The unicorn could come from several sources, but the original unicorn from the Indus River Valley civilization is a bull, most scholars agree. Others look to extinct sources such as a rhino of Central Asia instead of the Indian rhino. #FairytaleTuesday

The only appearance of a unicorn in a medieval Welsh legend is a surprisingly savage creature that attacks any human it finds and drinks lakes dry, killing all the fish. Peredur (the Welsh Sir Percival) slays the unicorn, but then discovers it's the pet of a fairy lady.

In #JapaneseFolklore 'The Cat Witch of Okazaki' is a tale about three travellers who stopped at a temple on their way home from a pilgrimage. They found a kind old lady called Osan living there who invited them to spend the night. While there, they witnessed something very... #FairyTaleTuesday 1/4

The Farmer and the Tanuki is a Japanese folktale that ends with a rabbit drowning a tanuki in a lake. This seems very cruel but it's actually done to avenge the terrible murder of a farmer's wife. #FairyTaleTuesday 'Rabbit Setting Fire on the Firewood Carried by Tanuki' - Yamada Ho_gyoku, 1835. 1/2

In #JapaneseFolklore the hero Kintaro was raised by a Yama Uba (mountain hag). Many tales portray yama uba as terrifying #yokai who often to kill their victims, but to Kintaro she was a loving mother who nurtured him as he developed his supernatural strength. #FairyTaleTuesday Kitagawa Utamaro

In some Japanese folktales the villain is a type of #yokai known as yama uba, which can be translated as mountain hag or witch. In one tale the yama uba pretends to be the grandmother of two young children in order to lure them to her home. Once there she... #FairyTaleTuesday #DontGoIntoTheWoods 1/2

Unique to Ireland is the Morrigan, the Phantom Queen, the crow goddess of fate, prophecy, and battle. She is oft depicted as three in one, making three sisters into a single goddess. Her warcry is death; her forms are many, her prophecy fatal. #FairytaleTuesday

: Mikadze

In a Welsh legend, Prince Llywelyn of Wales came home to find his baby son missing and his dog Gelert covered in blood. Believing Gelert had eaten the baby, Llywelyn killed the dog. Then the baby was discovered alive; the blood had been from a wolf Gelert had killed to save him.
Gourlay Steell

There is a tale from #JapaneseFolklore about a man named Gonzaburo who played the flute. One year his mother disappeared after some terrible flooding. He searched everywhere for her, playing his flute as he went. Unable to find her he jumped into the river in despair and... #FairyTaleTuesday 1/2

Contrary to popular belief, Yule does not take place on the winter solstice: traditionally it took place on Midwinter Night, the second full moon of winter, between January and February. Yuletide refers now to the holiday season, an even wider range #FairyTaleTuesday

HolgaJen

In #JapaneseFolklore there is a tale about Shippeitaro, a dog who helped a warrior defeat a terrifying bakeneko (yokai cat) that was terrorising a village. The brave dog hid in a box until the bakeneko appeared, then leapt out and tore it to pieces. #FairyTaleTuesday #yokai 1/2

In #JapaneseFolklore there is a tale of Momiji, a powerful kijo (demon witch #yokai) who disguised herself as a princess. In the end she is defeated by the samurai Koremochi. Her name translates as maple leaves and the story takes place in autumn. #FairyTaleTuesday #JapaneseArt 1/2

Folklore read live!

A terrifying story about an unusual parasite from Arthur Conan Doyle (the Sherlock Holmes guy!)

The Folklore Hallowstreams conclude LIVE right NOW: https://youtube.com/live/ottht_cYvSI

Jack was a cunning soul, barred from Heaven but denied by Hell because of a bargain he made with Satan: thus forced to wander Earth eternally, he took hellfire and put it in a turnip: thus were born Jack's Lanterns, or Jack-O-Lanterns. #FairytaleTuesday

: J. Ukropina

The animal most associated with vampires in Eastern European folklore is the wolf. Vampires became linked with bats only after blood-drinking bats were found in the Americas. This link was further enhanced by horror movies, as bats were easier to fake than wolves.

Unique to Ireland is the Morrigan, the Phantom Queen, the Crow goddess of fate, destiny, prophecy, and battle. She is oft depicted as three in one, three sisters as a single goddess. Her warcry is death; her forms are many, her prophecy fatal. #FairytaleTuesday

: Mikadze

Folklore read live!

Is Grandma going to Rest in Peace?
Or feast on the neighbourhood?

The Folklore Hallowstreams continue LIVE right NOW: https://youtube.com/live/LQr_AmULA-I

In Swedish folklore, mylings are the restless spirits of children abandoned or killed by their parents during difficult times. These tragic ghosts haunt the places where they died, crying out for peace or revenge. Some latch onto travelers, growing heavier with every step until they are taken to consecrated ground for a proper burial. A haunting reminder of sorrow and guilt from past tragedies, the myling’s eerie cries are said to be a bad omen for those who hear them. #FairytaleTuesday