Latest comments
Irish Halloween ( Samhain ) traditions
Coven activities are not devil worship, but they are incompatible with Christian commitment.However,if we want an example of a witch who was not evil, we need look no further than Wizzley's Jo Harrington, who is much missed on this site.
frankbeswick, on 10/30/2019
Across the Roof of Wales
Thanks Derdriu. I am attempting to raise my walking speed. Maybe by spring or summer I will be ready again.
frankbeswick, on 10/30/2019
Macclesfield Treacle Fair
Many found jobs in Manchester cotton mills, which were always seeking labour.
frankbeswick, on 10/30/2019
Irish Halloween ( Samhain ) traditions
It is interesting to see the connection to Ireland. Now the costumes include princesses and superheros. Masks include politicians and royals. Zombies and monsters are always present. Some years back the local Catholic bishop proclaimed it ...
blackspanielgallery, on 10/30/2019
Stockport, Cheshire. Heritage Walk
blackspanielgallery, frankbeswick and veronica, Thank you for the add-ons here!
Yes, I remember now about Shakespeare's maternal lineage. So there was nothing coincidental or haphazard about the As You Like It scene set in the Forest of Arden.
DerdriuMarriner, on 10/30/2019
Across the Roof of Wales
frankbeswick, May your exercises work as well on your balance and speed as medical treatments did on your posture!
DerdriuMarriner, on 10/30/2019
Macclesfield Treacle Fair
blackspanielgallery, frankbeswick and veronica, Thank you for the silk town- and town crier-related informations.
Do we know what happened to the cottage industry weavers who were affected by the silk trade's decline and demise?
DerdriuMarriner, on 10/30/2019
Irish Halloween ( Samhain ) traditions
;Some points on terminology.
1:Lambswool is an English rendering of the Gaelic La mas ubhal [day of the fruit of the apple.] Ubhal is pronounced oowal. It is equivalent to some drinks taken in England in the course of wassailing. ...
frankbeswick, on 10/30/2019
Stockport, Cheshire. Heritage Walk
You have so much history in England. The buildings serve as historical relics of architecture as well as the history that occurred within them.
blackspanielgallery, on 10/30/2019
Stockport, Cheshire. Heritage Walk
Ardern may be a variant of Arden, which is a West Midlands name originating in the Forest of Arden. As Welsh was spoken in the West of England well into the middle of the last millennium and as ard may well be a Celtic word meaning high, Arden ...
frankbeswick, on 10/29/2019
Stockport, Cheshire. Heritage Walk
We would think that Ardern is a (French ) Norman name . Indeed there are still Arderns in Stockport.
There is a much longer walk around Stockport which takes you round a 2.5 mile walk round various history period times in Stockport. I took a ...
Veronica, on 10/29/2019
Irish Halloween ( Samhain ) traditions
Derdriu
re spoiled apples. It is always a problem with spoiled apples even now . Apples which fall or are not picked in time. The pukka story is I think how early people tried to explain such events .
I have never tasted Lambswool but I suspect ...
Veronica, on 10/29/2019
Irish Halloween ( Samhain ) traditions
Veronica, Thank you for the photos and practicalities.
What are people in Irish stories about the shape-shifting pukka supposed to do with spat-upon (ugh!), spoiled apples?
You have a beautiful fireplace with pumpkins and squashes. How is it ...
DerdriuMarriner, on 10/29/2019
Stockport, Cheshire. Heritage Walk
Veronica, Thank you for the photos, practicalities and products and for the most enjoyable tour, which, as with all your travelogues, makes me feel like I'm tagging along (but forgot my camera so I'm ever so appreciative of your images) and like ...
DerdriuMarriner, on 10/29/2019
Across the Roof of Wales
You must realize that Welsh has several dialects, and so Foel Fras is in the North Wales dialect. It means broad hill. Moel means a hill, but Celtic languages mutate, so in certain circumstances M mutates to F, giving us Foel. My Welsh is not ...
frankbeswick, on 10/29/2019