Countryside Myths & Folklore

 

1. Small Messengers of the Gods

Since ancient times, when bees were regarded as messengers of the gods, people have whispered family news to the hive. If this is not done, the bees will fly away.

 

Some people believe that bees respond to different tones of voice and will not stay with a bad-tempered owner.

 

From this belief comes the warning that ‘you must never swear in the hearing of your bees’.

 

2. The Magical Farmyard Bird

Of all domestic birds the farmyard cockerel has been credited with more magical powers than any other.  Just as the dog stood guard over earthly things, so the cockerel was master of the unearthly.

 

When the cockerel crowed at dawn the spirits of darkness fled and the farmer could then rise and work in safety.

 

In the West Country it was said that ‘a cockerel will frighten away the Devil himself,’ which probably explains why its image was widely used on church towers as a weather-vane.

 

3. Power over Horses

In many parts of the country there is an ancient belief that a bone taken from a toad would give its owner power over horses.

 

Before the owner of the bone finally became a toadman he had to take it on three different nights to a stable or graveyard.

 

On the third night the Devil was supposed to appear and try to take the bone.

 

4. The Power of Plants

All plants used to be seen as having magical powers or miraculous origins, and were thus regarded with wonder or respect.

 

Nightshade was used as a main ingredient in the ointment witches rubbed on their bodies when they wished to fly.

 

Chicory leaves were believed to give the bearer the power of invisibility. The name Foxglove comes from ‘folk’s – glove’, because foxgloves were believed to have been worn by fairies.

 

5. Weather Lore

It used to be believed that you could tell what the weather was going to do by watching how certain animals behave.

 

The coming of wet or stormy weather could be shown by rooks feeding in village streets or not leaving their nests in the morning, or by spiders spinning very short webs, breaking their webs, or not spinning at all.

 

6. The Wise Old Trout

It was once commonplace to keep one or two trout in a sacred well. These were fed by the local community and no one dared to disturb or harm them.

 

The fish were believed to live for many years. The tradition of keeping trout in wells probably had its roots in the pagan belief that divine trout lived in sacred pools and fed on the nuts which fell from the overhanging branches of sacred hazel trees.

 

The diet of hazel nuts was supposed to give the fish supernatural wisdom.

 

7. The Cult of the Green Man

Of all the pagan gods, the woodland spirit variously called the Green Man or Jack-in-the-Green is one that has lived on the longest in folklore.

 

The Green Man is seen mainly as a symbol of spring and the rebirth of the earth after winter.

 

Carvings of Green Men can often be seen in churches, usually in the form of faces with branches and vines sprouting from nose and mouth.

 

‘The Green Man’ is also a popular name in Britain for many public houses.

 

8. The Magic of Trees

In Britain, the Druids worshipped such trees as the oak and the rowan and attributed great power to them.

 

When people touch wood to ward off misfortune, this comes from the times when guardian spirits were supposed to live in trees.

 

Touching the tree was a mark of respect to the spirit, as well as a plea for good fortune.