Folkways: The Folklore of Britain and Ireland
Sep 16, 2026 ¡ 36 min ¡ 7 segments
Deep in Belgium's Ardennes lies a world of fascinating fairy folklore. Discover the Valley of the Fairies and its connection to Marcel - Chouffe's famous Gnome. đ¤ Become a valued â â â â â â â â â Friend ofâŚ
He saw horses, horses, horses.
The Ardennes is a large wooded region spanning parts of Belgium, Luxembourg and France, as well as a corner of Germany.
The name derives from the Celtic arduena, referring to a high or deep forest.
Classical sources also mention a goddess, arduena, associated with the forest, hunting and wild animals.
It is said she still guards the forest, watching you through the leaves unseen.
One of his most famous medieval legends is that of the four sons of Amon, who escaped Charlemagne on the magical horse Bayard.
Later traditions placed Bayard within the Ardennes landscape itself, and Belgian folklore imagined the horse as an immortal creature still roaming the forest.
William Elliot Griffiths in Belgian Fairy Tales from 1919, one of very, very few English language looks at the fairy tales of this region, records the enduring local belief.
He writes, No wonder the Belgian children believe that such a horse is immortal and still lives.
He neighs occasionally, but never allows himself to be seen of men, for he does not trust them.
It's not hard to see how this physical landscape is linked to such magical beliefs.
Steep valleys, dramatic rocks, caves and dense woodland.
It makes it feel almost natural that hidden beings might be silently observing you, and who's to say they're not? Indeed, fairy beings were tied to specific rocks, stone tables, and certain ruins here.
Small male beings in particular called Newtons in the French-speaking areas and Cabutas in Flemish, and I'd say that those terms are roughly cognate to each other.
These beings were said to live in caves or underground realms and to repair tools or shoes left overnight here.
Ashuf is a beautiful village in the region of Hufalis.
You drive down these winding roads into the bottom of a valley, where there are a few houses, bars and restaurants, all establishments seemingly having a picture of a gnome on them.
Today, the village is best known as the home of the Shoof Brewery, founded in 1982 and known for extremely strong beers.
We're talking seven to nine percent.
My favorite is raspberry.
Just you'll have to trust me.
He saw horses, horses, horses.
The Ardennes is a large wooded region spanning parts of Belgium, Luxembourg and France, as well as a corner of Germany.
The name derives from the Celtic arduena, referring to a high or deep forest.
Classical sources also mention a goddess, arduena, associated with the forest, hunting and wild animals.
It is said she still guards the forest, watching you through the leaves unseen.
One of his most famous medieval legends is that of the four sons of Amon, who escaped Charlemagne on the magical horse Bayard.
Later traditions placed Bayard within the Ardennes landscape itself, and Belgian folklore imagined the horse as an immortal creature still roaming the forest.
William Elliot Griffiths in Belgian Fairy Tales from 1919, one of very, very few English language looks at the fairy tales of this region, records the enduring local belief.
He writes, No wonder the Belgian children believe that such a horse is immortal and still lives.
He neighs occasionally, but never allows himself to be seen of men, for he does not trust them.
It's not hard to see how this physical landscape is linked to such magical beliefs.
Steep valleys, dramatic rocks, caves and dense woodland.
It makes it feel almost natural that hidden beings might be silently observing you, and who's to say they're not? Indeed, fairy beings were tied to specific rocks, stone tables, and certain ruins here.
Small male beings in particular called Newtons in the French-speaking areas and Cabutas in Flemish, and I'd say that those terms are roughly cognate to each other.
These beings were said to live in caves or underground realms and to repair tools or shoes left overnight here.
Ashuf is a beautiful village in the region of Hufalis.
You drive down these winding roads into the bottom of a valley, where there are a few houses, bars and restaurants, all establishments seemingly having a picture of a gnome on them.
Today, the village is best known as the home of the Shoof Brewery, founded in 1982 and known for extremely strong beers.
We're talking seven to nine percent.
My favorite is raspberry.
Just you'll have to trust me.
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