Mysteries & Folklore
Folklore encompasses age-old customs, stories and beliefs passed down, often orally, within a culture or community. Discover the truth behind mysteries, legends and paranormal curiosities such as UFOs, the Bermuda Triangle, zombies, witches and more.
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Friday the 13th has inspired countless superstitions—as well as a 19th-century secret society, an early 20th-century novel and horror films.
The witch flying on her broomstick is a Halloween icon, possibly based on pagan fertility rituals, hallucinogenic herbs and church doctrine.
It remains one of the most perplexing mysteries in aviation history. Some blame the Bermuda Triangle.
A small news item in 1958 led to the modern version of the mythical wild man.
Loch Ness
Loch Ness Monster: Fact or Fiction?
Loch Ness expert Adrian Shine discusses his involvement with the Loch Ness Project and recaps his decades spent working to uncover the truth behind the Loch Ness monster.
3 Credible UFO Sightings
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Vampires are mythological beings who roam the world at night searching for people whose blood they feed upon.
Count Dracula was inspired by Central European folktales as well as historical accounts of the 15th-century Romanian prince Vlad Tepes, or Vlad the Impaler.
The Woman Who Named the Ouija Board and Later Feared Its Power
In 1890, medium Helen Peters helped give the Ouija board its name. But after the board accused a relative of theft and tore her family apart, she spent the rest of her life warning others that its answers might not be truthful.
Here’s how Mothman’s frightening origins gave way to a playful new image.
Witches have historically been people—mostly women—who practiced witchcraft, using spells and calling on spirits for help.
The Codex Gigas, or Devil's Bible, has a large illustration of a demon, making the medieval manuscript a source of fascination and fear.
The legendary philosopher's stone was alchemy's ultimate prize—even Isaac Newton devoted years searching for it.
A small news item in 1958 led to the modern version of the mythical wild man.
Here's how the undead took over modern pop culture.
From birds of prey with fearsome strength to rooster-snake hybrids capable of killing with their eyes, find out more about six legendary beasts from history.
Ancient people may have been crafting an archetypal villain.


