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Superstitions

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fairytales

What Is a Fairy Fort?

In Ireland, fears about disturbing the fair folk have saved thousands of these mysterious ancient structures.
Sarah Durn February 2, 2023
Sakskobing, Denmark

Stikhokken

It might look like just a pile of sticks—because it is. But there's a dark history to how this stack got its start.
London, England

Kaspar the Savoy Cat

This black cat was actually designed to ward off bad luck.
witchcraft

Podcast: Witch Cakes

A baked good thought to ward off evil might have kicked off one of America's most notorious witch hunts.
The Podcast Team October 28, 2022
haunted

The Spooky Science of Why Mirrors Can Freak Us Out So Much

We reflect on what these shiny surfaces reveal, from the curse of Narcissus to an experiment you can try at home—if you dare.
Kate Golembiewski October 14, 2022
vampires

The Real-Life Vampire Autopsies of the Victorian Era

When medicine and folklore collide, strange things happen.
April White October 14, 2022
Baud, France

Vénus de Quinipily

Despite the name, this ancient statue of uncertain origins is unlikely to represent the Roman goddess Venus.
mystery

Podcast: Listener Encounters With the Unknown

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team April 14, 2022
mystery

Podcast: Brushes with the Unknown

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team March 3, 2022
Gastro Obscura

Korovai

The Ukrainian wedding bread is so beautiful, it's displayed near the altar.
festivals

Winter Fire Festivals Around the World That Don't Disappoint

What better way to push back against a long, cold winter?
Winnie Lee January 13, 2022
vikings

Meet the Woman on a Quest to Attend Every Wondrous British Festival

The historian behind an online database of eccentric traditions has already visited more than 550 events.
Bonnie Nicol December 9, 2021
victorian

To Join This Community of People Who Speak to the Dead, Prepare to Be Tested

Think you have what it takes to be a spiritual medium in Lily Dale?
Sarah Durn December 7, 2021
outsider art

Podcast: Isla de Las Muñecas

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team October 28, 2021
objects of intrigue

Remembering ‘Witch Cakes,’ the Evil-Fighting Baked Goods of the 1600s

Are these cakes weapons against dark forces or just “spiky bagels”?
Sam O'Brien October 21, 2021
haunted

The History and Mystery of Yemen’s ‘Well of Hell’

The first-ever expedition to the bottom of a startling desert sinkhole found wonders—but only natural ones.
Sarah Durn October 20, 2021
ghosts

Meet the Ghosts Behind a Japanese City's 'Haunted' Coffee

These yokai make a scary good brew.
Selena Takigawa Hoy October 20, 2021
vampires

Disease, Demons, and Discord—How the Vampire Myth Was Born

Modern vampires may be dashing, but that's not how the legendary bloodsuckers started out.
Stanley Stepanic October 18, 2021