's end. #FolkloreThursday
Reposted by WillowWinsham
#BookologyThursday is excited to also be joining our friends at #FolkloreThursday today!
It's #FolkloreThursday time again tomorrow! Get your Games and Pastimes themed folklore ready!
Join us for our folklore of Games and Pastimes themed #FolkloreThursday this Thursday!
Our hosts will share your posts to the hashtag at the following times GMT:
9am-1pm
3.30-4.30pm
6.30-7.30pm
(🎨The Card Players, Theodoor Rombouts)
Our hosts will share your posts to the hashtag at the following times GMT:
9am-1pm
3.30-4.30pm
6.30-7.30pm
(🎨The Card Players, Theodoor Rombouts)
November 13, 2025 at 12:42 PM
#BookologyThursday is excited to also be joining our friends at #FolkloreThursday today!
Reposted by WillowWinsham
Conkers, played with horse chestnuts on strings, was once believed to protect children from evil spirits. The winner wasn’t just lucky. They were blessed by the tree. #FolkloreThursday
Image: Kevin Doncaster
Image: Kevin Doncaster
November 13, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Conkers, played with horse chestnuts on strings, was once believed to protect children from evil spirits. The winner wasn’t just lucky. They were blessed by the tree. #FolkloreThursday
Image: Kevin Doncaster
Image: Kevin Doncaster
Reposted by WillowWinsham
Near Ludlow this yuletide? Come to our festive folktale event, and buy a book to fill a stocking!
As it's #FolkloreThursday, here's our Ludlow story, ROBIN'S ARROW: youtu.be/cbijZtvclP0?...
And here's Brother Bernard at the actual Robin Hood's Butt! youtu.be/DqIrr3eHlnI?...
🏴🏴🏴🏹
As it's #FolkloreThursday, here's our Ludlow story, ROBIN'S ARROW: youtu.be/cbijZtvclP0?...
And here's Brother Bernard at the actual Robin Hood's Butt! youtu.be/DqIrr3eHlnI?...
🏴🏴🏴🏹
November 13, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Near Ludlow this yuletide? Come to our festive folktale event, and buy a book to fill a stocking!
As it's #FolkloreThursday, here's our Ludlow story, ROBIN'S ARROW: youtu.be/cbijZtvclP0?...
And here's Brother Bernard at the actual Robin Hood's Butt! youtu.be/DqIrr3eHlnI?...
🏴🏴🏴🏹
As it's #FolkloreThursday, here's our Ludlow story, ROBIN'S ARROW: youtu.be/cbijZtvclP0?...
And here's Brother Bernard at the actual Robin Hood's Butt! youtu.be/DqIrr3eHlnI?...
🏴🏴🏴🏹
Reposted by WillowWinsham
Reposted by WillowWinsham
#FolkloreThursday in Knurr & Spell a small, hard ball (knurr) was launched by a levered, wooden trap (spell); players used a bat of ashwood to hit the knurr as far as possible. Originating on the Yorkshire moors & first documented c. 1760, the game was also known as nipsy or Northern Spell
November 13, 2025 at 10:54 AM
#FolkloreThursday in Knurr & Spell a small, hard ball (knurr) was launched by a levered, wooden trap (spell); players used a bat of ashwood to hit the knurr as far as possible. Originating on the Yorkshire moors & first documented c. 1760, the game was also known as nipsy or Northern Spell
Impossible to have a games and pastimes themed #FolkloreThursday without mentioning Iona and Peter Opie's groundbreaking work on childhood games. www.opiearchive.org (I also found this picture of the Opies at my old junior school in Liss, now sadly demolished.)
November 13, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Impossible to have a games and pastimes themed #FolkloreThursday without mentioning Iona and Peter Opie's groundbreaking work on childhood games. www.opiearchive.org (I also found this picture of the Opies at my old junior school in Liss, now sadly demolished.)
Reposted by WillowWinsham
This is @folkloretodmorden.bsky.social handing over to @willowwinsham.bsky.social for more #FolkloreThursday! Bring us your #folklore of Games and Pastimes!
Anyone remember skipping rhymes they used to recite? I’m only remember the slightly rude ones!
Wishing you a day of fun and games!
Anyone remember skipping rhymes they used to recite? I’m only remember the slightly rude ones!
Wishing you a day of fun and games!
November 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM
This is @folkloretodmorden.bsky.social handing over to @willowwinsham.bsky.social for more #FolkloreThursday! Bring us your #folklore of Games and Pastimes!
Anyone remember skipping rhymes they used to recite? I’m only remember the slightly rude ones!
Wishing you a day of fun and games!
Anyone remember skipping rhymes they used to recite? I’m only remember the slightly rude ones!
Wishing you a day of fun and games!
Reposted by WillowWinsham
The Attican maiden Myrsine excelled in beauty and strength, winning Athena’s favour by triumphing in race and ring. When jealous rivals struck her down, the goddess, grieving her favourite, transformed her into a myrtle, a tree cherished as dearly as the olive. #FolkloreThursday
November 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The Attican maiden Myrsine excelled in beauty and strength, winning Athena’s favour by triumphing in race and ring. When jealous rivals struck her down, the goddess, grieving her favourite, transformed her into a myrtle, a tree cherished as dearly as the olive. #FolkloreThursday
Reposted by WillowWinsham
"Shrovetide Football, Ashbourne.
Football on Shrove Tuesday is an old custom still observed in some places. The game is always played by two classes of the community, without rules, up and down the streets, to a given goal."
Customs of the World 1900 by D.H. Moutray Read.
#FolkloreThursday #Football
Football on Shrove Tuesday is an old custom still observed in some places. The game is always played by two classes of the community, without rules, up and down the streets, to a given goal."
Customs of the World 1900 by D.H. Moutray Read.
#FolkloreThursday #Football
November 13, 2025 at 9:03 AM
"Shrovetide Football, Ashbourne.
Football on Shrove Tuesday is an old custom still observed in some places. The game is always played by two classes of the community, without rules, up and down the streets, to a given goal."
Customs of the World 1900 by D.H. Moutray Read.
#FolkloreThursday #Football
Football on Shrove Tuesday is an old custom still observed in some places. The game is always played by two classes of the community, without rules, up and down the streets, to a given goal."
Customs of the World 1900 by D.H. Moutray Read.
#FolkloreThursday #Football
Reposted by WillowWinsham
The origins of the roulette wheel and the concept of Lady Luck can be traced back to the goddess Fortuna, randomly turning her Wheel of Fortune and changing the fates of those upon it... #FolkloreThursday
November 13, 2025 at 8:43 AM
The origins of the roulette wheel and the concept of Lady Luck can be traced back to the goddess Fortuna, randomly turning her Wheel of Fortune and changing the fates of those upon it... #FolkloreThursday
Reposted by WillowWinsham
Good morning! This is @folkloretodmorden.bsky.social kicking off today’s #FolkloreThursday with the theme of #folklore of Games and Pastimes.
Who played conkers as a child? Who still does? There were so many this year!
Who played conkers as a child? Who still does? There were so many this year!
November 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Good morning! This is @folkloretodmorden.bsky.social kicking off today’s #FolkloreThursday with the theme of #folklore of Games and Pastimes.
Who played conkers as a child? Who still does? There were so many this year!
Who played conkers as a child? Who still does? There were so many this year!
It's #FolkloreThursday time again tomorrow! Get your Games and Pastimes themed folklore ready!
Join us for our folklore of Games and Pastimes themed #FolkloreThursday this Thursday!
Our hosts will share your posts to the hashtag at the following times GMT:
9am-1pm
3.30-4.30pm
6.30-7.30pm
(🎨The Card Players, Theodoor Rombouts)
Our hosts will share your posts to the hashtag at the following times GMT:
9am-1pm
3.30-4.30pm
6.30-7.30pm
(🎨The Card Players, Theodoor Rombouts)
November 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM
It's #FolkloreThursday time again tomorrow! Get your Games and Pastimes themed folklore ready!
When things are stressful and then you spy a friendly tree face across the way! 🤣😍
October 22, 2025 at 11:36 AM
When things are stressful and then you spy a friendly tree face across the way! 🤣😍
Reposted by WillowWinsham
'...autumn charms my melancholy mind.'
-Elizabeth Drew Stoddard
@signemaene.com welcomes you to today's #BookWormSat
🎨John Atkinson Grimshaw
-Elizabeth Drew Stoddard
@signemaene.com welcomes you to today's #BookWormSat
🎨John Atkinson Grimshaw
October 18, 2025 at 8:17 AM
'...autumn charms my melancholy mind.'
-Elizabeth Drew Stoddard
@signemaene.com welcomes you to today's #BookWormSat
🎨John Atkinson Grimshaw
-Elizabeth Drew Stoddard
@signemaene.com welcomes you to today's #BookWormSat
🎨John Atkinson Grimshaw
Reposted by WillowWinsham
Working on Mother Opossum and her basket of treats for the woodland feast! She’ll be making her debut at the IX Art Show in Pennsylvania next week, and prints will be available on Gallery Gerard 🎃
#MoonlitMarch #HalloweenArt #SpookySeason #OpossumArt #AnimalArt #Illuxcon #IXarts #Caturday
#MoonlitMarch #HalloweenArt #SpookySeason #OpossumArt #AnimalArt #Illuxcon #IXarts #Caturday
October 18, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Working on Mother Opossum and her basket of treats for the woodland feast! She’ll be making her debut at the IX Art Show in Pennsylvania next week, and prints will be available on Gallery Gerard 🎃
#MoonlitMarch #HalloweenArt #SpookySeason #OpossumArt #AnimalArt #Illuxcon #IXarts #Caturday
#MoonlitMarch #HalloweenArt #SpookySeason #OpossumArt #AnimalArt #Illuxcon #IXarts #Caturday
Reposted by WillowWinsham
Do visit The Foremothers Cafe, it's a fantastic space!
When a Swede in Japan and a Swede in New York meet their British friend in Malta in Sweden in 1918.
No you didn't read that wrong, it's the magic of the Metaverse!
#Together #Global #NoBorders
@deedeechainey.bsky.social
youtu.be/CGS8tUESzFM
No you didn't read that wrong, it's the magic of the Metaverse!
#Together #Global #NoBorders
@deedeechainey.bsky.social
youtu.be/CGS8tUESzFM
The Foremothers Cafe's Global Community
YouTube video by Helen Lundström Erwin
youtu.be
October 18, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Do visit The Foremothers Cafe, it's a fantastic space!
Reposted by WillowWinsham
#BookwormSat 🍂✨
🍂The Wheel of the Year highlights life's natural cycles. Autumn is a season of harvest, release, and transformation as we get ready for winter.
🌾🍁 #Autumn #Seasons #WheelOfTheYear #Samhain #October
🎨Salt-Working-491
🍂The Wheel of the Year highlights life's natural cycles. Autumn is a season of harvest, release, and transformation as we get ready for winter.
🌾🍁 #Autumn #Seasons #WheelOfTheYear #Samhain #October
🎨Salt-Working-491
October 18, 2025 at 2:14 PM
#BookwormSat 🍂✨
🍂The Wheel of the Year highlights life's natural cycles. Autumn is a season of harvest, release, and transformation as we get ready for winter.
🌾🍁 #Autumn #Seasons #WheelOfTheYear #Samhain #October
🎨Salt-Working-491
🍂The Wheel of the Year highlights life's natural cycles. Autumn is a season of harvest, release, and transformation as we get ready for winter.
🌾🍁 #Autumn #Seasons #WheelOfTheYear #Samhain #October
🎨Salt-Working-491