Tag Archives: folk traditions

God in a bottle in South Australia – twice!

Posted on August 18, 2021 by sarthure

It was only a few years ago that I first heard about the extraordinary creations known as God-in-a-bottle. So I won’t be surprised if you are crinkling up your nose in a puzzled sort of way right now. Let me … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and archaeology, Folk traditions, Ireland, Irishness, Material culture, South Australia | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

A reflective moment on the entangled world of research

Posted on February 12, 2017 by sarthure

‘Take a sharp needle,’ he said, ‘and stick it in under the collar of your coat, and not one of them will be able to have power on you.’ This is from a story that John Millington Synge recorded on … Continue reading →

Posted in Folk charms, Folk traditions, Material culture, Research, hmmm, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A reflective moment on the entangled world of research

Nollaig na mBan 2016

Posted on January 17, 2016 by sarthure

When I was growing up in Ireland, my only experience of Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) was through Seán Ó Ríordáin’s poem, which I remember learning in Irish for the Inter Cert when I was about twelve. I was sure there … Continue reading →

Posted in Folk traditions, Ireland, South Australia | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Raggy tree in Riga? Maybe, maybe not

Posted on June 20, 2015 by sarthure

I’ve been in Riga in Latvia for a few days, enjoying the Baltic sun. And on the first evening, in a park near the Freedom Monument, I came across a tree decorated with ribbons. Although I immediately jumped to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world, Fairy trees, Folk traditions, Folklore | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Raggy tree in Riga? Maybe, maybe not

On curing warts

Posted on May 2, 2014 by sarthure

I found a wart on my finger today. Not hideously disfiguring, but I’d rather it gone. And the first thought I had after I’d found it was, ‘It’s a pity I’m not home, I could go down to the jealous … Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world, Folk charms, Folk traditions, Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments