Tag Archives: Halloween

THE STONES OF THE CROOKED GLEN

A Halloween story published by The Guardian newspaper reveals how a group of mysterious stones continue to be venerated in a remote Scottish glen. The Tigh nam Bodach or House of the Cailliche (Old Woman) is a small rocky shrine … Continue reading

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Folklore: 10 things you didn’t know about Halloween

What is the history of Halloween and when was it first celebrated? Why do we trick or treat? Why do we carve pumpkins?  Dr David Clarke of the Centre for Contemporary Legend, Sheffield Hallam University, investigates the origins of this … Continue reading

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Tears for Fears – the Curse of the Crying Boy

The ‘curse of the Crying Boy‘ legend, created by the British tabloid The Sun, is alive and well online. I discuss my research into this fake news phenomenon on the first episode in Season 3 of the Folklore Podcast, (1 January … Continue reading

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Happy birthday, Crying Boy!

Thirty years ago this month the British tabloids were full of stories about mysterious fires breaking out in houses across the north of England – and the only survivor was a mawkish print of a crying boy. The legend began … Continue reading

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Scared to Death – book launch

Who was Spring-heeled Jack, the agile bogeyman that terrorised Sheffield and escaped pursuers by making gigantic leaps? What were the eerie sounds in the sky known as the Gabriel Hounds? And why did people believe the ghost of a ‘white lady’ … Continue reading

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Sheffield’s spring-heeled legend

It’s Hallowe’en and time for me to tell a ghost story that is rapidly becoming Sheffield’s best known supernatural legend – the Park Ghost or Spring-heeled Jack. Last week I was surprised to find my account of the ghost’s pranks … Continue reading

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Dark River and Sheffield Spooks

The nights are drawing in, Hallowe’en is approaching and traditionally this is the time for all things supernatural. Sheffield has a rich folklore of ghost stories and superstitions and this autumn Steel City will play host to a range of … Continue reading

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Scared to Death

The Fortean Times Unconvention 2011 – billed as the world’s weirdest weekend – returns to London in November. I’m on the bill for both days (12 and 13 November): on the Saturday I will be speaking about my research into … Continue reading

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