Haunted Tales of the Lower Circular Road Cemetery
After Sir William Hay MacNaghten's mutilated body was brought from Kabul to Calcutta, it was buried in the Lower Circular Road Cemetery. It is said that after his death he haunts the place, and a nearby tree trembles every time
The gloomy side of Christmas: La Befana – the Italian Christmas witch
On her eternal journey to greet Baby Jesus, the Italian Christmas witch, La Befana leaves sweets for children and a question for adults: who was she really and could her roots be older than her own tradition? Italy, with its
“They want to know how life began.”
On the night of June 23, 1976, in the urban district of Aricanduva in São Paulo, Brazil, 18-year-old Paulo Coutinho experienced an extraordinary event that changed his life forever. At approximately 11:45 p.m., after leaving night school, Paulo encountered a
The obscure side of Christmas: the terrifying legend of Père Fouettard of Lorraine
About one of the many evil helpers of St. Nicholas, coming at Christmas time to punish children, we find the story of Père Fouettard, i.e. Father Whipper of Lorraine. While Christmas is often associated with joy, kindness and holiday cheer,
The Dim Side of Christmas: The Legend of Frau Perchta
At Christmas time, stories were told about Mrs. Perchta visiting people's homes and checking whether they were doing well or not. She would reward the good ones, but punish the bad ones by cutting open their bellies. Christmas, a season
The Dim Side of Christmas: Hans Trapp – A Child Eating a Scarecrow
The children of Alsace are often reminded to watch out for Hans Trapp, the cursed baron now disguised as a scarecrow, waiting for children as they pass by. Today he is also said to be one of Santa's helpers, punishing
An unpleasant side effect of time travel: memory loss
Imagine you had the ability to go back in time. But when you returned to the present, you discovered that you didn't remember anything about it. Physicists believe this is a real consequence that time travelers may face. The study
Christmas at the Lefferts-Laidlaw home at 136 Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn
Before Christmas, uninvited guests arrived at the Lefferts-Laidlaw House at 136 Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn and knocked on the door. This haunting led to the spectacle of onlookers trying to solve a strange case that even the New York Police
Many faces of Santa Claus for Christmas
Valerie M. Fridland: Everyone has heard of Santa Claus, that chubby, white-bearded guy in a red suit who delivers Christmas presents in a reindeer-powered sleigh. But have you never wondered how he became the man with so many names? From