The Pixies of Devon and Cornwall

  

The pixies of this part of the country dress in the colours of the earth 

using materials such as moss, grass and lichen. If this camouflage does 

not work they disguise themselves as hedgehogs. Local farmers often 

blame the pixies if any of their livestock go missing as they have been 

spotted in the past going for wild rides on the backs of horses, cattle etc. 

But the farmers are cautious not to offend the pixies and will make them 

welcome in the home, their wives leave out buckets of clean water at night

 so that the pixie mothers can wash their babies.

 Milk is also left out for them and every hearth must be swept so that the 

pixies can have somewhere clean to dance.

Buckland St Mary is the last place where the red clothed faeries were seen

 in Somerset, they were defeated in battle by the pixies so now everywhere 

west of the river Parrett is now pixie land. The red clothed faeries fled to 

Ireland although a few did settle in Devon and Dorset.

Did you know....?

 

Did you know that people with long narrow ears
are supposed to be envious or those with ears
close to the head are dull and sluggish while those

 lucky people with hairy ears are supposed to live a long time...?

Fearie Flora

Finished my new book Faere Flora at the beginning of the year, it explores the myths and legends surrounding our most common flowers and plants of Britain.

Just toying with the idea of publishing it myself, we found the Ali Baba site and were looking at the section for chinese printers, there are hundreds to choose from so perhaps in the new year that the direction that I will go in...

Pick blackberries now before the Devil fouls them!

Blackberries are beginning to ripen so pick them soon tho in Scotland the Devil poisons the brambles on Old Holy Rood Day sept 26th .

 Oh Weans! Oh Weans! the morn's the Fair

Ye may na eat the berries mair

This nicht the Deil gangs ower a'

To touch them with his pooshioned paw.

While in England it safe to pick them as he doesn't spit or urinate on them  until Michaelmas Day. Some people say that the Devil is a traditionalist and keeps to the old calender (Old Michaelmas Oct 10th)

Devil's Nutting Day

The 14th  of September is Holy Cross or Holy Rood Day and is 

the beginning of the nutting season. 

It is also called Devil's Nutting day. 

The hazel nuts which are collected today have

 magical properties, if you can find a double nut 

this will ward off rheumatism, toothache 

and the  spells of witches.

But do not pick them too early as the hazel is a 

powerful tree, it's wood is used for divining rods 

and to gather its nuts unripe is unlucky or even dangerous.

All the hedgerow trees and bushes are beginning to fruit, 

a heavy crop presages a hard winter.

Many Hawes, many snows.

The rowan is the most powerful of all plants against evil and witchcraft. 

Hang it above your door or plant in the garden. It will protect against the influence of witches  and faeries: while rowan wood used in coffins will prevent the dead from walking.

Rowan tree and red thread

Hold the witches all in dread

The Perpetual Almanack of Folklore

Believe in the Faeries...

Believe in the Faeries

Who makes the dreams come true

Believe in the wonder

The stars and the moon

Believe in the magic

From Faerie above

They dance on the flowers

And sing songs of love

And if you just believe

And always stay true

The Faeries will be there 

To watch over you

Wistmans Wood Devon

Finally made it to Wistmans Wood, what a place! The moss hangs from the trees like beards and there are ferns growing from the tops of the oaks. This wood is well worth a visit, it doesn't look much as you approach along the footpath but once you step inside...