British/African cuckoos are on the move again! Tracked thanks to @btobirds.bsky.social. Happy to see this early sign of Spring.
10.03.2026 00:28
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British/African cuckoos are on the move again! Tracked thanks to @btobirds.bsky.social. Happy to see this early sign of Spring.
Illustration with the text "Folk magic without folk is just capitalism in a cauldron" surrounded by Romanian style decorations of a roof, a sun, juniper, wormwood, Jimsonweed, wild rose and elder, with a brass cauldron beneath fueled by burning plants.
Recently, Radiana (@crowhag on Ig, Romanian folklorist) posted an excellent video about the decontextualisation of folk practices, rituals and magi, of how they are appropriated for sole benefit from the individualism and profit gaining of capitalism.
Place legends in postcards. Cute dog! But what is the stone? I know, of course. But can you guess?
@michaelspicer.bsky.social has a brilliant take on this type of programme:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjnm...
Got a new article out today in @jbritishstudies.bsky.social. It's about the ways in which the music press constructed race in late 20c Britain. Open access so do share it around!
Thanks to @leverhulme.ac.uk and @uniofreading.bsky.social for supporting the research.
doi.org/10.1017/jbr....
Baba Vanga. A modern prophet and diviner, & how her name is exploited by the Russian propaganda machine. Interesting piece.
The media outlet GB News It was reported this week that the channel, which employs several Reform UK politicians – (including Nigel Farage to the tune of around £400,000 a year) lost in the year to May 2025 Its total losses since launch in 2021 now stand at £131m
What is the price of influence on the right?
The media
'GB News is a vast, monstrous spectre looming over British politics – a relentless content machine that has executed Steve Bannon’s ploy of “flooding the zone with shit”.' says Sam Bright
(2/6)
Cat rescued before ending up mummified. #apotropoeic
Lucky members of @cemsexeter.bsky.social got a sneak preview of some of the material for Sasha's lecture yesterday!
The haunting is a quite extraordinary survival, so if you are in Warwick I do urge you to go along.
#EarlyModern 🗃️
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-haunti...
I have an edited primary source collection coming out on disability and deformity in c19th Britain. My hope is that you find it useful for teaching (apologies for the abstract, I did not write it! and the cost) #histmed #dishist www.routledge.com/Physical-Dis...
Our research shows that 13% of people in England - that’s roughly 5 million people - believe that it is lucky if swallows, swifts and/or house martins build a nest in the eaves of your home.
Historical geographers of the world unite, to hear Professor Swati Chattopadhyay's talk on Victorian Memorial Hall and the Geo-logics of Empire. 10 March at 530pm BST in London at the Institute of Historical Research & online on Zoom. All welcome and free. Register with the link below. #Skystorians
No what you mean!
1970s folk horror/ @hookland.bsky.social vibe in this great bit of Nationwide footage. Take a look. This sort of thing was part of my childhood.
Excellent footage!
The popularity of “new antiquarianism” challenges how we understand research impact - LSE Impact
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
A western toad, rescued from a pit trap,.
I don’t have anything to say that can help right now. But this toad believes in you. Stay strong. #herps
That's it! Good detective work.
Legends in British postcards. Occasional quiz. Whose oak is this? A major major legendary figure ... Last seen in the 1970s. No longer exists.
Today we welcomed the amazingly talented @diesclara.bsky.social to class @herts.ac.uk who talked to us about her journey to folklore, her artworks & her myriad projects (including a very exciting delve into witchcraft in northern Spain). Thank you so much for joining us!
Some of our amazing folklorists about to graduate and already doing amazing things, making the world a better place by caring about people's stories, customs & beliefs. You make me so proud 🥲
Used my upcoming birthday as an excuse in class to talk about the caterpillar cake (be it Colin, Morris, Cecil, Maisie, Vic, etc) as a contemporary British birthday tradition - the American students were bemused, asking why a caterpillar. I had no pearls of wisdom to share. But I did have cake.
Book launch at WCML tomorrow with Greater Manchester Tenants' Union
Tickets link here www.ticketsource.co.uk/gmtu/contest...
Catch up with S1 of Folklore Matters! Our last 2 podcast episodes featured Dominic Hardy talking about his dad Robin + CHILDREN OF THE WICKER MAN and a discussion with leading folklorists Ceri Houlbrook + Owen Davies about contemporary British folklore. New episode tomorrow! @nfsengland.bsky.social
France lit the Eiffel Tower in blue and yellow on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, signaling solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people. #France
In Folklore Studies class last week @herts.ac.uk we were celebrating Lunar New Year and exploring the ways it's adapted to the present day. Then I head over to Liverpool and amidst the Lion Dance am handed a red envelope by the God of Fortune - with a chocolate 2p coin inside it
On the website today, meet photographer Joe Barnes. His fascination with the customs and traditions of Britain has led to a body of work that he’s hoping to exhibit. He’s kindly supplied us some gorgeous images to accompany his piece. Read it here: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/joe-bar...
Invasion of the Saucermen is a new exhibition at the Old Head Post Office at @sheffieldhallamuni.bsky.social, opening next month. We caught up with Andrew Robinson to hear about its conception - and how the Survey feeds into the display: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/invasio...
