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Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees

Paranormal Podcasts

Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees: Real-life ghost stories, folklore, myths and legends from haunted Wales. Join Mark Rees - "arguably Wales' leading authority on the curious and paranormal aspects of the country's history." (Western Mail) and author of book such as Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales and The A-Z of Curious Wales - for a fascinating journey through the weird and wonderful history of Wales and the world. From 'most haunted' Welsh castles to fairy-filled forests, discover long-lost cases of pesky poltergeists, sea-faring stories of mermaids and mermen, and ancient tales from the Mabinogion and King Arthur on this spine-chilling tour of Wales’ magical, fantastical, dark and, at times, horrible history. Each episode of this unique podcast explores at a different topic, and offers Mark's unique insight and research into: seasonal traditions from the Mari Lwyd to Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf); unusual funeral and wedding customs, such as the macabre Sin Eater and eerie corpse candles; how the magic of witches, wizards and the ancient Druids continue to cast a spell over the land today.

Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees: Real-life ghost stories, folklore, myths and legends from haunted Wales. Join Mark Rees - "arguably Wales' leading authority on the curious and paranormal aspects of the country's history." (Western Mail) and author of book such as Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales and The A-Z of Curious Wales - for a fascinating journey through the weird and wonderful history of Wales and the world. From 'most haunted' Welsh castles to fairy-filled forests, discover long-lost cases of pesky poltergeists, sea-faring stories of mermaids and mermen, and ancient tales from the Mabinogion and King Arthur on this spine-chilling tour of Wales’ magical, fantastical, dark and, at times, horrible history. Each episode of this unique podcast explores at a different topic, and offers Mark's unique insight and research into: seasonal traditions from the Mari Lwyd to Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf); unusual funeral and wedding customs, such as the macabre Sin Eater and eerie corpse candles; how the magic of witches, wizards and the ancient Druids continue to cast a spell over the land today.

Location:

United Kingdom

Description:

Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees: Real-life ghost stories, folklore, myths and legends from haunted Wales. Join Mark Rees - "arguably Wales' leading authority on the curious and paranormal aspects of the country's history." (Western Mail) and author of book such as Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales and The A-Z of Curious Wales - for a fascinating journey through the weird and wonderful history of Wales and the world. From 'most haunted' Welsh castles to fairy-filled forests, discover long-lost cases of pesky poltergeists, sea-faring stories of mermaids and mermen, and ancient tales from the Mabinogion and King Arthur on this spine-chilling tour of Wales’ magical, fantastical, dark and, at times, horrible history. Each episode of this unique podcast explores at a different topic, and offers Mark's unique insight and research into: seasonal traditions from the Mari Lwyd to Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf); unusual funeral and wedding customs, such as the macabre Sin Eater and eerie corpse candles; how the magic of witches, wizards and the ancient Druids continue to cast a spell over the land today.

Language:

English

Episodes

EP73 Halloween Horrors: A headless white lady (Y Ladi Wen) and a monstrous black pig (Hwch Ddu Gwta) emerge on Nos Calan Gaeaf! Explore their eerie secret history Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

10/21/2021
A monstrous black pig and the ghost of a headless white lady emerge to hunt the living on Halloween - but what do they want? When the shades of night fall on Nos Calan Gaeaf, as October 31 is known in Wales, there are two terrifying apparitions which appear to chase people home from the bonfires before the witching hour. More terrifying than the vampires, werewolves, zombies and demons commonly associated with the holiday, they are the Hwch Ddu Gwta (Tailless Black Sow) and Y Ladi Wen (The...

Duration:00:28:29

EP72 Haunted Halloween Lakes: Spectral women, evil spirits and a deadly lake monster lurk at watery Welsh beauty spots on Nos Calan Gaeaf - Spooky history on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

10/14/2021
Dare you visit these watery beauty spots where ghouls and ghosts appear on the spookiest night of the year? Explore several "haunted" lakes where the ghosts of spectral white ladies have been reported, or where a lake monster is said to dwell. In one case, a visit on Halloween - Nos Calan Gaeaf - could result in seeing those destined to die that year appearing before your very eyes. Join author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) as he explores the ghosts and folklore of some of Wales' mysterious...

Duration:00:21:21

EP71 The First Welsh Jack-o‘-Lantern: A Halloween special exploring the origin of ”Jack y Lantern” in an old folk tale of devils, demons and a lost spirit - Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

10/7/2021
Halloween wouldn't be Halloween with a grinning jack-o'-lantern, but did you know that it was once far more sinister than a finely carved pumpkin? Nothing encapsulates Nos Calan Gaeaf - as we call Halloween in Wales - like the flickering face of a finely-carved lantern. But unlike the modern-day pumpkin which can be seen carried by trick or treaters, it was considered to be an all-too-real "dreaded ghost" which led people to their doom in the dark forests at harvest time. Its origins can be...

Duration:00:29:05

EP70 Trapped Spirits & Hidden Treasure: A trio of ”real-life” ghost stories in which restless souls haunt the living in some of Wales‘s ”most haunted” - Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

9/30/2021
Explore three creepy "real-life" accounts of restless spirits who seemingly can’t rest in peace until their hidden treasure has been discovered. There are countless tales of people being asked – or scared, rather – into helping unwanted visitors find their treasure so they can rest in peace and, in return, the living can return to living in peace as well. Some are these tales sound like folk tales, while others are taken more seriously, and in some cases cause great distress to those...

Duration:00:25:39

EP69 The Poltergeist Fairies; or, the Welsh Hobgoblin: Naughty but nice, the Bwbach is a household fairy (tylwyth teg) that causes paranormal mayhem in the home - Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

9/23/2021
What happens when a fairy turns nasty? It becomes something of a poltergeist! On this episode of the Ghosts and Folklore podcast, explore the dual nature of the Bwbach, the Welsh hobgoblin with ghost-like powers which, on the one hand, was a nice, helpful, happy household fairy but, on the other, could quickly transform into a terrifying phantom. So terrifying, in fact, that it could scare people away from their homes and, and in some extreme cases, attack them and drive them to an early...

Duration:00:22:11

EP68 The White Lady of Oystermouth Castle: Does a white lady ghost haunt one of Wales‘ ”most haunted” castles? Let‘s go on a paranormal investigation on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

9/16/2021
Does the ghost of a lady in white really haunt one of Wales's "most haunted" castles? When darkness falls on Oystermouth Castle, one of Swansea’s more mysterious inhabitants emerges from the shadows to peer out over the village of Mumbles. And, if you believe the tales, she can even be summoned in a similar way to saying Candyman or Beetlejuice more times that it is safe to do so. But who is this white lady, and who has see her? Join author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) as he goes on a ghost...

Duration:00:28:00

EP67 A Victorian Séance: There‘s table tipping, corpse candles, and deathlike fingers in this real-life account of a visit to a psychic spirit medium in Swansea - Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

9/9/2021
When corpse candles and deathlike fingers materialise during a séance in Swansea, is it the work of spirits of the dead, or is something else going on? In this real-life account of a 19th century séance, a group of friends visit a spirit medium for what they believe will be a little light entertainment. But the paranormal activity spirals out of control, and soon they find themselves trapped in a waking nightmare. With tables (and heads) being banged, lights in the air, music being played...

Duration:00:25:41

EP66 The Giant‘s Body: When a fairy-eating giant and wicked witch invade a happy Welsh valley, it quickly become a valley of horror in this traditional folk tale - Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

9/2/2021
Did an old folk tale of a wicked witch and an evil giant really lead to the discovery of coal in the Welsh valleys? In this traditional story, a shadow is cast over a once-happy fairy-filled valley when a giant arrives to eat all of the small inhabitants. Their only chance of survival is to kill their unwelcome visitor, but that just poses an even bigger problem - how do you dispose of the rotting body of a giant? Join author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) for a fantastical trip to Gilfach...

Duration:00:22:45

EP65 Restless Spirits and Fairy Folk: What happens when you stop believing in fairies but their paranormal activity continues? You blame poltergeists & phantoms - Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

8/26/2021
When people stopped believing in fairies, how could they explain the paranormal activity that continued? In the early 20th century, belief in the existence of fairies in Wales has almost died out. But the belief in ghosts and spirits had not, and that that belief in death omens in particular, such as the corpse candles and phantom funerals, remained ‘rather popular, even among educated people’. But if people were no longer believing in fairies, what were these supposed phantoms and...

Duration:00:25:46

EP64 The Evil Spirit Strikes Back: When paranormal activity destroys a Welsh home, is it the work of a poltergeist, a curse, or just local lore? Find out on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

8/19/2021
Can poltergeist activity really destroy a building, or is it just local lore? When objects started moving of their own accord on a Welsh farm, it was assumed an evil spirit was at work. But following a botched exorcism there was no stopping its destruction, which including first destroying the contents of a building, followed by the building itself. Could this all have been the work of a single poltergeist, or was there something else at work? A local folk tale claims the property is...

Duration:00:24:35

EP63 Haunted Rivers: Wailing spirits, monstrous serpents, bottomless pits and the devil in disguise - explore the strange legends of the Welsh waterways on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

8/12/2021
Dare you swim in the spirit-filled waterways of Wales? They might look calm and serene from land, but the rivers of Wales are steeped in accounts of strange creatures and trapped souls. There's the apparition of a wailing woman seen up and down the River Severn, the Taff whirlpool which is said to be the work of a giant serpent, and the unusual case of an image of the Virgin Mary being put on trial near the River Dee. Join author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) as he explores the weird and...

Duration:00:23:02

EP62 The Ghost Police: When the police are the ghosts, who ya gonna call? There were no Ghostbusters to deal with paranormal activity in the Swinging Sixties! - Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

8/5/2021
What do you do when the ghosts of policemen start patrolling the streets? That was the problem facing a Welsh town in the Swinging Sixties when late at night the local bobbies were seemingly back on the beat from beyond the grave. What was happening in Neath that fateful night? Find out more on this "real life" ghost story... Join author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) as, following a series of strange coincidences, he goes in search of the Ghost Police on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales...

Duration:00:25:53

EP61 The Fairy-Haunted Mines: What creatures lurk deep beneath the Welsh mountains? Goblins, gnomes, basilisks? Go in search of the coblynau and more on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

7/29/2021
What supernatural creatures were scaring the miners of Wales deep underground? For centuries, those working hard in the dark have reported strange sights and sounds lurking in the mines. From the deadly stare of the basilisk to evil spirits and fire demons, this was not a place for the faint of heart. And yet the coblynau - the mine fairies of Wales - were said to be helpful souls who could lead the colliers to treasure buried deep in the caves. From friendly to deadly, were these...

Duration:00:30:29

EP60 The Disembodied Hand at the Haunted Mansion: A ghostly hand - like Thing from The Addams Family - has long haunted a Welsh home. Let's go ghost hunting on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

7/22/2021
Why is a disembodied hand haunting a secluded mansion on the wind-swept coast of Wales? Staff working at the house have long reported seeing the severed hand in one of the bedrooms, as well as other spirits besides, but what does it all mean - and does it have anything to do with the smugglers caves nearby? Join author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) for a paranormal investigation as he goes in search of the supernatural secrets on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast. What is the Ghosts...

Duration:00:20:49

EP59 The Spectral Nun and the Skeleton in the Wall: Why are religious ghosts haunting a Welsh parish? Let's go on a paranormal investigation on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast!

7/15/2021
Multiple reports of paranormal activity in a Welsh parish lead to the residents calling in the ghost hunters and exorcists. From a spectral nun to an oyster-eating monk, the activity - including bangs in the dead of night and a ghost circling the bed - continue to mount, and lead to some "gruesome" and "macabre" discoveries. But what does it all have to do with the skeletons discovered in a nearby wall? And how does Saint Nicholas - jolly Saint Nick - fit in with it all? For some of the...

Duration:00:24:52

EP58 The Mystery of the Macabre Magician: When an infamous Welsh wizard is hired to solve a crime things get a little bit gothic. Find out all the secrets on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast!

7/8/2021
Can you really solve a mystery by digging up skulls in a graveyard? That seemed to be the case when notorious Welsh wizard Robin Ddu (Black Robin) was hired to solve a riddle using his psychic powers. But appearances and reputations can be deceiving, and not all is as it seems with this master of witchcraft. To find out all the secrets, join author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) as he goes in search of the gothic truth of this macabre master of magic on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales...

Duration:00:23:00

EP57 The Phantom Werewolf: A "real-life" horror story in which a strange wolf-like creature with hellish eyes terrorises holidaymakers in the Welsh mountains - Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

7/1/2021
Do werewolves really roam the wilds of Wales? That certainly seemed to be the case for one Oxford professor who encountered a strange creature while on a fishing trip in the Welsh mountains. Far from an idyllic holiday, it soon began to resemble a horror film when a dog-like creature with hellish red eyes laid siege to the cottage one night. The professor, however, did discovered a way to send the wolf packing with its tail between its legs... or did he? For all the details, join author...

Duration:00:24:39

EP56 The Witch's Curse: A dark and tragic folk tale in which a Welsh woman is struck down by witchcraft - or is it all in her mind? Find out more on the magical Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

6/24/2021
Can a witch really curse somebody who refuses to assist them? That certainly seems to be the case in this old Welsh folk tale in which Bethan Jones - the accused witch - is blamed with striking down a woman. But is it really evil witchcraft, or is it all in the victim's mind? And if it a real curse, how can it be broken? Join author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) who goes in search of clues on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast. What is the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees...

Duration:00:24:33

EP55 The Phantom from Pennsylvania; or, An American Ghost in Wales: Why is an apparition from Philadelphia haunting the Swansea Valley? Let's go hunting on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast!

6/17/2021
Can a ghost really carry a person across the world in the blink of an eye? That seemed to be the case in Wales in the 18th century when a man was seemingly whisked away across the Atlantic from his home in Ystradgynlais to a secret location in the USA. In this "real life" ghost story, the American apparition - a "well-dressed" woman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - tasked him with completing a task for her is he wished to return home once more. What does it all mean? Join author Mark Rees...

Duration:00:22:43

EP54 The Magic of Water: Wash with vampires, fight evil spirits, turn water into wine and protect coffee from witches - it's all on this fascinating Welsh on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast!

6/10/2021
Water has many uses in Welsh folklore, from repelling evil to bringing good luck. Some of these traditions are practical, such as not spilling this most valuable of commodities, while others are more gothic in nature, and concern vampires, spirits, and witches. Do any of these old customs still work today? Join author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) as he goes in search of the watery secrets on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast. What is the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees...

Duration:02:35:59

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