EP129 Halloween Folklore Special: Haunted History, Welsh Traditions & Uncanny Jack-o’-Lanterns (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees)

Halloween folklore of Wales and the world: explore the haunted
history of Nos Calan Gaeaf with Mark Rees and a special guest on
this eerie seasonal special.

Nos Calan Gaeaf, as Halloween is known in the Welsh language, has
long been a time for tradition and festivities. But how did
Victorian celebrations differ from modern-day parties?


By teaming up with fellow cultural writer Chris Carra (Planet
Health), they aim to investigate the Halloween folklore of Wales
and the world, and delve back into their own childhoods to see
how the holiday continues to evolve.


From dressing up as the Ghostbusters in the 1980s to living in
Canada, Mark and Chris offer a unique perspective on Halloween
celebrations that contrast and complement North American
traditions. with those in Wales.


They also look at how the holiday has changed for a new
generation, how costumes became part of the Halloween experience,
and the history of Halloween games involving apples and candles.
They discover the surprising connection between Welsh folklore
and modern trick-or-treating, which might have evolved from
begging for bread on All Souls' Day into a fun tradition.


And of course, no Halloween folklore episode would be complete
without the centuries-old tradition of carving vegetables,
including the Welsh swede, to create eerie jack-o'-lanterns, or
the even creepier apparition that is the Welsh jac-y-lantern.


If that wasn't enough, they look ahead to this year's big
Halloween special: an "as live" ghost hunt in one of Wales's
"most haunted" places!


Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts
and Folklore of Wales podcast... if you dare!


 


PLANET HEALTH


Here's a link to Chris's podcast and website (see, I did remember
to put it "below" like those YouTubers! - MR) 


 


BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:


If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast
you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi -
thank you/ diolch! 


https://ko-fi.com/markrees 


 
What is the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees
podcast?

The "Ghosts and Folklore of Wales" podcast explores Welsh ghosts
and ghost stories, lore, myths and legends.


Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales/
Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast
takes a fascinating look at the country's countless curious
subjects by combining decades of research from many books and
articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes.


Ranging from "real life" encounters with the uncanny to
fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are
uploaded every other (Folklore) Thursday and feature everything
from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd
wicked - and not-so-wicked - witch along the way.


Along with the regular stories you can also expect the odd
special guest, an occasional live ghost hunt, and all sorts of
crazy ideas. Seasonal specials include the dark folklore and
Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, and everyone's
favourite skulled-skulled Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd
herself.


Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and
cascading waterfalls to the bustling cities and remote farms, go
in search of the paranormal and the unexplained in all corners of
Cymru - think of it as opening the Welsh The X-Files... and some
tenuous Ghostbusters links!


Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode, and for
more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit
https://markreesonline.com/:


Mark Rees homepage

Mark Rees on social media

Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)

Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast



It's spooky time!