Folklore/Mythology
Legend of the Pied Piper’s Dark Origins, and Other Historic Folklore
The legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the colorful figure who seduces rats out of a town with his…
‘Magic’ Eyeliner, and Other Fascinating Ancient Beliefs and Facts
Ancient Egyptians wore thick eyeliner in the belief that it had magical properties. It did not, but what it did…
Historic Children’s Fairy Tales That Will Haunt Your Nightmares
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood…” For generations of children, the opening phrase to this song is a beckoning…
Halloween Costumes Have a Stranger History Than You Think
Fall is a cozy time of leaves turning hues of red and gold, sweaters being hauled out of storage, and…
The Dark Origins of Mermaids and Other Mysterious Folk Lore
The lore of mermaids today is greatly influenced by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid. In that fairy tale, which…
History’s Most Bizarre Rituals & Beliefs
Belief in just what the shoe represents culturally varies, depending on just where you are. In some parts of the…
The Truth Behind Hillbilly History
“Let me tell you a little story about a man named Jed. A poor mountaineer barely kept his family fed…” The…
The Dark Side Of King Arthur & Other Disturbing Legends From History
The legendary King Arthur’s tale, as most of us have come to know it, has come to us through a…
Forgotten Folklore & Legends That Are Downright Bizarre
Folklore from around the world is full of fascinating but lesser known nuggets. Take Saint Nicholas, the key figure upon…
The World’s Most Impressive Fakes, Forgeries, and Finds that Made History
Fake historic “discoveries” are, unfortunately, all too frequent. For generations, school kids were taught that Francis Drake had been to…