Haligmonað / Holy Month - September Almanac

Haligmonað / Holy Month - September Almanac

Author: Fair Folk September 10, 2024 Duration: 1:08:58
In this episode I share about September as harvest month in folklore, Old English names for the month and season, spirits of the grain, the meaning of the equinox in tradition, the upcoming lunar eclipse, and Michaelmas! Sign up for the Cave of Dreams workshop series: https://www.houseoflegends.me/cave-of-dreams Find me on Substack: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/ September Almanac playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0gajsHJ86ljT3f1TuFtLFI?si=ce9b72a3701d4b77 Music in this episode: Opening theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds “Ripest of Apples” by Anna and Elizabeth Buy Anna and Elizabeth’s music: https://annaandelizabeth.bandcamp.com/ “Band of Shearers” by Carla Sciaky Buy Carla Sciaky’s music: https://carlasciaky.com/index.html#store “My Son David” by the Brothers Gillespie Brothers Gillespie tour and music: https://thebrothersgillespie.com/shows “Apples and Potatoes” by June Tabor June Tabor tour: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/112582-june-tabor Instrumental tracks: “Apples in Winter” by Peter Acty Buy this track: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/apples-in-winter/1617403163?i=1617403387 “Harvest Home” by Willie Clancy Buy the album: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/willie-clancy-the-gold-ring/458399572 Image: Theodor von Hörmann - Mondaufgang nach der Ernte

There's a deep, resonant history woven into the melodies passed down through generations across Europe, and Fair Folk Podcast is an invitation to listen closely. Each episode feels less like a lecture and more like a quiet conversation in a familiar room, where the focus rests entirely on the music itself-the ancient carols, the seasonal ballads, the work songs that carried people through their days. We explore these traditions not as dusty artifacts, but as living expressions of community, spirituality, and the human experience. You'll hear the songs in their raw, often haunting beauty, accompanied by reflections on their origins and the cultures that sustained them. This isn't about polished production; it's about authenticity and connection. Tuning into this podcast offers a rare space to slow down and let these timeless sounds settle in, revealing stories and emotions that feel both profoundly old and surprisingly immediate. It's a journey for anyone curious about the roots of folk music, the power of sacred song, or simply the comfort found in a melody that has weathered centuries. The Fair Folk podcast serves as a gentle guide, ensuring these resonant traditions find new ears and continue to echo into the future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 67

Fair Folk Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Children of the Sun: Paganism and Folksong in Lithuania - Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:28
In this episode I spend a week with pagan religious group Romuva, and reflect on the role of belonging in paganism and folk tradition. Live recordings taken in 2018. Music: Intro theme: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods 4:1…
Gnome for Christmas: the Midwinter Household Spirit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:01
This episode draws on the folklore of the household spirit (gnome, tomte, tonttu, nisse, domovoi, et al)and the folk music of Scandinavia to explore the ancient traditions of animism and ancestor veneration at midwinter.…
Interview with Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair, Irish Storyteller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:15
I recorded this conversation last fall with the award-winning Irish storyteller Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair, who lives in Donegal, Ireland, and learned her craft from the last living traditional storytellers in Donegal. Get…
All Hallows': Folk Tradition at the Gates of Winter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:11
This episode explores the ancient traditions behind today's favourite Halloween activities: trick-or-treating, jack-o-lantern carving, divination, and... communing with the dead. This episode's music: Intro Music: “Fores…
Outi Pulkkinen, Finnish Runo-Singer and Jouhikko Player [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:45
An astounding performance and conversation with Finnish expert runo-singer and jouhikko player, Outi Pulkkinen. Pulkkinen is a Doctor of Music specializing in runo-singing and holistic improvisation with voice, movement…
Interview with Nigel Pennick, Author of The Pagan Book of Days [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:39
Nigel Pennick is the author of over fifty books, on topics ranging from paganism and folk magic to geomancy and divination with the runes. His book The Eldritch World will be available soon in an American edition, produc…
Finnish Kantele by Aslak Tolonen of Nest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:44
Aslak Tolonen, recorded live in Riihimäki, Finland June 16, 2019. You can find more information about his music or contact him about purchasing a kantele here: https://nestfin.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/nestf…
Big Beltane: May Day Song and Custom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:34
May Day, or Beltane in Scottish Gaelic, is a joyous occasion to welcome new growth and fertility in the fields, the hills and home. With its all-night bonfires, green branches, towering may poles and delicate flowers, th…
Winter Solstice, Queen of Feasts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:24
This episode traces the age-old European origins of many of the Winter Solstice traditions we enjoy today, from mother goddess worship through stories of the wizard child Jesus, to Christmas fortune telling with bones. S…