Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees

A Ghost Story for Christmas Eve; or, Festive Spirits at the Inn: Real-life hauntings at a Welsh town’s “most haunted” pub (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP28)

There is a Welsh pub which is said to be haunted by many ghosts, which range from the good old "lady in black" to a "headless cavalier."
They are, for most part, seemingly harmless enough, but on Christmas Eve a more troublesome phantom - a pesky poltergeist, you might say - has been known to cause mischief at the Castle Hotel in Neath.
This spirit - of the supernatural variety, rather than the alcoholic - has been reported on more than one occasion, and by multiple witnesses.
What is causing such a commotion on what should be a holy night, when nothing stirs, not even a mouse?
For some answers - and probably even more questions - please join your host Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales etc.) for a special festive episode of the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees.
Merry Christmas / Nadolig llawen! 
Christmas on the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast
Christmas is a magical time for Welsh folklore and ghost stories, and every Thursday during December there'll be a new special episode of this podcast dedicated to a festive subject.
These include such folkloric favourites as the Mari Lwyd, a haunted pubs and even a magical Christmas tree.
Be sure to check out each episode on December 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 - yes, there'll even be new episodes of Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve!
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:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees
Ghosts of Wales

Mari Lwyd, the Welsh Christmas “Ghost Horse”: The secret history of the bone horse, a curious custom where a horse visits for beer & cake (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP27)

The Mari Lwyd is arguably the most well-known character in Welsh folklore.
But why do people carry a horse's skull door-to-door late at night, and challenge their neighbours to a battle in verse?
In a similar way to Krampus, the Central European "evil Santa", and Gryla, the Icelandic troll, this curious Christmas custom fascinates people around the world.
In this special festive episode of the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast, author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) goes in search of some long-lost answers in the Welsh folklore archives.
He looks at:
What happens if the Mari Lwyd gains entry to your house, and how can you pacify it?
Does the skull hide a much darker meaning, and could it really be known as the Grey Death?
What connection does it have with Christianity and the Virgin Mary?
Are its origins linked with ancient Celtic beliefs in death and rebirth?
And most importantly - does it really terrify people just to get beer and cake?
Merry Christmas / Nadolig llawen! 
Christmas on the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast
Christmas is a magical time for Welsh folklore and ghost stories, and every Thursday during December there'll be a special episode of the podcast dedicated to a festive subject.
There include such folkloric favourites like the Mari Lwyd, haunted pubs where the spooks make an appearance every December 24, and even a magical Christmas Tree.
Be sure to check out each episode on December 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 - yes, there'll even be new episodes of Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
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:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees
Ghosts of Wales

Ghost Hunting in Wales’ “Most Haunted” Places: Cymru Paranormal explore the spookiest Welsh locations to uncover real paranormal activity (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP26)

What is it REALLY like to go ghost hunting in Wales' "most haunted" places?
To find out, Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales) caught up with fully-trained paranormal investigators Cymru Paranormal to learn not just how to track down the paranormal, but how to do it ethically. 
What are their scariest experiences? What equipment do you need for an overnight vigil? Do they use Ouija boards? And is it anything like the ghost-hunting TV shows and spooky movies that we see on our screens?
For some of the answers - and even more questions - listen to the latest episode of the Ghosts & Folklore podcast!
What is the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast?
In early 2020, Mark Rees launched the world’s first podcast dedicated to Welsh ghost stories, folklore, myths and legends.
By combining Mark’s research and insights from his books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes, this weird and wonderful podcast takes a unique look at countless curious subjects.
New episodes are uploaded every Thursday, and feature everything from real-life encounters with pesky poltergeists to fantastical beasts from the Mabinogion and the skulled-headed Christmas favourite herself, the Mari Lwyd.
Be sure to subscribe, and for more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees
Ghosts of Wales

The Secret Islands of the Faeries: Y Tylwyth Teg, King Arthur, and the Welsh fair folk who haunted forests and secret isles (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP25)

Welsh folklore tells us that the fairy folk of Wales can be traced back to the times of King Arthur.
But what connection do they have with the legendary island of Avalon, and why are they called y Tylwyth Teg in Welsh?
Join Mark Rees (author of "Ghosts of Wales"/ "Paranormal Wales" etc.) as he explores these questions and more in this episode of the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast.
Do you believe in the fairy folk? Listen to this podcast before making your mind up!
What is the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast?
In early 2020, Mark Rees launched the world’s first podcast dedicated to Welsh ghost stories, folklore, myths and legends.
By combining Mark’s research and insights from his books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes, this weird and wonderful podcast takes a unique look at countless curious subjects.
New episodes are uploaded every Thursday, and feature everything from real-life encounters with pesky poltergeists to fantastical beasts from the Mabinogion, 
Be sure to subscribe, and for more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees
Ghosts of Wales

The Cursed Room at Cardiff’s Millennium/ Principality Stadium: A hex plagued teams until a Welsh artist-turned-exorcist intervened (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP24)

Can the changing room of a sports stadium really be jinxed? And did it really cause team after team to continuously lose important games?
That's exactly what was claimed to be happening at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, when more than 10 English football league teams in a row (along with a few rugby teams) lost major games after being stationed in the dreaded south changing room.
The odds that so many teams could miss out on the glory of winning the FA Cup, league cup and promotion finals were starting to look increasingly unlikely, and when they went beyond 8,000/1 it was decided that something had to be done.
In order to exorcise the curse, stadium chiefs turned to an unlikely kind of exorcist - the world's richest painter.
Yes, the world's richest painter was drafted in to save the day and to work his magic with a paint brush, rather than a cross and the Bible.
Did it work? All is revealed on episode 24 of the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast!
What is the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast?
In early 2020, Mark Rees launched the world’s first podcast dedicated to Welsh ghost stories, folklore, myths and legends.
By combining Mark’s research and insights from his books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes, this weird and wonderful podcast takes a unique look at countless curious subjects.
New episodes are uploaded every Thursday, and feature everything from real-life encounters with pesky poltergeists to fantastical beasts from the Mabinogion, 
Be sure to subscribe, and for more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees
Ghosts of Wales
 

Guy Fawkes Night: Bonfire Night in Wales—folklore, ghosts, and the celebration of Noson Guto Ffowc after Nos Calan Gaeaf (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP23)

Guy Fawkes Night: The folklore, ghosts, history and traditions
Remember, remember, the fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot!
On this episode, Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales/ Paranormal Wales etc.) is joined by storyteller Owen Staton to discuss Guy Fawkes Night in Wales.
Because while Halloween might be a few days behind us, there's still time for another autumn festival with bonfires and fireworks.
Together they explore:
How is Noson Guto Ffowc, as Bonfire Night is known is Wales, celebrated?
Why do people burn effigies, and who else was burned besides Guy Fawkes?
Should it really be called Guy Fawkes Night, or is there a more suitable name?
Do the ghosts of the plotters still walk their old haunts today?
All of these questions and more will be explored in this Guy Fawkes special episode of the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast.
Halloween in Wales: 5 special episodes
October was the Halloween takeover month on the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast, and all five specials are now available for your listen pleasure.
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:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees
Ghosts of Wales

Halloween Special – Ghosts of Wales Live!: Ghost hunting Wales’ “most haunted” spots with Mark Rees, Cymru Paranormal and Owen Staton (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP22)

Ghosts of Wales Live - A Halloween Special: A paranormal podcast party for Nos Calan Gaeaf
How are you celebrating Halloween this year?
Do you fancy some ghost hunting, but don't where to start? Or maybe you want to visit a haunted pub, but need some tips and advice? Or maybe you're just looking for a good spooky book to read?
Then this is the podcast for you!
On this extra-long Halloween edition, author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) will be talking about his new book Paranormal Wales, and some of his favourite "most haunted" Welsh places, with some very special guests.
What is "Ghosts of Wales - Live!"?
Every Halloween - or Nos Calan Gaeaf, as we say in Wales - Mark hosts a paranormal party at a different location called "Ghosts of Wales - Live!"
With a varied line-up of special guests, there are ghost stories, paranormal investigations, and plenty of spooky surprises along the way.
Sadly, hosting a live event in 2020 isn't really an option, so this year we're doing something even better - hosting a paranormal party on the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast instead! 
That means, for the first time ever, everyone can join in and listen, wherever you are in the world. The events are usually sell-out affairs, but not on this scale - this is the first time it has truly gone global!
Special guests include storyteller Owen Staton and paranormal investigators Cymru Paranormal. Press play for more!
 
Halloween in Wales: 5 special episodes
October is the Halloween takeover month on the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast, and this is the fourth 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:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees
Ghosts of Wales

Spooky Halloween Folklore and Traditions of Wales: Nos Calan Gaeaf, Welsh Halloween—Gothic ghost stories, witches, and eerie death omens (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP21)

Halloween Folklore and Traditions of Wales: How to celebrate Nos Calan Gaeaf, the Welsh Halloween
Join cultural adventurer Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales/ Paranormal Wales etc.) on this journey in search of the curious, dark, and at times macabre history and folklore of Nos Calan Gaeaf, the Welsh Halloween.
One of three spirit nights, it was a time for fun and festivities, but also a time of apprehension, and to beware the supernatural creatures abroad.
On this episode we will explore:
The Gothic lore involving the wind blowing over the feet of corpses.
The significance of seeing well-dressed apparitions appear in the parish church.
How to celebrate in the traditional Welsh manner with ghost stories and fairy tales around a giant log fire.
The return of the dreaded Hwch Ddu Gwta, the terrifying black sow.
How you can predict who will die in the coming 12 months.
And how to protect yourself from the witches who takes to the skies on Halloween.
All of these questions and more will be explored in this Halloween episode of the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast.
Halloween in Wales: 5 special episodes
October is the Halloween takeover month on the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast, and this is the fourth 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:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees
Ghosts of Wales podcast

Halloween in Wales: Discover Nos Calan Gaeaf, Welsh All Hallows’ Eve, with Druid bonfires, ghosts, goblins, witches, fairies and pixies (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP20)

Halloween in Wales: The secret history of Nos Calan Gaeaf
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:
The role the Welsh Druids played in shaping Halloween.
How witches transformed people into standing stones.
The fairies, pixies and ghosts lurking at the dark crossroads.
The dreaded Hwch Ddu Gwta, a terrifying supernatural pig that chased merrymakers home after the witching hour.
How huge bonfires were lit during harvest festivals long before the arrival of Christianity.
How to predict who will die in the coming year on All Hallows' Eve.
And the really important questions - could young girls really predict who their future husbands by throwing a knife into a field of leeks after dark?
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 episodes
October 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:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees
Ghosts of Wales podcast

The Jack-O’-Lantern of Wales: Halloween terror in Welsh forests—discover the dreaded ghost of Nos Calan Gaeaf (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP19)

The Welsh jack-o’-lantern is far more terrifying than some carved pumpkin. 
While the image of a grinning orange vegetable might be a modern-day staple of Halloween, in Wales it was traditionally carved from a swede and was known as Jack y Lantern.
This "dreaded ghost" was thought to be a diabolical form of corpse candle that would lure lonely travellers away to a fate worse than death in the dark forests at night, and it could even be working in conjunction with the hobgoblins, fairies, or even the Devil himself.
In this eerie episode of the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast, MARK REES (author of Ghosts of Wales/ Paranormal Wales etc.) recalls a long-lost real-life encounter from the archives in which a "respectable" man encounters a Jack y Lantern one dark lonely night.
In this case he lives to tell the tale, but then he returns to that haunted spot a second time to confirm that his eyes were not deceiving him, and that's when things get even spookier...
Halloween in Wales
October is the Halloween takeover month on the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast, and this is the second of five stand-alone specials.
For a full list of episodes check out the Halloween Specials podcast page.
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 apprehension.
For more about Nos Calan Gaeaf, be sure to listen to the Ghosts & Folklore podcast all through October and check out The A-Z of Curious Wales.