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Ankou Township
Ankou (Breton: ''an Ankoù'') is a servant of death in Breton, Cornish (''an Ankow'' in Cornish), Welsh (''yr Angau'' in Welsh) and Norman French folklore. Background Ankou appears as a man or skeleton wearing a black robe and a large hat which conceals his face, or, on occasion, simply as a shadow. He wields a scythe and is said to sit atop a cart for collecting the dead, or to drive a large, black coach pulled by four black horses and accompanied by two ghostly figures on foot. According to one legend, he was the first child of Adam and Eve. Other versions depict Ankou as the first dead person of the year (though he is always depicted as a male adult), charged with collecting others' souls before he can go to the afterlife. In an alternate origin he was a cruel prince who met Death during a hunting trip and challenged him to see who could kill a black stag first. Death won the contest and the prince was cursed to roam the earth as a ghoul for all eternity. Sometimes he is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
La Martyre
La Martyre (; ''Ar Merzer in Breton'') is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France. Population Inhabitants of La Martyre are called in French ''Martyriens''. Sights The village of La Martyre has one of the oldest parish palisades ( fr), whose construction was undertaken between the 11th and 17th centuries. History The village owes its name to the assassination on 25 June 874 of King Salomon of Brittany, who had sought refuge in the village church. The church was called "la Martyre" (''Ar Merzher'', ''the Martyr'') after its desecration, and the name was taken up by the village. As for the king, he was canonised in 910 for his martyrdom and his virtues. In the Middle Ages, a prestigious tulle fair took place in La Martyre. In the 15th and 16th centuries this fair saw the most activity. Legend has it that the father of William Shakespeare used to frequent these fairs, which no longer take place. See also *Communes of the Finistère department *L ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Personifications Of Death
Death is frequently imagined as a personified force. In some mythologies, a character known as the Grim Reaper (usually depicted as a berobed skeleton wielding a scythe) causes the victim's death by coming to collect that person's soul. Other beliefs hold that the Spectre of Death is only a psychopomp, serving to sever the last ties between the soul and the body, and to guide the deceased to the afterlife, without having any control over when or how the victim dies. Death is most often personified in male form, although in certain cultures Death is perceived as female (for instance, Marzanna in Slavic mythology, or Santa Muerte in Mexico). By region Americas Latin America As is the case in many Romance languages (including French, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian), the Spanish word for death, ''muerte,'' is a feminine noun. As such, it is common in Spanish-speaking cultures to personify death as a female figure. In Aztec mythology, Mictecacihuatl is the "Queen of Mictlan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
French Folklore
French folklore encompasses the fables, folklore, fairy tales and legends of the French people. In the Middle Ages Occitan literature - were songs, poetry and literature in Occitan in what is nowadays the South of France that originated in the poetry of the 11th and 12th centuries, and inspired vernacular literature throughout medieval Europe. These early recorded songs, poetry and their highest development in the 12th century and includes the well known ''Songs of the Troubadours'': Songs of the Troubadours * Songs of the Troubadour - The songs, poetry and narratives of the troubadours, who were composers and performers during the High Middle Ages, flourished during the 11th century and spread throughout Europe from Southern France. Their songs dealt mainly with themes of chivalry and courtly love. Several established categories of poetry and song were: ** Canso or canson were songs concerning courtly love. **Sirventes songs covered war, politics, morality, satire, humor, and to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
European Folklore
European folklore or Western folklore refers to the folklore of the Western world, especially when discussed comparatively. The history of Christendom during the Early Modern period has resulted in a number of traditions that are shared in many European ethnic and regional cultures. This concerns notably common traditions based on Christian mythology, i.e. certain commonalities in celebrating Christmas, such as the various Christmas gift-bringers, or customs associated with All Souls' Day. In addition, there are certain apotropaic gestures or practices found in large parts of the Western world, such as the knocking on wood or the fingers crossed gesture. History Many tropes of European folklore can be identified as stemming from the Proto-Indo-European peoples of the Neolithic and Bronze Age, although may originate from even earlier traditions. Examples of this include the ‘Chaoskampf’ myth-archetype as well as possibly the belief in knocking on wood for good luck. The cul ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Breton Legendary Creatures
Breton most often refers to: *anything associated with Brittany, and generally **Breton people **Breton language, a Southwestern Brittonic Celtic language of the Indo-European language family, spoken in Brittany **Breton (horse), a breed **Galette or Breton galette or crêpe, a thin buckwheat flour pancake popular in Brittany **Breton (hat) headgear with upturned brim, said to be based on designs once worn by Breton agricultural workers Breton may also refer to: *Breton (surname) *Breton (band), a South London-based music group *Breton (Elder Scrolls), a race in ''The Elder Scrolls'' game series who are descendants of men and Elves *Breton, an alternative name for these wine grapes: **Cabernet Franc **Béquignol noir *Breton (company) *Breton, Alberta, village in Alberta, Canada See also *''Bretonne'', 2010 album by Nolwenn Leroy *Briton (other) *Brereton (other) *Bretton (other) Bretton may refer to: Places England * Bretton, Derbyshire * Bretton, P ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Breton Mythology And Folklore
Breton most often refers to: *anything associated with Brittany, and generally **Breton people **Breton language, a Southwestern Brittonic Celtic language of the Indo-European language family, spoken in Brittany ** Breton (horse), a breed **Galette or Breton galette or crêpe, a thin buckwheat flour pancake popular in Brittany **Breton (hat) headgear with upturned brim, said to be based on designs once worn by Breton agricultural workers Breton may also refer to: *Breton (surname) * Breton (band), a South London-based music group *Breton (Elder Scrolls), a race in ''The Elder Scrolls'' game series who are descendants of men and Elves *Breton, an alternative name for these wine grapes: **Cabernet Franc **Béquignol noir *Breton (company) *Breton, Alberta, village in Alberta, Canada See also *''Bretonne'', 2010 album by Nolwenn Leroy *Briton (other) *Brereton (other) *Bretton (other) Bretton may refer to: Places England * Bretton, Derbyshire * Bretton, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Death (personification)
Death is frequently imagined as a personified force. In some mythologies, a character known as the Grim Reaper (usually depicted as a berobed skeleton wielding a scythe) causes the victim's death by coming to collect that person's soul. Other beliefs hold that the Spectre of Death is only a psychopomp, serving to sever the last ties between the soul and the body, and to guide the deceased to the afterlife, without having any control over when or how the victim dies. Death is most often personified in male form, although in certain cultures Death is perceived as female (for instance, Marzanna in Slavic mythology, or Santa Muerte in Mexico). By region Americas Latin America As is the case in many Romance languages (including French, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian), the Spanish word for death, ''muerte,'' is a feminine noun. As such, it is common in Spanish-speaking cultures to personify death as a female figure. In Aztec mythology, Mictecacihuatl is the "Queen of Mictl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arawn
In Welsh mythology, Arawn (; ) was the king of the otherworld realm of Annwn who appears prominently in the first branch of the Mabinogi, and alluded to in the fourth. In later tradition, the role of the king of Annwn was largely attributed to the Welsh psychopomp, Gwyn ap Nudd - meaning "white" (i.e. 'winter') a possible kenning for his true name. However, Arawn's memory is retained in a traditional saying found in an old Cardigan folktale: :''Hir yw'r dydd a hir yw'r nos, a hir yw aros Arawn'' "Long is the day and long is the night, and long is the waiting of Arawn" The name Arawn is possibly analogous to the continental theonym '' Arubianus''. Role in Welsh tradition The Four Branches In the '' First Branch of the Mabinogi'', Pwyll mistakenly stumbles into the realm of Annwn and finds white hounds with red ears feeding on a stag. Pwyll chases the hounds off, only to learn that the hounds belonged to Arawn, ruler of Annwn. To pay for the misdeed, Arawn asks Pwyll to tra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brittany
Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period of Roman occupation. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duchy of Brittany, duchy before being Union of Brittany and France, united with the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a provinces of France, province governed as a separate nation under the crown. Brittany has also been referred to as Little Britain (as opposed to Great Britain, with which it shares an etymology). It is bordered by the English Channel to the north, Normandy to the northeast, eastern Pays de la Loire to the southeast, the Bay of Biscay to the south, and the Celtic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its land area is 34,023 km2 . Brittany is the site of some of the world's oldest standing architecture, ho ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Breton Language
Breton (, ; or in Morbihan) is a Southwestern Brittonic language of the Celtic language family spoken in Brittany, part of modern-day France. It is the only Celtic language still widely in use on the European mainland, albeit as a member of the insular branch instead of the continental grouping. Breton was brought from Great Britain to Armorica (the ancient name for the coastal region that includes the Brittany peninsula) by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages, making it an Insular Celtic language. Breton is most closely related to Cornish, another Southwestern Brittonic language. Welsh and the extinct Cumbric, both Western Brittonic languages, are more distantly related. Having declined from more than one million speakers around 1950 to about 200,000 in the first decade of the 21st century, Breton is classified as "severely endangered" by the UNESCO '' Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger''. However, the number of children attending bilingual classes rose 33 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anatole Le Braz
Anatole le Braz, the "Bard of Brittany" (2 April 1859 – 20 March 1926), was a Breton poet, folklore collector and translator. He was highly regarded amongst both European and American scholars, and known for his warmth and charm. Biography Le Braz was born in Saint-Servais, Côtes-d'Armor, and raised amongst woodcutters and charcoal burners, speaking the Breton language; his parents did not speak French. He spent his holidays in Trégor, which inspired his later work. He began school aged 10 at Saint-Brieuc and progressed swiftly to a degree at the Sorbonne, where he studied for seven years. He then returned to Brittany, where for 14 years he taught at the Lycée at Quimper and gradually translated old Breton songs into modern French, continuing the folklore work of François-Marie Luzel. He often entertained local peasants and fishermen in the old manor house where he lived, recording their songs and tales. His book, ''Chansons de la Bretagne'' ("Songs of Brittany"), was awarde ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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