In Wales, October 31 is a magical night when ghosts, fairies, and all manner of supernatural creatures may be encountered.
On this special Halloween podcast episode, join Mark Rees ( author of Ghosts of Wales/ Paranormal Wales etc.) as he goes in search of the secret origins of Nos Calan Gaeaf, the Welsh Halloween.
In the early 1900s a pioneering American author from New England published what is considered to be the first history of Halloween, and by using that as our starting point for the spookiest day of the year we will uncover:
All of these questions and more will be explored in this special Halloween episode of the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast!
Halloween in Wales: 5 special episodesOctober is the Halloween takeover month on the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast, and this is the third of five stand-alone specials.
For a full list of episodes check out the Halloween Specials podcast page.
What is Nos Calan Gaeaf?In Celtic times, each day began at sunset.
October 31 - Nos Calan Gaeaf in Welsh, the night before Calan Gaeaf - marked the beginning of winter, and while it was a time for celebration, it was also a time of great foreboding and apprehension.
For more about Nos Calan Gaeaf, be sure to subscribe to the Ghosts & Folklore podcast which will be focusing on the festival all through October, and check out the book The A-Z of Curious Wales for lots more weird and wonderful facts.
What is the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast?Join Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales/ Paranormal Wales etc.) as he explores the weird and wonderful history of Wales.
The world’s first podcast dedicated to Welsh ghost stories, folklore, myths and legends, GHOSTS & FOLKLORE OF WALES combines Mark’s research and insights from his books and articles with long-lost tales from some ancient tomes into a truly unique podcast experience.
New episodes are uploaded every Thursday, and feature everything from real-life encounters with pesky poltergeists to the fantastical beasts from the Mabinogion,
Be sure to subscribe, and for more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit:
EP123 Unexplained Mystery of the Noisy Ghost: When a poltergeist strikes a Welsh beauty spot locals are baffled by the paranormal activity. Explore the lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP122 Ghosts, Ghosts, Ghosts: Three real-life uncanny ghost stories inc. a ”most haunted” fence & dark adventures with a deadly death omen. Explore the lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP121 Devil in Disguise; or, the Domain of Demons: An evil spirit battles the local exorcist in a lonely Welsh church. Explore the Gothic lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP120 Crazy Lore of the Fairy Folk: Folklore so bizarre it could actually be true? Defend yourself from the Welsh fairies/ y Tylwyth Teg, vampires & demons on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP119 The Deadly Ghost Train & Other Death Omens: Dare you ride the haunted locomotive? Eerie real-life accounts of paranormal prophesies. Explore the lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP118 Haunted Mansions; or, A Ghost Tour through the Garden: A quartet of uncanny adventures in Carmarthenshire’s ”most haunted” area. Explore the lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP117 May Day Magic & Madness: Weird & wonderful Beltane customs celebrate the arrival of summer in uncanny folk horror-like ways. Explore the lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP116 Sacred Fire of Beltane: Strange superstitions & magical rites of the May Day festival celebrated by the ancient Druids of Britain. Explore the lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP115 Welcome to Haunted Wrexham: A supernatural mystery sees uncanny spirits flock to a Welsh city in a case worthy of the Ghostbusters. Explore the lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP114 Crimes of the Changelings: Baby-stealing fairies swap children with their uncanny offspring. Can witchcraft & magic stop them? Explore the Gothic lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP113 Funeral Phantoms and Paranormal Portents: Death omens come in many guises, from eerie dark spirits to uncanny psychic visions. Explore the Gothic lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP112 Strange Skies and Shooting Stars: Weird Welsh lore of rainbows, meteors, comets, moon, witches and more. The heavens are uncanny! Explore the cosmos on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP111 Ghosts of Gwent: Haunted houses, castles, trees and wells in the Welsh county. Paranormal activity from Newport to Newcastle! Explore the Gothic lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP110 Frightful Female Fairies of the Fog: The Gwyllion are weird and uncanny fairy apparitions that haunt the Welsh mountains at night. Explore the lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP109 Paranormal Mysteries of the Haunted Houses: Three ”real life” Welsh hauntings to baffle the most experienced of ghostbusters. Explore the Gothic lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP108 CHRISTMAS FOLKLORE QUIZ Fiendish festive challenge starring: Chris Carra, Mari Lwyd, Welsh witches & Gothic New Year traditions! Explore the lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP107 Welsh Ghost Stories for Christmas: Is it Santa or a spirit? There’s poltergeist activity and uncanny footsteps in paranormal Cardiff. Explore the lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP106 Dark Folklore of Death Omens: Phantom Funerals - The Welsh ’toili’ are an uncanny paranormal procession that proceed a burial. Explore the Gothic lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP105 Paranormal Power of the Sun and Moon: Explore the lore with: death omens, Welsh dragons, witchcraft, Christmas, Easter, druids, myths, history and more! - Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
EP104 Wales’ ”Most Haunted” Pub?: A Halloween investigation into paranormal activity at the Prince of Wales for Nos Calan Gaeaf. Explore the history & lore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
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