Saint Nicholas with his long white beard, bishop’s miter and crosier rewards the well-behaved with gifts each year on 6th December. His scary counterpart Krampus wears fur, horns and a hand-carved mask with a lolling tongue. During the Christmas season, he comes to warn and punish naughty children (and adults). Discover Saint Nicholas and the Krampus in Tyrol. … AUSTRIA | SOUTH TYROL: On Saint Nicholas and the Krampus in Tyrol
First thing you see when you arrive at the center of Bolzano is the monument in memory of the great poet Walther von der Vogelweide the Minnesinger of Bolzano. He was a Minnesinger that probably lived in South Tyrol in Northern Italy around the year 1200.
… ITALY | TYROL : Walter von der Vogelweide the Minnesinger of Bolzano
Discover mythology, history and traditional medicinal use of Omani Frankincense Hojari, once and today.
At sunset, the Dolomite mountains light up in fiery red, turning to purple before fading into the night: this is the Alpenglühen, riverbero rossiccio, enrosadira or Alpenglow, a phenomenon whose origins are deeply rooted in legend. The Legend of King Laurins Rose Garden talks about why the mountains are sometimes glowing red and orange.
Rapa Nui offers a world of inquiry that have remained unanswered for centuries. Questions abound surrounding the origins of the people and their culture, the Moai statues, the Tangata manu – Birdman cult and the history of the Islands racial extermination, ecological and natural disasters. Discover Myths and Legends of the Moai on Rapa Nui-The Easter Island.
… CHILE: Myths and Legends of the Moai on Rapa Nui-The Easter Island
Dolomites beauty derives from a variety of spectacular vertical forms such as pinnacles, spires and towers, with contrasting horizontal surfaces including ledges, crags and plateaus. They rise abruptly above extensive talus deposits and more gentle foothills. Countless legends have grown up in the shadow of these pale mountains, inspired by observation of the natural landscape and influenced by the stories told by the people. The Dolomites must surely, in the popular imagination, be inhabited by fabulous creatures as well as by kings and queens, discover the The legend of the Pale Mountains, the Dolomites.
… ITALY | TYROL : The Legend of the Pale Mountains, the Dolomites
The Maha Bodhi Tree, world’s most famous pilgrim tree, marks the location where the Buddha attained enlightenment, and is the destination for the Buddhism’s pilgrimage. Discover Myths and Legends of the ancient sacred fig tree at the Maha Bodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya where Buddha sat for enlightenment under the Maha Bodhi Tree.
… INDIA : TREELORE – Bodh Gaya where Buddha sat for enlightenment under the Maha Bodhi Tree
Discover Myth and Folklore of the beauty Padmavati, the siege of Chittorgarh and human sacrifices – Jauhar and Shaka done by the Rajputs in war time.
Discover Myths and Legends of Lumbini Buddhas birthplace, the birth story of Gotama Buddha and Lumbini in historical travel accounts. Lumbini is a Pilgrims nirvana.
Aphrodite Αφροδιτη was the Olympian goddess of love, beauty, pleasure and procreation. The pomegranate, the myrtle and the apple are trees associated with Aphrodite on Cyprus, discover treelore and mythology.
… CYPRUS: TREELORE – Trees associated with Aphrodite on Cyprus
Myth has it that Aphrodite, the Olympian goddess of love, beauty, pleasure and procreation, arose from the sea foam on the south-western coast of Cyprus. References in ancient authors and archaeological evidence may prove that Aphrodite and her cult originated on this island. What is certain is that throughout antiquity the Great Goddess, in different aspects was worshiped on Cyprus. There were several sanctuaries on the island dedicated to her, the most famous in Paphos. Discover Myth and Cult of Aphrodite on Cyprus.
At Bardia National Park in Nepal, a lone rhino swishes out the elephant grass. We stand very near, quite at the riverbank peering behind tall grass, hearing – observing – now it is slowly reaching the water, peacefully munching. Floating happily into the river. Discover Myth & Folklore of the One-horned rhinoceros also known as the Indian Rhinoceros.
… INDIA | NEPAL: There be Unicorns – Myth & Folklore of the One – horned rhinoceros
Read about sacred Rituals done by Taoist priests and spirit mediums, caught in meditative trance, during the festival. It starts with the welcoming of the gods into the temple where they are worshiped for nine days, and ends when the gods are sent off on the ninth day. The festival is known for the temple processions that take place during the celebrations. Discover Myths and Folklore of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Georgetown – Penang.
… MALAYSIA: The Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Georgetown – Penang
Discover Myth and Folklore of Buddhas Tooth Relic and the Kandy Esala Perahera Festival
Komodo dragons are the world’s largest living lizards, they only live on a hand full of islands in Indonesia. The crocodile and the Orah, as it is called by the locals, are the closest we have to dinosaurs. The dragons have long been a source of major fascination for the peoples of Flores who share their islands with them, till today. Discover History, Myth and Folklore of the Komodo Dragon.
… INDONESIA: Here be dragons – History, Myth and Folklore of the Komodo Dragon
Explore Makemake and the incredible competition that took place on Rapa Nui to choose the Tangata Manu or Easter Island birdman whose clan would rule the island during one year. Discover Myths and Legends of the birdman cult on the Easter Island – Rapa Nui
… CHILE: Myths and folklore of the birdman cult on the Easter Island – Rapa Nui
Myths and legends from Chiloé possess a multitude of creatures and a distinct and interesting history of male witches, Francisco Goya’s painting of witches did much to shape perceptions of sorcery in Spanish- speaking societies in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Part of the attraction of Chiloé is the wealth of mystery that permeate the misty, foggy reaches of forest and remote beaches, where creatures and male witches dwell.
While doing a Panchakarma in Kerala, India I witnessed how Annapurṇa – The kitchen goddess, got a temple in the new kitchen, this ritual is called kumbhabhishekam.
Folklore of 熊猫 – the Giant Panda, has its roots in Tibetan and Chinese culture. Read the legends on how the panda got his black marks, discover its etymology and symbolism and the use in traditional Chinese culture. Discover the History and Mythology of the xióng māo, Mo, Pixiu or Giant Panda.
Discover Legend, Myth and Folklore of the Chinese New Year in Georgetown- Penang. Read about Customs, Rituals and Taboos and the many gods that are worshiped during the Spring Festival. And how the people celebrate this special time of the year.
This legend came to us, sitting in a restaurant in Foz do Iguacu, near the Iguazu falls, sharing my meal with a big tourist group from Brazil, luckily some spoke Spanish, so did Leticia, the Lady sitting near me. Discover the creation of the Iguazu falls.
… Paraguay | Brazil | Argentina: On the creation of the IGUAZU Falls
Coffeehouses in Constantinople/Istanbul were places for man to drink coffee, to meet, to do business, to discuss politics, art and literature.
A tradition of Turkish folklore that took shape in Constantinople’s coffeehouses is the Meddah, … STORYTELLING TURKEY: The Meddah
There are many origin myths and much folklore about rice, it is believed that a goddesses gave rice to humans and taught them how to grow it. Religious use of rice takes place in India, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. In Asia, the rice spirit is female and often a mother figure, in Bali she is called Dewi Sri or Devi Sri. Devi Sri and Mae Posop of Thailand are treated in similar ways- respectful and protective. Discover Myths, History and Folklore of RICE in Bali. … INDONESIA | BALI : Myths, History and Folklore of RICE, Nasi
