Legend
CategoryMyth and folklore, from national beliefs to local superstition and urban legend, are integral in all cultures and societies, both ancient and modern. In this category, we’ll explore a range of mysterious tales and places, from ancient monuments to modern myths – including the alligators of the New York sewers and the big cats of Britain.
Spooky London Legend: Whitechapel’s Dead Body Train
In the spirit of Halloween, it seemed appropriate to discuss an eerie London tale that may or may not be an urban legend – the Dead Body Train, which some say ran between Whitechapel Tube station and the Royal London Hospital.
America’s Most Haunted: The Whaley House, San Diego
The Whaley House in Old Town San Diego is reportedly haunted by the ghosts of several generations of the same family, including Thomas Whaley, a California settler who built the house for his wife and children.
Vernal Equinox: Where Science and Folklore Collide
Derived from a Latin term meaning “equal night”, equinoxes occur twice a year when the Sun crosses the plane of the Earth’s equator. Sacred to pre-Christians and Neopagans to this day, the vernal equinox is a magical time that symbolises rebirth and the coming of spring.
Rags to Ditches: Mysterious Celtic Clootie Wells
Even in our modern world, an ancient Celtic tradition that transcends paganism and Christianity persists in the British Isles. Characterised by strips of cloth or rags hanging from trees, clootie wells remain places of pilgrimage reputedly bestowed with magical healing properties.
Legendary Lost City of Atlantis Found in Southern Spain, Archeologists Claim
Atlantis, described by Plato in 360BC, is arguably the world’s most famous lost city. Debate over its existence has raged for thousands of years, but in the most compelling exploration to date, a team of archeologists claim to have discovered what could have been the doomed civilisation.
5 Eerie Urban Legends of the Supernatural World
This selection of chilling tales, from the bizarre Highgate Vampire to the sinister Bloody Mary, are told and retold around campfires and at parties across the world, and have been deeply enshrined within contemporary urban legend.
Giant Pterosaur Could Pole-Vault into the Air and Fly Thousands of Miles
As beautiful and majestic as the natural world is, there’s definitely something to be said about not living in the age of dinosaurs. Can you imagine going about your daily routine with with these giraffe-sized reptiles gliding above the urban landscape?
5 Eerie Urban Legends of the Natural World
We’ve all heard those bizarre stories that resurface in various forms over the years, gradually becoming ingraining into the annals of urban legend. Here are five tales of the natural world that may have mundane origins, but have been extrapolated over time.
7 Creepy Hotels to Ensure a Happy Haunted Halloween
Fancy spending Halloween night in a haunted hotel? If so, here are seven to thrill and frighten. And with such classy establishments, who can blame the spirits for returning to their “old haunts” and refusing to move on?
45 Captivating Images of England’s North Country
The North of England is a wild and windswept region, tempered by the relative civility of Roman occupation and forged thereafter by centuries of bloodshed. From Viking raiders to the Norman Conquest and the Border Wars to the Victorians, history and folklore are intricately woven within the fabric of this rugged region.
6 Fiery Festivals and Ancient Midsummer Traditions
Midsummer has long been a time when myth and reality converge, when deities dance in woodlands and fiery festivities mark the advent of Midsummer’s Day. Primarily a European tradition, different countries have their own unique and often colourful take on this festival. Let’s take a look at six of them.
Summer Solstice at Stonehenge
An eclectic mix of druids, hippies and sun worshippers gathered at Stonehenge this morning to watch dawn break on the longest day of the year.
The Fisherman’s Chapel and Maritime Myth
Our oceans abound with myth and legend, some of them mainstream and others obscure. But if there is one thing that can be said with any certainty, it is that mariners throughout the ages have been highly superstitious, and often very religious, types. Here we take a look at a selection of fisherman’s chapels where mariners would pray before venturing out on the ocean waves.
Rumoured Top Secret Aircraft That Probably Never Flew, Or Even Existed
There is nothing more fascinating in the aviation world than the “black projects” – aircraft programs that are so secret that even those with the highest security clearance have no idea they exist. But occasionally the veil of secrecy is accidentally lifted, offering a fleeting glimpse into this shadowy world. Here we take to the air with six of the world’s most classified aircraft (assuming they exist, that is!).
Drinking with Kings: 5 Fantastic Medieval Pubs
As many people know, the local pub is the cornerstone of British culture. Not only that, the country itself is rather old, meaning you can pop for a pint at establishments formerly visited by the likes of King Richard the Lionheart and Oliver Cromwell. Here is an assortment of medieval ale houses to whet your appetite as we near the weekend.
