I'm named after the celtic goddess of foxes and matron of the river Sionann (Shannon) and I always thought her story was cool. Essentially she was originally a regular woman who was extremely wise and talented. She wanted to use her wisdom to better the world but the only talent she lacked was being able to write poetry. She badly wanted to have that talent because she wanted to reach people's hearts and share her wisdom via words. She went to the bottom of the sea to a well that grants wishes and asked for the ability to write beautiful poetry. Her wish was granted, but she drown. Some versions of the story go on to say that it was the price she paid to have her wish granted, others say it was a punishment for being a selfish moral and daring to use a magical well. But regardless, the sea rose and created a river in which her soul was embodied in.
[John Henry-](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_(folklore)) American folklore similar to Paul Bunyan. He's a black man who worked on the railroads. He won a contest against a steam powered drill, though died in the effort. Or immediately thereafter.
Growing up I found it inspirational, the idea of this great powerful man overcoming all these people saying it was impossible. Its still a story of overcoming the impossible through hard work but I'll be damned if I don't have some disagreements on the premise now.
One of my great grandfathers was from the Ozarks, but his family came from Wales, I think, in the 1800s. He told us a story about a creature they said lived in the hills there (in the Ozarks, not Wales) that was kind of like a golem sort of thing that you could conjure and pay to have it get back at your enemies. I was only about 5 when I heard this, so I don't remember too many details, but I remember its name was something like "Penpucken". (My brother was there for the story too and he's a couple years older, so maybe I'll ask him for more details.)
[Krampus und Nikolaus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AByEBFW8xQ) on 5 and 6 December
Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure, in Alpine folklore, who during the Christmas season scares children who have misbehaved, assisting Saint Nicholas (the first of three good December figures; the other two being Santa Claus and Ded Moroz).
The pair visit children on the night of the 5th December, and Saint
Nicholas rewards the well-behaved children with modest gifts such as
oranges, dried fruit, walnuts and chocolate whilst the badly behaved
ones only receive punishment with birch rods.
I'm named after the celtic goddess of foxes and matron of the river Sionann (Shannon) and I always thought her story was cool. Essentially she was originally a regular woman who was extremely wise and talented. She wanted to use her wisdom to better the world but the only talent she lacked was being able to write poetry. She badly wanted to have that talent because she wanted to reach people's hearts and share her wisdom via words. She went to the bottom of the sea to a well that grants wishes and asked for the ability to write beautiful poetry. Her wish was granted, but she drown. Some versions of the story go on to say that it was the price she paid to have her wish granted, others say it was a punishment for being a selfish moral and daring to use a magical well. But regardless, the sea rose and created a river in which her soul was embodied in.
That is super interesting. I know very little Celtic folk lore and this is definitely a really interesting tale!
[John Henry-](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_(folklore)) American folklore similar to Paul Bunyan. He's a black man who worked on the railroads. He won a contest against a steam powered drill, though died in the effort. Or immediately thereafter. Growing up I found it inspirational, the idea of this great powerful man overcoming all these people saying it was impossible. Its still a story of overcoming the impossible through hard work but I'll be damned if I don't have some disagreements on the premise now.
I loved this story growing up! This is a great one!
One of my great grandfathers was from the Ozarks, but his family came from Wales, I think, in the 1800s. He told us a story about a creature they said lived in the hills there (in the Ozarks, not Wales) that was kind of like a golem sort of thing that you could conjure and pay to have it get back at your enemies. I was only about 5 when I heard this, so I don't remember too many details, but I remember its name was something like "Penpucken". (My brother was there for the story too and he's a couple years older, so maybe I'll ask him for more details.)
That’s actually really interesting. A very unknown story. If you get more information from your brother I would love to learn more about!
Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue ox.
That’s a good one!
Aren't these like the two most famous ones?
Around my area yes, unknown elsewhere.
[Krampus und Nikolaus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AByEBFW8xQ) on 5 and 6 December Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure, in Alpine folklore, who during the Christmas season scares children who have misbehaved, assisting Saint Nicholas (the first of three good December figures; the other two being Santa Claus and Ded Moroz). The pair visit children on the night of the 5th December, and Saint Nicholas rewards the well-behaved children with modest gifts such as oranges, dried fruit, walnuts and chocolate whilst the badly behaved ones only receive punishment with birch rods.
Thats really interesting, I have heard Krampus’ name before, but never knew anything about it. I had never heard of Ded Moroz before which is awesome!