Dr. Philip Hiscock presents “Ballycater and Other Frozen Water – Present Past in Current Folklore.”
The folklore of ice (and other near-frozen water) in Newfoundland and Labrador has been, and continues to be, an important part of contemporary images of the province. Likewise, ice folklore provides important identity markers for many residents. It is part of a constellation of seemingly “old stuff” and of a pool of cultural resources for creativity, identification and commerce. Words like ballycatter, copying, lolly, sish and silver thaw provide not just practical nuance to activity and survival in this climate, but also aesthetic pleasure and esoteric support within contemporary local culture. Philip Hiscock discuss these and other words, and the related phenomena in our annual George Story Lecture.