History

Legends Alexa 08 Feb 2024

It’s the year of the dragon as per the Chinese calendar and I find myself thinking about dragons in mythology. Having each year assigned to a specific animal that might be similar to the Western zodiac is a unique way that the Chinese calendar is organised.

Alexa

Legends Alexa 10 Nov 2023

Thinking of Christmas most of us picture the jolly old man in red with a white beard and hair and not Yule. But what is yule and how did it become a tasty cake? Christmas is not the only holiday, it’s just the most common in the Western world. Even so, its origin and current celebration are diverse and contested.

Alexa

Legends Alexa 09 Dec 2022

Chocolate is a very tasty treat most of us enjoy regularly, with a dark bloody past steeped in legends and myths surrounding it. As delicious as chocolate is today, it was far different in its infancy when it came to its taste, ingredients and uses.

Alexa

Legends Alexa 08 Dec 2022

Creation myths have existed ever since humans became aware of their impending mortality and sought out meaning in their lives. Questioning where they came from and where did everything else come from, they spun stories to better grasp existence. Creation myths come in different forms, many have origins in chaos.

Alexa

Legends Alexa 07 Dec 2022

In the Northern hemisphere, hot summer months fast unfurl with sunny, warm days that drag on long into the night. The Sun is reluctant to set, and night seems shorter and brighter than usual. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year in terms of daylight.

Alexa

Legends Alexa 06 Dec 2022

Valentine’s day conjures up images of red roses, chocolate, and heart shapes on Valentine’s day card, and couples walking hand in hand. The modern celebration of love differs in many ways from the origins of the holiday. The namesake of Saint Valentine has an interesting story steeped in legend.

Alexa

Legends Alexa 28 Nov 2022

Some English myths and legends don't become as popular as others and are forgotten to time or simply not told as often. English culture has some of the most famous legends known around the world. From King Arthur and Robin Hood to mystical druids and fairies. Here are a few less popular English myths and legends.

Alexa

Legends Alexa 16 Nov 2022

We may not think about them now, but the cultural importance of forests shaped philosophy and the human psyche since antiquity. A mountain pass through a heavily wooded area makes a difficult journey even more so. Traversing such a pass would require a good amount of courage and endurance.

Alexa