Britain's Legendary Creatures & Cryptids | England

[@MythologyFictionExplained]

There will be an upcoming video on a trickster we've never covered before, place your guess below. Winner receives a large metaphorical cookie.

[@tayloredwards4968]

Please do mythical creatures from Africa

[@lilbill7385]

Loki?

[@christopherlopez-rios574]

Loki!

[@wcapewell3089]

Probably either Loki, Anansi, coyote, or Sun Wukong.

[@majinjason]

The fox or coyote from Native American Tribal myths

[@Miss-Anne-Thrope]

I do feel like kids should be taught some folklore at school because it can teach a lot about our culture and psychology. Great video, looking forward to the Wales folklore 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@YaNevrNo]

I totally agree. In the USA and Canada I think we have a lot of folklore etc to about. Honestly, that would be great. I have to say, I love Joseph Campbell's lectures.

[@Carrionangel8911]

Actually the college I went to they taught you World Literature which covers mythology and folklore throughout the world as well as world history. It was a amazing class and I was never as happy as I was in that moment of realizing.. This is it.. All the years of reading folklore, legends, myths and fairy tales was about to pay off.. My lowest grade in the class was a 93 on a pop quiz I wasn’t prepared for. 🤣 I shined for my inner nerd!

[@Carrionangel8911]

@@YaNevrNo I am doing my BFA Art Senior Thesis over Joseph Campbell’s Heroic Journey as a metaphoric symbol of inspiration while merging it with the visual metaphor of the Forest as the “unknown” or wilderness used in storytelling for a journey of maturation.

[@tonyroach9415]

Most school wont teach culture because it gives ppl a sense of identity and unity, but if they did. It would help fill a lot of voids in ppls lives and they/we would be able to live better in every way.

[@marinakaiser7639]

In Germany we also don't learn nothing about mythology, folklore only stupid boring things🙄😁

[@YodaOnABender]

As a northern Englishman, I love hearing about our folklore since there’s so much history. It’s sad that none of it is taught officially like in schools as this means more and more will eventually become lost to time. Thanks for keeping the folklore alive mate

[@benfisher1376]

I think personally that England needs a national day like st George's Day or maybe St Bedes? 🤔

[@internetenjoyer1044]

england needs a brther's grimm equivalent

[@amyboo2765]

Saw the title and clicked straight away, I don't think people know enough about English Folklore! This channel is so underrated

[@shinobi-no-bueno]

But aren't most of these just Germanic stories which changed ever so slightly over time?

[@curiodyssey3867]

Not really, I mean hes got 1.2m subscribers. I think hes getting exactly the attention he deserves

[@probablysomeoneimportant5755]

@@curiodyssey3867 there are so many channels with a lot more so he doesn't make that much

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

@@shinobi-no-bueno no

[@christophergoldshot9028]

I agree there's so much folklore and it's bled into so much of varying regional folklore.

[@kate_cooper]

I came across a few versions of Jack the Giant Killer when I was a kid, sometimes it was the same Jack who grew the beanstalk and sometimes it was a different story about a different guy called Jack. But I never found any version where he was connected to King Arthur, that’s new to me.

[@adrianburchell8075]

Jack doesnt sound like an Arthurian name, probably one of many later tales added to the Arthurian legends to make him more popular

[@YorkyOne]

​@@adrianburchell8075 The story is from the early 1700's.

[@The_Vible]

English folklore is so pushed down in its own country, myths from all other countries take more priorities. I learned about greek beings and hindu beings in primary school but never anything about english folklore

[@shinobi-no-bueno]

What's necessarily wrong with that? I'm not one of the types who believe this stuff is real and learning of world cultures in school makes sense as opposed to being taught folklore 🤷

[@The_Vible]

@Shinobi-No-Bueno Its not about believing; no one needs to believe. Its simply that folklore and culture are intertwined. If a nation doesn't consider its culture then it could possibly fade away in the future or lose its beauty by blending in with others, and it will stop being special once that happens. Though its understandable if you still don't get what I mean

[@isfbuster6733]

@@shinobi-no-bueno so greek mythology ( as was mentioned) comes under world culture but if its English its folklore that isn't as important. Interesting.

[@cybercheese3]

Schools don't really want curious independent critical thinkers with an open mind, they want obedient mindless factory workers

[@danielstockwell2424]

Like many English traditions they have been forgotten, or get laughed at like, clogg dance, maypole. Or Morris.

[@ambarrose]

I was completely nuts about mythology and folklore as a child. It was my natural evolution from fairytales. Today I have the belief that mythology is the "non-official" history of humanity in many ways. Specially when we compare different ones

[@iamnotinvolved1309]

As a never-been-very patriotic Britain-born Nigerian man, who also didn't love fantasy as a kid but ended up as an animanga nerd, this video is crazy interesting for me. Of course I grew up on fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood, Jack & the Beanstalk etc. but I never really put two & two together that "Oh! These are 𝘰𝘶𝘳 folktales" as opposed to just some childhood stories. So looking at these British/European folklore through this lens gives me an entirely new perspective.

[@TrekkieBrie]

I cannot WAIT for the Ireland video, so many myths were lost, and many more hard to find. I'm VERY excited!

[@slightlytwistedagain]

Keep the British Isles folklore legends coming, so little of it is covered to the point that it feels like we barely have anything at all here, which is odd considering how long and varied the history has been here. I heard not to long ago that during the Roman occupation some British pagan gods were incorporated into the Roman pantheon so it would be interesting to see what was synthesized as well as seeing what the Anglo Saxons brought over with their traditions, especially the ones that were developed during the expansion of Christianity.

[@greasybumpkin1661]

I imagine the industrial revolution has a lot to do with cultural atrophy, I know some S.E Asian friends who say how lots of lore is forgotten as things are becoming modernised. There was once case where builders refused to finish a site because of some alleged spooks, so other people were brought in to finish the job. I guess this means that if you hold onto your culture then you may become incompatible with the markets desires and be phased out

[@lilliancronwell5243]

Yy

[@demonia2848]

I think the Victorians changed and edited lots of stuff to to try to fit it into their Victorian ideals.

[@Rynewulf]

@@greasybumpkin1661 pretty much. Most British culture died in the 1800s and 1900s. Before the late 1800s the average farmers cookbook involved just so so much nutmeg. These days Britain thinks salt and pepper are strong spices

[@CJM-rg5rt]

I never really thought about duckweed. Adults would (or should) know where the pond begins but a child running around at night might not. That's terrifying.

[@amywigglesworth8707]

I love British folklore! I remember learning about waylaid smithy and other places in the surrounding area where I grew up in Oxfordshire, I think this must have started my intrigue into this subject. I wish we were thought more about it in school. I live in Norfolk so I especially like the black Shuck portion of this video. ❤️ would love to hear more

[@pyrrhusofepirus8491]

It’s definitely good for English folklore to get some love, England’s culture doesn’t get any love and in Britain itself, we’re mostly interested in Irish, Welsh or Scottish folklore and mythology.

[@januzzell8631]

Fascinating - thank you - looking forward to the rest of the UK now ;)

[@dilthepickle5346]

I’d love to see more folklore from around the world like this

[@iainmelville9411]

I’ve always had a - sort of - affection for Black Annis. My affection stems from her similarity to certain Celtic beings from ancient stories. There are several other creatures from both myth and ancient goddess figures who seem to have many of Annis properties about them.

[@swanchamp5136]

There's stories of a similar big black dog in Burnley that appears at St Peters Church but it's called Trash, there's also tales that during the building of the church pigs moved foundations of the church to change its location from where it was originally going to be built.

[@Eurostadt]

Black Annis is really terrifying l Bad days for children haha...it was really crap staying outside and sometimes even at home. Creatures everywhere.

[@nickyperryman2683]

The bit where you called Green Jenny a hypocrite had me in stitches. Thanks for sharing. 😂

[@janetgraham-russell4476]

North East of England had the Lambton Worm to deal with. Actually we seem to be a bit top heavy with wyrms. The most recent is Shony in the North Sea.

[@thomaseskelsen1362]

I really liked learning more about Jack the Giant Killer. Thank you.

[@no1reallycaresabout2]

I grew up with Jack and the Beanstalk and was vaguely aware of King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable; I had no idea that they existed in the same mythological universe.

[@YorkyOne]

They don't - the Jack and the Beanstalk story is from the early 1700's.

[@datenshisekai]

you already made me chuckle when you said hypocrite to the first bogey woman story, the black shuck is an interesting one as it reminded me of Ruth from The Ancient Magus Bride, a japanese anime that actually centers around lots of british folklore. cant wait who else you will introduce to us in these series ^^

[@JustUsCrazyBoyz]

"duckweed is dangerous for children" The itch! The terrible itch!

[@shaunlomax1]

My favourite was your telling of Jack the Giant Slayer. Would be interested to hear your rendition of Gawain and the Green Knight someday! ☺

[@dragonsarelife9479]

Thank you so much for these! I’ve been looking for something more while researching for a book!

[@richardhalligan7900]

When I was in school, in history we learnt about ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt, Henry the 8th, and world war 2. Not to say it wasn't informative but it would have been nice to learn more about England.

[@Randy-1967]

Need more of this in schools

[@jamth118]

The giants of Britain goes back to romans times and is thought to be an over exaggeration but not completely untrue. The average Roman was 4-5 feet tall and some tribes in Britannia was 5-6 feet tall with fire red hair giving the legend/mythology Britannia home of giants.

[@sugar-sammich]

I just found you and cannot wait to dive in! Thank you from far Southwest Virginia in the US!

[@WesloTheHandsome]

Big Fan via Nashville, TN🇺🇲▫️👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻

[@mmbell]

Last history,its on the eastside of Devon 4 miles outside on the A 38,I know this because since I was a child i have an book abouth every ghost story in England ( John Brooks) and this story was always of my favortives

[@treeman782]

I love these videos on folklore. Have you considered Asian folklore? I heard Japanese folklore is creepy af but instresting

[@justafallperson2108]

I haven't heard Jack the Giant Killer stories in years! Good time mate!

[@brentlichtenberg]

I liked this a lot, and had never heard of Green Jenny before. Please cover Buile Shuibhne in your Irish video if possible. I'd love to learn more about him. Cheers!

[@torbjornlekberg7756]

The tale with the two-headed giant is almost identical to what happened in a Swedish one. That giant did not have two heads there, tho, and the circumstances were different.

[@Zombie9Slayer]

I've been to St Micheal's Mount island which in legend was the home to Cormoran

[@NeroVingian40]

She calls me baby then she won't call me says she adores me and then ignores me (Jenny, what's the problem?) She keeps her distance and sits on fences puts up resistance and builds defenses (Jenny, what's the problem?) You leave me hanging on the line everytime you change your mind First you say you won't then you say you will you keep me hanging on and we're not moving on or standing still Jenny, you've got me on my knees Jenny, it's killing me She needs her own space she's playing mind games ends up at my place saying that she's changed (Jenny, what's the problem?) I'm trying to read between the lines you got me going out of my mind (oh oh oh) It's killing me (oh oh oh) It's killing me (oh oh oh) Jenny It's killing me Jenny

[@wildtk123]

Never heard of that version of jack and the beanstalk.

[@altermann1991]

Oh my god I recognize the story about the giant slicing up their own belly from a story with Trundle from League of Legends on their universe site.

[@michaelhansen2818]

With that big black dog, the only one I can think that would fit the description would be the Hel hound Garm.

[@TheRaka73]

Driver: Jesus take the wheel Hairy hands: K Driver: No wait

[@Eurostadt]

I love your videos , the way you explain and wow...your accent.

[@ronnibech3376]

hmm Jenny Greenteeth reminds me of the "hag" from the old movie "legend" 1985 with Tom Cruise in it ^^ about the Lord of darkness and unicorns, about pixies and alfs

[@mythology_]

Cool video. I like your channel ❤️

[@robertwalker-smith2739]

There's a D&D monster based on Black Annis.

[@wyvern0m3g42]

I have nothing against the traditional Jack and the Beanstalk tale, but Jack the Giant Slayer sounds like a waaay more interesting story to me. Jack is such a badass.

[@bestwitch2931]

Some folklore however terrifying or strange is true though most I think is just a warning or message but some is also based on actual people like mentally ill people and serial killers, there was a man accused of being a were wolf after the people of the town discovered he had abused and killed a young girl as well as murdered a few men and women, in the show I watched they Implied that the people had to rationalize to themselves how someone could something so horrible, so they created a monster

[@XanderMander006]

How is Black Annis a canibal if she doesn't eat other hags? Hags aren't human, at least as far as I understand.

[@jordannewland5848]

Please do one on Gef the talking Mongoose!

[@matiasdelgado7011]

I don´t know if you like manga, but if you like some day you can do a video of the missing origings of liminals from Monster Musume.

[@Quorented]

Honestly I think the most realistic ones are probably witches and magic maybe ghosts wolfs 🐺 maybe mermaids if they were around. But everything else seems more exadurated

[@lightbeareradonis]

The Cornish Spriggans

[@davideostudio2664]

Okay for the Jack the Giant Killer tale, insert Attack on Titan reference here. No really, the main character Jack kills two giants by going for their necks using a blade weapon (a sword in this case but same idea)

[@s.beccari4678]

Swamp hags , demon-dogs, and hairy hands... Rad 😎

[@ferdinanddelasangre8722]

Do a strigoi video

[@bigfoottroisiemepartielave1759]

See, this is my theory on the hairy hands thing: these guys were drunk off of their asses and rather than admit it to the police or their spouses or whomever else was questioning them, they just came up with "a pair of hairy demon hands grabbed the steering wheel and that's why I went into the ditch and/or crashed into that big oak tree."

[@Dominion.Intelligence]

The Hairy Hand also happens to be a Latin American Folk Lore.

[@thomasdevine867]

You had Springheel Jack in your title image and you didn't mention him. Why?

[@MythologyFictionExplained]

He had an entire video.

[@thomasdevine867]

@@MythologyFictionExplained Oh, that makes sense.

[@Ghostofthegallow]

Can't wait to see Scotland. Cause we are so superstitious and have so meny myths and people forget them

[@sassbrat]

I heard about some of these creatures just not knowing the names at that time

[@kellytoddington9905]

Please do a gremlin video

[@casadeireneUSA]

YESSS!

[@micaylab1]

Anyone want to watch Legend?!

[@baraka490]

Okay look I'm going to stick with the Giants being real for the fact that we're finding giant bones

[@IDontWantThisStupidHandle]

Jack the Giant Killer, The Musical: Jack and The Giant *sing* : "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)" Jack: *"Stabs" himself* Giant: "Watch this..."

[@Miasma707]

Legend "Tom cruise" the water witch fucking nightmare for years and im 30 now

[@npche9865]

Can't get enough of British folklore, especially English.

[@vlork666]

@Angela M. Do you mean spring heeled jack? Cause... He had springs in his heels?

[@demonia2848]

Spring Heeled Jack is a character in a Skullduggery Pleasant book. I haven't read that series of books for a while now but I wonder how many other charac are based on English mythology. I'll have to reread them at some point.

[@ricstormwolf]

Except for the Japanese ghosts, the British cryptids have got to be the most horrifying.

[@elwolf8536]

It's an island nation thing 😂

[@johnnylego807]

Don’t forget these where the lands of medieval kings. Many mysteries. A lot of our story’s are based off some amount of truth.

[@dumoulin11]

OK, the hairy hands has got to be the strangest tale I've heard from the UK. It rivals anything Japanese in weirdness.

[@LeeroyPorkins]

I hear that they are absent during November. 😉

[@swanchamp5136]

I dunno, the Japanese ghost Bridge that causes people to fall to their death at the same point is really strange. Essentially being killed by a mirage

[@ianswinford5570]

Are you sure? There’s a Japanese creature that has no face but a eye where it’s anus would be. So which is weirder? Flying hairy hands or an eye in your anus?

[@Gyarren]

There's a Japanese _yokai_ who enjoys (I assume) licking dirty bathroom floors...

[@Dominion.Intelligence]

The Hairy Hands also happens to be a Latin American folk lore.

[@RevBeggs]

Thank you! You bring so much to us for free. You deserve more than you get.

[@MythologyFictionExplained]

You're very welcome!

[@elkaotik6790]

When I was a child, my grandparents lived in Devon and we used to go to a village called black dog. My grandad used to tell me about how people saw a large black dog with red eyes in the road going when travelling to and from the village during the night. He also used to tell me about the hairy hands of Dartmoor when we were travelling through it. Being a child I was captivated by the whole thing, still am in a different way. Glad someone is still talking about English myths.

[@josh6689]

I don't get when people say Britain has no folklore we have loads did you never get told to not go in the woods as kids? Not to swim in lakes and rivers? To not go under stone bridges or in caves?

[@jamiemitchell1481]

My father and I was driving through our hometown in Essex, England around 1am on the way home. Whilst driving up a steep hill with an 400 year old 8ft wall next to a church beside the road. What we both saw was a huge black dog run past the front of the car and jump the 8ft wall without trouble. Till this day we both saw it and can not explain it. After watching this video it makes a more sense. Never know whats out there

[@dionettaeon]

A pair of disembodied, hairy hands that attempt to steer you off the road? This sounds like some really weird drunk driver's excuse, to me.

[@ciacia5801]

In my country we used this kind of story to frighten some children that we'll tell them story so that they behave 😅😂. Nice to know that some countries also have like this story to tell.

[@tylergrimmie7020]

No school is gonna teach you about that.

[@peterkelley6344]

This is the first that I have ever heard of Jack (the giant killer and/or the bean stalk) being associated with King Arthur. A fascinating take on the story. Trying to be funny after reading the comments below: Should it be Harry's Hands. Never mind; ignore me.

[@ellashaw3044]

Sounds like you did a monty python pun there or am I wrong?

[@peterkelley6344]

@@ellashaw3044 I was probably thinking hands + they were hairy ... so I wrote it Harry's Hands ... I never considered Monty Python, or even Harry Potter.

[@ellashaw3044]

It's me too I probably read to much into things though gotta say I do love monty python lmao xx

[@AnnaBridgland]

The Hairy Hands is one of my favourite legends! I've driven through that road on Dartmoor many times as I have family nearby and have heard a lot of stories of them - many of which begin with someone driving home from the pub 😅😂

[@-RONNIE]

Good Legends but The Black Shuck is definitely my favorite out of these.

[@DJReyzor357]

Have U ever thought about doing stories on mythology creatures, demons & ghost of African, Hispanic & Caribbean folklore?! Just wondering 😔

[@mathieuleader8601]

I never knew about the aspect of Jenny Greenteeth being an anti-tooth fairy of sorts this is quite interesting

[@TheHornedKing]

That story about Jack and the two-headed giant sounded rather similar to a popular Norwegian fairy tale "The Boy Who Had an Eating Match with a Troll". In it, a recuring charater in our fairy tales, Espen Askelad (ash-lad), ends up having an eating contest with a troll, and just like Jack, he fools the troll into cutting open its own stomach using the same trick.

[@MrChristianDT]

It even bares similarity to a lot of Native American monster killing stories. I think that must be one of the oldest story telling tropes in the entire world.

[@horaciasummers702]

Jack slashing the giants throats is quite reminiscent of the method used in attack on titans but without the advanced technology 😂

[@matiasdelgado7011]

Much worse is fighting against the zombiesque Gashadokuros. That bastards are unstopeable.

[@lilbill7385]

You are one of the most underrated KZbin channels. You deserve more subscribers and views.

[@__-jt4tv]

Shout out to the West Country "Gurt Shuck"- the only *friendly* one of the Shucks, known for guiding travellers home. That aside, a fun story, thank-you for sharing :-)

[@Rynewulf]

Thats fascinating! Here in East Anglia where Shuck is well known and often sited, hes not entirely evil because some stories involve him warning of lethal danger, saving people or escorting them through dangerous places. He seems to be more a death omen rather than a killer directly, so some see him as neutral or good because of sitings where they are fine because they were wary from the omen but something killed someone else

[@desertfoxdesertfox8726]

I wish they had taught more of these folklores in school. I was always interested in them. They should teach it in schools today, expand the children's knowledge. Thank you for the video, I really enjoyed it.

[@thewombat8039]

If I remember correctly, there's a church in East Anglia that has burn marks supposedly made by black shuck. I will warn that I'm an American remembering a story I read decades ago, and I've never been to East Anglia

[@JohnDoe-jy1kn]

Aldeburgh church in Suffolk. They are on an inner door. The church itself is breathtaking. Really ornate.

[@Zoe-Zaliae]

@@JohnDoe-jy1kn you have one in the fens too near Welney that's got scratch marks! It's small compared but the marks are really unsettling. I saw them when I was little and it gave me nightmares. hah :')

[@71simonforrester]

Being bought up on a farm in the Midlands I heard all about Jenny Green teeth and Black Annis. I find the many legends about Black Shuck really interesting, although I always visualise the dog as a mastiff or Talbot hound type. The story of the Red Cap is a particularly creepy one.... Maybe you could tell it in a future video?

[@soulreaver1983]

Absolutely awesome video dude hope you are keeping well!🙂👍👍

[@eddeewhat5553]

I believe many of these tales are based on more truth than we believe

[@ExecutorGCW]

This has brought up some forgotten memories, lol. I still remember quite well from when I was a young child and having nightmares about 'Ginny Greenteeth'. I think I heard the story about her from my great-grandparents who lived in Lancashire at the time, though I have always lived in the South. Interestingly, whenever I experienced these nightmares I was usually in a scenario where I was alone or I had gotten out of my bed after-hours. Ginny apparently dwelled down my bathtub's drain and would venture out once I had left my bedroom, only to drag me kicking and screaming. The joys of childhood, lol.

[@DJReyzor357]

These videos brings me back growing up watching Clash of the Titans, Hercules, Conan, Beastmaster, Godzilla, King Kong & yes even He-Man cartoon series... I remember my mom telling me stories about mermaids and so many other tells.. Appreciate your work.

[@Christopherfrost13]

So, was Jenny Green teeth the inspiration for the swamp hag in the old Legend movie with Tom Cruise?

[@wolfganggugelweith8760]

In England are some sightings of Woodwose (Bigfoot). Especially in Wales, central England and Scotland and even in the very north of Ireland als well as in Sweden 🇸🇪!

[@johnoneil9188]

I have actually heard of the floating hairy hands before during my own research. They are certainly a rather recent mystery in comparison to the other ones.

[@Bobbb-f3i]

They the ones that grab the steering wheel and make you crash?

[@Bobbb-f3i]

Should have watched the whole video before posting that

[@LeeroyPorkins]

They aren't around in November. 😉

[@Bobbb-f3i]

@@LeeroyPorkins why?

[@LeeroyPorkins]

@@Bobbb-f3i No Nut November. 🤣

[@hanzohattori5980]

I love these videos

[@Hallel2006]

Thank you love English folklore

[@crablegs1]

The Vikings were probably talking about Fenrir, he's a giant black dog that Oden kept and took care of/ chained up.

[@TerryFedora]

Never knew Jack the Giant Slayer had so much more story to him. I just assume Jack and the Beanstock is what you were going to talk about. It was fascinating! Thank you for sharing this!