76 Items Tagged

Superstitions

Uncini della Fortuna (Hooks of Fortune)

Despite their macabre past, these hooks are said to bring good luck to those who touch them.

Kamakura, Japan

Seimei Stone

Associated with Japanese folklore's most eminent sorcerer, this slab of rock is said to be both a blessing and a curse.

Kenashi Pond

Haunted by a giant white snake, this pond is said to bring the rain and pubic hair.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory satellie captured a total solar eclipse on Feb. 11, 2018, an event that was not visible from Earth.

7 Great Eclipse Books to Inspire, Delight, and Prepare You for April 8

From wild page-turners of the eclipse-obsessed to a gentle children’s book for all ages.

Gemma Tarlach March 11, 2024

Math and dessert are a match made in heaven.

Celebrate Pi Day With These Mathematical Tales

Plus pie recipes, of course.

April White March 8, 2024

Royal Palace of Madrid Statues

After the queen of Spain had a dream where these statues fell and crushed her, they were removed from the palace and given new homes around Madrid.

Portone del Diavolo (Devil's Door)

This sinister Baroque entryway could lead you to a terrible fate.

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

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.

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.

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.

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."

The Modern Resurrection of the Dybbuk, Demon of Jewish Folklore

How a superstition goes from the Talmud to TikTok.

Anya Gruber October 10, 2023

Five Zelkovas of Kami-Itabashi

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

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.

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.

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.