Sarah Nour

Frau Perchta, the Alpine Christmas Witch, appears as a lovely woman to girls and women who get all their flax spun by Twelfth Night, and gifts them coins. To those who neglect this chore, she appears as an ugly crone, disembowels them, and replaces their organs with pebbles and straw. #FolkyFriday

Icelandic children were once told if they were good, the Yule Lads would bring Christmas presents, but if they were naughty, the Yule Lads would kidnap them for their mother, the child-eating ogress Grýla. The government has banned using these characters to scare kids into behaving. #FolkyFriday

In Italian folklore, La Befana is an elderly witch who rides a broomstick and enters homes through chimneys to leave presents for children, such as toys or sweets, on Epiphany Eve. Families leave food and wine out for her, and she will even sweep the floor before she leaves the house. #FolkyFriday

Do yourself a favor this holiday season and read The Polar Express, the original book, instead of watching the unpleasant, poorly-paced movie with the creepy motion-capture nightmare fuel CGI.

"And the eagles, when they smelt the flesh, desired after it, and they flapped their wings... [They] could not attain unto the meat; but ever as they struggled they bore aloft with them Kay Kāvus and the throne whereon he sat."

—The Shahnameh, Ferdowsi

#BookologyThursday

"He built a framework of aloe-wood, and at the four corners thereof he placed javelins upright, and on their points he put the flesh of goats. Then he chose out four eagles strong of wing, and bound them unto the corners of this chariot."

—The Shahnameh, Ferdowsi

#BookologyThursday

"[Kay Kāvus] forgot that man cannot mount unto the skies, and he pondered without ceasing how he could fly unto the stars and inquire into their secrets."

—The Shahnameh, Ferdowsi

#BookologyThursday

a cartoon character with a swirl in its eyes ALT: a cartoon character with a swirl in its eyes

Me: "Our common enemy is the corporations destroying the planet, not everyday people just living their lives."

Also Me: "I should buy this drink instead of that drink because it comes in a glass bottle, which is easier to recycle than a plastic bottle."

How Will You Celebrate Yalda Night 2019? — NICArt Yalda Night 2019 is right around the corner. What’s behind this ancient celebration? And how do you celebrate it today?

It came from this old article. It doesn't say who took the photo.
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The Scandinavian festival of St. Lucia’s Day not only celebrates the Christian martyr Lucia of Syracruse, but it also involves Norse pagan traditions, such as lighting fires to ward off evil spirits that emerge during the longest night of the year. #WyrdWednesday

Yalda, the Persian winter solstice festival, is held on the longest, darkest night of the year. Families gather to recite stories and poetry and enjoy a feast of fruit and nuts. They stay up to welcome the sunrise, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness. #WyrdWednesday

As December is the darkest time of year, there's an old Norwegian belief that evil spirits and witches emerge around Christmas time. Therefore it's tradition to hide all the brooms in your house so witches don't steal them for their night flights. #WyrdWednesday

Oshiroi Baba, or Face Powder Hag, is a Japanese mountain spirit in the form of a hunched old woman with a wrinkled face smeared in makeup, carrying a sake bottle. She appears to those lost in the mountains during blizzards and gives them hot sake. #LegendaryWednesday

There's an old Menominee legend about two children who harass a sleeping porcupine. They yell insults, poke him with sticks, and throw rocks at him. The porcupine wakes up and angrily summons a blizzard. The children can't get home and freeze to death. #LegendaryWednesday

The Penobscot and Abenaki people avoided climbing Mount Katahdin because they feared being killed or devoured by Pomola, the bird spirit associated with wind, snow, storms, and nighttime. He was said to be large enough to carry a moose in its talons. #LegendaryWednesday

Snegurochka (Snow Maiden) is a character in Russian folklore. In some tales, she's either the daughter or granddaughter of Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), and his helper in delivering gifts. In other tales, a childless elderly couple builds a girl out of snow, and she comes to life. #FairyTaleTuesday

In the Canadian folktale "Saint Nicholas and the Children," twins Pierre and Estelle go to the butcher to get food for their sick grandmother. The butcher holds them hostage, planning to feed them to a giant, but luckily Saint Nicholas arrives on time to rescue them. #FairyTaleTuesday

In the Russian tale "Father Frost," a girl is left for dead outside in winter by her stepmom. She's found by Father Frost and returns home with gifts. The stepmom leaves her own daughter outside, hoping Father Frost will give her gifts. But she's rude, so he freezes her to death. #FairyTaleTuesday

The Mesopotamian sea goddess Tiamat gives birth to a brood of monsters, including Basmu the Venomous Serpent, Usumgallu the Great Dragon, and Musmahhu the Exhalted Serpent. It's said she gave them sharp fangs and filled their bodies with venom instead of blood. #MythologyMonday

According to Aztec myth, the goddess Coatlicue was sweeping a temple when a ball of hummingbird feathers fell from the heavens. She picked it up, tucked it into her belt, and became pregnant. She soon gave birth to the full-grown, armored warrior Huitzilopochtli. #MythologyMonday

Norse god Loki is a shapeshifter, capable of changing gender. In the poem Lokasenna, Loki claims to have spent eight winters as a milkmaid, birthing a brood of witches. In another myth, Loki eats a witch's heart and gets pregnant with the first female ogre. #MythologyMonday

a black and white photo of a snowy road at night ALT: a black and white photo of a snowy road at night

"When icicles hang by the wall
And Dick the shepherd blows his nail
And Tom bears logs into the hall
And milk comes frozen home in pail,
When blood is nipp'd and ways be foul,
Then nightly sings the staring owl."

—Love's Labour's Lost, William Shakespeare

#ShakespeareSunday

a poster for american gods starz shows a silhouette of a man in the fog ALT: a poster for american gods starz shows a silhouette of a man in the fog

"Here feel we but the penalty of Adam,
The seasons' difference, as the icy fang
And churlish chiding of the winter's wind,
Which, when it bites and blows upon my body,
Even till I shrink with cold, I smile."

—As You Like It, William Shakespeare

#ShakespeareSunday

a mountain covered in snow and clouds with a blue sky ALT: a mountain covered in snow and clouds with a blue sky

"Blow, blow, thou winter wind
Thou art not so unkind
As man’s ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude."

—As You Like It, William Shakespeare

#ShakespeareSunday

"Polly had fully intended to be very miserable, and cry herself to sleep; but when she lay down at last, her pillow seemed very soft... She no longer felt an injured, hard-working, unhappy Polly, but as if quite burdened with blessings."

—An Old-Fashioned Girl, Louisa May Alcott

#BookWormSat

"And Effie fell asleep with a happy smile on her lips, her one humble gift still in her hand, and a new love for Christmas in her heart that never changed through a long life spent in doing good."

—A Christmas Dream and How It Came to Be True, Louisa May Alcott

#BookWormSat

"A new Patty went downstairs that morning—a bright-faced girl with smiles on the mouth that used to be sad and silent, confidence in the timid eyes, and the magic of the heartiest goodwill to make her step light."

—A Quiet Little Woman, Louisa May Alcott

#BookWormSat

10 Abuses of Studio Power from the Golden Age of Hollywood During the Golden Age, Hollywood actors and actresses were basically considered the property of major film studios, which made this era a…

Read my article “10 Abuses of Studio Power from the Golden Age of Hollywood“ at its new home: Medium! Learn about the studio system: the old business model that granted film studios oppressive control over their actors' lives. #FlashbackFriday
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10 Old Movies that Changed Laws and Regulations Movies can have significant social impact. They can educate, raise awareness, and alter public consciousness. Here are 10 films that took…

Read my article “10 Old Movies that Changed Laws and Regulations“ at its new home: Medium! Learn about films like The Battle of Algiers, a film that has been banned by several governments out of fear it will provoke revolutions! #FlashbackFriday
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10 Influential Female Directors from the Silent Film Era Back when the film industry was just emerging, gender restrictions hadn’t been established yet. Women could freely seize opportunities to…

Read my article “10 Influential Female Directors from the Silent Film Era“ at its new home: Medium! Learn about Alice Guy, Dorothy Davenport, Tressie Souders, and other incredible women! #FlashbackFriday
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