This episode surveys the folklore of the first half of December, including St. Nicholas' Day on Dec 6th, St. Lucia's day on Dec. 13th, and the solstice. As we approach the darkest point of winter, I ask the listener to follow the rhythm of nature and turn your gaze to the small, the domestic and the precious.

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Music in this episode:

St. Nicholas by Anúna
Buy this track:
https://anuna.bandcamp.com/track/st-nicholas-2

Luciavisa by Lisa (singer Emma Härdelin)
Buy this track:
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/luciavisa/204432292?i=204434789

There is no Rose by the King’s Singers
Buy this track:
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/there-is-no-rose/79623724?i=79623213

Orientis Partibus by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels
Buy music by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels here: https://www.medievalminstrels.com/

Kąlėdų rytų saulė pražydo (The Sun Blossomed on Christmas Morning) by Sedula
Buy this track:
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/kal%C4%97d%C5%B3-ryt%C4%85-saul%C4%97-pra%C5%BEydo/1427982403?i=1427982982

Rex Tua Nolo Munera by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels
Buy music by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels here: https://www.medievalminstrels.com/

Sources for this episode:

Lyrics to The Sun Blossomed on Christmas Morning by Sedula:
https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=5162

Some more information about medieval animal carols:
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/friendly_beasts.htm

More information about medieval carols:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology-south-east/news/2020/dec/evolution-medieval-christmas-carols

The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen:
https://americanliterature.com/author/hans-christian-andersen/short-story/the-snow-queen

Little Christmas: December Almanac

Traditional spring calling ritual song further arranged, full power to be heard in stereo (recommend earbuds or headphones).

Commissioned by Urbanvessel.com for riverMOUTH - an incredible project exploring the lower Cobechenonk / Humber river valley. 

CHECK IT OUT HERE https://explore.echoes.xyz/collections/0TpJEbHIrBc9BKVi

Spring Song based on Ой, вийду я на полянку (oj vyjdu ya)

We have reached the energetic peak of the year. The main ancient and folkloric themes of June ritualise the human relationship to two of our primary life-givers, the sun and water. Our romance with these elements (and one another) reach a peak as the year completes its in-breath around the summer solstice. This episode outlines a faint thematic arc in historical Whitsun practices at the start of June, and Midsummer at the end, focusing especially on the folk rituals and folksong of the Baltic countries, Eastern Europe and Ireland.

Purchase my new Gathering the Gods course on Thor, Odin, & Freya: fantastic-hall-390.myflodesk.com/

My excellent Midsummer Solstice / June Almanac playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0gG8z6O83kpkjflUqaSMZc?si=a7a6693c091046ef

The Midsummer Solstice episode of Fair Folk podcast from 2018: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1QZliHXdfHHmSVy0ySfpbv?si=fe6608a7395c4a5e

“Rusalki: Anthropology of time, death, and sexuality in Slavic folklore” by Jiří Dynda 
https://www.academia.edu/34620531/Rusalki_Anthropology_of_time_death_and_sexuality_in_Slavic_folklore

“The Mythic Sun: An Aerial Perspective” by Thomas Dubois: 
https://chs.harvard.edu/chapter/thomas-a-dubois-the-mythic-sun-an-areal-perspective/

“Migration of Song Genres: Two Typical Lithuanian Cases” by Rytis Ambrazevičius
https://bop.unibe.ch/EJM/article/view/8335

“The Midsummer Solstice As It Was, Or Was Not, Observed in Pagan Germany, Scandinavia and Anglo-Saxon England” by Sandra Billington 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hX0NJJHjoicOq-5VH3kPfsQAX3NTbAtj/view?usp=sharing

Music in this episode:
Opening theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods
Buy Sylvia Woods’ music:
www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds

“O Na Ivana Na Kupala” by Olexa Kabanov - 
Buy it: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/oh-na-ivana-na-kupala/919387915?i=919387973

“Švinta Jona Vakaralia” by Nalšia -
Learn more and buy it (scroll down for English): http://www.lnkc.lt/go.php/lit/Kupole-roze-sekminiu-joniniu-dainuojamoji-tautosaka/110946

Ozolini, Ozolini by Vilkači - 
Buy it: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/j%C4%81nis/1201942701

Fire & Water: June Almanac

Kas Tar Taka

Séamus Ó Duilearga (James Hamilton Delargy), founder of the Irish Folklore Commission, speaking of his 'burning urge to save' the traditions and customs of the Irish people in the face of a rapidly shifting cultural landscape.

It was this urge that led him to found the Irish Folklore Commission, and to surround himself with the brilliant men and women whom he tasked with gathering the rich trove of folkloric material to be found across the island of Ireland; those songs, stories, customs and beliefs passed on from generation to generation by our forebears, and which come down to us to this day.

Séamus Ó Duilearga: 'A Burning Urge To Save'

EPISODE I-The Importance of Sound

Native European and Irish Tradition posits the existence of an Otherworld realm lying beyond the furthest reaches of the horizon; an  island of plenty and abundance, where happiness lasts forever, and where one hundred years pass as one day. The Greek Elysium, King Arthur's Avalon, the Odainsakr of the Norse and the Irish Land of the Living all point to a long-held corpus of beliefs regarding a paradise across the ocean.

For the 16th instalment of Blúiríní Béaloidis, hosts Jonny Dillon and Claire Doohan set forth upon the waves to Teach Duinn (The House of Donn), to which the souls of Ireland's heathen dead were said to travel with the setting of the sun. Continuing their voyage, Claire and Jonny venture onwards over the seas 'flowery plains' visiting 'thrice fifty islands' with the great Connle, Mael Dúin, Bran and St. Brendan as their companions.

Our ships are coursing over the sea; strange panoramas and otherworld islands await:

'There is a distant isle,
Around which sea-horses glisten:
A fair course against the white-swelling surge,
-Four feet uphold it.

A beauty of a wondrous land,
Whose aspects are lovely,
Whose view is a fair country,
Incomparable is its haze.

Wealth, treasures of every hue,
Are in Ciuin, a beauty of freshness,
Listening to sweet music,
Drinking the best of wine.’

Blúiríní Béaloidis 16 - Otherworld Islands In Folk Tradition

Sõnad: H II 58, 367/8 (7) Jämaja (1897)
             H IV 4, 169/70 (7) Anseküla (1891)
Viis: EÜS i 937 (14) Anseküla (1904)

vokaal, viiul - Mari Lepik
torupill - Oliver Parrest
perkussioon - Marek Tarkin
vokaal, okariin - Margus Lepik

Tants: Jakob Naagel, Joosep Preedin

Suur tänu rahvariiete valmistamise kursusel osalenud ja Tammeougu pere pisised!

Küi - Kadrilaul

Moondrums : B Flat - Major

Fair Folk is a podcast rediscovering and sharing the sacred song and folk traditions of Europe.

Fire & Water: June Almanac

Fair Folk Podcast with Danica Boyce

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