To the Future!

  Hello! I appologize for my absence in the past few months, but I promise that I have not been idle! In the next year I hope to begin writing my supernatural letters at least once or twice a month! I find myself recently conflicted with a different schedual than when I first started this journey, hence the lack of time to write about my beloved supernatural superstitions and creatures. I hope to see many of you in the coming year and bring with me a fresh collection of oddities and traditions that might catch your interest. In the mean time, however, I must keep this letter short as time is of the essence (and the cost of postage is expensive). For this reason I bid you a Happy Holidays (most of which I realize I have already missed, I appologize most sincerely) and a Happy New Year!

       Until the new year,  

              The Friendly Steampunk

Superstitions - Herbs

  Greetings, my dear friends! Much time has passed since I last wrote, and my what an adventure that time has been! One thing that I thought I would share with you was a peculiar book that I found in the back of an oddity shop near where I was staying last. "Cassell Dictionary of Superstitions" is its title, and it was collected and compiled rather smartly by a Mr. David Pickering. I was flicking through the pages when I found a fascinating entry on Opals, the birthstone of those born in October. Unfortunately, I plan to save what it has to say on the gem for a later letter, but I did find another intriguing handful of facts on superstitions which sealed my mind as to buying the book for myself. Later, when I had the time to read the pages more properly, I noticed that there were many plants and herbs of interest which I had not thought to consider before, therefore I will share some of these with you so as to be educational, as well as to memorize them myself (I have included page numbers incase should you ever come across the book yourself and wish to look up more about these herbs).

Mistletoe [173-174, Pickering] - Fortune or Fallen?

  I thought it would be appropriate to start with this peculiar plant because it will be much adorned during the upcoming Christmas season. The superstitions that surround this plant, as with any other superstitions, are quite various and bring to question modern behaviors associated with the evergreen. Quite unpopular with Christian churches throughout history for its pagan origins, mistletoe was actually barred from churches. Yet despite this it was allowed to be carried to the altar at York Minster in medieval times and was let to remain there throughout the Christmas season as a symbol of the general pardon that was then in force. And although kissing under the mistletoe is commonplace today, the tradition did not originate until Saxon times. During that era a man was believed to have the right to demand a kiss from any woman who passed beneath the branch, no matter how purposely or accidentally their path may have brought them there. Until recently, the men plucked a berry from the branch with each kiss. When the branch was bare no more kisses could be claimed.

  Once Christmas is over some people insist on burning the mistletoe on the grounds that if it is not burned on Twelfth Night the couples who kissed under its leafy branches are fated to quarrel before the year is out. Others, however, believe that keeping the bough carefully in place until the next Christmas can preserve its luck-giving traits.

Yarrow [292, Pickering] - The Judge of Hearts

  This herb comes by a variety of names throughout different regions of the world as well as throughout history, but the most commonplace for it today is yarrow. Yarrow, with its long stalky stems and clusters of flowers, is thought to safeguard one's luck and repel witches if carried on one's person. Yet sleeping with a portion of the herb underneath one's pillow is thought to bring the sleeper dreams of his or her future partner. To establish whether a current lover is true, a yarrow seed is pushed into the enquirer's nose in the hope that it will cause the nose to bleed - if it does not, the lover in question is unfaithful. And whilst carried at a wedding it will ensure that the newly-weds remain faithful to each other for at least seven years.

Birch [32, Pickering] - Witch Repellent

  Asides being among the more ideal of woods to stake a vampire, birch trees have their fair share of history with witches as well. Putting birch springs in places where witches are said to convene will oblige them to hold their covens elsewhere, and adorning this branch to livestock will similarly protect the animals from any baleful influences. As with vampires and millet seeds, planting a birch next to a front door will prevent the witch from entering until she has counted all of the tree's leaves (for a very determined witch, I myself would suggest the more trees the better). The tree must not be allowed to touch or overhang the house, however, as this will only bring sickness and bad luck to those within. To some people, the birch tree continues to be treated with healthy respect, and it is recommended that any persons passing beneath such trees should cross their fingers to be on the safe side.

Basil [22, Pickering] - The Very Edible

  This tasty herb is one that I myself have found to be very popular with the more exotic birds that I have happened to come across, and I carry it on my person mostly for the purposes of being eaten. However, in superstition this plant has far more purpose than simply being eaten. To the Greeks the herb is a symbol of hatred and bad luck, whilst to the Italians it is considered a token of love. Hindus, meanwhile, believe that a leaf of Basil placed on a corpse will help the spirit of the person to reach Heaven. Yet still elsewhere the plant is said to give birth to scorpions.

  Ah, this will be a fascinating book to give a thorough read! Perhaps after I have read a little more I will share my findings once again. On a sadder note, however, I must conclude this correspondence as I have been called away from my pen and paper once again. The game is afoot!

       Until quieter times,  

              The Friendly Steampunk

Credits to Google Images for the picture

Credits to Sir David Pickering for the material from which this post was based on

Jure Grando

Jure Grando - The Prophet Magician

  Hello again my dear friends! I cannot believe that it has been so long since my last letter! This last year has taken me on a wild goose chase from Italy to the old Silk Road, China and back again. I had uncovered sufficient data to believe that something of supernatural importance was lost on that road all those years ago, and I am still searching as of yet. But I'm sure you'd be interested in that story at a later time. For now, I have another 'beastling' that I think you will find far more interesting. I will keep this letter as short and as informative as I can without losing too much detail for I am at the moment writing by the ever fading sunlight. No, I have been misfortunate enough to forget my lamp along with my luggage. Ah, the adventure of traveling...
  Jure Grando may seem quite an ordinary name to those who have not heard tale of this "sorcerer," yet I have found recently in my travels that it is quite a significant name when it comes to the supernatural world - the vampire end of the supernatural world, that is. Apart from Count Dracula himself, Grando is the oldest vampire that I have had the fortune to research, living from 1579 to roughly 1656. Yet for 16 more years he terrorized the people of his town.
  Originally from a village in Istra, a region of modern Croatia, Grando's post-1650s appearances earned him the name "štrigon" from his fellow townsfolk. Although the word may not exactly mean vampire when translated to English, it has a definition more similar to sorcerer, which brings me to one of the most intriguing characteristics of this particular legend. For the 16 years that Grando haunted the village, he was reported to be knocking at the doors of villagers. Within the next few days, someone from that house would die.
  The tale of how the villagers dealt with this entity and how Grando's 16 years came to an end are not stories to be listened to by the light-hearted or the children. They aren't, quite frankly, very pretty tales. It would be delicate enough to say that the man was quite literally relieved of his head. But, unless you really wish to hear the details, I think that will suffice. When steaking fails...
  Ah, enough of this darkness, I must find a place to stay. The sun disappears so quickly in the autumn, and I've not yet acquired lodgings. And my luggage... Bah! I've left my inks in my luggage! Just my luck, and when I am running out of pencil too!

       Until I retrieve my luggage,  

              The Friendly Steampunk

Credits to Google Images for the picture 

Haunted Victorians

  Hello dear friends, and welcome! Tonight marks a year since I first started writing these letters! In the next few weeks to come I hope to bring you more facts and creatures, but for now I have this small bit of information to convey.

Halloween Victorian Style!

Traditions

  While many today consider Halloween a child's holiday, this was not so in the 1800s. This holiday, originally of Celtic design, was celebrated by many adults, as well as the children of the age. Parties were an occasion to dress in costumes, as well as indulge in some light games and some dark magic. Popular parlor games involved hiding a ring, coin, and a sewing item into baked cakes - the ring meant you would be married, the coin meant good fortune, and the sewing item (such as a button) meant you would have plenty of time for sewing. If you found one of the items in your slice of cake you would have the future that was associated with the item.

  Another tradition which some may find disturbing was the burning of "witches" by Queen Victoria before she would start her lavish Halloween parties. Since this is a more uncomfortable topic to write of, I shall not elaborate on it. Thankfully, however, the Queen did eventually stop these yearly burnings of "witches."

Superstitions

  As to be expected, many Victorians were superstitious; and superstitions were only enlivened by the festivities of Halloween nights. One commonplace superstition at the time was the belief that if a young maiden were to enter a dark room at midnight and look upon a mirror, she would see not only herself, but the face of her future beloved. However, not all mirror gazing was so successful. If the spirits were irked or aggravated, the maiden would see only a skeleton, meaning that she would die alone.

Decorations

  It is only natural to wonder what places looked like in the past, before they had been touched by time. What if you could visit a Victorian house in all its splendour on Halloween night, before the stair railings have rusted and the paint has faded away? You would find a mixed variety of decorations, both depending on location and exact year of the particular Halloween. Turnips and pumpkins were popular objects to carve faces into, and could be sent or used as party invitations or decorations. Harvest centerpieces adorned the insides of homes while hanging apples and horseshoes decorated (and kept spirits out) of doorways. Bats, cats, witches and devils were also becoming more commonly associated with Halloween during this time as party hosts used these images to decorate their homes.

  Ah, what I wouldn't give to celebrate the holiday all year round. Imagine dressing up as a clown or a creature from one of Mother Goose's rhymes everyday. The fun would never end. But, alas, everything comes to a close - this letter being no exception. Good night to all, and a happy [late] Halloween!

       Until we next meet,  

              The Friendly Steampunk

Credits to Google Images for the picture