Legends & Folklore

In 2008, many late-night couch dwellers were treated to the persuasive sales pitch in infomercials for Kinoki Detox Foot Pads: "the incredible detox system that naturally captures toxins from your...

Fairies are popular today as ornaments and characters in children's stories, but at one time were believed to be common visitors to homes and farms and a part of everyday life. Fairy legends...

The fabled Eating of Crow pertains to the distasteful prospect of eating a carnivorous Bird, poorly prepared, and served to the penitent upon discovery that he/she erred badly (at best) and now...

The "compass rose" has appeared on charts and maps as a design representing compass directions since the 14th century. The term "rose" comes from the emblem's resemblance to the petals of a rose...

Urban exploration (urbex) has been around for as long as there have been abandoned places to explore. But the urban exploration movement has come into its own as a worldwide subculture and is a...

The Egyptian Book of the Dead is a collection of ancient manuscripts that has been controversial since its discovery and deciphering. The earliest versions date back to the 16th century B.C.

Excalibur is the famed sword used by legendary sixth-century British ruler King Arthur, whose existence is debated by historians and scholars.

Weavers make Navajo rugs in two basic styles: traditional and pictorial. Only the designs on pictorial-style rugs---adapted, but never copied, from sand paintings---have symbolic meanings.

It's coming. The zombies will overrun our society by their huge mass of numbers. They aren't intelligent, but they will spread like wildfire. Numbers almost always defeats strategy. We can only...

The 49ers who flocked to California’s Mother Lode region in the mid-1800s found only an estimated 20% of the gold in the area. That’s a lot of gold left for the taking. Since the price of gold...

People have used talismans and good luck charms throughout the ages. The objects can be as simple as a rock or feather, but the real magic may be in the mind of the believer.

Have you ever dreamed about create a family tree that could trace your ancestors as far back as you can? Have you ever wondered if there were any exciting stories ever happened to any of your...

When given as gifts or portrayed in artwork, flowers served as silent messengers throughout the Medieval period. Their messages can still be understood and enjoyed today.

Cowboy boots with spurs are an iconic symbol of the American Frontier. They bring to mind a historical population--cowboys--and remain a fashionable staple even today.

Have you ever promised yourself to write a memoir to capture either your own or a friend or a family member's life story, but always found it a daunting task, and don't even know where to start? ...

Brace yourself, winter is approaching quickly. How bad will it be? Will we suffer through multiple ice and snow storms, or will we see a mild, pleasant winter? You can ask the animals to...

Wicker Man was a Druidic effigy built out wood and straw, then covered with grass to form a giant man. Legend states that the Druids packed the hollow statues with humans and animals and set them...

Hypnotism is a process that is often misunderstood. One common misconception is that hypnotism can be used to "brainwash" people into doing things against their will. However, hypnotism can be...

Ring games have been in existence for at least 200 years. The origins of such games are the subject of debate among folklorists.

Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. In Greek mythology, he's the god of medicine, healing, truth, archery and light, among other things. His twin sister, Artemis, is the goddess of hunting.

Fairy's are Gentle Creatures, If you would like to become one, then you will have to listen, and read BETWEEN the lines... everything I am telling you has something inside of it you need to find...

Is “Knock-Knock” falling away into the wax museum of chuckle history making way for more sophisticated high-speed humor? I doubt it, but this morning on a Sacramento “Good Day” show, veteran...

The list of the Seven Wonders of the World was created by historians during the Middle Ages. This list of man-made structures is meant to inspire awe and beauty. More recently, a list entitled the...

IT'S GAME DAY!!! For all you food and football fans out there, this is how to make the best darn taco sauce for those pre-game fixins! It’s easy, it’s delicious, it’s portable, and you can...

Seamlessly woven into everyday life, superstitions outlast culture after culture. For centuries, passers-by have avoided walking under ladders for fear of attracting bad luck. This superstition...

The word "Oriental" is typically meant to describe something originating in the area to the east of the Mediterranean Sea. Thus it describes a vast area including China, Japan, India, Russia, and...

As one of the most prominent Greek deities, Hermes (known as Mercury to the Romans) fulfilled numerous duties, but was most widely acknowledged as the messenger of the gods and the guide of the...

Japanese lanterns are a familiar site outside and inside of Japanese restaurants, in gardens during parties and in homes as decorations. Nowadays Japanese lanterns are mostly used to light...

The pagan Celts revered the sun as an extremely powerful symbol, associated with healing, fertility and a source of life. In the days of ancient Britain, where the weather was harsh and survival...

Across many cultures around the world, dice are used in games of chance or gambling. In an instant, the random toss of dice determines the unpredictable outcome of a game or wager. The symbol of a...

What is oral history? It is the knowledge, traditions, experiences, memories, celebrations, and customs that we or our ancestors have experienced. These experiences and living traditions provide...

Laurus nobilis, commonly referred to as a bay laurel or a daphne, grows as a tree that produces fresh bay leaves, often used in cooking. Mysticism surrounding this tree extends back to ancient Greece.

According to legend, Joseph Peavey was standing on the banks of the Penobscot River in Upper Stillwater, Maine, observing the yearly log drive when he had a revelation. The tools the log drivers...

The thumb ring is deeply rooted in history. It was used by medieval archers for protection from their bows and Chinese military officials to determine rank. Today, it has become more of a fashion...

Fate can be both a liberating and terrifying prospect for many. The concept goes back to ancient times and has been used as a justification for many events.

Lemuria is a mythical "lost land" or sunken continent held by some to have existed in the Indian ocean and others in the Pacific. The idea, first offered in the 19th century, is now considered...

The bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) is a large shrub that is native to the Mediterranean area. It has numerous historical and present uses.

For centuries the paper from birch trees has been used to decorate everything from candles and crafts to collecting and storing food. Native American tribesman lined their canoes and wigwams with...

How to stop swearing like a trucker is about using another word to replace the foul language or nasty word that you use so much ... changing the way you sound, Expanding your vocabulary! When...

Saltpeter, or potassium nitrate, is a chemical compound with the formula KNO3. It is used as a fertilizer and explosive, according to Princeton's WordNetWeb online.

Stories of the Old West are among the most-compelling aspects of American folklore. Because the United States shares a common border with Mexico, our histories are intertwined, and the...

The Rider Tarot deck, also known as the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, has established itself as one of the more recognizable mass-produced tarot decks. First designed and distributed in 1909, the deck...

Anyone traveling Route 232 (2nd Street Pike) through Wrightstown, Bucks Co. PA has noticed the unusual property near Swamp Road’s famous Octagonal Schoolhouse.

Everyone can use a little luck in their lives. Luckily for them, there are special lucky numbers that can be calculated for every person based on either their birthdays or their names. The...

Should you see a doorway with a water-filled plastic bag hung over it, you should know that flies are not likely to be inside. Flies, it seems, don't go where the water bags hang. So if you want...

The fabled phoenix was an awe-inspiring bird of extraordinary beauty and strength. The phoenix has been depicted in numerous ancient cultures, first referenced by Hesiod in the eighth century B.C....

Every Scorpio you meet will be slightly different. Just because two people are both Scorpios does not mean they will be exactly the same. However, there could be similar qualities that each...

Soma is a quasi-mythical beverage and ritual sacrament, which is the subject of 200 hymns in the ninth and oldest section of the ancient Indo-European text, the Rigveda. Its exact composition,...

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson invited Merriwether Lewis and William Clark to map the Missouri River. The famed Lewis and Clark expedition mapped over 1,000 uncharted miles beginning in Kentucky.

Mythology dates back centuries and recounted the firm religious beliefs of many cultures. For early Greek and Romans, Thule was a place of mystery and religious significance.