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SAMHAIN

By far the best known Gaelic festival, Samhain marked the end of summer in Ireland, when assemblies were held and the cattle were brought to winter pastures. The traditional (though contested) date is usually given as November 1st, with festivities beginning at dusk on October 31st. Like with Bealtaine, the festival of Samhain is marked by bonfires and an emphasis on protection from Otherworldly forces. Syncretism with All Hallow's Eve resulted in many traditions involving the dead or the Daoine Sidhe roaming the lands on Samhain, looking to snatch away or otherwise harm those who did not observe the proper rites. As such, the wearing of disguises and the creation of charms were meant to ward away unwanted attention. Divination games were also common on Samhain, primarily concerning matters of love and marriage. Hiding trinkets such as coins or rings in plates of food and loaves of bread was the most popular method, although apples and hazelnuts were also employed. Samhain is also the setting for many of Irish mythology's most famous tales, especially stories of wooings and conceptions. Modern Scottish tradition associates Samhain with the Cailleach, the hag of winter, who rules over the colder months. The Brugh na Boinne was particularly associated with Samhain, and modern folklore describes it as the site of battles, feasts, and games carried out by the Daoine Sidhe on Samhain night. This piece features a deer skull to evoke the deer herd of the Cailleach and the traditions surrounding death, with crossed swords and the Brugh na Boinne for the Daoine Sidhe. Loaves of bannock and barmbrack, along with nuts and apples, encompass the culinary aspects of the holiday, and the quaich cup (a common sight at weddings) and divinatory trinkets hint at its more romantic overtones. Finally, bonfire flames, a carved tumshie lantern, and a parshell cross serve as charms to ward away Otherworldly dangers. Lá Fhéile Shamhna sona daoibh!

I see a lot of American cryptids and mythical creatures on here, so I thought I'd share some of my favourite creatures from here in Wales! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Afanc

A crocodile and beaver type creature. It lives in welsh lakes, and sometimes Conwy river. It's a demonic creature that eats anyone who swims in its home.

Ceffyl Dwr

Similar to the Scottish kelpie. It inhabits mountain pools and waterfalls. North wales lore says it's quite evil and foreboding, whereas south wales lore says it's quite a friendly creature. I'm north Walian so this is our version: It entices people to ride it and then evaporates mid air, so the rider falls to his death.

Llamhygin Y Dwr

The Water Leaper. It's a bat/frog/lizard hybrid. It lives in lakes and ponds, snapping fisherman's lines and eats livestock and fishermen.

Y Ddraig

The famous welsh dragon, featured on our flag. Legend says that Vortigen wanted to build a castle right where 2 dragons were said to be sleeping. When they started digging, they found 2 dragons fighting, one white and one red. The red dragon won.

Gwillgi

Similar to the English black shuck, gwillgi is a fearsome black dog who haunts rural welsh roads at night.

Coblynau

Gnome like fairy creatures, they live in Welsh mines. They help the miners find the rich veins of ore and other treasures by knocking.

Cyhyraeth

Similar to the Irish Bean Sidhe, y cyhyraeth is a disembodied moaning voice that foretells death.

Cath Palug

Palugs cat was an enormous cat that lived on Anglesey. It killed 180 warriors who were sent to kill it.

Adar Llwch Gwin

Griffin type creatures that were gifted to Drudwas ap Tryffin by his faerie wife. They understand human language and obey commands.

Cadair Idris

Translates to "Chair of Idris". Idris was a huge giant and this mountain was his chair. Legend has it that if you sleep on this mountain, you'll either wake a madman or never wake at all. I've actually been here, it's not far from my house.

Hope you enjoyed these few creatures from Wales!!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Moths

episodicDrawing on threadless

Everyday life of Pokemon

Animation by おしるこ | IG

Gotta say I'm loving this piece. I want to pet his wings lol

Mr. Steal yo girl. This was just supposed to be a sketch lmao

People say women are a minority; but in fact, it is men who are the smaller group.

More interestingly, men are not born as a minority – as for every 100 female births there are actually 105 male births.

But this male surplus doesn’t stay for long, as over the course of a life time, the number of men is slowly eroded away until the sex ratio shifts.

Yup, in adulthood there are only 97 American men for every 100 women.

So what happened?

Why do men experience higher mortality rates in every age group, and have an overall death rate 1.4 times higher than women?

Why has a problem, so large it literally alters the tectonics of a nation’s population, been so readily ignored?

Why are men’s higher mortality rates so often waved of with, “well that’s just the way it is!”

Perhaps… men are not the ubiquitously privileged gender you’ll hear described, but the disposable one?

I mean isn’t early death a bit more deserving of advocacy and investigation than women having too few pockets, or Babie’s super cool day out?

Are the solutions to men’s issues more serious and complex than social media coddling, and meagre calls for “talk” and male tears?

What about men’s early death?

How do we save our men and boys?

~

US Death Rate: https://www.statista.com/statistics/241572/death-rate-by-age-and-sex-in-the-us/

Population reference bureau: https://www.prb.org/resources/u-s-population-is-growing-older/

NIH Funding: https://orwh.od.nih.gov/sites/orwh/files/docs/ORWH_BiennialReport2019_20_508.pdf

The New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2586-men-die-young-even-if-old/

==

Holy shit. Men actually die from a birth majority into a living minority.

How is this not a huge thing, and why is everyone supposed to be so comfortable with it?

How are we supposed to take seriously the claim of society "privileging" men, when there's no greater privilege than being alive? With "empathy"/"anyone giving a shit" not far behind?

hello my hand is gonna fall off

tap for better quality!

Exams are over I am free!!

Okay, where do I get a space pony? Because this thing is adorable.

On This Day in Cryptid History  

November 14th: In an evening in 1974, on Bald Mountain, Washington, a fiery object was seen in the sky, and a week later, residents around the area reported a horse sized, green glowing creature. Supposedly the Men in Black were seen in the area as well.