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Folklore

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Lehmja, Estonia

Lehmja Oak Forest

An ancient oak forest where, legend has it, a wedding party was magically transformed into trees.
Vanishing hitchhiker legends are just the latest version of a folktale that may go back millennia—and continues to spread and evolve.
ghosts

The Vanishing Hitchhiker Legend Is an Ancient Tale That Keeps Evolving

The classic creepy story—a driver offers a lift to a stranger who is not of this world—has deep roots and a long reach.
Mark Hay October 10, 2024
Joso, Japan

Kasane-ga-fuchi

The eerie, tragic setting of one of Japan’s most popular ghost stories.
De Lutte, Netherlands

Kardoes the Hellhound

A bronze statue commemorating the legend of a hellhound haunting the village of De Lutte.
The wendigo of North America's Great Lakes region is a symbol of both the desperate season of winter and boundless human greed.
vampires

The Wendigo and 6 Other Ancient Monsters From Indigenous Folklore

These ancient terrors, from Australia’s bunyip to Brazil’s capelobo, still haunt—and hunt—us.
Gemma Tarlach October 4, 2024
In Sardinian folktales, the accabadora was an older woman who slipped into the homes of those lingering near death to send them on their way.
death

Death as a Woman: The Accabadora of Sardinia

In Sardinian folktales, an older woman gives those at death's door a nudge. But was she real?
Emma Cieslik October 2, 2024
Tonosho, Japan

Yokai Art Museum

This unique museum explores the world of Japanese demons and spirits.
Few folk figures have endured like Baba Yaga, who has been described as witch, mentor, villain, trickster, and now, perhaps, a feminist icon.
witches

Who Is Baba Yaga?

Trickster, mentor, probable goddess—Slavic folklore's most famous villain is so much more than a witch.
Kris Spisak September 30, 2024
Brno, Czechia

House of Stone Maiden

A tragic tale of a young woman accused of witchcraft haunts this place.
The world of competitive pumpkin growing has come a long way since 1901, when this giant pumpkin weighed a mere 91 pounds.
mythology

5 Stories to Make You Fall in Love With Autumn

It's the season of harvest-guarding stones and cities of squash.
Roxanne Hoorn September 19, 2024
Saltergate, England

Hole of Horcum

Legend says that Wade the Giant scooped up a handful of earth to throw at his wife, leaving behind this round valley.
Fujisawa, Japan

Ryuren no Kane

A romantic escape inspired by the legend of a child-eating five-headed dragon.
This colored wood engraving shows the pig-faced Miss Atkinson.
victorian

Regency Londoners Were Obsessed With Pig-Faced Ladies

In 1815, the obsession with swine-ish, upper-class ladies reached a fever pitch.
Sarah Crocker August 6, 2024
Hanö, Sweden

Drakmärket (Dragon Mark)

According to local lore, a flying dragon was blinded by a lighthouse and crashed, leaving a permanent mark on this island rock.
Český Krumlov, Czechia

FairyTale House of Puppets and Wine

A museum of Czech puppetry and wine in an allegedly haunted 14th-century stone house.
Mijas, Spain

Museo Historico-Etnologico (Mijas Folk Museum)

Step into the past of this Andalusian town through exhibits with traditional tools, local crafts, and cultural artifacts.
Copenhagen, Denmark

'Havfrue' ('Mermaid')

Copenhagen's "other" little mermaid marks the historic location of past sea maid sightings.
Machida, Japan

Tengu Stelae of Naruse

Three rare “road guardian” stelae with reliefs of the Tengu can be found in the town of Naruse.