Explore 94 Superstitions Collections - Atlas Obscura
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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.
Men called <em>noboriko</em>—more than 1,500 of them—run down the 538 stone steps of the Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine during the Oto Fire Festival in Shingu, Wakayama, Japan, to celebrate the end of winter. (2020)
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 December 9, 2021
This charming rural hamlet is home to 36 practicing spiritual mediums.
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
A witch cake from the village of Bempton, which collector William Clarke dated to 1850.
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
The Omani Caves Exploration Team (OCET) is the first documented team to explore the 367-foot-deep sinkhole.
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
Bone Woman is one of the yokai in the "Haunted Coffee" collection.
ghosts

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

These yokai make a scary good brew.
Selena Takigawa Hoy October 20, 2021
Long before vampires were cartoon characters and even love interests, they were seen as diseased, demonic creatures.
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
rocks

Podcast: Rödstensgubben

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team September 22, 2021
This anthropomorphic house in Aliano was rebuilt, following the direction of architect Lodovico Alessandri. It now hosts a pizzeria and rooms for tourists.
architecture

The Italian Village Where the Houses Have Eyes

An architect has worked to save Aliano's unusual facial features, thought to ward off the "evil eye."
Federico Formica June 10, 2021
A newly decorated Gänseliesel
statues

Podcast: Re-Up Your Luck

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange stories.
The Podcast Team June 2, 2021