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

This episode explores folklore and pagan origins of the 12 days of Christmas, with a focus on the feminine winter figures of Perchta, Holle, and Grýla, featuring a conversation with Jenn Campus, author of A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule.

Unearthed: medieval imperialism course: https://rustic-waterfall-641.myflodesk.com

Buy Jenn Campus’ book, A Guide to Celebrating the 12 days of Yule for $5: https://jenncampusauthor.com/product/a-guide-to-celebrating-the-12-days-of-yule/

Emilia Blom, who shared the solstice wishes ritual with me: https://www.instagram.com/vildmedicin/

My Big Fat Solstice playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2LFjxSUsJYrJE2S0nuYWdB?si=a743490a69a6459c

Gnome for Christmas Fair Folk episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ysFM2qushhgWVuEx5kLq1?si=6172f7663bc0479f

Join my mailing list: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62d72c01da642d55a9868141

Resources & references for this episode:

The Stations of the Sun: the ritual year in Britain by Ronald Hutton

"'He met his own funeral procession': The Year walk-ritual in Swedish folk tradition”  Tommy Kuusela: https://www.academia.edu/9403910

The Icelandic Yule Lads poem in English
https://ingebretsens-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/The-Yule-Lads-Poem.pdf

“The Winter Goddess: Percht, Holda, and Related Figures” By Lotte Motz
https://dokumen.tips/documents/motz-lotte-the-winter-goddess-percht-holda-and-related-figures-1985.html?page=5

“Perchta the Belly-Slitter and Her Kin: A View of Some Traditional Threatening Figures, Threats and Punishments” by John B. Smith
https://www.scribd.com/doc/17325747/Perchta-the-Belly-slitter-and-Her-Kin

‘Grýla, Grýlur, Grøleks and Skeklers: Medieval Disguise Traditions in the North Atlantic?” by Terry Gunnell
https://notendur.hi.is/~terry/articles/TerryGunnell-2001_Gryla,Grylur,Groleks_and_Skeklers.pdf

Music in this episode:

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

Malpas Wassail by the Watersons
Buy it: https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/player/albums/B09WJGTF52?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1483616862&sr=1-1

Spinn, Spinn, Spinnerinn by Herbergsuche Gruppe
Buy it: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/spinn-spinn-spinnerin/318155276?i=318155791

Grýlukvaeði by Thrju a Palli
Buy it:
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/gr%C3%BDlukv%C3%A6%C3%B0i/1621787315?i=1621787688

Instrumental track: The Wanderer by Juniper and the Wolf
Buy Juniper and the Wolf’s music: https://juniperandthewolf.bandcamp.com/

The Twelve Days: 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)

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.

The Twelve Days: December Almanac

Fair Folk Podcast with Danica Boyce

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