Dare you tackle the fiendishly tricky Welsh Ghosts and Folklore Christmas quiz? Special guest Chris Carra did! Test your knowledge, from the Mari Lwyd to Welsh witches, on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees.
Category: Wales
Ghost stories for Christmas and the Mari Lwyd: December on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
Ghost stories for Christmas are a long-standing tradition, but unlike the chilling tales of Charles Dickens and M.R. James, the festive accounts on this podcast are not works of fiction – these are real-life ghost stories! December on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast also saw the return of everyone’s favourite yuletide visitor, the horse-skulled Mari Lwyd, a look at the never-ending Christmas parties in Victorian Wales, and even a few accounts of spirits of the living – the shades of those yet to shuffle off this mortal coil. Merry Christmas/ Nadolig llawen!
A ghost tour in Wales‘ ”most haunted” National Trust property, witchcraft and demons: November on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
The highlight of November on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast was a ghost hunt at Newton House, the National Trusts’ “most haunted” location in Wales.
Halloween ghost hunt, Welsh jack-o’-lanterns and headless spirits: October on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
October on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast was all about Halloween – or Nos Calan Gaeaf, as we call it in Wales. There were tales of the first Welsh jack-o’-lantern, the Ladi Wen (a headless white lady) and the Hwch Ddu Gwta (a monstrous black pig) who come to steal your soul, and for the first time ever, a “live” ghost hunt at one of Wales’ “most haunted” places.
A Victorian Séance, the Welsh hobgoblin and ghostly white ladies: September on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
As autumn arrived, things turned extra spooky on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast. As the nights grew darker and the leaves began to fall we encounter all manner of restless souls, from trapped spirits to a classic white lady. There’s also a good old-fashioned folk tale about a giant, but even that gets a little gruesome…
Haunted rivers, evil spirits and ghost police: August on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
August was an extra spooky month on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast, with four episodes featuring the haunted rivers of Wales, the evil spirit which – apparently – burnt down a home, and how belief in spirits of the dead grew as belief in fairies declined.
Fairy-haunted mines, a spectral nun and a macabre magician: July on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
With the summer sun shining, in July the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast took a look at the creatures which lurk in the shadows – the fairy-haunted mines, the spectral nun, a macabre magician and even a disembodied hand, much like Thing from The Addams Family.
The Phantom Werewolf, Witch’s Curse and the Ghost from Pennsylvania: June on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
August was an extra spooky month on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast, with four episodes featuring the haunted rivers of Wales, the evil spirit which – apparently – burnt down a home, and how belief in spirits of the dead grew as belief in fairies declined.
Eerie Gothic funeral traditions, the golden ghost and fairy lights: May on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
In May 2021 the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast celebrated the 50 (yes, 50!) episodes milestone with a party with the fairy folk. There was also a look at some eerie Gothic funeral traditions, the golden ghost of Mold, and some dangerous fairy lights which lead travellers astray.
Podcast: Celebrate 50 episodes of the Ghosts and Folklore podcast with a fairy party!
EP50 Party with the Fairy Folk: The fairies of Wales (y tylwyth teg) have been known to prank those who disturb their revelries. Find out more on episode 50 of the Ghosts and Folklore podcast!