EP160 Halloween Folklore: Ghostly Games & Welsh Spirits on Nos Calan Gaeaf (Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees)
🎃👻 What dangerous games did people play on the night when the veil between worlds was at its thinnest? Who walked the dark lanes of Wales on Nos Calan Gaeaf long before modern Halloween lights flickered?
In this special Halloween episode, Mark Rees explores centuries-old Welsh traditions that mixed fun, fear, and fortune-telling. From sowing hemp seeds in graveyards to listening at church doors for whispered names, discover how spooky games revealed secrets about love, death, and the unknown.
Uncover the folklore behind Halloween in Wales — where witches, spirits, and uncanny tricks weren’t just stories, but a part of everyday life.
Explore the lore... if you dare! 👻
ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES:
Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and Gower" now! You can order it online here.
BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:
If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi - thank you/ diolch!
https://ko-fi.com/markrees
WHAT IS THE GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES PODCAST WITH MARK REES?
The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends.
Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes.
From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along the way.
Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd.
Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru. Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the way!
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode.
For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit https://markreesonline.com/:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)
Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
Until next time, nos da!
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EP159 Halloween Ghost Rider: Haunted History, Murder Road & Jack-o'-Lanterns (Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees)
Who is the mysterious Ghost Rider haunting a lonely Welsh road plagued by Halloween Jack-o'-Lanterns? What dark link ties this spectral horseman to an old murder, a flickering light in the darkness, and the Devil himself?
On this episode, journey into the shadows of rural Wales, where folklore and fear merge on moonlit lanes.
Discover the chilling tale of a ghost rider whose hooves are not quite human, and why this terrifying encounter has echoed through generations — a story steeped in mystery, murder, and the spirit of Nos Calan Gaeaf, the Welsh Halloween.
Explore the lore... if you dare!
ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES:
Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and Gower" now! You can order it online here.
BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:
If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi - thank you/ diolch!
https://ko-fi.com/markrees
WHAT IS THE GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES PODCAST WITH MARK REES?
The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends.
Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes.
From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along the way.
Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd.
Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru. Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the way!
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode.
For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit https://markreesonline.com/:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)
Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
Until next time, nos da!
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EP158 When Death Knocks: Haunted Farmhouse, Uncanny Warnings & Spirit Sounds from America (Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees)
What if death could knock on your door — quite literally — before claiming a life? Would you answer? Would you believe it? And what strange thread connects these events in Wales to a death in America?
In this eerie real-life account from 19th-century Wales, a tailor living in a remote farmhouse near Newcastle Emlyn is disturbed by strange and persistent sounds — knocking at doors and windows, ghostly wailing in the night, and an uncanny sense that something is coming.
Witnesses hear it too. The knocking grows louder. And then it reaches a crescendo…
But the story doesn’t end there. In fact, it’s only when news arrives from across the Atlantic that the full meaning of these uncanny spirit sounds becomes clear.
On this episode, Mark explores a chilling tale of death omens, haunted houses, and the old folk belief that death itself gives warning — if you know how to listen.
Explore the lore... if you dare!
ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES:
Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and Gower" now! You can order it online here.
BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:
If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi - thank you/ diolch!
https://ko-fi.com/markrees
WHAT IS THE GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES PODCAST WITH MARK REES?
The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends.
Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes.
From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along the way.
Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd.
Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru. Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the way!
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode.
For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit https://markreesonline.com/:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)
Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
Until next time, nos da!
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EP157 King Arthur’s Stone: Wales’s Most Haunted Tomb? Paranormal Knights and Midnight Rituals (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees)
Why do people report ghostly knights, phantom horses and spectral visions during the full moon in this Welsh beauty spot? What ancient force still lingers atop Cefn Bryn?
On this episode, Mark journeys to the windswept heights of Gower during the summer solstice to investigate one of Wales’s oldest and most mysterious sites — a place steeped in druidic ritual, pagan legend, and haunting lore.
Is this neolithic tomb truly connected to King Arthur? Did Merlin himself walk these lands? And what really happens at midnight when the capstone stirs and the spirits rise?
From love-seeking rituals involving ghostly cakes, to tales of Dylan Thomas invoking the dead, this is one eerie pilgrimage you won’t forget.
Explore the lore... if you dare!
ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES:
Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and Gower" now! You can order it online here.
BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:
If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi - thank you/ diolch!
https://ko-fi.com/markrees
WHAT IS THE GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES PODCAST WITH MARK REES?
The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends.
Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes.
From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along the way.
Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd.
Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru. Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the way!
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode.
For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit https://markreesonline.com/:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)
Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
Until next time, nos da!
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EP156 Secrets of Craig-y-Nos Castle: Wales’ Most Haunted Gothic Mansion? (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees)
Why has Craig-y-Nos Castle drawn ghost hunters, psychics and TV crews for decades? What secrets still linger in its shadowy halls? Find out in the 5th anniversary episode of Ghosts and Folklore of Wales.
This month, Mark returns to one of the UK’s most famously "most haunted" sites — a place so notorious it’s become part of British paranormal legend. Once home to opera star Adelina Patti and now a hotspot for chilling encounters, Craig-y-Nos Castle has a spine-tingling history of ghostly sightings and supernatural tales.
Join us at this milestone moment… who knows what you might see — or hear?
Explore the lore... if you dare!
ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES:
Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and Gower" now! You can order it online here.
BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:
If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi - thank you/ diolch!
https://ko-fi.com/markrees
WHAT IS THE GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES PODCAST WITH MARK REES?
The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends.
Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes.
From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along the way.
Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd.
Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru. Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the way!
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode.
For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit https://markreesonline.com/:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)
Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
Until next time, nos da!
Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast: Step into the weird and wonderful world of haunted Wales with this monthly podcast that explores ghost stories, Gothic tales, uncanny encounters, ancient lore, and the rich folklore of Wales.
Join Welsh storyteller, writer, and historian Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) – “arguably Wales’ leading authority on the curious and paranormal aspects of the country’s history” – as he guides listeners through chilling legends, real-life hauntings, and otherworldly mysteries from Cymru and beyond.
Each episode is a spine-tingling (and often tongue-in-cheek) journey through the eerie landscapes and haunted heritage of dark Wales. You’ll hear tales from the “most haunted” castles, real ghost stories from Wales, and spectral horse parades like the Mari Lwyd. Poltergeists, uncanny spirits, corpse candles, and phantom funerals are just the beginning. You’ll also discover mystical creatures like the Ceffyl Dŵr, the Gwyllgi, and other ghostly beasts said to roam the valleys and mountains.
Whether you’re fascinated by uncanny spirits, Halloween traditions (Nos Calan Gaeaf), ancient Druid rituals, or modern-day paranormal investigations, this podcast offers a captivating blend of supernatural storytelling, folklore deep-dives, and historical curiosity – all delivered with a Gothic flair and a dry sense of humour.
Listeners who love uncovering mysterious Welsh history, exploring haunted locations, or unraveling legends of mythical creatures will feel right at home. These gripping episodes transport you to the haunted corners of the country, where myths, ghosts, and magic continue to cast their spell.
Expect interviews with ghost hunters, eerie seasonal specials like Halloween ghost stories, and plenty of spine-chilling tales that blend history, horror, and humour in every episode.
Don’t miss an episode—subscribe now to unlock the paranormal secrets of haunted Wales, where nothing is ever quite what it seems… and the past is never truly dead.
Ireland