Episode 6 Ghosts, Sweets & Hellfire - for information, sources, further reading and a legible transcript check out the episode guide here.

https://cogarnagaoithe.wordpress.com/2024/11/30/episode-6-ghosts-sweets-hellfire/

Happy Haloween! To wrap up our Samhain Series on this auspicious night, Amanda talks about the origins of some Haloween Traditions, some traditional Irish Piseogs, food, games, and fortune telling, and of course, it wouldn’t be spooky season without a trip up Montpellier Hill to the Hellfire Club.

November’s night is absolutely rife with lore and tradition. It is impossible to attempt to fit it all into one episode. But we did try!

This podcast episode, hosted by Amanda Cunningham, discusses Irish folklore and traditions associated with the winter season. We begin by explaining the Celtic calendar and its importance in Irish culture. The calendar divides the year into light and dark halves, with winter marking the beginning of a new cycle. Emphasising the significance of cycles in Irish mythology and agriculture, noting that Ireland's seasons still align with the Celtic calendar. The episode then delves into traditional winter activities in rural Ireland, including storytelling, card games, and wool spinning.

This episode’s story is a folktale about a family's encounter with a mysterious stranger on a stormy night, highlighting the superstitious nature of some Irish folklore. It’s funny, we promise.

The podcast concludes with a discussion of children's games played during winter evenings and a request for listeners to help identify some unfamiliar game names.