The Treasury of Folklore

An entertaining and enchanting collection of myths, tales and traditions surrounding the seas, skies and woodlands that make up our natural world. 

Enter an enchanting world where the mysteries of the seas, skies and woodlands come alive through shared myths, legends and folk tales. From the majestic creatures that dance beneath the waves to the celestial beings that populate the heavens and the spirits that reside within the forests, The Treasury of Folklore offers a portal into the lore of the natural world that has been whispered through the generations.

In this mesmerising compendium you'll embark on a journey through the rich tapestry of myths, legends, and tales that have been woven into the very fabric of our natural world. You'll tread mysterious waters and be beguiled by the sirens and sea monsters, soar to new heights with winged Pegasus and uncover stories of celestial beings, from thunder gods to constellations that have guided traveller's across the heavens. And as you wander through the ancient woods, you'll encounter spirits between the branches, insatiable cannibalistic children hewn from logs and the promise of the big, bad wolf.  

The stories included here traverse countries and continents and have been carefully selected to highlight how humans are linked through time and place, with shared dreams, fears and ways of rationalising the unknown. Immerse yourself in the tapestry of tales collected in these pages, each story a testament to the enduring enchantment of the seas, skies, and woodlands.



Dee Dee Chainey is an archaeologist by training, and author of A Treasury of British Folklore: Maypoles, Mandrakes and Mistletoe from National Trust Books. She is co-founder of #FolkloreThursday, a popular website and Twitter account that brings fascinating tales and traditions from all corners of the globe to its followers every Thursday.

Willow Winsham is a historian of witchcraft, specialising in English witchcraft cases. She is author of Accused: British Witches Throughout History and England's Witchcraft Trials. She is co-founder of #FolkloreThursday.

Joe McLaren graduated from the University of Brighton in 2003, and now lives and works in Rochester, Kent. He previously taught Foundation Illustration at Central Saint Martins. A superbly talented illustrator, Joe's clients include Penguin Random House, Faber, Orion, Folio, John Murray, Oxford, The Times, The Guardian and The Financial Times.

Authors' Note

Introduction

Seas & Rivers

Treasures, Seduction and Death: The Lure of the Ocean Waves

The Seas and Oceans

Famous Floods

Mermaids, Selkies and Spirits of the Deep

Monsters from the Deep

Maui, Demi-God and Creator of Islands

Claimed by the Waves: Underwater Worlds

Scheherazade's Tales: One Thousand and One Nights

Top Seven Tales from the Seven Seas

Red Sky at Night: Sailor Superstitions from Across the Glove

What Lurks Beneath: Sacred Rivers & Mysterious Lakes

Rivers and Lakes

Sacred Rivers

Rivers of the Underworld

Waterfall Folklore

The Mysterious Waters of Scotland

Water Horses: Majestic and Malevolent Creatures from the Depths

Humped Serpents and Vicious Eels: Loch Ness and the World's Most Fearsome Lake Monsters

The Folklore of Swamps and Marshes

The Shapeshifting Pink Dolphin of the Amazon River

Be Careful Where You Rest: The Insatiable Appetite of the Irish Joint Eater

Well Folklore

The Fountain of Youth

Myth and Mystery: The Lady of the Lake

Woodlands and Forests

Introduction

Into the Trees

The World Tree

Trees of Myth and Mystery from Around the World

The Marvellous Mushrooms of the Forest Floor

The Trees of Christmas

Woodland Creatures

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Bears, Gods and Heroes,

Virgins, Huntsmen and Jesus Christ: The Quest for the Unicorn

Jackalopes and Wolpertingers: The Most Fearsome of Critters

Folk of the Forests

A Giant Among Lumberjacks: Paul Bunyan and the North American Lumber Camps

Lords of the Wild

At One with the Trees: Tree Nymphs and Spirits

Forest Hags from Around the World

Fearlessness in the Forests

Stars & Skies

A Journey through the Skies

Stars and Heavens

Solar Deities: Gods and Goddesses of the Sun

A Fateful Flight: Daedalus and Icarus

Sun-Got-Bit-By-Bear: Eclipses of the Sun

Hina: The Woman in the Moon

Man, Rabbit, or Jack and Jill? The Many Faces of the Moon

The Morning Star and the Evening Star: A Romanian Tale

The Seven Sisters: Orion and the Pleiades

How the Milky Way Came to Be

Soaring Souls and Shooting Stars: Star Superstitions from Around the World

Sumptuous Skies

Stallions of the Skies: Pegasus and Other Soaring Steeds

Birds of Myth and Legend

The Firebird

Come Rain or Shine: Weather Lore and Superstitions

Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Rainbows in Myth and Legend

The Lucky Rainbow and the Indalo Myth

Shimmering Lights and Walrus Heads: The Folklore and Legends of the Auroras

Flying Cryptids

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

References

Index