147 Items Tagged

Folklore

What a dragon is, and how it interacts with humans, varies widely by culture and era.

The Historian of Hell and the Undead Takes on Dragons

Medieval expert Scott Bruce delves into the darker—and sometimes more hopeful—corners of human imagination.

Gemma Tarlach October 20, 2021

Long before vampires were cartoon characters and even love interests, they were seen as diseased, demonic creatures.

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

The misty cloud forests of Costa Rica's Cerro de la Muerte are home to several endangered species—including, say locals, spirits charged with protecting the mountain.

In Search of Nímbulos, Guardians of Costa Rica's Mountain of Death

Believers say the otherworldly protectors of Cerro de la Muerte's cloud forests face an uncertain future.

Trevor Ritland and Priscilla Palavicini October 6, 2021

Rottingdean, England

Rottingdean Wishing Stone

According to local folklore, this odd face on a wall of Rudyard Kipling's former home can bring visitors a bit of luck.

Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center

Fairmont, West Virginia

Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center

The center preserves and houses artifacts ranging from the colonial era to modern times from across Appalachia.

Small villages are scattered around the dense rainforest of northeastern Madagascar, where researchers found attitudes about the aye-aye can differ from one community to the next.

Loved or Loathed: Can Madagascar's Aye-Aye Survive Superstition?

Understanding how locals really view the world's weirdest primate may be key to protecting it.

Bridget Alex March 23, 2021

Saratoga, Texas

Light of Saratoga

This eight-mile stretch of road gets its name from a local legend about a lost soul searching for his head.

The yellow buns are bright as the morning sun.

Detangling the Devilish Origins of Scandinavia's St. Lucia Buns

The story of this saffron-hued swirl has become as twisted as its dough.

Sam O'Brien December 11, 2020

Olaus Magnus's 1555 "A Description of the Northern Peoples" includes an early depiction of a farmhouse spirit. He stands in the center, sweeping the barn.

The Danish Christmas Porridge That Appeased a Vengeful 'House Elf'

Once a magical, murderous farmhand, the nisse has transformed into a beloved holiday figure.

Sam O'Brien December 9, 2020

The original vetala was a spirit who posed riddles.

One of Dracula's Often Overlooked Inspirations Is the Indian Vetala

It was an English "translation" that turned a wise, if mischievous, figure into a bloodsucker.

Emma Starer Gross October 30, 2020

Pishtacos are said to harvest people's vitality through their fat.

In the Andes, the Fear of Oppressors Manifests as the Gruesome Pishtaco

They seem to be a monster that made the leap from legend to the real world.

Athena Frost October 30, 2020

The ifrit is the most meddlesome and sinister of the djinn.

Across the Islamic World, the Ifrit Brings Miseries Both Large and Small

To believe in them and other djinns is to acknowledge there is a world beyond our own.

Harry Spitzer October 29, 2020

The penanggalan detaches from her body to approach mothers, pregnant women, and infants.

The Malaysian Penanggalan Haunts Pregnant Women and Newborns

These provincial specters are as gruesome as they are hungry.

Josh Levine October 29, 2020

The legend of the sasabonsam became a way for Christian missionaries to exert control.

Sasabonsam Enforced the Rules of Renewal in West African Forests

At least until Christian missionaries made them more purely devilish figures.

Nicole Zakheim October 28, 2020

The vodyanoy was the traditional explanation for watery misfortune.

The Proud, Demanding Vodyanoy Rules Russia's Rivers and Lakes

The legend has endured political disruption, revolution, and generational shifts.

Kaleb Horton October 28, 2020

According to legend, something worse than sorrow dwells in Lake Disappointment.

The Body Snatchers of Aboriginal Australia's Legends

The fearsome, fanged Ngayurnangalku haunt a dry lake bed in the outback.

Dan O'Sullivan October 28, 2020

Werehyenas could be proxies for all sorts of dangers—real and imagined.

The Myth of the Werehyena and the Fear of the Other in the Horn of Africa

Also known as "bouda," their scary stories could also be used to marginalize and dehumanize.

Harry Spitzer October 27, 2020

La Patasola often targets lone men in the wilderness.

La Patasola Is the Vengeful Protector of the Andes

And a scary lesson on humility and respect for the natural world.

Dan O'Sullivan October 26, 2020