Halloween Folklore: Ghostly Games & Welsh Spirits on Nos Calan Gaeaf (Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP160)

🎃👻 What dangerous games did people play on the night when the veil between worlds was at its thinnest? Who walked the dark lanes of Wales on Nos Calan Gaeaf long before modern Halloween lights flickered?  In this special Halloween episode, Mark Rees explores centuries-old Welsh traditions that mixed fun, fear, and fortune-telling. From sowing hemp seeds in graveyards to listening at church doors for whispered names, discover how spooky games revealed secrets about love, death, and the unknown. Uncover the folklore behind Halloween in Wales — where witches, spirits, and uncanny tricks weren’t just stories, but a part of everyday life. Explore the lore... if you dare! 👻   ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES: Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and Gower" now! You can order it online here.   BUY MARK REES A COFFEE: If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi - thank you/ diolch!  https://ko-fi.com/markrees    WHAT IS THE GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES PODCAST WITH MARK REES? The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends. Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes. From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along the way. Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd. Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru. Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the way!  Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode. For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit https://markreesonline.com/: Mark Rees homepage Mark Rees on social media Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.) Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast Until next time, nos da!