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Kingdom of Fife Folklore
Who
was the most evil Fifer of all time? How did a dead horse kill
a king? What happened when a Dunfermline housewife argued with
a witch? Where could the ‘funeral of ghosts’ be
seen? Who were the Pechs? Why did brides live in terror of a
castle owner?
These
are just some of the many questions answered in “Strange
Tales of Bygone Fife”. This is a web reprint of the most
interesting stories from “County Folklore: Fife”
by John Simpkins which was published by the Folklore Society
in 1912.
The
web pages of this site are packed with many spine-chilling and
unusual yarns. You can find out about: the horror happenings
after some old bones were left in a Burntisland house; the monster
baby who became a saint; the dead woman who came back to life;
the witch that wouldn’t die at the stake; a church steeple’s
grim secret; a piper who couldn’t stop playing and the
family who couldn’t stop dancing; the death curse on a
castle’s owners; the dinner party where phantoms were
the guests; and so on.
Old
customs and superstitions are examined. We are told that fishermen
would never dream of lending salt to their neighbours —why?;
That the clothes of a new born baby were always passed through
the smoke of a fire —why?; That the Isle of May had a
special place in the hearts of women who couldn’t have
babies — why?; That St. Monans folk hated and feared the
humble pig — why? For all the answers and the key to the
magical mysteries of this ancient kingdom — read on!
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