geologie – mineralen – fossielen – folklore
We hebben het altijd over de geologie van de aarde. Maar nu even een buitenaards uitstapje naar een voor ons belangrijk hemellichaam, de maan. De maan is onze dichtstbijzijnde buur in het zonnestelsel en staat 'slechts' 384.400 kilometer bij ons vandaan. Die afstand groeit ieder jaar met zo'n 4 centimeter, de maan komt dus steeds… Lees verder De Maan
Voor de Nederandse versie van dit artikel klik hier. The beautiful colour of the mineral garnet appeals to the imagination of people. Or rather, the mineral group garnet. For centuries people have seen the beauty of the deep red stones. It was also one of the first minerals I had as a child, a garnet… Lees verder Garnet
Voor de Nederlandse versie van dit verhaal klik hier. Midwinter, winter solstice. This time last year I wrote to you about the history of Yule and the pagan roots of what we now call Christmas. But winter is not just Yule. It is also the time of the Cailleach, the Celtic goddess of winter. The… Lees verder The Cailleach, Goddess of Winter
Voor de Nederlandse versie van dit verhaal, klik hier. It’s one of the most stereotypical pictures of witches and fortune tellers, the woman gazing into the crystal ball. The crystal ball has been known for centuries as an object to predict the future. Where does this believe come from? Last year I wrote a blog… Lees verder The Crystal Ball
Voor de Nederlandse versie van dit verhaal klik hier Hagstones ... a magical find for many. A piece of stone with a natural hole through it. Finding a hagstone or witch stone is special. A stone to which all kinds of magical properties are attributed. But what exactly is a hagstone? What is a hagstone?… Lees verder Hagstones
Voor de Nederlandse versie van het artikel klik hier Anyone who has ever walked on the beach, especially in southern England, has found flint. For most people not really a special, attractive or beautiful stone. Ok, sometimes they have interesting shapes or beautiful colours. But how ordinary this stone might be, no rock or mineral… Lees verder Flint
De Nederlandse vertaling van dit artikel vind je hier In England, midsummer or summer solstice is synonymous with Stonehenge and the midsummer celebration there with thousands of people gathering at the famous stone circle every year. In the early morning of June the 21st, they gather to see the sun rise over the so-called 'Heel… Lees verder Midsummer
Voor de Nederlandse versie van dit artikel klik hier. Quite some years ago, when I started to read about the history of Great Britain because I realised I loved that country, I often saw King Arthur's name in the books that I read. And he caught my attention. Who was this king and why did… Lees verder King Arthur in the South of England
Nederlandse versie van dit artikel door hier te klikken On the first of May Beltane was celebrated in pre-Christian Britain. The name Beltane is Gaelic. The oldest written sources date from the 9th and 10th century from an Irish writing that talks about Beltine, the fire (tine in Gaelic) of Bel. It is Samhain's counterpart, the… Lees verder Beltane
Voor de Nederlandse versie van dit verhaal klik hier. April 23rd is St George’s Day in England. The feast day (and in this case also the day of death) of Saint Saint George. The English are more English this day than you can imagine. Everywhere the English flag with the St George’s Cross can be… Lees verder St George’s Day, about dragons and dinosaurs. How mythology became paleontology.
Puffins and Pies 