Well, thanks to sailors, fishermen, marine biologists, submarine crews, and other explorers, we know a lot more about the sea and what’s in it than at any other time in history.  We have discovered underwater cities and sea life and shipwrecks.  We have found fossils, treasure chests, and planes that disappeared decades ago.  We have developed amazing things like sonar, radar, and underwater vessels to dive deeper and explore further.  But to this day, we have not reached the bottom of some of the deepest seas in the world and we haven’t discovered all there is to see in this vast underwater kingdom.

So, that means: where there is the unknown or a mystery, there is folklore!  Since the beginning of time, man has been connected to the sea.  For ancient man, the sea must have seemed very big and mysterious and scary indeed.  People eventually built boats and started sailing across these seas. They saw strange creatures jumping out of the water or bumping into their boats. They heard spine-tingling screeches on the wind or witnessed large shapes bobbing on the waves.  What could these things be?  Were they ghosts or monsters or gods?  

Well, since ancient man didn’t have any means to go deep under the sea to discover these answers, they had to find an explanation using what knowledge they had.  And that is where sea legends and folklore began.  People crafted stories and carved images to make sense of the sea.  Over time, these tales, myths, legends, and images spread around the world and became part of folklore on every continent.

And one of the earliest and most enduring tales of all time is that of the mystical mermaid.  Many people across the world can describe a mermaid: a beautiful creature, half woman/half fish, with long flowing hair and glittering scales.  And we know this because images of them have been carved into stone in ancient temples or sketched in books dating back centuries.  As far back as the 19^th century B.C., people believed that life came from – and started in – the sea. In the city of Babylon (which means “Gate of the Gods” and is now part of Iraq), people prayed to a half human/half fish sea goddess called “Atargadis” who was the ruler of life and fertility.  They carved her image on stone templates wearing a “mural crown” – a crown shaped like towers, walls, and fortresses instead of flowers, arches, and crosses like crowns that came later.  Sometimes she was carved with a human face on a fish body; other times as half human/half fish.  Atargadis was married to a god named Hadad and they were the gods who protected the city of Babylon.  Atargadis also ruled over the city’s religious and social life, as well as the creation of new life. 

But how did Atargadis come to have the form of a fish?  Well, one ancient myth states that the goddess originally had a human form but then drowned herself in a lake, thus turning into half woman/half fish.  She was ashamed for having fallen in love with a handsome man and giving birth to a baby girl – something that was, apparently, forbidden for divine, non-human goddesses.

Over the ensuing centuries, people traveled and traded with people in other cities and countries.  The myth of Atargadis spread throughout the Middle East and Europe.  The early Greeks, who had originally depicted their goddesses as birds with human faces, later changed their goddess images to mermaids.  

Thus, the mermaid legend grew and more tales blossomed.  Mermaids gained nicknames like “sirens” or “water nymphs.” Their image changed into dangerous sea maidens luring unsuspecting ships and sailors to their doom.  They were no longer the praised city protectors of the past.  But like the original goddess Atargadis, they still possessed magical powers and liked music and song.  Early sailors reported hearing strange sounds like otherworldly music on the waves and guessed it must be mermaids singing.  Who or what else could it be?  Today, we might suggest the sounds were coming from pods of whales.  But since the ancient sailors didn’t know about whale communication or have sonar recording devices, they believed in singing mermaids instead.  However, unlike the goddess Atargadis, mermaids of legend were said to be mortal.  The lived about 300 years, had no soul, and eventually turned into sea foam instead of going to heaven.  

And since mermaids were depicted as beautiful creatures, it was assumed they must be vain.  Artists painted beautiful scenes of mermaids lounging on rocks surrounded by objects of vanity, such as hairbrushes, combs, and mirrors. Myths soon popped up stating that if a human captured and hid these mermaid objects, the mermaid would become human and could be tricked into marriage.  However, if the mermaid found the hidden objects, she could transform back into a mermaid and return to the sea.  

Perhaps because of these myths of humans stealing the mermaid’s items, luring them into human form and marrying them, mermaids then gained the reputation for spitefulness against humans. Tales stated that, if provoked, mermaids could cause floods, storms, or other sea disasters.  A mermaid spotted during a sea voyage was considered an omen of shipwreck. Other legends told of mermaids luring men into the water where they drowned or were forced to live under the sea forevermore, never returning home.  Some myths, however, stated that mermaids could also show compassion.  If something nice was done for them, such as rescuing them from a net, they could bestow gifts or blessings.

And it wasn’t just rum-soaked sailors who reported seeing mermaids out to sea.  Famous explorer Christopher Columbus reported seeing mermaids while sailing in the Caribbean.  Today, we might guess he saw manatees instead, which can nurse their young like female humans and, from afar, can look to have a human face.

Mermaid folklore was still going strong in 1837, when Danish author Hans Christian Anderson wrote a book called, “The Little Mermaid” and it became an instant classic.  Approximately 150 years later, Walt Disney made a film by the same name, popularizing the mystical mermaid for a new generation of children worldwide.  

Today, you can see mermaids depicted on modern day coat of arms, including those in Britain, Warsaw, and Germany, as well as the University of Birmingham.  However, if you see a mermaid with a serpent tail, two fish tails, or wings, it is called a Melusine and is very common in French folklore.

So, now we know about mermaids, but what about mermen?  Well, mermen are not as common in folklore as mermaids and they can either be shown as handsome or grotesque.  The legend of the merman started in Babylon and became connected with the sea god Ea, the god of water, wisdom, culture, and civilization.  He was also the creator and protector of man and the world.  However, some state that the merman legend refers to Ea’s servant.  Ea was shown as half man/half fish, while some images show him as a man wearing a fish robe.

Later the Greek myth of Triton was born.  Triton was a sea god and the son of Poseidon.  Poseidon had a human form, but Triton was half man/half fish, holding or blowing a conch shell.  Sometimes he held a three-pronged trident.  He lived in a golden palace at the bottom of the sea with his parents and acted as Poseidon’s messenger.  Triton was called both a mighty and dreadful sea god and could blow his conch shell so loudly that it raised or flattened waves and scared away mythical giants. He was said to have green hair and blue skin with barnacles on his mighty shoulders.  However, around the 1500’s several artists started depicting Triton with a fish tail, man’s body, female’s chest, devil’s horns, and thick legs with webbed feet.  People started calling Triton a “sea devil,” “sea monster,” or “sea satyr.”   That was not a good time for the mighty sea god!

And speaking of Greek myths, there is a legend about another merman name Glaucus who started life as a human fisherman.  He noticed that when he caught fish, they would struggle to get back into the water when he placed them on the grassy shores.  Glaucus thought that the grass must give the fish special

powers, so he ate the grass.  He then had an overwhelming desire to jump into the sea and never return.  The sea gods under the waves heard his wish and turned him into a sea god just like them, and Glaucus never returned to land.

Various Scandinavian countries, including Iceland and Norway, have legends about mermen with black hair, long beards, and dusky skin with a man’s torso and a fish tail.  One British folklore writer stated her opinion that mermen were “often uglier and rougher in the British Isles” although how she came to this conclusion is unknown.  In Irish folklore, a merman named Coomara is depicted as a hideous creature with green skin, hair, and teeth, slitted eyes, and a big red nose.  And in Cornish folklore there is a merman named Bucca with hair of seaweed and the skin of an eel who looks for offerings of fish left along the shore.  

Mermen tales can be found around the world, including Europe, China, Japan, Greenland, Canada, and even the Amazon.  

Today, mermen are depicted in comics, movies, and films as handsome, strong, and courageous, such as in the TV show, “Man from Atlantis” and the super hero movie, “Aquaman.” They are featured in the popular game, “Dungeons and Dragons” and in the hugely successful “Harry Potter” movies where merpeople live in a lake near Hogwarts.

So, what do you think about the legends of mermaids?  Do you know of any legends where you live?  If you could have one special power as a mermaid or merman, what would it be?

The post History of Mermaids: Myth, Mystery and Legend for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

But let’s leave all that behind.  Not everyone in the middle ages was a king, knight, or royal maiden. Most people– and by that I mean almost everyone– were very, very poor. And it’s a legend passed around by these poor peasants that we’re interested in today. 

So instead of imagining a grand castle with battlements and a drawbridge, let’s venture into the depths of Sherwood forest, where Robin Hood and his companions, the Merry Men, live and plan their raids. But, as you probably know, these are no ordinary criminals. The legendary Robin Hood was an outlaw, but he wasn’t in it to make himself rich. Instead, he stole from the rich and gave to the poor. His run-ins with the sheriff of Nottingham, his arch-nemesis, bring excitement and danger to the many tales of daring and bravery, while his relationship with the Merry Men and Maid Marion showcases teamwork, friendship, and generosity. 

But was there a real Robin Hood? And why have the legends of this green-clad crusader against injustice stayed so popular for over 700 years? Let’s go a little deeper into Sherwood Forest and see if we can find some answers! 

It turns out, the real Robin Hood is hard to find in those shadowy woods. Historians in the 14th and 15th centuries wrote about him as though he was real, describing a man who lived sometime in the 12th or 13th century. Later stories say he was a loyal supporter of the noble King Richard the Lionheart, and defended the king against Prince John, who seized the throne. But this alliance with King Richard was suggested by a much later writer, who lived in the 18th century, rather than anyone alive closer to the 1190s when he ruled. Also, Richard probably wasn’t as noble as these later Robin Hood legends suggest, and John probably wasn’t as evil. 

But in addition to history books, there were also plenty of songs and plays based on the legendary outlaw by the time the historians began to take notice. May Day festivals often included plays about Robin Hood. But it’s the songs, called ballads, where we find most of the Robin Hood legends we’re so familiar with today. A ballad was a folk song that told a simple story. They were performed by and for common people in many different settings in medieval England: At taverns, public markets, and fairs and festivals. 

Ballads were part of an oral tradition – stories passed around among friends, or from grandparents to grandchildren, generation to generation, over a long time. Ballads just happened to be set to music. Different performers might change things around or add new elements, so they weren’t really “written” by any one person. Most people didn’t know how to read or write in the Middle Ages anyways, so ballads were an important way to keep treasured stories alive. Over time, people forgot which parts were real and which weren’t, and the stories became legends.

At the time, people loved the idea of a hero who stood up against injustice and challenged authorities. Most people in medieval England were, after all. Most of them worked as farmers on land owned by royalty or the church. These people were called serfs, and they weren’t free to just get up and leave to seek a better life elsewhere. They had to farm the same land their parents and grandparents had farmed, for a wealthy baron or the church. But these peasants saw the grand castles and manors that the landowners lived in, the decadent foods they indulged in, and the fine clothes, and compared it to their own meager houses and rough clothes. 

So it’s no wonder Robin Hood became the hero of many a folk ballad, sung by these unfree peasants who worked the land. He strived to even things out, taking from the wealthy and giving the spoils to those who had almost nothing. In some medieval legends, Robin Hood is himself a commoner, a peasant, who goes against the system. In others, he started as one of those noblemen, but after seeing how the poor farmers on his estate lived, decided to devote himself to the cause of making their lives better.

Whatever Robin Hood’s personal history, wealthy, powerful people don’t always want to give up their wealth so that the poor can have a better life. Plus, what hero is complete without a villain? Robin Hood’s most persistent foe in the legends was the Sheriff of Nottingham. A greedy, cunning official, the sheriff had it out for Robin Hood, always devising schemes to capture him and his band of Merry Men. But Robin Hood always outwitted the sheriff, often besting him at his games. In one of the most famous ballads, the sheriff puts on an archery contest, with a silver arrow as the prize. The contest is designed to lure Robin Hood, who has a reputation as a skilled archer, into a trap so the sheriff can arrest him. But Robin disguises himself and wins the contest anyway. In some versions, he even splits another contestant’s arrow right down the middle! Later, he shoots a note–attached to an arrow–into town, boasting to the sheriff about how he had tricked him. 

Another thing every hero needs when he goes up against the bad guys is allies – a band of friends to help him through tough situations and keep his spirits up when things seem hopeless. Robin Hood’s Merry Men filled this role perfectly. Friar Tuck, Little John (said to be seven feet tall!), and Will Scarlett, to name a few, helped Robin with his schemes and disguises. Like Robin himself, we’re not sure whether most of these people were real, but many of them seem to be inspired by real people – mostly outlaws, though not always as charitably inclined as the Merry Men of the ballads!

But the love of Robin’s life was the Maid Marion. Though she’s always in modern movies and books about Robin Hood, she wasn’t in the earliest ballads and legends. But when she shows up in a 17th-century ballad, she makes a strong impression – on Robin as well as audiences! In this story, Marion disguises herself as a boy to search for Robin in the forest. But when she finds Robin, he’s also wearing a disguise, and instead of a happy reunion they get into a fight:

They drew out their swords, and to
cutting they went,
At least an hour or more,
That the blood ran apace from bold
Robins face,
And Marian was wounded sore.

“O hold thy hand, hold thy hand,” said
Robin Hood.
“And thou shalt be one of my string,
To range in the wood with bold Robin
Hood.
And hear the sweet nightingall sing.”

Fortunately, in the end Robin Hood is so impressed by his opponent’s swordsmanship, that he asks to stop the fight (“Hold thy hand”) and offers “him” a spot in his band of Merry Men, saying “be one of my string.” In other stories, Marion has very different roles: sometimes, she’s a noblewoman, sent off to marry the evil Prince John, rival of Robin Hood’s ally King Richard, and Robin must rescue her. In other accounts, she’s equal to any of the Merry Men–fighting alongside the rest of the crew, helping with Robin Hood’s mission to steal from the rich and give to the poor. 

In modern times, Robin Hood hasn’t lost any of his popularity. There have been countless novels, comic books, TV shows and movies about him since the middle ages. Movies range from the swashbuckling 1938 film “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” to the animated Disney version where Robin Hood and Maid Marion are portrayed as adorable foxes. Countless novels have been written over the years focussing not just on Robin Hood himself, but members of his outlaw band and especially Maid Marion. 

Whichever version of Robin Hood you prefer, the legendary outlaw stands for many of our most deeply held values. He’s loyal to his friends, brave in the face of injustice, and kind to those in need. I definitely don’t recommend stealing from anyone, but you can follow Robin’s example in any one of these areas. Even without breaking the law, doing the right thing can be uncomfortable, and doesn’t always make you popular. The world will always need people who are loyal, brave, generous, and kind – people who will do the right thing even if it means getting in trouble now and then.

Sources

https://www.boldoutlaw.com/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Robin-Hood

https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/robin-hood

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/medieval-times/european-middle-ages-and-serfdom/a/serfdom-in-europe

https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/738/the-adventures-of-robin-hood/#overview

The post The Legend of Robin Hood for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

The next day dawns bright and cold and the sea has calmed.  It is November 1^st, the first day of the new year and the official start of the winter season. The father rises and grabs a slice of bread with bacon and cold goat’s milk before heading outside and up the grassy hill to the pasture.  He meets his neighbor at the pasture and they start counting and corralling the sheep that have been grazing on the land all summer. The men whistle and yell, driving the plump beasts down the hill towards the warm and waiting stables. By midday, all the sheep are settled in their wooden stalls with bales of hay for feasting.  The men grab bowls of porridge at the house before walking down the dusty road into town to their landlord’s office.  They need to pay the lease on their lands for another year of farming and sheep grazing.  Next, they stop at a nearby pub for hot ale before heading home to their families.

Inside the homes, women and children talk excitedly.  All day they have been preparing hot soups and meats, fruits and vegetables, for the night’s celebration.  It is the festival of Samhain and the town has been buzzing in anticipation. Evening slowly descends and town folk gather for hearty dinners spread on low tables.  An array of roasted meats, vegetables, potatoes, and soups send wafts of tantalizing aromas into the air.  Everyone gathers around the table, sitting on thick bundles of straw.  They dive excitedly into the feast, laughing and telling tales, both old and new.  Some even break into tender songs of legend and lore – tales of loved ones lost in the mists of time and lovely maidens of the sea.  

Soon, the men gather once more in town, then climb the nearby hillside to light bright yellow bonfires.  The flames dance and swirl on the frosty air, sparking and jumping higher as more logs are added to the fire.  Women and children don thick sweaters and colorful masks made of clay, cloth, leaves, and twine.  They join the men on the hill, laughing and dancing and howling into the wind.  They recite fables and sing songs, making as much noise as possible to scare away evil spirits.  Tonight, all sorts of strange things roam the night: fairies and goblins, witches and demons.  It is also the night that the ghosts of those who have passed come back to visit or those who have died during the year travel to the great beyond.  Masks are worn to ward off any unwelcome apparitions.  No one wants to be recognized by a witch or a hobgoblin – or followed home!  People grab heavy wooden sticks and poke them into the bonfire, walking home with blazing torches to light their hearths for the long winter ahead.

Shortly thereafter, the local soothsayer – or fortune teller – comes to the family’s house for some hot drinks and food. Wrapped in a frayed shawl, the old woman settles her weary bones into a wooden seat next to the fire.  Her wrinkled skin and white hair glow in the firelight. She closes her eyes and calls to the spirits.  Sometimes she simply looks at some crushed tea leaves in the bottom of a cup.  She is said to have the gift of divination – the ability to tell the future – who will marry, who will be healthy or ill, and who will depart in the months ahead.  This year, the news is good.  All in the home will enjoy good health and a bountiful harvest next fall.  The old woman smiles and slowly shuffles out the door to visit the next home on this dark and chilly night.  Samhain has been a special day full of family, food, and festivities.

A year or so later, the Romans invade this lovely Celt island and bring their own customs and traditions with them, such as the festival of Feralia. They hold celebrations to honor Pomona, the goddess of the harvest, as well as their departed loved ones.  They make offerings at family graves in the form of wreaths, grain, salt, bread soaked in wine, and violets.  

And so it goes. The years tick by and the customs continue. The dead are honored and feasts are held every November 1^st.  Then, in 7 AD, Pope Boniface IV decides it is time to throw away the old pagan traditions of roaming spirits and scary hobgoblins.  He proclaims a new holiday, All Saints’ Day, to be held on May 13th to honor Catholic saints in heaven instead of magical fairies and devilish demons. But traditions and customs change slowly; they don’t happen overnight just because a ruler – or a pope – declares it so.  Eventually, by the following century, the celebration of All Saint’s Day is moved to November 1^st to try to merge it with the Celts’ holiday and hopefully take it over completely. It is then declared that the evening before this new All Saints’ Day, or October 31^st, is a holy night to be known as “All Hallows Eve” or “Hallowed Eve” – which later becomes “Halloween.”  

More years pass and by the Middle Ages the pagan – or non-religious – rituals and the saintly celebrations have merged. On “Hallowed Eve,” some people, such as those in Britain or of the Protestant faith, celebrate the harvest but do not acknowledge the saints. The Catholics honor the saints but deny the pagan beliefs in witches, ghosts, and goblins.

Thus, when the first pilgrims from England sailed to America in the 1600s and later the Irish in the 1800s, they brought their customs and beliefs with them, including Halloween.  These early settlers didn’t celebrate the religious aspects of “Hallowed Eve,” such as honoring the saints, but rather celebrated the harvest and held feasts. Over the years, these Halloween traditions grew and evolved in America.

Today, many people still gather at this time of year every fall, but instead of lighting bonfires or enjoying big meals on the night of November 1st, they have incorporated new twists on old customs.  In the United States and other places around the world, children still wear masks at night but they do it on October 31^st, “Halloween,” instead of the Celts’ new year of November 1^st.  They carve pumpkins (instead of turnips like their ancestors) and bob for apples – maybe as a nod to the goddess Pomona and a bountiful fall harvest.  They walk the streets and beg for candy, similar to their ancestors who allowed the poor to beg for food called “soul cakes.” Children now wear elaborate costumes instead of just masks and dress as things their ancestors tried to scare away – witches and goblins, ghosts and fairies. Some dress as skeletons, not realizing that this harkens back to the Celts centuries ago who would gather around blazing bonfires to send dearly departed loved ones on their way or welcome older ancestors home.  Feasting today is mainly for children in the form of mounds of candy instead of fruits and vegetables.  Some may play tricks on neighbors, acting as little “devils” or “demons” roaming the night just as their ancestors feared many centuries ago across the wild and raging sea.

So, what do you think of the Halloween holiday? Did you know about the old Celt traditions that started it all?  What do you like to do on Halloween and what are your favorite costumes?  Do you display witches, skeletons, and ghosts in your home or do you honor another tradition of your faith?  If you enjoy feasting instead of scary celebrations, what is your favorite food to eat during Halloween?

I think it is amazing how customs follow us down through the centuries and change over the years as people travel to new places or grow in their beliefs. 

The post Story of Halloween for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

It is October and Fall has slowly and silently crept in on chilly breezes and frosty nights.  Stealthily, inch by inch and degree by degree, Mother Nature has lowered the temperature and darkened the nights.  Dusk descends quickly at this time of year and people scurry home from school and work, wary to be caught outside in the gathering gloom. Their imaginations run wild: And some of the most popular images – besides skeletons, witches, and ghosts – are cats and crows.  But why?  What made them so popular – and so dreaded – at Halloween?  let’s dive right in and find out!

First, we must study various cultures and their beliefs.  Cats were actually a symbol of the divine, worshipped by the ancient Egyptians as reincarnations of the Goddess Bastet, a powerful protector.  Their images were carved on walls temples and obelisks.  They were admired, honored, and adored.  Entire cities were erected in honor of cat deities, believing they protected the citizens from scary scorpions and slithering snakes.  However, everything started to change as Christianity took hold around the world.  Roman Emperor Theodosius I made the decree in 391 CE that all pagan worship was to be banned.  Cats were no longer worshipped thereafter, but at least they were liked and tolerated.  Slowly they became basic household pets throughout Egypt and Europe.

Further abroad in Ireland, the ancient Celts had their own magical cat.  They believed in a spirit called “Cat Sith” or “Fairy Cat.”  This spirit was said to take the form of a large black cat with a white patch on its chest.  They believed that if you left a saucer of milk out for Cat Sith, you would receive good luck, whereas if you did not, Cat Sith would send bad luck to your home.  

Two other legends about Cat Sith also come from the nearby lochs of Scotland, where it was believed that Cat Sith could steal souls from those who had passed.  The Scots believed that they must watch over bodies awaiting burial so that Cat Sith would not steal the souls before they were greeted by the gods and taken to the afterlife.  Night watchers would make loud noises to scare away Cat Sith and they would not light a fire so that Cat Sith would not be tempted to creep near to warm his body.

A second Scottish legend states that witches can turn into cats and they can do so eight times.  If a witch switches into a cat a ninth time, she stays a cat forever.  This legend is probably where the belief originated that cats have nine lives. 

So, now we see a connection between cats, witches, and tall tales.  

And just as the ancient Celt festival of Samhain eventually turned into Halloween based on the declaration of a pope, so did a pope turn the simple cat into a scary devil.   In 1233, Pope Gregory IX and Pope Innocent VIII wrote that cats were associated with devils and witches and should be banned.

And if that weren’t enough, a belief spread that any woman who was seen with a cat must be a witch because it was rumored that cats carried the spirit of witches.  Both cats and women accused of being witches met terrible ends.  And due to the decline in the cat population from these actions, the rat population grew.  Fleas on the rats quickly spread diseases like the Black Plague.  But instead of blaming the plague on fleas and rodents, people blamed the witches.  If only people had kept cats around, history might have turned out quite differently!

Well, soon these European citizens crossed the ocean and settled in America – and they brought their beliefs with them – including those of black cats and witches – which culminated in the famous Salem Witch Trials of 1692-1693.  Thankfully, after these unfounded trials and accusations, the belief in witches and evil black cats declined and slowly dissolved into the mists of time. 

Then around the time of World War II in the 1940’s, the black cat’s fate turned once again and they were depicted in images of Halloween – but this time as symbols of good luck!  Why?  Well, trick-or-treating had become popular and it was believed that a black cat by your door protected you against the arrival of evil spirits – just like the ancient Egyptian cat goddess and protectress Bastet!

Luckily, cats are adored as funny and rambunctious house pets today.  They are the rulers of the household – as anyone who has a cat will attest – and they keep the home free of spiders and bugs, reptiles and birds.  They also cause a lot of mischief and merriment, unrolling toilet paper rolls, swatting items off desktops, and banging their dinner bowls in indignation if you are too late or too slow with their meals. 

So, how did crows and ravens become associated with Halloween?  Well, that’s a bit more complicated.

Crows and ravens – known as corvids – are, by nature, intelligent scavengers and often dine on the carcasses of animals.  This activity has been recorded by man through the centuries and put into myth, legend, artwork, and text.

Archeologists have found cave paintings from 15,000 years ago in France and Spain depicting crows sitting on posts next to graveyards.  Their meaning is unclear.  Are they waiting for dinner or are they waiting to take the departed spirits to the afterlife?  Either way, they are sitting in a spooky graveyard.

In Germany, it was believed that ravens could locate the souls of the departed, while the Welsh believed that a single crow signaled that death was near.  The Welsh also believed that sorcerers and witches turned into ravens and flew away, thus avoiding capture.

All these beliefs about crows and death, sorcerers and witches, were swirling in Europe when the Black Plaque struck between 1347-1352.  Plague doctors started wearing masks shaped like long crow’s beaks. They stuffed these masks with herbs to try to ward off the disease while treating patients.  People saw these scary crow masks and soon associated crows with illness and death.

And with all customs and beliefs, they made their way across continents.  Soon these myths and legends took hold in America and spread through villages and mountain hamlets.  Based on these old myths, people in America’s Appalachian Mountains started to predict the future based on the number of crows they saw: single or small numbers of crows meant health, wealth, or good luck, while larger numbers meant illness or death was near.  

The American Poet Edgar Allen Poe wrote a famous poem in 1845 called “The Raven” and a line in the poem calls the crow “a thing of evil” and seems to foretell a miserable and heartbroken life ahead for the main character.  Once again, the crow was portrayed as an evil and gloomy omen.

However, I would suggest that crows and ravens are actually very intelligent birds and creative problem solvers.  They can watch a man or creature crack a nut, dig a hole, open a can, or do some other activity and learn to do it himself.  They can recognize people and faces and can form attachments – or aversions – to specific individuals.  Additionally, they are nature’s creative “clean-up crew,” eating scraps of meat, rodents, and waste, thus eliminating harmful fleas, germs, and diseases from the environment.  

What do you think about cats and crows?  Has this history changed your mind about them?  If so, in what way?  Do you have a pet cat or do you have crows in your neighborhood?

I think cats and crows are a wonderful part of our ecosystem and have an important role to play not just in Halloween tales but in real life by keeping us safe from disease-carrying rodents and fleas. 

The post History of Black Cats and Crows of Halloween appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Imagine it’s Halloween evening and you’re out in your neighborhood trick-or-treating with your family and friends. It’s dark but all of the homes have their lights on, meaning they are welcoming you to stop by and ask for a treat. All of the kids you pass on the streets are wearing costumes and some of the adults, too. You enjoy seeing the variety of costumes. Some are cute and some are scary! You see someone dressed up as a vampire, and someone else as a mummy. You recognize these as classic monsters, the ones most people know about. But do you know the history of these classic monsters? Where do they come from? How they came to be?

Count Dracula

Let’s start with Count Dracula, who became the most famous vampire, Many, many years ago in the 1400s, there was a real person named Vlad III. He was a prince from a place called Wallachia, which is now part of modern-day Romania. Vlad III was not the kind of prince you wanted to mess with, especially if you were his enemy. This gave Vlad the reputation of being very dangerous.

Now, let’s fast forward to the late 1800s. A writer named Bram Stoker wrote a book and named it “Dracula” and created the character Count Dracula. He published his novel in 1897 and this book is where the legend of the vampire truly began. In Bram Stoker’s story, Count Dracula is a vampire who can transform into a bat, sleep in a coffin, and has sharp pointy teeth called fangs. But remember, this is just a story, it’s all fiction which means it isn’t real, just make-believe.

After Bram Stoker’s book, Count Dracula became a movie, the first one in 1931 starring Bela Lugosi. Many movies about Dracula were made after this, each movie added its own twists to the story.

But Dracula isn’t always portrayed as a terrifying monster. In the movie “Hotel Transylvania,” he’s a funny and friendly vampire who runs a hotel for monsters and their families. He’s a loving dad and a good friend. This version of Dracula is perfect for kids.

Today, Count Dracula is still a popular figure. You might see him in Halloween costumes, decorations, and even in cartoons. People love dressing up as Dracula with capes and fake fangs for a bit of spooky fun. But remember, it’s all pretend! Vampires like Dracula are creatures of fiction, and there’s nothing to fear in real life.

Count Dracula is a fascinating character with a history that stretches back hundreds of years. He’s been scary and silly, but no matter how he’s portrayed, he’s a legend in the world of literature and film.

Frankenstein

Next up is Frankenstein. The tale of Frankenstein begins in the early 19th century with a young woman named Mary Shelley. Mary was staying at a vacation home with some friends and one evening they were sitting around a fireplace telling ghost stories. Mary envisioned a monster that was made up of different parts, invented by a scientist and inventor named Dr. Frankenstein. She was only 18 at this time. Later, she turned the ghost story into a full novel called “Frankenstein” about the monster she created.

In the book, the main character, Victor Frankenstein, is a scientist. He becomes obsessed with creating life from lifeless parts. In his laboratory, Victor brings together body parts from different sources to create a creature. But things don’t go as planned, and the creature turns out much different than Victor expected.

Here’s the twist: The creature Victor creates isn’t evil from the start. He’s misunderstood and lonely. Imagine being brought to life and having nobody to talk to or guide you! The creature tries to find friendship and connection but is met with fear and rejection from humans.

Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” became incredibly famous and was even turned into a play in London. But Frankenstein’s monster really became a superstar when he appeared in movies. The classic 1931 film starring Boris Karloff introduced the design of the monster we know today with bolts in his neck and flat head.

In recent years, Frankenstein’s monster has appeared in various movies, TV shows, and books. These modern versions often explore themes of science, ethics, and what it means to be truly alive.

One of the cool things about “Frankenstein” is its connection to science fiction. Victor Frankenstein’s experiment explores themes of science and ethics, making us think about the consequences of our actions and how we treat others.

So, there you have it! “Frankenstein” is more than just a scary monster; it’s a timeless story that makes us think about science, humanity, and what it means to be truly alive. When you encounter Frankenstein in books or movies, remember that there’s always more to the story than meets the eye. It’s all about exploring big ideas and having a bit of spooky fun along the way! Also, if you want to listen to a full episode about Mary Shelley and Frankenstein, be sure to look up the Bedtime History episode.

Werewolves

Have you ever heard of Wolfman or Werewolves? These tales date back to ancient times when people told stories around campfires. In these stories, humans could transform into wolves during full moons. Imagine having the power to become a wild animal!

One of the most famous legends is the idea that a person becomes a werewolf only during a full moon. This idea became widely known in European folklore. People believed that those bitten by a werewolf or born on a certain day could turn into these creatures when the moon was full.

Werewolves appeared in folklore from many parts of the world, including Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Each culture had its own unique twist on the story. Some portrayed werewolves as fierce monsters, while others saw them as people with a special connection to nature.

Werewolves made their way into movies in the early 20th century. In the 1941 film “The Wolf Man,” Lon Chaney Jr. became the Wolfman we recognize today. With his furry face and long claws, he became the face of the werewolf in Hollywood.

In recent years, werewolves have appeared in various movies, TV shows, and books. “Teen Wolf” and “New Moon” as part of the Twilight Trilogy are two modern examples. These films often explore themes of identity, transformation, and the struggle between human and animal instincts.

At its heart, the werewolf legend often teaches us about the duality of human nature—the struggle between our civilized selves and our primal instincts. It reminds us that we all have a bit of “wild” within us.

Mummies

Next up is mummies. Mummies are not just monsters; they have real-life origins dating back thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians were the masters of mummification. They believed in an afterlife and wanted to preserve the bodies of their loved ones for eternity. So, they developed a special process to keep bodies from getting old. This whole process was part of religious rituals, and mummies were often placed in beautiful tombs along with treasures for the afterlife.

Mummies didn’t start out as monsters in our stories. It wasn’t until the 1800s that mummies began to appear as spooky creatures in books. Writers like Bram Stoker (who wrote “Dracula”) and Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes) started to include mummy tales in their stories.

One popular idea linked to mummies is the “mummy’s curse.” It’s believed that disturbing a mummy’s tomb or removing it from its resting place would bring bad luck to those involved. While this idea is mostly fiction, it adds an exciting twist to mummy tales.

Mummies became famous movie monsters thanks to films like “The Mummy” (1932), starring Boris Karloff. In these movies, mummies would come to life and often seek revenge. Over the years, mummy movies have ranged from spooky to action-packed.

In the real world, scientists have discovered and studied mummies found all around the globe. These mummies have taught us a lot about ancient civilizations, their customs, and even their health. It turns out that not all mummies are spooky; some are like time capsules from the past.

The story of mummies reminds us of the rich history and culture of ancient civilizations. While they might appear scary in movies, real mummies are an incredible source of knowledge about our shared human history. Embrace the adventure, and who knows what secrets you might uncover along the way!

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The first thing you’ll notice is the massive stone walls that seem to blend perfectly with the natural landscape. Once you step inside the walls of the palace, you find yourself in a place that feels both ancient and mysterious. The city is made up of stone buildings and terraces that are carefully arranged in a way that makes you wonder how they were built without modern tools. The buildings have no roofs, which means you can look up and see the drizzly sky above you.

Everywhere you turn, there are stunning views. Lush mountains stretch as far as the eye can see, and you see the winding Urubamba River far down below. Next, you spot one of the most fascinating parts of Machu Picchu, the Intihuatana Stone, which is like a giant sundial. On one of the terraces you also see a pack of llamas. These adorable animals turn and look at you in a friendly, curious way. 

Truly, visiting Machu Picchu is like entering a real-life fairy tale. It’s a place that sparks your imagination and fills you with a sense of awe. The history, the stunning views, and the unique atmosphere have made it a truly unforgettable experience. 

If you listened to our episode last week, we learned all about the rise of the Inca Empire and the construction of Machu Picchu. Now let’s dive into how it was discovered and became the treasured tourist destination that it is today.

In 1831, a child named Hiram Bingham III was born to Clara Brewster and Hiram Bingham II in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Binghams were the children of Protestant missionaries who had journeyed to the islands to teach the native people their religion. Growing up, Hirma’s parents were very strict. He really struggled with this because his favorite stories were of adventure and troublesome kids like Huckleberry Finn. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was one of his favorite books and wished for a life of adventure like one of his heroes. He wanted to explore the world but felt like he was stuck on the island and with parents who wanted him to live a very traditional life and get a very traditional education.

When he was 12, Hiram and a friend hatched a plan to leave home and travel to Africa. He took $250 of his savings out of the bank and headed to the port to set sail to the United States. From there he’d travel to New York and then Africa! Unfortunately, the boat didn’t leave on time and Hiram’s father found out about the plan. As you can imagine, he was not happy! Hiram stayed in Hawaii until he was 16 until he got his chance to leave and study at Yale University and later Harvard. He eventually became a professor in Latin History and later married and continued to teach. But something inside Hiram still longed for the life of adventure he dreamed of as a child reading about his hero, Huck Finn. 

In 1908, Hiram Bingham traveled to Peru, South America to meet with other professors for work. There, someone told him a story about a lost Incan. Hiram was intrigued! He wondered if the story was about the lost city of Vilcambamba. During his trip, he did some exploring and took pictures of ruins, and started writing about his time in Peru, hoping that someday he could return and find this lost, mysterious city from the stories. 

By 1911, a few years later, Hiram Bingham had assembled a team of experts and enough money to make the return trip to Peru to find the lost city of Vilcambamba. He made great sacrifices, such as selling family property in Hawaii, to pay the $12,000 dollars for the trip, and leaving his family at a difficult time. But he was determined to make a great discovery that would put his name in the history books! 

Hiram and his crew sailed from New York to Lima, Peru, and got to work trying to figure out the location of the lost city. He interviewed people and studied maps and journals of Spanish priests and others who might have clues about the location of the city. From Lima, they traveled to the city of Cuzco, where in the last episode we learned about Pachacuti, the great king who once ruled the Inca Empire. In Cuzco, Hiram met a man named Melchor Arteaga, who said he knew the location of the lost city and could take Hiram and his team there. 

After a five-day journey through the jungle, Hiram, Melchor and his team arrived at a village at the base of the mountain. The weather was bad, making the mountain wet and slippery, but Hiram paid Melchor enough to convince him to take him up the mountain. They climbed up through the rain and mists and mud, sometimes on their hands and knees, and soon reached the mountaintop. The ruins were in view! There was something to the stories about this city. They found a family who were living and farming the terraces of the mountaintop. The family gave them water to drink before Hiram set about exploring the area further. Hiram hiked around and found more walls and more elaborate stone architecture. A temple, a palace, and aqueducts. Hiram didn’t know it yet but this was Machu Picchu, the ruins of Pichacuti’s mountaintop palace! He took pictures of the ruins and notes of everything he observed before climbing back down the mountain to his awaiting team. 

Hiram, still wanting to find the lost city of Vilcambamba, continued to explore the area – and did find a city of ruins overgrowing with vines and plants. He didn’t realize it at the time but it was Vilcambamba, but Machu Picchu was even more amazing and he was very excited to share his discoveries with the world! 

After returning home, Hiram wrote about his adventures in Peru. He quickly became known around the world for his discoveries and returned again the next year to explore the area deeper and take more pictures. The team also began to uncover more of the buildings. They dug and found pots and jewelry and gold and skeletons, which helped them better understand the life of Pachacuti and the Incas. Many of these artifacts were removed from Machu Picchu and taken to Bingham’s university to be put on display. One hundred years later, these artifacts were rightfully returned to Peru for its people to appreciate.

After Hiram’s later visits, National Geographic printed pictures of the Machu Picchu and people all across the world were able to appreciate the magnificent mountaintop palace. Since that time, Machu Picchu has become one of the most famous archeological sites in the world. In 1948, Peru built a road leading closer to the ruins and also made it a national park. This has helped it to become one of the most visited locations in the world. Since Hiram’s time, more archeologists and scientists have visited the mountaintop palace to learn about the people who lived there. And currently, around 2,000 tourists visit Machu Picchu every day!

The Story of Machi Picchu is one of the skilled, hardworking, and ingenious people who were able to engineer and construct such a magnificent site. Also, it’s a story of an intrepid professor, much like one of my favorite movie characters, Indiana Jones, who followed his childhood dreams and discovered an ancient city for the world to enjoy!

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As you step closer, you see that the water is shimmering with a golden glow, and you feel a strange energy running through your body. You dip your hand into the water and take a sip. You feel a wave of youthfulness and health wash over you. Your skin feels tighter, your joints less painful, and your mind clearer than it has been in years. Yes, you’ve found it! The one and only, fountain of youth!

The story of the Fountain of Youth has been told for many years in cultures around the world. The legend suggests that there is a magical fountain that has the power to restore youth and health to those who drink from it.

The story of the Fountain of Youth has captured the imagination of people around the world, and many have tried to find it, but no one has ever been able to locate the spring or even prove that it’s real.

So where did this story come from, and why did people believe in it? Let’s explore these stories and find out!

The story of the Fountain of Youth can be traced back to ancient times. The Greeks believed in a mythical spring, which was said to be located at the end of the world when it was believed the world was flat. The Greek god of the sun, Helios, had a son named Phaethon, who once drove his father’s chariot too close to the Earth and set it on fire. As punishment, Phaethon fell into a river, where he was transformed into a swan. The river became known as the River of Forgetfulness. It was believed that if you drank from the river, you would forget all your troubles – and also become young again.

The Greek Historian Herodotus in the 5th century BC was the first to write about the legendary Fountain of Youth. In his writings, he mentioned the Macrobians, a people who were known for their long lives. Some were even rumored to have lived for more than 120 years, which was quite unusual for that time. Herodotus thought that the Macrobians’ long lives were due to their diet, which was mostly made up of boiled meat and milk. When explorers asked how they lived to be 120 years old, they told an incredible story about a magical fountain.

They said that this fountain had special water that made their skin shiny and smooth like oil, and it smelled just like a beautiful violet flower. The water was so special that nothing could float in it, not even a feather or a leaf – everything sank right to the bottom! They believed that it was the special properties of the water from this fountain that made them live for so long.

In the Middle Ages, the Fountain of Youth was also related to the philosopher’s stone. The philosopher’s stone was a mythical rock that was also said to be able to make older people young again, live forever, and even turn metal into gold! For a long time, people thought that the philosopher’s stone was real. Later, it was used in other stories such as the first Harry Potte book, The Philosopher’s Stone, and the anime, Full Metal Alchemist.

It wasn’t until much later than the Greeks that the story of the Fountain of Youth became very popular. This was the time of the great Age of Exploration and Discovery when European explorers were sailing around the world in search of new lands and treasures. Many of these explorers believed in the legend of the Fountain of Youth and hoped to find it on their voyages.

One of the most famous accounts of the fountain of youth comes from a tale of Alexander the Great. In this story, Alexander and his army are traveling through a hot and dry land when they came across a land full of beautiful flowers and green meadows. There, they find the mythical fountain of youth, which was said to heal anyone who bathed in its waters four times a day. Alexander and his men met some old warriors who had bathed in the fountain and came out looking like they were much younger! The warriors explained to Alexander that they had lived for more than a hundred years and were now completely young and healthy. Alexander then decides to try the fountain for himself and was amazed at the results. When he returned to his men, he could hardly recognize the old warriors because they looked so young and strong.

The story of Alexander and the Fountain of Youth spread throughout Europe and became popular during the Renaissance, which was a time when people were fascinated by ancient myths and legends. Many explorers and adventurers, including the famous Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, searched for the hidden Fountain of Youth. These explorers hoped to find a way to make their own lives longer and stay young forever. 

Juan Ponce de Leon was a Spanish conquistador who was said to have accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World. He was born in Santervás de Campos, Valladolid, Spain, in 1474. He was appointed as the first Governor of Puerto Rico in 1509 by the Spanish Crown, and it was during his time as Governor that he became interested in finding the Fountain of Youth. Legend had it that when Ponce de León arrived in Florida, he met some Timucua Native Americans who told him about a spring that was located in a mythical land called Bimini. The legend said that the water from this spring had the power to restore youth and cure sickness when swallowed or bathed in. Ponce de León and his men searched for the spring but were never able to find it. He made many more travels to areas around Florida in search of the fountain but his search was unsuccessful. 

Because of Ponce de Leon’s travels, there’s a park in Florida where you can learn more about the history of the fountain! It’s called the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park and it’s in the city of St. Augustine, Florida.

The story behind the park is pretty fascinating. In 1904, a woman named Luella Day McConnell bought a piece of land in St. Augustine that she believed was the site of Ponce de León’s mysterious Fountain of Youth. She believed he’d actually found it! She began to create a park there, adding attractions such as a Spanish watchtower, an Indian village, and an actual spring that she said was the Fountain of Youth.

Luella also dug a well on the property. A well is a hole that is dug so deep that it reaches water far below the ground. She dug this deep hole and began selling water from it, saying that it had the power to heal and was the same water that Ponce de León had used when he was looking for the fountain of youth. She also said that she discovered a large cross on the property that had been put there by Ponce de León himself. People began to pay to come to see all of the amazing things that Luella had at her park and to learn more about the mythological Fountain of Youth. 

After Luella passed away, a man named Walter Fraser took over the park and made it even more popular. In 1934, archaeologists dug in the park and found something amazing: a religious Native American burial site, the Timucuan village of Seloy. The Timucua people lived in Northeast and North Central Florida and southeast Georgia from as early as 1100 CE. They were the largest indigenous group in that area and consisted of about 35 chiefdoms, many leading thousands of people. ​​ The dig site also pointed to the park being the location of the first Christian mission in the United States. This mission was started by Franciscan friars in 1587. Over the years, more and more items were found that proved the park was home to the Timucua people and the location of the first European settlement in North America. Today, the park has lots of interesting artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the Fountain of Youth and the people who searched for it. So if you’re ever in Florida and want to learn more about the Fountain of Youth, be sure to check out the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park!

As we’ve learned, many people have searched for the fountain throughout history, hoping to find its magical waters that could grant them eternal youth and life. But perhaps the real fountain of youth is not a physical place or object, but something that comes from within us. Maybe the key to staying young at heart is to embrace our sense of wonder, keep learning, and never stop exploring the world around us. So, let’s remember to stay curious, stay adventurous, and always keep searching for your own inner, fountain of youth. 

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