MYTHS

The Dubious Legend of Virgil’s Pet Fly

Did the great poet really build a tomb for a household pest?

Why Is Easter Called “Easter”?

The origin of the word ‘Easter’ is linked to the ancient pagan goddess Ostara. But is she actually ancient?

Hares—not bunnies—once played a prominent role in spring celebrations.

The Surprisingly Controversial Origins of the Easter Bunny

Hares were once linked to a Germanic Pagan goddess who never even existed.

Time to get the facts straight on this fact of life.

9 Misconceptions About Menstruation

Should you be worried about animal attacks when you’re menstruating?

The “Tortoise and the Hare“ is a popular fable.

Fable vs. Folktale vs. Myth: What’s the Difference?

These narrative forms are similar, but not exactly the same.

Everybody gets to be Irish after they smooch this stone.

Where Does the Phrase ‘Gift of Gab’ Come From?

This St. Patrick’s Day, discover the origins of this old Irish idiom and how it all ties back to the Blarney Stone in Ireland.

There’s a lot people get wrong about the Central Intelligence Agency.

7 Misconceptions About the CIA

Yes, you can have a Facebook page and still join the CIA.

An illustration accompanying "The Haunted Cellar," published by Thomas Crofton Croker.

Meet the Clurichaun, the Leprechaun’s Lesser-Known (But Equally Impish) Cousin

Here’s a crash course in these infamously impish creatures, from how to tell one from a leprechaun to which clurichaun stories are worth reading.

You must be a lucky one of you find a four-leaf clover.

Why Are Four-Leaf Clovers Considered Lucky?

While the shamrock mainly has religious ties, the four-leaf clover—often mistaken for the same plant—is often associated with luck. We explain why.

8 Common Fears You (Probably) Don't Need to Worry About

There are things we’re all a little (or lot) afraid of, but the numbers tell us we don’t need to be. Read on for more statistically soothing details about some of the most common, but not commonly occurring, concerns.

Who Is the Man in the Moon?

People have been observing faces and figures on the moon for hundreds (if not thousands) of years. There’s a perfectly scientific explanation as to why.

A child witnessing the will-o’-the-wisps.

10 Captivating Creatures From Celtic Mythology

Although there are a few distinctive beasts that are place-specific, many ghosts, fairies, and goblins pop up in similar forms across the various Celtic mythologies.

Why Do We Say Storks Deliver Babies?

There comes a point in every child’s life when they ask where babies come from, and some parents—not wanting to explain the details of reproduction just yet—turn to the story of storks. We explore the origins of a myth that has been around for centuries.

A detail of a copy of Michelangelo’s ‘David’

12 Facts About the Penis

The male sexual organ is more complicated than it might seem.

6 Misconceptions About Cooking

Don’t believe everything your parents taught you about navigating the kitchen.

6 Misconceptions About the Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail had 4 to 10 percent death rate, which is lower than you might assume if you’ve played the computer game.

13 Fascinating Facts About Friday the 13th

Cut through the half-truths and urban legends to find out more about Friday the 13th, allegedly the unluckiest day on the calendar.

Jack Frost pops up in a number of wintery tales.

Who Is Jack Frost?

Most iterations of Jack Frost see him clad in icy blue and white, and as well as being responsible for nose-nipping, he’s also credited with creating frost. But where exactly did this mythical cold-weather figure originate?

8 Fascinating But Not-So-Jolly Legends About St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas may have inspired Santa Claus, but the two figures were remarkably different.

9 Facts About Krampus, St. Nick’s Demonic Companion

St. Nick brings the gifts. Krampus brings the pain. Here are some things you might not have known about Santa’s demonic companion.

Elf vs. Gnome: What's the Difference?

These two tiny titans of folklore might appear similar, but they couldn't be more different.

Crom Dubh na Nollaig looks incredibly similar to Krampus, pictured here.

Meet Crom Dubh na Nollaig, Scotland’s ‘Dark Crooked One of Christmas’

Scotland‘s Crom Dubh na Nollaig is a Christmas monster who scares children into behaving well.

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy ...

Talk is Sheep: Behind the Christmas Eve Myth That Animals Speak at Midnight

The Christmas legend that animals gain the power of speech on Christmas Eve has roots all the way back in the manger.

Stenciled human hands in a cave near Rio Pinturas, Argentina, dating from the last ice age.

5 Misconceptions About Early Humans

We break down some common myths about our early human ancestors—and what makes our species, ‘Homo sapiens,’ so different from them.