Signe Maene
@signemaene.com
Belgian writer of stories inspired by Flemish folklore. Loves spooky woods, fairies, selkies, poetry and pretty shoes :-) BookWormSat with Rachel Deering.🖤 OUT NOW: Flemish Folktales Retold. signemaene.com/links/
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Signe Maene
@signemaene.com
· Oct 15
The witches of Flanders are everywhere. Their tales may be forgotten, their voices unheard, but they are anything but quiet.
Step into the darkness and help us give a voice to Flanders' witches! 🌙 kck.st/492NqKt 🌙 #WyrdWednesday
Step into the darkness and help us give a voice to Flanders' witches! 🌙 kck.st/492NqKt 🌙 #WyrdWednesday
Reposted by Signe Maene
#WyrdWednesday In 1584, in Somerset, Margaret Cooper was possessed by the Devil and took to her bed. One night after weeks of torment a phantom headless bear materialised in her room, grabbed her, shoved her head between her legs and rolled her round like a hoop for 15 minutes.
January 28, 2026 at 12:47 PM
#WyrdWednesday In 1584, in Somerset, Margaret Cooper was possessed by the Devil and took to her bed. One night after weeks of torment a phantom headless bear materialised in her room, grabbed her, shoved her head between her legs and rolled her round like a hoop for 15 minutes.
'She seized the head by its hair
And washed it clean in a well.'
Heer Halewijn is a murderer who finally gets what he deserves when he wants to murder a princess. He takes his overdress off so that his clothes won't be stained with her blood. She quickly beheads him.
#WyrdWednesday
And washed it clean in a well.'
Heer Halewijn is a murderer who finally gets what he deserves when he wants to murder a princess. He takes his overdress off so that his clothes won't be stained with her blood. She quickly beheads him.
#WyrdWednesday
January 28, 2026 at 2:18 PM
'She seized the head by its hair
And washed it clean in a well.'
Heer Halewijn is a murderer who finally gets what he deserves when he wants to murder a princess. He takes his overdress off so that his clothes won't be stained with her blood. She quickly beheads him.
#WyrdWednesday
And washed it clean in a well.'
Heer Halewijn is a murderer who finally gets what he deserves when he wants to murder a princess. He takes his overdress off so that his clothes won't be stained with her blood. She quickly beheads him.
#WyrdWednesday
1/2 In a Dutch folktale, a man meets a woman in a bloody dress. She carries her head in her arms. She had been cruelly beheaded by the people of Echt. She went after the descendants of those who had murdered her and showed the man heads of people who had vanished without a trace.
#WyrdWednesday
#WyrdWednesday
January 28, 2026 at 2:12 PM
1/2 In a Dutch folktale, a man meets a woman in a bloody dress. She carries her head in her arms. She had been cruelly beheaded by the people of Echt. She went after the descendants of those who had murdered her and showed the man heads of people who had vanished without a trace.
#WyrdWednesday
#WyrdWednesday
Reposted by Signe Maene
Build an automaton and bring her to life with ancient magic - what could possibly go wrong?
You guessed it, "human factor" - but is it the machine's fault?
Read our 21st #winterfolklore story of Marvellous Metharme, the Maschinenbauer and Doctor Ambrosisus Wanzenbock the Thaumaturge of Göttingen
You guessed it, "human factor" - but is it the machine's fault?
Read our 21st #winterfolklore story of Marvellous Metharme, the Maschinenbauer and Doctor Ambrosisus Wanzenbock the Thaumaturge of Göttingen
January 28, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Build an automaton and bring her to life with ancient magic - what could possibly go wrong?
You guessed it, "human factor" - but is it the machine's fault?
Read our 21st #winterfolklore story of Marvellous Metharme, the Maschinenbauer and Doctor Ambrosisus Wanzenbock the Thaumaturge of Göttingen
You guessed it, "human factor" - but is it the machine's fault?
Read our 21st #winterfolklore story of Marvellous Metharme, the Maschinenbauer and Doctor Ambrosisus Wanzenbock the Thaumaturge of Göttingen
Reposted by Signe Maene
🖼️ Fiona Watson
January 28, 2026 at 7:45 AM
🖼️ Fiona Watson
Reposted by Signe Maene
'L'Apparition' by Gustave Moreau 1874–1876
King Herod's birthday party is beginning to look legendary as Salome dances before the severed head of John the Babtist.
#wyrdwednesday #art
King Herod's birthday party is beginning to look legendary as Salome dances before the severed head of John the Babtist.
#wyrdwednesday #art
January 28, 2026 at 10:33 AM
'L'Apparition' by Gustave Moreau 1874–1876
King Herod's birthday party is beginning to look legendary as Salome dances before the severed head of John the Babtist.
#wyrdwednesday #art
King Herod's birthday party is beginning to look legendary as Salome dances before the severed head of John the Babtist.
#wyrdwednesday #art
Reposted by Signe Maene
1661. In a sort of misguided Royalist poetic justice, the bodies of Cromwell, Ireton and Bradshaw were exhumed on the anniversary of Charles I’s execution, hanged and decapitated afterwards.
Old Ironsides’ noggin, impaled on a stake, was placed above Westminster Hall until 1685.
#wyrdwednesday
Old Ironsides’ noggin, impaled on a stake, was placed above Westminster Hall until 1685.
#wyrdwednesday
January 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM
1661. In a sort of misguided Royalist poetic justice, the bodies of Cromwell, Ireton and Bradshaw were exhumed on the anniversary of Charles I’s execution, hanged and decapitated afterwards.
Old Ironsides’ noggin, impaled on a stake, was placed above Westminster Hall until 1685.
#wyrdwednesday
Old Ironsides’ noggin, impaled on a stake, was placed above Westminster Hall until 1685.
#wyrdwednesday
Reposted by Signe Maene
St Winefride had her head lopped off by a brutal prince annoyed she'd rejected his advances. Where the head fell, a spring of healing water emerged. Later the holy well at Holywell, Flintshire, was built round it. Winefride's uncle, St Beuno, kindly put her head back on again.
#WyrdWednesday #legend
#WyrdWednesday #legend
January 28, 2026 at 2:02 PM
St Winefride had her head lopped off by a brutal prince annoyed she'd rejected his advances. Where the head fell, a spring of healing water emerged. Later the holy well at Holywell, Flintshire, was built round it. Winefride's uncle, St Beuno, kindly put her head back on again.
#WyrdWednesday #legend
#WyrdWednesday #legend
'Then they came to another grove of trees, where all the leaves were of gold; and afterwards to a third, where the leaves were all glittering diamonds.'
-The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Brothers Grimm.
🎨Errol Le Cain
-The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Brothers Grimm.
🎨Errol Le Cain
January 27, 2026 at 10:05 AM
'Then they came to another grove of trees, where all the leaves were of gold; and afterwards to a third, where the leaves were all glittering diamonds.'
-The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Brothers Grimm.
🎨Errol Le Cain
-The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Brothers Grimm.
🎨Errol Le Cain
A Dreamy Girl With A Picture Book On Her Lap, Constantin Meunier (1831-1905).
January 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM
A Dreamy Girl With A Picture Book On Her Lap, Constantin Meunier (1831-1905).
Reposted by Signe Maene
“But when the first light of morning comes, the troll-bird ruffles its feathers and lets its wild song echo across the lonely wilderness, full of strange and wondrous stories.
Then the wood grouse plays.”
🎨&✍🏻 Theodor Kittelsen
Then the wood grouse plays.”
🎨&✍🏻 Theodor Kittelsen
January 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM
“But when the first light of morning comes, the troll-bird ruffles its feathers and lets its wild song echo across the lonely wilderness, full of strange and wondrous stories.
Then the wood grouse plays.”
🎨&✍🏻 Theodor Kittelsen
Then the wood grouse plays.”
🎨&✍🏻 Theodor Kittelsen
Reposted by Signe Maene
From Bumper the White Rabbit, George Ethelbert Walsh, illustr. Edwin John Prittie, 1922.
January 27, 2026 at 7:07 AM
From Bumper the White Rabbit, George Ethelbert Walsh, illustr. Edwin John Prittie, 1922.
Landscape, Clément De Porre (1874-1947).
January 27, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Landscape, Clément De Porre (1874-1947).
Reposted by Signe Maene
In old Wagria, ironically called Holstein Switzerland today because of the hills and woods, there is a huge lake. Plöner See. And in the Plöner See is a spot that does not freeze in Winter, they say... water folk used to live there once…
Read more in our 20th #winterfolklore tale ⬇️
🎨 Le Rolland
Read more in our 20th #winterfolklore tale ⬇️
🎨 Le Rolland
January 27, 2026 at 6:18 AM
In old Wagria, ironically called Holstein Switzerland today because of the hills and woods, there is a huge lake. Plöner See. And in the Plöner See is a spot that does not freeze in Winter, they say... water folk used to live there once…
Read more in our 20th #winterfolklore tale ⬇️
🎨 Le Rolland
Read more in our 20th #winterfolklore tale ⬇️
🎨 Le Rolland
Reposted by Signe Maene
‘A wanton wenche vppon a colde daye
With Snowe balles prouoked me to playe:
But theis snowe balles soe hette my desyer
That I maye calle them balles of wylde fyer.’ ~ Of A Snow Balle, Nicolas Bacon.
🖼️ December, the Book of Hours of Adélaïde de Savoie (Musée Condé 78, fol. 12v), c. 1460-1465.
With Snowe balles prouoked me to playe:
But theis snowe balles soe hette my desyer
That I maye calle them balles of wylde fyer.’ ~ Of A Snow Balle, Nicolas Bacon.
🖼️ December, the Book of Hours of Adélaïde de Savoie (Musée Condé 78, fol. 12v), c. 1460-1465.
January 27, 2026 at 7:42 AM
‘A wanton wenche vppon a colde daye
With Snowe balles prouoked me to playe:
But theis snowe balles soe hette my desyer
That I maye calle them balles of wylde fyer.’ ~ Of A Snow Balle, Nicolas Bacon.
🖼️ December, the Book of Hours of Adélaïde de Savoie (Musée Condé 78, fol. 12v), c. 1460-1465.
With Snowe balles prouoked me to playe:
But theis snowe balles soe hette my desyer
That I maye calle them balles of wylde fyer.’ ~ Of A Snow Balle, Nicolas Bacon.
🖼️ December, the Book of Hours of Adélaïde de Savoie (Musée Condé 78, fol. 12v), c. 1460-1465.
Reposted by Signe Maene
January 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM
A lovely creauture in the Tiled Room, Couven Museum, Aachen.
January 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM
A lovely creauture in the Tiled Room, Couven Museum, Aachen.
Cat in the Tiled Room, Couven Museum, Aachen.
January 26, 2026 at 8:56 AM
Cat in the Tiled Room, Couven Museum, Aachen.
Reposted by Signe Maene
Badger, vintage illustration.
January 26, 2026 at 4:36 AM
Badger, vintage illustration.
Reposted by Signe Maene
Keeping the final proofread real with mead, profanity, and extreme weather.
In other words, Children of Tax and Tea will be sent for a physical proof very soon! Nothing like sharing a snowstorm with a maniacal Lindisfarne raider and a local beverage. Illustration by @barbarianlord.bsky.social!
In other words, Children of Tax and Tea will be sent for a physical proof very soon! Nothing like sharing a snowstorm with a maniacal Lindisfarne raider and a local beverage. Illustration by @barbarianlord.bsky.social!
January 26, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Keeping the final proofread real with mead, profanity, and extreme weather.
In other words, Children of Tax and Tea will be sent for a physical proof very soon! Nothing like sharing a snowstorm with a maniacal Lindisfarne raider and a local beverage. Illustration by @barbarianlord.bsky.social!
In other words, Children of Tax and Tea will be sent for a physical proof very soon! Nothing like sharing a snowstorm with a maniacal Lindisfarne raider and a local beverage. Illustration by @barbarianlord.bsky.social!
Reposted by Signe Maene
Hare, Edge Of The Silver Dawn, Catherine Hyde.
January 26, 2026 at 5:08 AM
Hare, Edge Of The Silver Dawn, Catherine Hyde.
Reposted by Signe Maene
A week until Candlemas when our last #winterfolklore tale will be told.
I’ve a set of similar stories prepared for spring – but do you want so see in February?
Golden Age of Illustration? Picturesque darkness in oil from the long 19th century? Just assorted melancholy?
Tell me in the comments!
I’ve a set of similar stories prepared for spring – but do you want so see in February?
Golden Age of Illustration? Picturesque darkness in oil from the long 19th century? Just assorted melancholy?
Tell me in the comments!
January 26, 2026 at 6:58 AM
A week until Candlemas when our last #winterfolklore tale will be told.
I’ve a set of similar stories prepared for spring – but do you want so see in February?
Golden Age of Illustration? Picturesque darkness in oil from the long 19th century? Just assorted melancholy?
Tell me in the comments!
I’ve a set of similar stories prepared for spring – but do you want so see in February?
Golden Age of Illustration? Picturesque darkness in oil from the long 19th century? Just assorted melancholy?
Tell me in the comments!
Reposted by Signe Maene
“Their skulls are made of lead,
that’s why they do not weep.
With patent leather souls
they’re coming down the street.”
(Federico García Lorca “Romance de la Guardia Civil Española”)
🎨 Jesús Gabán
that’s why they do not weep.
With patent leather souls
they’re coming down the street.”
(Federico García Lorca “Romance de la Guardia Civil Española”)
🎨 Jesús Gabán
January 25, 2026 at 11:00 AM
“Their skulls are made of lead,
that’s why they do not weep.
With patent leather souls
they’re coming down the street.”
(Federico García Lorca “Romance de la Guardia Civil Española”)
🎨 Jesús Gabán
that’s why they do not weep.
With patent leather souls
they’re coming down the street.”
(Federico García Lorca “Romance de la Guardia Civil Española”)
🎨 Jesús Gabán
Reposted by Signe Maene
‘Ha! whare ye gaun, ye crowlan ferlie!
Your impudence protects you sairly:
I canna say but ye strunt rarely,
Owre gawze and lace;
Tho’ faith, I fear ye dine but sparely,
On sic a place.
Ye ugly, creepan, blastet wonner,
Detested, shunn’d, by saunt an’ sinner’ ~ Robert Burns ~ To A Louse.
Your impudence protects you sairly:
I canna say but ye strunt rarely,
Owre gawze and lace;
Tho’ faith, I fear ye dine but sparely,
On sic a place.
Ye ugly, creepan, blastet wonner,
Detested, shunn’d, by saunt an’ sinner’ ~ Robert Burns ~ To A Louse.
January 25, 2026 at 8:22 AM
‘Ha! whare ye gaun, ye crowlan ferlie!
Your impudence protects you sairly:
I canna say but ye strunt rarely,
Owre gawze and lace;
Tho’ faith, I fear ye dine but sparely,
On sic a place.
Ye ugly, creepan, blastet wonner,
Detested, shunn’d, by saunt an’ sinner’ ~ Robert Burns ~ To A Louse.
Your impudence protects you sairly:
I canna say but ye strunt rarely,
Owre gawze and lace;
Tho’ faith, I fear ye dine but sparely,
On sic a place.
Ye ugly, creepan, blastet wonner,
Detested, shunn’d, by saunt an’ sinner’ ~ Robert Burns ~ To A Louse.
Both of us were wondering what the other one was doing there.
January 25, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Both of us were wondering what the other one was doing there.