MYTHS

'The Headless Horseman Pursuing Ichabod Crane' by John Quidor (1801–1881).

6 Terrifying Tales of Headless Horsemen

The headless horseman from ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ is just one of several headless horsemen to haunt the globe.

Halloween isn't the only time of year to celebrate these cute kitties.

10 Facts About Black Cats

Black cats do not bring bad luck, and they aren’t necessarily harder to adopt than other cats. Here are more facts about these adorably dark furballs.

You never know what—or who—you'll encounter in these national parks.

6 Legendary Beings Who Haunt America’s National Parks

The parks offer thrill seekers, ghost hunters, and the brave alike another reason to visit.

Sailors in the early days of exploration may have believed that manatees were mermaids.

The Origins of 13 Mythical Creatures

Unicorns, mermaids, vampires, and leprechauns are some of the most widely known mythical creatures, but where did these legendary beings come from?

Cypress trees covered in Spanish moss in Louisiana's Manchac swamp.

The Legend (and Truth) of the Voodoo Priestess Who Haunts a Louisiana Swamp

Julia Brown sang, “One day I'm gonna die, and take the whole town with me.”

10 Myths About Donating Blood, Debunked

The rules for donating blood have recently changed.

11 Myths About Ticks, Debunked

Before venturing outdoors, read up on the most common myths about ticks.

Why Are Horseshoes Considered Lucky?

Horseshoes are said to bring in good fortune and keep evil out.

Some early explorers went looking for an legendary land named “Ultima Thule”—which may have been inspired by Iceland.

10 Legendary (and Probably Made-Up) Islands

These imaginary isles all have a place in world history, literature, or mythology—despite not having a place on the map.

Krampus seems more suited to Halloween than Christmas.

8 Legendary Monsters of Christmas

Fans of 'The Office' may recognize Belsnickel, but you should also get to know other Christmas monsters like Krampus and the Yule Lads.

Myths around Santa's little helpers actually predate Christmas and Christianity itself.

How Did Elves Become Part of Christmas?

Myths about elves predate Christmas and Christianity itself.

Many on Howard Carter’s (pictured) team fell victim to King Tut’s curse—though Carter himself was spared.

9 Victims of King Tut's Curse (And One Who Should Have Been)

When King Tut's tomb was discovered in 1922, some believed the Egyptian pharaoh unleashed a powerful curse upon all who dared to disturb his eternal slumber.

Men prevent a vampire rising from its grave in a Romanian cemetery in this 19th-century illustration.

7 Frightening Facts About Europe’s Real-Life Vampires

The belief in real-life vampires predates Bram Stoker's legendary novel 'Dracula.'

Fax or Fiction: When Urban Legends Spread By Fax Machine

“Faxlore" marked the transition from oral urban legends to spam emails and copypasta.

If you see a magpie, have an onion ready.

The History of 12 British Superstitions

When it comes to weird and wacky superstitions, the United Kingdom has developed some real oddities

The 'Titanic' has been the subject of a number of myths.

8 Twisted 'Titanic' Myths, Debunked

Take a look at some of the more enduring misconceptions surrounding history's most famous vessel.

5 Myths About Women Leaders From History

Larger-than-life figures tend to inspire myths that fit their reputation, and this is especially true of history’s famous female leaders.

Common Misconceptions About Cats, From Why They Meow to Whether They Hate You

Why do cats *really* purr? What’s the truth about black cat adoption rates? Find out the answers to those and other cat-related queries.

11 Animals That Can Purportedly Predict the Weather

Groundhogs aren't the only creatures with the powers of prognostication. From badgers to woolly bear caterpillars, these other animals are said to predict the weather.

Max Schreck as the vampire Count Orlok being destroyed by sunlight in Nosferatu (1921).

11 Monster Myths Invented By Hollywood

From werewolves to vampires, many classic monster myths attributed to folklore actually originated with horror movies.

Here's What Really Happens When You Swallow Gum

If you've managed to get this far in life without swallowing gum, you may ask yourself: Can ingesting gum really hurt you?

10 Facts About King Arthur, the Legendary Ruler of Camelot

The legend of King Arthur has continued to evolve across generations. Though there’s little evidence to suggest the man existed, the world is still enthralled by the myth and the world of Camelot.

An illustration from Hunefer's Book of the Dead.

Common Misconceptions About Ancient Egypt

Did Napoleon really shoot off the Great Sphinx’s nose? Was King Tut murdered? Those answers and more on this ‘Misconceptions.’

Their little faces judge you when you input PEZ one by one.

How to Load a PEZ Dispenser Correctly, According to PEZ

A viral TikTok recently suggested that you can load your PEZ without unwrapping it. But does it actually work?

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