EP39 The Magic Power of Leeks: Fight evil spirits with Wales’ national vegetable and explore the darker side of St David’s Day history and traditions on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
St David’s Day is celebrated in Wales and around the world on March 1, but why do people wear a leek to commemorate Wales’ patron saint?
Welsh folklore tells us that the leek has many important historical uses, from winning wars to fighting off evil spirits, and all is revealed by Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales) on this St David’s Day special of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast.
Oh, and there’s also a darker side to St David’s Day traditions which are more Halloween than Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant, and a visit to the cemetery on this holiest of days could reveal corpse candles and more strange omens lurking in the shadows.
Press play to find out more… if you dare!
Did you catch last week’s episode of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast?
Did you miss last week’s episode? Catch up now: EP38 Vampires of the Valley and Other Strange Creatures: Witches, dog demons, the Devil, a poison fish and a real-life “Dracula” are lurking in the shadows.
For a full list of every episode, from the Mari Lwyd to the Mabinogion, and to subscribe, visit the Ghosts of Wales podcast page.
Enjoy this St David’s Day podcast? Read lots more miraculous tales in The A-Z of curious Wales!
The A-Z of curious Wales by Mark Rees – as well as Mark’s other weird and wonderful books – is available now from all good bookshops, and online from the books page.
Published in 2019 by The History Press, here’s the blurb:
Wales’ history is packed with peculiar customs and curious characters. Here you will discover alien landscapes, ancient druids and a Victorian ghost hunter.
Find out why revellers would carry a decorated horse’s skull on a pole door to door at Christmastime, how an eccentric inventor hoped to defeat Hitler with his futuristic ray gun, and why a cursed wall is protected by a global corporation for fear it might destroy a town.
From the folklore surrounding the red dragon on the flag, to the evolution of the song ‘Sosban Fach’, this compendium of weird and wonderful facts will surprise and delight even the most knowledgeable resident or visitor.