29 Items Tagged

Spirits Week

Demogorgon was never a deity in Greek or Roman mythology. In fact, “Demogorgon” wasn’t even a real word. The character's popularity dates back to the 1300s, when he began appearing in Latin literature.

The Many Lives of Demogorgon, From Scribal Error to 'Stranger Things'

How vague and various descriptions made a medieval mistake into a lasting horror.

Daniel A. Gross October 25, 2019

A miner sits at the feet of El Tio, leaving offerings for safety and prosperity.

The Liquor-Soaked Devil Shrines of Bolivia's Deadliest Mine

In the heart of the Andes, Catholic miners also pray to satanic statues.

Luke Fater October 25, 2019

Eerie lights are a common sight in Clinch County, Georgia.

Searching for 'Spooklights' in Southern Georgia

This rural region may be the will-o'-the-wisp capital of America.

Shaun Raviv October 25, 2019

An 1876 map showing Laurel Cemetery.

The Grim History Hidden Under a Baltimore Parking Lot

After an African-American cemetery was bulldozed, families wondered what happened to the graves.

Sarah Laskow October 25, 2019

One of Zufferey's engraved wheels of cheese.

The Valley of the Cheese of the Dead

In this remote Swiss town, residents spent a lifetime aging a wheel for their own funeral.

Molly McDonough October 24, 2019

The spectral ship has a curious, centuries-old history.

The World's Most Famous Ghost Ship Is an Enduring Symbol of Empire

The Flying Dutchman's long afterlife began with a British power trip.

Isaac Schultz October 24, 2019

A Malay <em>bomoh</em>, or medium with the paraphernalia he uses to treat illnesses. The occult is popular in Malaysia, despite Islamic prohibitions against it.

Malaysia Has Good Ghosts, Bad Ghosts, and Gremlin-Babies That Will Steal Your Stuff

Its spirit culture is unlike any in the world.

Dan Nosowitz October 24, 2019

The magician Harry Houdini, who sought to debunk spiritualists and their tools, speaks into a spirit trombone.

How Victorian Mediums Gave Shy Ghosts a Megaphone

Spirit trumpets helped the dead speak above a whisper.

Sabrina Imbler October 23, 2019

A crowd looks at different kinds of vodka for sale in a Moscow street kiosk.

How Vodka Became a Currency in Russia

Since the 16th century, the spirit has been the country's gold standard.

Susie Armitage October 23, 2019

The Johnson memorial at Little Zion Church in Greenwood, Mississippi, where most sources indicate he is buried.

The Not-So-Mysterious Missing Grave of Blues Legend Robert Johnson

The supernatural has surrounded the guitar virtuoso for decades.

Matthew Taub October 23, 2019

Scottish Singles Used to Spend Halloween Picking Kale

The leafy green once foretold the future.

Mark Hay October 23, 2019