Musician Explains the Truth Behind One of Appalachia’s Spookiest Myths

Though they might not be as imposing as the Himalayas or as vast as the Andes, the Appalachians are renowned for being some of the oldest mountains in the world. Many believe that the Appalachians have amassed countless spooky secrets over the course of their 480 million year-long history. Even though humans have only been

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,

Why Do Witches Wear Pointy Hats? The History Behind the Costume

America’s obsession with witches is older than the country itself. At first, it was rooted in fear, fueling false accusations of witchcraft, including those that led to the Salem witch trials. Beyond the courtroom, witches have been a steady presence in American culture through folk legends and local lore, fairy tales, Halloween traditions, and eventually,

10 Eeriest Korean Myths and Legends

From egg-shaped monsters to shape-shifting foxes, there is no shortage of unusual and astonishing legends and myths hailing from Korea. Some of these stories originated in ancient Korean traditions. Others are more modern or have merged with tales from neighboring Japan or China. But in any case, many of them are sure to give you

Irishman Shows Off Alleged Fairy Portal On Land

Many years ago, I stayed in a haunted castle in Ireland. (I’ll save the ghost story for another time). Early on in the trip, our host—who had family roots on this land for more than a thousand years—showed us a map of the property to tell us about where to go and what to see.

January Birthstone: The Garnet

The January birthstone, garnet, is surrounded by folklore and was known for its healing properties. This beautiful gem’s name references the bright-red pomegranate fruit, although it actually comes in a diverse range of colors. Learn all about the garnet’s history, meaning and symbolism! Garnet’s Diverse ColorsWhile best known for its deep red hue (given its

The Headless Horseman Isn’t the Only Spooky Story to Come Out of Sleepy Hollow

Sleepy Hollow is a real village near Tarrytown, New York, and has long been known for a famous short story by Washington Irving called “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” which tells the tale of a superstitious schoolmaster who is seemingly terrified (possibly to death) by the apparition of a local legend, a fearsome headless horseman

An Overview of Casino Myths

From a pair of dice found in an Egyptian tomb from 3000bc, through gambling on the streets of Ancient Rome, to 10th century Chinese card games – through thousands of years of gambling history, reality got mixed with gambling myths and facts. Along with gambling that developed tremendously with modern technology and online casinos, casino

The Essex Serpent: the real myths, folklore and heroines inspired by the county

Enticed by rumours of a mythical creature haunting the Blackwater marshes in Essex, England, recently widowed Cora Seaborne (Claire Danes) leaves London for the village of Aldwinter. Cora is chasing her dream of becoming an amateur palaeontologist and believes that science can explain the creature while also allaying the fears of the superstitious locals. Set

The Land Where Vampires, Giants, and Witches Call Home

In Croatia’s northernmost state of Istria, folklore, and myths run rampant with the rich history of witches, vampires, giants, and energy lines. Ask any Croatian what their favorite place in their country is and it’s likely they’ll launch into cascading praise for the northernmost state of the nation, Istria. Lesser trodden by international tourists but