Icy Sedgwick's Blog, page 45
January 12, 2017
How to use rowan to protect your house (and livestock)
Rowan trees have long been associated with witchcraft and magic. Its wood acted as an antidote against fairies, the Evil Eye and even disease. It even bore the name of the “wayfarer’s tree” since it stopped people getting lost on a journey. But what makes this humble tree so powerful? Let’s investigate the folklore of the rowan. Rowan and...
The post How to use rowan to protect your house (and livestock) appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.
January 9, 2017
Explore 3 strange legends of the Newcastle Castle
The Newcastle Castle occupies a strange position in the city centre. Buildings have stood on the site for centuries, dating back to the Romans and their Pons Aelius fort. But the Newcastle Castle was originally founded in 1080 by Robert Curthose, the eldest son of William the Conqueror. Castles were built from wood in his...
The post Explore 3 strange legends of the Newcastle Castle appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.
January 5, 2017
Boost your New Year with Twelfth Night folklore!
Twelfth Night is an often forgotten festival in the English calendar. In the Christian tradition, it mark the start of Epiphany. Briefly, that’s when the Magi visited Jesus. It’s moved around the calendar, but now the traditional date of Epiphany is January 6th. And while Twelfth Night is the eve of Epiphany, there’s still a lot...
The post Boost your New Year with Twelfth Night folklore! appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.
January 2, 2017
What books did I get for Christmas?
I’m not normally a fan of showing off what I got for Christmas. But this is a blog by a writer, and a book-loving writer at that. So it seemed fair enough to show off the books I got for Christmas in 2016! The links are affiliate links but any money generated goes to pay for my...
The post What books did I get for Christmas? appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.
December 29, 2016
Should you buy Accused: British Witches Throughout History?
Should you buy Accused: British Witches Throughout History? In a short word, yes. But that wouldn’t be much of a review if we left it at that, would it? Written by #FolkloreThursday‘s own Willow Winsham, Accused examines the stories of 11 British witches. Winsham starts in Ireland in 1324, while our final witch is as recent as 1944!...
The post Should you buy Accused: British Witches Throughout History? appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.
December 15, 2016
What are the festive links with holly and Christmas?
Holly and Christmas are like chocolate eggs and Easter. You can’t imagine one without the other. And there’s something so delightfully festive about holly garlands or wreaths in December. But how did this glossy but prickly plant become such a central part of Christmas decorations? Read on to find out! So what are the links...
The post What are the festive links with holly and Christmas? appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.
December 12, 2016
How to choose locations to boost your story!
Knowing how to choose locations is the easiest way to ensure the success of your world-building. After all, writers often spend a great deal of their time concentrating on developing authentic dialogue. They need fleshed out, 3-dimensional characters. And they spend hours creating a coherent plot, contained within a sensible structure. But what about setting and location?...
The post How to choose locations to boost your story! appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.
December 8, 2016
What strange folklore lies behind mistletoe and Christmas?
Mistletoe is a strange plant. Neither tree nor shrub, it grows between soil and sky on the branches of other trees. It’s rarely found on the oak and ancient Druids viewed mistletoe as sacred if it was. Felling an oak that played host to the parasitic plant invited disaster. In fact, Margaret Baker recounts the story...
The post What strange folklore lies behind mistletoe and Christmas? appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.
December 5, 2016
Give a gift from the Blind Date Book Company!
Not sure what to buy the book lover in your life? Might I suggest a gift box from the Blind Date Book Company? I was very lucky to win one of their gift boxes (so this post isn’t sponsored or affiliated, it’s just a grateful review). But with Christmas coming up, I thought I’d point...
The post Give a gift from the Blind Date Book Company! appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.
December 1, 2016
Will Krampus pay you a visit this year?
Most people will have heard of Santa Claus. But it wasn’t really until last year that his dark twin Krampus finally poked his horned head into the limelight. Having your own Hollywood movie will do that to your media profile. But Krampus has been well known in Alpine regions for centuries. While the Feast of St....
The post Will Krampus pay you a visit this year? appeared first on Icy Sedgwick.
