Let The Fur Fly! with Clara Dugas

WTF gets Superstitious!

WTF: What The Folk
Open Mic (unplugged)
Friday, November 13, 2015
Spencer House Community Centre
5596 Morris Street, Halifax, NS
7-9pm
Cost: Free Will Donation

Hello gang,

Once, often twice and occasionally three times a year, the calendar presents WTF! with a fabulous opportunity to get freaky. In 2015... there were three such dates; however, we have chosen the one in November to get our freak on. Our next WTF! falls on that darling of superstitious dates... Friday the13th.

*Superstitions and Their Origins or Superstitions in General

What is a superstition in general? The widely accepted definition of superstition is that it is irrational belief and interpretation about the events from the future based on certain conclusions and acts. It is not built on logical causes and relations between actions and events.

Every nation has some sort of superstition in its tradition; some of them are so strong that they even acquire main characteristics of modern pop culture.

Will you be superstitious or not? It depends solely on you, yourself, your belief, level of education and the environment you are living in. Statistics say that only 30% of people are not superstitious - researchers warn that this number does not include those who do not want to admit it.

*Amended from Superstitions of - 2015

Superstition is something that we encounter every day. Helen Creighton says in BLUENOSE MAGIC that "People enjoy having what they call their pet superstitions, odd beliefs which for some unexplainable reason seem to act in their behalf. Indeed, they give a rather pleasurable zest to life. Other people, however, distress themselves by constantly looking for signs and omens and will go to great lengths to forestall any ill-fortune they think may be approaching them. It is a true saying that superstition follows whom superstitions follow."

Many of our Maritime superstitions have been passed down from generation to generation and are part of family inheritance. The largest body of superstitions found in BLUENOSE MAGIC  involves "ships and the sea". Not surprising really since the Maritimes are almost completely surrounded by water. Other superstitions touch on "the seasons, holidays, the human body, human behaviour and the behaviour of animals, insects and birds for example." Fascinating stuff!

Perhaps you have a family superstition to share? Maybe you know a song or story with a superstitious element? Or perhaps you're one of those who scoff at the notion of superstitions? Regardless of where you stand on the subject... WTF! invites you to bring something relevant to this theme... like good luck or bad luck or elements involving superstitions pertaining to..." ships and the sea; the seasons, holidays, the human body, human behaviour and the behaviour of animals, insects and birds".

On Friday the 13th... get out of bed on the right leg but do not cut your nails. Head on over to WTF!... making sure to kill the first three snakes you see but do not kill a spider. Should you walk under a ladder, keep your fingers crossed until you see a dog. And remember a barking dog never bites. And neither will we if you choose to bring a song or story on another topic :)

Xo Margo

And for those of you who fear things that might go "bump" in the night (you know who you are)...

Be assured...

horseshoes have been hung over the entrance to Spencer House with the heel part down

just in case.

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WTF! is an artistic outreach program of the Helen Creighton Folklore Society. Now in its 6th year, WTF! is primarily an acoustic unplugged open-mike session for performers of all ages in the traditional & folk music vein... singers, instrumentalists and storytellers in particular. (House guitar available for playing)

Co-hosted by the ever-jovial Cindy Campbell-Stone & Margo Carruthers with occasional guest hosts, WTF! meets every second and fourth Friday of the month at SPENCER HOUSE, 5596 Morris Street in Halifax where sing-a-longs are known to spontaneously erupt and laughter is always a given.

Come anytime after 6:30pm. Entertainment starts around 7:00 and goes until 9:00ish. As always... admission is by free-will donation towards the Society's work. All proceeds from the sale of baked goods and beverages from the Spencer House kitchen will go to help support the operation of Spencer House.

Parking is available on site behind the building after 6:00pm, and on all the neighbouring streets.

Jack Tales: October 8th

Storytellers Circle of Halifax Presents: The further adventures of the Famous Folk Hero “Jack” Stories about "Jack" abound from Appalachia to Russia Thursday, Oct 8, 2015 7:00 – 9:00 pm Spencer House 5596 Morris St Host Elinor Benjamin has one or two Jack Tales from Newfoundland followed by open mic - Stories about Tom, Dick and Harry are OK too !!! (10 minute -max- stories - told, not read) Come early! Home-made treats for Sale Free-will donations welcome for the Storytellers Circle

Blind McNair: a story of old Nova Scotia

We're Baaaack! for another great year at WTF: What The Folk!

WTF: What the Folk! Open Mic

September 25, 2015/ 7-9pm

Spencer House Community Centre

5596 Morris Street, Halifax, NS

Well gang...

How was your summer?

Did you manage to accomplish all those unfinished projects you had been putting off this winter or did you just laze it up at the cottage?

Perhaps you learned to body surf or wind surf at the beach? Maybe you hunted for fossils at Joggins? Better that than being one :)

Perhaps you travelled to new and exotic places. Maybe you hung out in bars or let so much hang out that you spent your summer behind bars :)

I am sure that wherever you went and whatever you did, you met with an ADVENTURE or two and so... that's the theme for next Friday, September 25th when WTF: What The Folk! returns to beautiful Spencer House from summer hiatus.

Bring songs or stories of ADVENTURE!

 If you are reluctant to share true tales due to privacy concerns and/or legal muzzling... you can always make them up :)

Co-hosted by the ever-jovial Cindy Campbell-Stone & Margo Carruthers with occasional guest hosts.

WTF! is an artistic outreach program of the Helen Creighton Folklore Society.

Like us on HCFS Facebook or check out the HCFS website .

Now in its 6th year, WTF! is primarily an acoustic unplugged open-mike session for performers of all ages in the traditional & folk vein... singers, instrumentalists and storytellers in particular.

WTF! meets every second and fourth Friday of the month at SPENCER HOUSE, 5596 Morris Street in Halifax where sing-a-longs are known to spontaneously erupt and laughter is always a given.

Come anytime after 6:30pm. Entertainment starts around 7:00 and goes until 9:00ish. As always... admission is by free-will donation towards the Society's work. All proceeds from the sale of baked goods and beverages from the Spencer House kitchen will go to help support the operation of Spencer House.

Parking is available on site behind the building after 6:00pm, and on all the neighbouring streets.

A new year and new adventures at WTF: What the Folk!

Come and see what the excitement is about.

Au cfonfluent de nos langues, congrès 2015v

Au cfonfluent de nos langues, congrès 2015

2015-07-02

Lors de ce congrès, se déroulera des classes de maîtres, des ateliers, des conférences et des spectacles de contes dans les 2 langues.

Des sorties touristiques dans le milieu permettront aux visiteurs de connaitre notre coin de pays.

Des activités ouvertes telles que l’accès à divers ateliers et spectacles, la présence de conteurs dans des restaurants ou lieux publics permettront à la population de profiter de cette apport culturel dans leur milieu.

La période d'inscription pour le congrès se termine à minuit le 20 juin 2015. Si vous avez ratez l'inscription en ligne, il toujours possible de vous inscrire en personne  lors de votre arrivée au Congrès de Lévis.  Le coût de l'inscription Dernière minute sera de 200$.  Ceux qui veulent s'inscrire uniquement aux ateliers individuels pourront aussi le faire à la porte au coût de 25$ par atelier. 

Pour rechercher des transports commun à la conférence, visitez la page Facebook de la

Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada

Where Languages Meet - storytellers conference

Storytellers of Canada - Conteur du Canada Conference

Where Languages Meet, Conference 2015

2015-07-02

This year’s conference brings us to Lévis, Quebec where a rich storytelling tradition awaits. Minutes across the St. Lawrence from Quebec City, Lévis is home to La Maison Natale Louis Fréchette, the birthplace of Louis Frechette one of Quebec’s most celebrated poets.  Maison Fréchette is hosting the SC-CC conference this year, and together we’re proud to bring storytellers and listeners a range of vibrant programming in both official languages. 

Online registration for the conference closes at midnight on June 20th. Latecomers who have missed the deadline for online registration can register  in person at the conference in Lévis. The cost for registering at the door is $200. Those who are interested in individual workshops can also register at the door for $25 per workshop.

To look for ride shares or exchange information about the conference visit our conference Facebook page.

Clary Croft at WTF:What the Folk!

Clary Croft is guest hosting at WTF:What the Folk! On Friday June 12 / 7pm. The theme is Joni Mitchell or songs and stories inspired by her. It's the second last WTF before the summer break so come all ye to Spencer House Community Centre, 5596 Morris Street, Halifax. Cost: free will donation. What the Folk is an outreach program of the Helen Creighton Folklore Society.