Calenbour celtique (et atroce)

Un calembour atroce commis par mon frère PJ, après qu'il ait vu ce billet. Je paraphrase, parce que je le reproduis de mémoire:

 Question: Au banquet des dieux celtiques, qui a mangé la moelle?

Réponse: Sucellos, parce qu'il a sucé l'os. 

Je sais, je sais, c'est vraiment épouvantable. 

The God Sucellos

The things you learn sometimes thanks to a café. I took this picture the Coffee #1 in Wallingford, one of my favourite quaint English towns. So I learned about the Celtic god Sucellos (or Sucellus). I might have read about him before, but have forgotten. I must confess I don't know all that much about pre-Christian Celtic lore, except from what transpired through and into the Arthurian legend. He seems, in appearance at least, to be the Celtic equivalent of Thor, what with his hammer. Anyway, I'm glad I know a little bit more now about Celtic mythology.

Memento Mori from Pompeii

As you may know, today is is Ash Wednesday today, the beginning of Lent. To mark the day, I have decided to share one very famous Memento Mori, from Pompeii. I took the picture in one of my childhood books about Greek and Roman mythology. This image has always fascinated me. It is an allegory of the transient nature of life. The skull represents death, there is the wheel of fortune, the soul is represented by the butterfly, etc. You can find more details about the moseic here. In the end, I think it's a cool image to encourage people to make the most of their life.

Janus for January

 Iknow I blogged about the same topic, sharing the same image early this month. But I thought that, since we are now pass mid January, it was a nice opportunity to remind us that January is named after the Roman god Janus. He has two faces, one watching the past, the other the future. Since we are in the middle of the month, I can imagine him contemplating both times and well, wondering what the hell's going to happen next. If I was a believer, Janus would be the god I would pray to and make offering to these days.

The month of Janus

I found this picture in a book on Greek and Roman mythology which I liked a lot as a child. I learned from it that January is the month of the Roman god Janus, a two face god, with one face looking into the past and one face looking into the future. It is a mysterious god, as fairly little is known about him. He is a god of time, passage and transition and of course he gave his name to January. I blogged about him before, I thought today was a good time to blog about him again.

Saint George's Day

I almost forgot: it is Saint George's Day today. So happy Saint George's Day everyone. Nobody notices it or cares about it in England, ironically enough, not even my son, who is a proud Englishman. I used to celebrate it a bit more, at least on this blog. But I have come to neglect it too. Which is sad: we talk about a patron saint who is associated with a fight and a victory against a dragon. It always appealed to me, because I love folklore, myths and legends and, well, dragons. I should really make something about it on Vraie Fiction, a real blogging event.

Mélusine

J'ai une confession à faire: même si je suis médiéviste de formation, je connais très peu de choses sur la fée Mélusine, à part son nom et quelques grandes lignes de sa légende. Elle est une créature associée à l'eau et qu'elle a des pieds en queue de serpent quand elle prend son bain, grosso modo. Et j'y pensais récemment et je me suis dit qu'il fallait remédier à ça: je compte donc y remédier prochainement. Pas seulement en googlant son nom et en cherchant sur YouTube, ce serait trop facile. Je compte chercher des bouquins sur le sujet. Si vous en avez à me conseiller, faites-moi vos suggestions dans les commentaires.

Bastet Plushy

This picture comes from the Facebook page of the British Museum.Today is International Cat Day and to celebrate, they are giving away plush toys of Egyptian goddess Bastet. I doubt I will win one, but she looks uber cool and uber cute.

Wolfism about Saint George's Day

 Happy Saint George's Day everyone! I nearly forgot about it. Which is a pretty English thing to do. Nobody cares here about the country's patron saint. Even Wolfie does not care much, if at all, and Saint George's Day. He told me this morning, in a disdainful tone: "Daddy, what's special about Saint George's Day? Why do people celebrate it?" This is a new Wolfism and, while not the Englishest he said, it is pretty close. Because it seems that no true Englishman cares about Saint George's Day.

Britain's Landmarks and Legends

I went to the bokshop recently, looking for a specific book. As I could not find it, I bought another one with a fairly similar subject, the National Trust's Britain's Landmarks and Legends. I love finding books like that one at random, just finding something that you may not need, but think it is worth owning. I love myths and legends, especially when you can associate a specific place to a specific myth. So I don't know when I will read it, having a lot on my TBR already (and currently reading a few books). But hey, I'm glad of my new purchase. Or rather my new discovery.

Buckinghamshire Folk Tales (a quest)

 I went to the local bookshop yesterday. I did it because I am on annual leave and I wanted to encourage local businesses and to buy some new books for the new year. I had one title in mind: Buckinghamshire Folk Tales, which I had seen during my Christmas shopping. Sadly it was not there, so I bought another one (which I will also blog about another time). Of course, I asked the woman at the till if it was in stock. It wasn't, but they can of course order one. I told her I didn't buy it as I was hoping Santa would have it for me last Christmas. She said: "Oh, rude of him! Santa can be so rude sometimes. I wanted an air fryer last year and I did not get one either, even though I had been good." I thought this was very funny and it deserves to be a new great unknown line. But anyway, I know I can preorder it, which is good, as getting hold of this book is my brand new literary quest.

June and Juno

The things you learn thanks to the Facebook page of the British Museum. They shared this picture recently, a 15th century enamelled mirror. It represents the Goddess Juno and Queen Dido, in a scene from the Aeneid. June is named after Juno, as you probably know. I knew it, but it is nice to be reminded of it and of an epic poem which I have read, but don't remember much. In any case, if you did not know the connection, now you do.

Saint George's Day

Happy Saint George's Day everyone! Especially to all my English readers. I never know how to celebrate. Not many places do in england, ironically enough. It is a shame, as a patron saint reknown for fighting a dragon should be inspiring for a national day. I can only dream of the things I'd do with it if I had the time, the know-how and the money. I might watch a few YouTube movies about Saint George or something. Maybe read the legend to Wolfie. But in any case, happy Saint George's Day again and beware fire breathing lizards.

Monstrum on Unicorns

Monstrum has recently released a YouTube video on unicorns. They are maybe one of the most popular mythical creatures today, especially the fluffy and colourful kind. Unicorns are often, too often, sickeningly cute. Monstrum sets the record straight and shows a darker side of unicorns, sometimes an even downright sinister one. Personally, I prefer the unicorns of old, those we can find in heraldry, both majestic and mysterious. What about you?

Janus

I share this picture which I found on the Facebook page of the British Museum. It is a coin whith the depiction of the Roman god Janus. With one face looking at the past and another looking at the future. January is of course named after the god, so it is fitting that I share it here today. You can find more about the coin here. I have nothing else to add, except that a visit to the British Museum is long overdue. I might add it to my new year's resolutions.

Witches: sense and nonsense

For today's fourth(!) countdown to Halloween post, a bit about witches, from English Heritage. They published an article called Witchcraft: Eight Myths and Misconceptions. I don't want to sing my own praise, but I know a lot of them already. Be that as it may, as I am a little bit of a historian myself, I am happy the article sets a lot of things straight. I would also like to add that I have been working (very slowly) on a horror story involving a witch. I haven't finished yet, but you can find in this post from 2018 the basic idea. Maybe I will have something for you for next Halloween.

Souvenir de Brocéliande

En faisant du ménage dans les bouquins (oui, ça m'arrive), je suis retombé sur un marque-page que j'avais oublié, achetéen Bretagne. Jolie allusion à la légende arthurienne, même si c'est inexact: l'épée dans le roc (qui n'est pas Excalibur) n'était bien évidemment pas en Brocéliande. Depuis que mes beaux-parents sont revenus en Angleterre, nous n'avons plus vraiment l'occasion de retourner en Bretagne, ce qui est dommage. J'ai l'impression que l'on n'a pas fait le meilleur usage de notre temps là-bas, surtout en ce qui concerne Brocéliande justement. Mais au moins, j'ai un joli marque-page.

Majestic Griffin

Monstrum has released today a video on the ancient, mythical, majestic, magnificent creature that is the griffin. I have nothing more to say, enjoy, it's really fascinating:

Saint George's Day

 Happy Saint George's Day everyone! It is a day seldom rarely celebrated here, which is ironic because: 1)Saint George of Lydda is the Patron Saint of England and 2) as a dragonslayer, he is one very cool saint. We try to do something about it every year, or at least I to do something to commemorate. That said, this year I'm not sure whatwe will do, if we do anything. There are no special events we know of being organised nearby, so we might not even go anywhere. Which is kind of sad. But if anything happens, I will of course blog about it in the coming days or hours.