November Birthstones: Topaz and Citrine

Throughout history, topaz and citrine have often been mistaken for one another. Although they both occur in yellow and look similar, they are, in fact, unrelated mineral species. Learn more about the history, meaning, and symbolism of topaz and citrine: the birthstones for November. Topaz Topaz’s Color Pure topaz is colorless and, for many years,

The Legend Of Witches Flying On Brooms Explained

Witches flying through the air on brooms is an iconic image associated with Halloween. But how did the two — witches, brooms — become associated with one another? It’s hard to say, since both have folklore reaching back hundreds of years. Most trace the origin of Halloween to the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain, a

The magical bluebell wood in Scotland that hides very sinister folklore

The ancient wood is astonishingly beautiful, but you should take care while you enjoy the bluebells. Bluebells bloom in spring and are a magical sight to behold. And thousands of the bell-shaped flowers blanket a shady woodland spot in one of Scotland’s most enchanted walks. According to the Woodland Trust, Kinclaven Bluebell Wood in Perthshire

20 of the most mystical and spiritual places across Wales

From tales of mermaid and fairy encounters to the hearing of eerie noises and sightings of mysterious supernatural light, Wales’ landscape is steeped in legend and folklore From tales of mermaid and fairy encounters to sightings of mysterious supernatural light and the hearing of eerie noises, Wales’ landscape has some mythical and spiritual places which

Oman’s Bahla fort – where civilizations vie with legends

It sits pretty on Unesco’s list, with tales of walls built by jinns Bahla, Oman: In the middle of a palm oasis, the Bahla Fort stands still as a witness to many ancient civilisations in Omani history. The only Unesco-listed fort in Oman, which has walls and towers of mud bricks on stone foundation, dominates

The beautiful lake that’s the best-kept secret in Wales

This secret Carmarthenshire lake is shrouded in Welsh legend Wales has plenty of pristine lakes across the country, that are perfect for a picnic, a stroll, or even a swim. One lake, in particular, has previously escaped the attention of day-trippers but is now becoming more popular thanks to social media and geotagging. Llyn y

Ghost of beautiful witch said to haunt ancient Essex castle

Hedingham Castle, is a medieval fortress that dates back to the 12th century, based in the village of Castle Hedingham. For many historians, it is considered one of the best preserved Norman keeps in England. After it was completed around 1140, William the Conqueror awarded the manor of Hedingham to Aubrey de Vere I. The

How Loki Shapeshifted From Nordic Folklore to a Marvel Icon

There are more than 800 years between the stories of Viking god Loki first being written down and his arrival (in the superb Tom Hiddleston) in the Marvel cinematic universe in 2011’s Thor. The new Disney+ series Loki, set to be released on June 9, is primed to explore more antics of Thor’s trickster brother

‘The Originals’ and ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Vervain Has Roots in Folklore

If pick your poison was a required theme, vervain fits the bill for The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. Where wolf’s bane was used to debilitate werewolves, any time the word vervain was uttered, it meant trouble for the Salvatores, Mikaelsons, and all other vamps. But what made the plant so powerful and is it

Women used to dominate the beer industry — until the witch accusations started pouring in

What do witches have to do with your favorite beer? When I pose this question to students in my American literature and culture classes, I receive stunned silence or nervous laughs. The Sanderson sisters didn’t chug down bottles of Sam Adams in “Hocus Pocus.” But the history of beer points to a not-so-magical legacy of