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Superstitions

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<em>Leopardus guigna</em>, or kodkod, is the smallest wild cat in the Americas, and is often smaller than an average house cat.
animals

The Smallest Wild Cat in the Americas Is Also the Cutest Bad Omen

In rural Chile, the kodkod, or güiña, has a bad rep for stealing chickens—and as a portent of death and disaster.
Roxanne Hoorn November 1, 2023
This illustration from a Medieval manuscript shows bees returning to a skep hive.
bees

The Magic Spells That Herded Medieval Bees

For European beekeepers, “swarm charms” were once a tool of the trade.
Andrew Coletti October 20, 2023
You must not say the town's name aloud.
List

13 Unlucky Places to Avoid on Friday the 13th

From a “killing stone” to a town too cursed to speak its name, superstition surrounds these places.
Michelle Cassidy October 12, 2023
The deathwatch beetle found in the United Kingdom, <em>Xestobium rufovillosum</em>, was once considered an omen of death.
science

The Truth Behind the Deathwatch Beetle's Creepy Tap-Tap-Tapping

In the United Kingdom, the insects were once considered omens of death—they're actually much more destructive.
Roxanne Hoorn October 11, 2023
The 2012 film <em>The Possession</em>, starring Natasha Calis, was based on the legend of the "Dybbuk Box."
horror

The Modern Resurrection of the Dybbuk, Demon of Jewish Folklore

How a superstition goes from the Talmud to TikTok.
Anya Gruber October 10, 2023
Tokyo, Japan

Five Zelkovas of Kami-Itabashi

Various accidents and illnesses fell upon the developers who tried to remove these historic trees.
Kyoto, Japan

Ichijo Modoribashi Bridge

The “bridge of return” is haunted by a myriad of legends, from ghosts to demons to nuptial superstitions.
Novak Djokovic celebrates his 2023 French Open victory June 11 in Paris; the tennis icon has credited his success to a number of unconventional beliefs.
pyramids

Novak Djokovic and the Power of a Bosnian Pyramid

The "miraculous energy" at this controversial site in Visoko has attracted many believers, including the tennis great.
Daniel Schreiber June 28, 2023
Built sometime around the sixth or seventh century, this ring fort is tucked between hills and farms in a remote corner of northwestern Ireland.
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
Mirrors and images of previous owners line the walls at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. Now best known for inspiring the setting of <em>The Shining</em>, the building is reportedly one of America's most haunted hotels.
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
Tuberculosis—or consumption, as it was known in the 1800s—was often associated with vampirism. Those suffering from the disease grew pale and weak, as seen in this photomontage from 1858.
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.