When you hear the phrase 10 obscure death, you might picture grim reapers or spooky graveyards. In reality, the world is brimming with death rituals that sound more like folklore than fact. Anthropologists have spent decades living among diverse cultures, documenting practices that range from the eerily ceremonial to the profoundly compassionate. Below, we dive into ten of the most baffling yet thought‑provoking customs ever recorded.

10 Obscure Death Practices Around the World

10 The ‘Wine Of The Corpse’ In Borneo

Southeast Asia is famed for its intricate and, to many Western eyes, unsettling funeral rites. Anthropologist Peter Metcalf observed that the Berawan people of Borneo treat the dead much like they do their cherished rice wine. After a person passes, the body is meticulously washed, displayed before the communal longhouse, and then placed in large, earthen jars, mirroring the storage of fermenting rice.

The decomposition liquid—akin to a potent brew—drains through a bamboo conduit into a secondary vessel, where it is collected. Meanwhile, the solid remnants of the corpse are interred in a traditional cemetery, keeping the two components distinct, much like separating the liquid from the grain in wine production.

Robert Hertz, studying the Ngaju of Borneo, noted a similar ritualistic split. He recorded that relatives, especially widows, are compelled—either daily or on set dates—to gather the fluid that seeps from the flesh, then either smear it on their own skin or stir it into their meals. This practice underscores a profound, symbolic communion with the deceased.

9 Compassionate Cannibalism In The Amazonian Rain Forest

The notion of cannibalism has long stirred both intrigue and horror among explorers. Yet, for the Wari tribe of the western Amazon, consuming a departed relative is an act of deep reverence. Anthropologist Beth Conklin described this as “compassionate cannibalism,” where the community believes the earth is a contaminating force, making burial an unclean option.

Because the lingering presence of a corpse can cause ongoing emotional distress, the Wari choose to have the body eaten. This ritual helps sever the living’s attachment to the physical form, allowing mourners to move forward. The act transforms the body from a source of grief into a nourishing element that supports the community’s continuity.

Conklin highlighted that the most unsettling part of the ceremony isn’t the consumption itself but the dismemberment preceding the roasting. Once the flesh is broken apart, it loses all resemblance to the beloved individual, easing the psychological burden on those who partake.

8 Bride Marriage In Japan

During World War II, northern Japan faced a tragic wave of young men dying before they could marry and sire children. Ellen Schattschneider documented this as a “bad death,” where unfulfilled spirits were believed to become restless, haunting their families unless proper rites were performed.

Modern practice still honors these unwed souls. A ceremonial marriage is arranged between the deceased’s spirit—symbolized by a photograph—and a “spirit bride,” represented by a meticulously crafted doll or figurine. Both items are sealed within a box that can be preserved for decades, allowing the spirit bride to accompany the departed for up to thirty years before they finally transition to the afterlife.

Similar customs, though more illicit, have been reported in China, where stolen corpses of unmarried women are used in comparable rituals, underscoring a cross‑cultural preoccupation with ensuring a peaceful passage for those who die without a partner.

7 Sky Burial In Mongolia

Historically, Mongolians often left their dead exposed to the elements, selecting open sites—usually beside rivers—where scavenging birds and animals could swiftly consume the remains. This “sky burial” allowed the body to return to nature in a dramatic, communal display.

In 1955, a socialist government deemed the practice antiquated and potentially unsanitary, mandating burial in the ground instead. The local population resisted, believing that interring a body invited evil spirits, a notion that clashed with the state’s push for modern, garden‑like cemeteries.

Anthropologist Gregory Delaplace noted the mixed outcomes of this reform. While many now receive conventional graves, the envisioned orderly, manicured cemeteries never fully materialized. Instead, the burial grounds remain sprawling, loosely arranged spaces that lack the neat aesthetic the authorities once hoped to achieve.

6 The Stigma Of Death While Alive In Japan

Japanese scholars have long examined the concept of the muenbotoke—the “disconnected spirit” of a person who dies childless or without descendants to tend their ancestral shrine. Such individuals are believed to linger without proper commemoration, creating a social stigma for those who might die “unrelated.”

In contemporary Yokohama, a quarter populated largely by homeless individuals and those lacking familial ties has sparked innovative funeral solutions. Jieun Kim documented charitable groups that coordinate with medical staff and volunteers to monitor residents, ensuring that when death occurs, bodies are promptly cremated and ritualized according to proper customs.

The remains are interred in a communal grave, where volunteers hold regular memorial services. This collective approach grants the departed the honored status of an ancestor, even in the absence of a traditional family network, thereby alleviating the lingering stigma associated with solitary death.

5 Constant Conversations With The Dead In India

When most people think of communicating with the dead, they picture seances or cryptic spirit mediums. The Sora tribe of India, however, maintains an ongoing dialogue with their ancestors, facilitated by a trance‑induced funeral shaman. These exchanges can persist for years after a loved one’s passing.

Piers Vitebsky recorded that in a village of roughly 500 inhabitants, conversations with the dead may occur anywhere from five times a week to ten times daily. The shaman mediates these talks, which often revolve around seeking answers: diagnosing illnesses, uncovering the cause of a death, or clarifying uncertainties that plague the living.

Vitebsky also noted a decline in this practice as younger generations adopt Hindu or Christian beliefs, deeming the constant communication “primitive.” Nonetheless, the tradition offers a vivid illustration of how some cultures keep the deceased intimately involved in daily life.

4 Biting The Dead And Restraining The Living Among The LoDagaa In West Africa

Jack Goody’s classic ethnographic study of the LoDagaa reveals a series of intense funeral rites. After death, the corpse is cleansed and anointed by elder women. For male decedents, the widow is strictly barred from assisting, as it is feared she might bite the corpse—a symbolic act thought to cause her own death by following her husband into the afterworld.

Following preparation, the body is extracted through a specially cut aperture in the courtyard wall and placed on a raised platform. The corpse can remain on display for months, allowing distant relatives and friends to pay their respects and view the deceased.

Complex rules also dictate that close kin who exhibit extreme emotional reactions during the ceremony are restrained with hide, fiber, and strings. This precaution aims to prevent self‑harm or suicide, which historically served as a dramatic expression of grief during LoDagaa funerals.

3 The Adoption Of Enemy Ghosts In Vietnam

The Vietnam War left a lingering spectral presence. Heonik Kwon observed that local villagers often construct shrines and make offerings to the spirits of fallen American soldiers—ghosts who died without proper burial and thus wander restlessly.

These war ghosts can be mischievous or even dangerous, with stories of them frightening young women or possessing the living, causing illness. Over time, many of these spirits have been assimilated into the local pantheon, treated with the same reverence as indigenous deities.

A common way to honor these wandering souls is the offering of “ghost money”—paper replicas of currency believed to aid the dead in navigating the afterlife. By providing these symbolic funds, the living aim to ease the spirits’ suffering and secure their own protection.

2 Voluntary Death Among The Siberian Chukchi

“Voluntary death,” where a person asks family members to end their life due to age or illness, has been documented among Siberian peoples for centuries. An 18th‑century explorer recorded a chilling anecdote: an elderly father instructed his son to hang him because he was no longer useful. After a botched first attempt, the son succeeded on a second try, illustrating the cultural weight placed on a swift passage to the afterworld.

Rane Willerslev reported that among some Chukchi groups today, the practice persists, framed as both an honorable duty and a tragic act. Relatives who comply are believed to help the deceased’s spirit ascend, yet the act remains a painful, morally complex decision.

Modern Russian law classifies such acts as homicide, leading to prosecution and imprisonment. Consequently, contemporary Chukchi families keep the tradition clandestine, balancing ancestral expectations with legal repercussions.

1 Child Death By Soul Loss In Bali

In Bali, the mysterious illness known as kesambet is blamed for many child deaths. The condition is thought to arise when a sudden fright or shock causes the soul to detach from the body, leaving the child vulnerable to fatal consequences.

Anthropologist Unni Wikan discovered that mothers can transmit this syndrome through breast milk “infected” by their own shock. Affected infants exhibit relentless crying, fever, and loss of appetite, often culminating in death if the underlying spiritual disturbance is not addressed.

To prevent kesambet, Balinese families strive to control emotional upheavals, avoiding loud noises and stressful environments for children. As one mother explained, “A mother must never be angry, never be sad; she must always manage her emotions,” underscoring the deep cultural link between emotional stability and child survival.

Plenty of truths masquerade as mysteries, and the world of research is full of those sneaky “almost‑facts” that keep scientists on their toes. In this roundup we dive into 10 unusual finds that upended long‑standing scientific beliefs, proving that even the most solid‑seeming ideas can be shaken.

10 Unusual Finds That Defy Expectations

10 The Aging Plateau

A widely accepted notion in gerontology is the so‑called “aging plateau,” where mortality rates supposedly level off at extreme ages. In plain English, the theory suggests that a 105‑year‑old isn’t any more likely to die in the next year than a 90‑year‑old. The underlying mechanisms remain murky, and not everyone is convinced.

Come 2018, a group of researchers threw a wrench into the idea. They argued that the data sets supporting the plateau were riddled with age‑recording errors. A handful of mis‑entries, they claimed, could dramatically tilt the statistical picture.

A study focusing on Italian lifespans did detect a plateau‑like pattern, yet the same researchers demonstrated that a hypothetical scenario where 1 in 500 entries were off by a large margin could produce an identical curve. Whether the plateau is real or an artifact of flawed data, the debate remains alive.

9 China’s Ozone Problem

Back in 2013, China’s smog was so thick that city skylines seemed to vanish. Within four years the nation achieved a remarkable 40 % reduction in PM 2.5 particles across the eastern regions—those tiny, hazardous particles that threaten respiratory health.

But the triumph came with an unexpected twist. As PM 2.5 levels fell, ground‑level ozone concentrations rose sharply. While ozone up high shields us from UV radiation, at the surface it behaves like a nasty pollutant, irritating lungs and eyes.

Surveys of megacities such as Beijing and Shanghai showed that the very measures that cleared the particulate fog also removed the atmospheric “sponge” that had been soaking up ozone‑producing chemicals. In short, the clean‑air victory unintentionally unleashed a new, invisible menace.

8 Nun With Blue Teeth

Around the year 1100, a nun from the Dalheim monastery in Germany met her end. Modern researchers examining her skeletal remains made a startling observation: her teeth were speckled with a vivid blue hue.

Advanced X‑ray spectroscopy identified the pigment as lapis lazuli, a semi‑precious stone prized in the Middle Ages for producing ultramarine—a pigment reserved for the most lavish illuminated manuscripts. The blue flecks turned out to be remnants of this precious paint lodged in her dental plaque, likely from years of licking brushes while copying texts.

This finding not only provides the first physical proof that some nuns engaged directly in manuscript illumination, but it also underscores the far‑reaching trade networks of the era. Lapis lazuli originated from mines in Afghanistan, a staggering 4,800 km away, indicating robust commercial links between medieval Germany and Central Asia.

7 Extra Denisovan Pulses

Scientists have long known that modern humans interbred with two extinct relatives: Neanderthals and Denisovans. Genetic analyses have revealed two distinct “pulses” of Denisovan DNA entering human populations, both traced to Siberia’s Altai Mountains.

A 2018 investigation expanded the search to 5,500 volunteers across Asia, Europe, and Oceania, uncovering evidence for a third, previously hidden pulse. The data showed that Denisovan genetic influence spread far beyond the Altai, surfacing in populations across East and Southeast Asia.

Even though fossil records of Denisovans are scarce, the study suggests they were once widespread enough to mingle repeatedly with migrating humans. One pulse appears in modern Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese groups, while another shows up in peoples of Papua New Guinea, pointing to multiple, geographically distinct interbreeding events.

6 Paternal Mitochondrial DNA

Mitochondria, the cell’s power plants, are famously passed down exclusively from mother to child; the paternal contribution is normally destroyed shortly after fertilization. This maternal inheritance rule has been a cornerstone of genetics for decades.

In 2018, a Cincinnati‑based team published findings that turned this dogma on its head. They discovered 17 individuals whose mitochondrial DNA bore signatures from both parents. Moreover, the paternal DNA exhibited three possible behaviors: complete exclusion, a modest contribution, or even a dominant takeover that eclipsed the maternal genome.

The study also highlighted a familial pattern: ten members across three generations in a single family displayed biparental inheritance, echoing a 2002 Danish case where a man appeared to inherit 90 % of his father’s mitochondrial DNA. These observations suggest that paternal mitochondrial transmission, while rare, is a real biological phenomenon.

5 Meat‑Eating Hares

Snowshoe hares in Canada are textbook herbivores, munching on twigs and bark during the brief summer months. Yet a serendipitous study near the Alaskan border revealed a shocking twist: these hares also turn carnivorous, and even practice cannibalism.

Researchers installed a remote camera trail equipped with hare carcasses as bait, hoping to capture predators in action. Over 2.5 years, the footage documented twenty instances of living hares feasting on the dead bodies of their own kind.

Beyond scavenging fellow hares, the hungry rodents didn’t discriminate. In one startling episode, a snowshoe hare was observed devouring a dead Canada lynx—its primary predator. The hares also gnawed on bird feathers, an odd dietary addition that offers little nutritional value and remains a mystery.

Scientists interpret this behavior as a survival strategy. When winter’s freeze strips the landscape of vegetation, any protein source becomes a valuable resource, prompting hares to expand their menu far beyond the usual leafy fare.

4 How Tornadoes Really Form

Conventional wisdom taught that tornadoes originate high in storm clouds, then stretch a funnel down to the earth. A 2018 study flipped that narrative, presenting evidence that the rotation actually begins at ground level.

Climatologists have long chased these violent columns. Notable events include twin EF1 tornadoes in Kansas (2012), an EF3 in Oklahoma (2011), and the record‑breaking EF5 that ripped through El Reno in 2013, spanning a staggering 4.2 km. Researchers stationed on a hilltop captured the birth of one such tornado, detecting rotational signatures a mere 10 m above the surface.

Subsequent analysis of three additional tornadoes revealed the same pattern: wind shear and rotation start near the ground, then draw upward, overturning the long‑held belief that the funnel’s genesis lies aloft.

3 Lizard That Breathes Underwater

A group of tiny lizards known as anoles have been the subject of countless studies over the past half‑century. Despite this intensive scrutiny, a particular species— the Costa Rican river anole—pulled off a stunt that left scientists baffled.

In 2018, biologists teamed up with filmmakers to capture the creature’s underwater antics. The footage revealed that, rather than simply holding its breath, the anole maintained active respiration while submerged.

A female specimen was observed with a translucent bubble perched atop its head. Over a ten‑minute interval, the bubble rhythmically expanded and contracted, suggesting the lizard was recycling oxygen in a way never before documented in vertebrates. How the animal stores and re‑uses this oxygen remains a tantalizing mystery.

2 Vitamin D Is Not A Vitamin

Vitamin D has long been hailed as a health panacea, with governments and doctors urging higher intake to stave off a litany of ailments. The most recent massive clinical trial—over 500,000 participants and 188,000 recorded fractures—found no link between vitamin D supplementation and reduced bone breaks.

Turns out, vitamin D isn’t a true vitamin at all; it’s technically a steroid hormone. Its soaring popularity stems from outdated 1980s research and savvy marketing by supplement manufacturers.

Because the nutrient can also be absorbed through sunlight and diet, many people inadvertently overdose. Yet, the medical community still lacks a clear definition of what constitutes a deficiency. Ironically, higher doses (exceeding 800 IU) have been associated with an increased fracture risk, challenging the long‑standing belief in its protective power.

1 Mona Lisa’s Gaze

The legendary “Mona Lisa effect” claims Leonardo da Vinci’s portrait follows viewers wherever they move, a phenomenon that has fascinated art lovers for centuries.

When a team of AI researchers set out to program avatars that could truly lock eyes with humans, they included the Mona Lisa as a benchmark. Mid‑experiment, they realized the painting’s eyes weren’t actually tracking anyone.

To verify, volunteers were shown the artwork on a screen with a ruler marked with numbers. Participants selected the number intersecting the gaze, then repeated the task after the ruler was repositioned.

The collected data revealed that Mona Lisa’s stare is offset by about 15.4 degrees to the right of the viewer, debunking the myth of an all‑seeing gaze and prompting a fresh look at why the illusion endures.

Throughout the bulk of anthropological history, a council of gods and unseen forces called the shots for humanity. In this roundup of 10 ancient finds, we’ll peek into the moments when the world felt truly magical and spell‑bound.

10 Ancient Finds That Reveal Mystical Beliefs

10 Scrolls For Tortured Souls

Surveyors working in the Serbian town of Kostolac uncovered a long‑forgotten burial zone that harks back to Viminacium, a Roman outpost dating to the fourth century BC and once home to roughly 40,000 residents. The excavation unearthed a handful of 2,000‑year‑old skeletons alongside two enigmatic lead amulets.

Inside those tiny leaden charms lay minuscule scrolls fashioned from gold and silver. Known to scholars as “curse tablets,” these little parchments were designed to summon otherworldly powers to affect friends, family, or enemies of the one who crafted them.

The presence of such magical scrolls hints that the amulet bearers met violent ends. Archaeologists believe that tortured souls were most likely to encounter the demonic messengers that relay messages to higher after‑life offices, so these cursed artifacts were buried with the violently murdered.

Deciphering the tablets will be a tall order for the foreseeable future. The scripts use a Greek alphabet to write an Aramaic language, creating a linguistic puzzle that scholars have yet to untangle.

9 Galilean Tomb Magic

Tomb‑raiding has plagued humanity since the first burial mounds, and in Southern Galilee the dead fought back with curses etched onto the walls of the Beit She’arim necropolis. The catacombs, dating to the early centuries AD, feature graffiti in Greek, Hebrew, Palmyrene, and Aramaic – the lingua franca of the Near East.

Roman and pagan influences also appear, most notably in the sarcophagi that line the “Cave of Coffins,” a practice borrowed directly from Roman burial customs. The inscriptions express wishes for a peaceful resurrection, a sentiment not traditionally part of Jewish belief.

Greek magical spells dominate the walls, offering protection and serenity to the interred while invoking plagues on anyone who dares disturb the sacred bones.

8 The Catalhoyuk Statuette

Turkey’s most prolific Neolithic site, Çatalhöyük, flourished from about 7,500 BC for nearly two millennia. Among its many treasures is a recently uncovered 7‑inch marble figurine of a woman.

The statue immediately draws attention because the figure is noticeably fuller‑figured than typical female depictions from other ancient cultures. Similar, smaller figurines have been found across Europe and the Middle East, but few match this one’s size and craftsmanship.

While earlier researchers labeled such statues as fertility goddesses, a newer interpretation suggests they may honor respected elder women of the community. The society seemed to value both age and corpulence, as a larger body signaled a sedentary, possibly bureaucratic, role within the egalitarian settlement.

7 Re‑Used Roman Coffin

Even with a lingering fear of hexes, Roman Britons apparently felt comfortable recycling coffins, as evidenced by a burial at Dorset Quarry, England. Archaeologists uncovered an open‑faced stone sarcophagus holding the remains of a man who died between 1,500 and 2,000 years ago.

Only about a hundred such burials have surfaced across former Roman Britain, with eleven discovered at this very quarry. The individual, aged roughly 20‑30, likely held a status that warranted a relatively elaborate interment.

Curiously, the coffin is undersized for the 177‑centimetre (5 ft 10 in) skeleton; the deceased’s feet were bent back to fit the cramped space. Researchers infer the sarcophagus was repurposed, passed down like a grim family heirloom.

6 Moche Ritual Cat Claws

The Moche of northern Peru, thriving from AD 100 to 800, were master temple builders and metalworkers. A recent discovery at the Huaca de la Luna (Temple of the Moon) site revealed a dazzling pair of metal cat claws placed within a tomb.

The burial also contained a male skeleton, a mask, bronze earrings, a copper scepter, and assorted ceramics. The claws likely held symbolic, rather than combative, value—perhaps advertising the owner’s noble standing or societal influence.

Like many of their neighbors, the Moche engaged in brutal ritual combat. Scholars believe two warriors clashed in elaborate costume, with the victor receiving the cat‑claw ornaments while the defeated was sacrificed.

5 Shamanic Animal Bone Burial

A 12,000‑year‑old Natufian burial cave near the Hilazon River in Galilee showcases a six‑stage interment process that feels straight out of a witch‑craft manual. Of the roughly 30 bodies recovered, one appears to be a female shaman.

Her grave was surrounded by an eclectic collection of animal parts: a bovine tailbone, an eagle wing, a pig leg, a leopard pelvis, 86 tortoise shells, deer bones, and even a human foot. The burial began with an oval pit lined with plaster and stone slabs, followed by successive layers of animal remains and flint tools, then the shaman’s body, and finally a topping of more bones and a triangular stone slab sealing the tomb.

Such a complex rite is unexpected for a period often considered pre‑agricultural, but the Natufians were among the first groups to abandon a purely nomadic lifestyle, making this elaborate ceremony a reflection of their evolving cultural sophistication.

4 The Vestal Virgin Hairdo

In ancient Rome, hairstyles were more than fashion—they acted as visual badges of age, gender, and social rank. While most ancient coiffures have vanished, one style has been resurrected thanks to self‑styled hair‑archaeologist Janet Stephens.

Inspired by Roman busts, Stephens spent seven years reconstructing the “seni crines,” a six‑braid arrangement that once crowned the heads of Rome’s famed Vestal Virgins, the celibate priestesses devoted to the hearth goddess Vesta.

This elaborate braid symbolized the virgins’ sacred role as caretakers of the eternal flame, turning a simple hairstyle into a powerful emblem of religious devotion.

3 Medusa Good‑Luck Charm

Medusa, the snake‑haired Gorgon whose gaze could petrify, is usually linked with villainy, yet she once served as a talisman of good fortune. In the first‑century Roman city of Antiochia ad Cragum in southern Turkey, archaeologists uncovered a marble Medusa head.

This sculpture functioned as a pagan apotropaic charm, designed to repel evil and bestow divine protection upon the settlement. Numerous similar Medusa heads once adorned the city, but many were smashed when Christians later destroyed pagan imagery.

The find underscores how ancient peoples could flip a fearsome monster into a protective emblem, turning terror into a source of luck.

2 Monument To The River God

Ancient societies were obsessed with appeasing deities, and when the river god Harpasos visited Flavius Ouliades in a vivid dream nearly 2,000 years ago, the Roman‑era man erected a marble shrine beside the Akçay River in southeastern Turkey.

The monument was intended to draw Harpasos’s favor, ensuring bountiful harvests and flood‑free seasons. Scholars debate the scene’s exact mythological reference: it might depict Hercules’s son Bargasos defeating a hostile river monster, or it could honor Hercules himself after his battle with the many‑headed hydra.

Either way, the dedication reflects the deep desire to secure divine blessings for agricultural prosperity.

1 Egyptian Spells Of Manipulation

Ancient Egyptian magic covered every human desire, especially matters of the heart. Two recently deciphered papyri from Oxyrhynchus, written in Greek about 1,800 years ago, reveal love‑focused spells capable of mind control.

One spell promises to subjugate a male target to the caster’s will, while the other, aimed at women, claims to “burn a woman’s heart” until she falls hopelessly in love with the enchanter.

These versatile incantations were open‑ended: the practitioner simply inserted a name, and the spell would unleash intense, often uncontrollable, passion upon the chosen victim.

People who lived in the past had some pretty crazy ideas about the world, and among the most bewildering were the 10 insane medical notions that shaped their everyday lives. From ridiculous diet hacks to supernatural explanations, these beliefs made the Salem Witch Trials and Flat Earth Theory look as tame as a folded blanket.

10 Insane Medical Practices Unveiled

10 The Tapeworm Diet

Just over a century ago, cultural pressures pushed women toward extreme slenderness, yet shedding weight rapidly proved challenging for many. In response, the health trade marketed diet capsules allegedly infused with live tapeworms. It eventually became clear that, although tapeworms can indeed trim the waist, they also bring on diarrhea, nutrient shortages, sleeplessness, and overall malnutrition.

Modern scholars still debate the factuality of the practice. The sole proof consists of vintage ads and anecdotal whispers. Nonetheless, those promos reveal a clear demand for tapeworm‑laden pills, irrespective of their genuine contents. While U.S. law now forbids the commercial sale of tapeworms, internet marketplaces still list them as slimming aids, and unsuspecting buyers inevitably suffer adverse health effects.

9 Bat Blood Cures Blindness

The humid, swamp‑filled banks of the Nile plagued ancient Egyptians with frequent ocular infections. To counter this nuisance, physicians devised a remedy that involved dripping the blood of bats directly into the afflicted eyes.

The reasoning, while odd to modern eyes, made sense to the Egyptians: nocturnal bats were presumed to possess superior vision, so their blood was thought to carry restorative visual powers. Contemporary science, however, reveals that bats see poorly and rely on sonar rather than sharp sight.

8 Having Sex With Virgins Cures STDs

By the sixteenth century, syphilis swept across Europe as a dreaded scourge. Observers recognized its transmission through sexual contact, yet a grotesque misinterpretation emerged: the supposed cure involved intercourse with a virgin.

The prevailing belief held that syphilitic sufferers were tainted by immoral deeds, while virgins embodied an unblemished purity capable of cleansing the infection. Consequently, even into the nineteenth century, afflicted individuals pursued virgin partners as a remedy, only to witness the strategy backfire as the disease spread further.

Simultaneously, mercury was hailed as a panacea for the pox. Patients immersed themselves in mercury baths and applied mercury salves, frequently succumbing to lethal mercury poisoning. Though mercury persisted as a syphilis treatment well into the twentieth century, its true effects were severe dental decay, neurological injury, and mortality.

7 Cannibalism Cures Everything

Bizarre as it may appear, Renaissance Europe witnessed a surprisingly widespread practice of employing prepared human flesh as a remedy for a myriad of conditions, from epilepsy and nausea to the ordinary cold. Members of the elite—royalty and clergy alike—consumed human meat and massaged human fat onto their skin. Culinary curiosities even included marmalades infused with human blood, sometimes served uncooked as a luxurious libation. By the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, such macabre therapies rivaled the popularity of traditional herbal cures.

This grim culinary trend likely traced its roots to ancient Greek and Roman doctrines. Greek physicians, adhering to Galenic theory, posited that disease resulted from bodily imbalance, remedied by ingesting healthy organs matching the afflicted region—such as powdered skull fragments for headaches. The Romans, on the other hand, pioneered the consumption of human blood to treat epilepsy, convinced that the vitality of prematurely deceased individuals could be harvested by drinking the plasma of fallen gladiators.

The European descent into cannibalism progressed incrementally. Initially, they powdered the remnants of pilfered Egyptian mummies, then moved to ground skulls, and ultimately progressed to the consumption of actual human flesh. The primary sources were deceased beggars, lepers, and condemned criminals. Echoing Roman thought, practitioners believed that ingesting these bodies would transfer the lost years of the victims to the patient. This belief endured for an extraordinary span, yet by the eighteenth century the notion of cannibalism as legitimate medicine largely faded.

6 Women Had Roving Uteruses

The concept of a migratory womb stemmed from ancient Greek theory, which imagined the uterus roaming within a woman’s body to chase pleasant aromas while fleeing offensive ones. Moreover, excessive labor and prolonged sexual abstinence were believed to provoke the womb’s wandering.

Proponents claimed that a roaming uterus triggered a spectrum of physical and psychological maladies, collectively labeled “hysteria.” Manifestations encompassed fatigue, headaches, vertigo, choking sensations, suffocation, and heartburn. While men exhibited comparable symptoms, their genitalia were never implicated. To remedy the errant womb, physicians suggested either enticing it home with fragrant vaginal suppositories and the ingestion or inhalation of foul odors (occasionally even feces), or alternatively, inducing pregnancy.

Society required more than two millennia to abandon the wandering womb doctrine. Although the notion largely vanished from medical textbooks during the Enlightenment, hysteria continued to be treated as a legitimate condition for centuries thereafter. By the eighteenth century, the ailment was reattributed to women’s supposedly impressionable and compromised brains—a belief that lingered well into the mid‑twentieth century.

5 Penises Should Be Cultivated Like Houseplants

Historically, physicians relied on the “theory of humors” to interpret health and bodily composition. This model posited that the four universal elements—earth, air, water, fire—mirrored four bodily qualities: cold, dry, moist, and hot. Men were thought to possess a warm, dry constitution, purportedly fostering penile growth, whereas women were deemed cold and moist, akin to icy marshes, and thus unsuited for such development.

One might assume that the ancient Greeks—renowned for geometry and democracy—would recognize that flora thrive under sunlight’s warmth and adequate hydration, yet they apparently overlooked moisture’s role in this analogy. Moreover, the notion that vaginas possess frigid temperatures is biologically inaccurate.

4 Spiderwebs Combat Malaria

Centuries ago, malaria ravaged populations with alarming fatality rates and lacked an effective remedy. Prior to the introduction of quinine and contemporary drugs, sufferers turned to the notion that ingesting the delicate protein filaments excreted from spider abdomens could defeat the disease.

Naturally, they did not simply gnaw on raw webs—a barbaric notion. Instead, apothecaries encased spider silk within tablets for malaria patients. Predictably, the treatment proved ineffective, prompting physicians to advise consuming whole spiders sautéed in butter alongside the web pills, a method that likewise failed. Italians even promoted a peculiar remedy: transporting a live spider sealed within a walnut shell, which offered no benefit.

Fortunately, modern medicine has abandoned the need to ingest arachnids or their silk for malaria. Following quinine’s arrival in Europe during the 1600s, the spider‑web cure fell into obscurity.

3 Smoking Tobacco Cures Asthma And Cancer

Upon reaching the Americas, Europeans encountered tobacco, noting indigenous peoples inhaling it during sacred rituals and for therapeutic reasons. They transported a modest supply back to Europe. By the mid‑sixteenth century, transatlantic routes enabled mass shipment, and smoking quickly became a continent‑wide craze.

Within decades, tobacco’s popularity exploded. Even faster, advocates proclaimed it a divine medicinal herb capable of resolving every illness, despite no empirical proof. Physician Nicolas Monardes asserted that tobacco could remedy thirty‑six conditions, cancer among them, while the public also believed it alleviated asthma. Such convictions persisted well into the 1920s.

Medical professionals only began documenting smoking‑related health hazards in the 1930s. Several decades thereafter, research conclusively linked tobacco use to the onset and worsening of numerous diseases, notably asthma and cancer.

2 Elves Cause Illness

Whether you picture Santa’s industrious elves or forest dwellers baking treats, your charming mental image of elves is about to be shattered. In medieval Europe, such benign portrayals did not exist because many believed elves allied with the devil, intent on afflicting humans with disease by firing miniature arrows.

Despite the terrifying notion of demonic elves brandishing tiny bows, multiple cultures embraced this belief. Scandinavians spoke of dark elves sowing relentless mischief, chiefly spreading lethal illnesses. The English shared the conviction that elves induced disease, while the Scots asserted that elf‑shot arrows triggered internal agony and could plague both humans and livestock. Victims of these “elf‑shots” underwent exorcism‑style treatments: herbal smoke to drive out spirits, fervent prayers, and consumption of holy water to repel elf‑borne ailments.

1 The Healing Properties Of Dog Poop

Undoubtedly, each of us has endured a scratchy throat and searched for any balm to ease the irritation. Yet few could imagine ingesting canine excrement as a remedy, though in the Middle Ages this was a surprisingly prevalent cure. Practitioners hunted for white dog feces, ground the desiccated material into a fine powder, and blended it with honey to coat a sore throat.

While the therapeutic efficacy remains uncertain, the hazards of eating dog waste vastly exceed any conceivable gain. Potential side effects encompass nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, and even hemorrhagic diarrhea. It’s remarkable that any descendants of medieval Europeans have survived to the present.

Research notes credit Julie Battin, a student at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, for documenting this peculiar practice.

Misinformation has been a constant companion of humanity—whether it’s a harmless rumor or a full‑blown urban legend, it spreads like wildfire. One day a quirky claim pops up, the next it’s plastered across social feeds, and before you know it, more people have heard the false version than the factual one. Once that story is out there, pulling it back in is a near‑impossible feat. All we can really do is shine a light on the truth.

10 common pop Myths Overview

10 Tang Was Not Made For Astronauts

Back in the 1960s, the orange‑flavored powdered drink Tang became inseparably linked with NASA’s space missions. The connection wasn’t because the beverage was engineered for orbit; it was a clever marketing push that painted Tang as a space‑age staple while still being sold on grocery shelves.

Astronauts did sip Tang up there, but the drink wasn’t born out of a desire to feed crews. Its powdered form simply made it convenient for the limited storage conditions of a spacecraft.

Introduced to the market in 1959, Tang never really captured the public’s imagination. Even in orbit the drink fell flat—Buzz Aldrin famously called it “sucks”—and water in space, due to the way it’s processed, also tastes pretty awful.

In 1960, a NASA official saw Tang’s potential and began purchasing it in bulk, referring to it only as “orange crystals.” After John Glenn carried a few packets aloft, General Mills seized the moment, shouting from the rooftops that Tang was the astronaut drink, even though the company never claimed to have invented it for space.

The marketing campaign subtly suggested NASA had created Tang, and General Mills never corrected that misconception, letting the myth linger for decades.

9 Hobbits Were Never Described as Having Big Feet

When we think of Tolkien’s Middle‑earth, the first thing that comes to mind is the tiny, shoe‑less folk with hair‑covered feet. Yet many fans picture Hobbits with oversized, comical feet—a notion that never appears in Tolkien’s own prose.

Tolkien did describe their soles as leathery and covered in hair because they never wore shoes, but he never called them gigantic. His own illustrations never featured exaggerated foot size either.

The myth of big feet began when 1970s fantasy artists, notably the Hildebrand Brothers, took artistic liberties and gave Hobbits disproportionately large feet in their drawings. Those images became the first visual exposure many readers had, cementing the false belief that Hobbits naturally possess giant feet.

8 Chinese Checkers Has Nothing To Do With China

Board‑gaming enthusiasts often assume Chinese Checkers hails from the Middle Kingdom, but the game’s lineage is far more tangled. Its surge in American popularity during the 1930s masks a European origin.

The game actually evolved from the German‑created Halma, which itself was a spin‑off of an American pastime from the late 1800s. Pressman Co. later slapped an Oriental‑themed package on the game, branding it “Chinese” to add exotic flair and boost sales.

7 Garfield Was Never Meant to be Funny

If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a Garfield strip, you’re not alone. Creator Jim Davis openly admits that the comic wasn’t crafted for laughs. Instead, it was built as a licensing goldmine.

In a 1982 interview, Davis explained that while other comic animals—like Snoopy—were gaining popularity, cats were largely absent from the syndication scene. He saw a lucrative opening for a cat that could be merchandised to the moon and back.

Davis deliberately kept the jokes simple and repetitive, focusing less on humor and more on building a brand. He reportedly spent as much as 60 hours a week on promotion and licensing, compared to 14 hours actually drawing the comic.

That commercial focus explains why Garfield’s face adorns everything from T‑shirts to coffee mugs and even a pizza joint in Kuala Lumpur—because the creator’s aim was profit, not punchlines.

6 The Star Trek Theme Song Actually Has Lyrics

The iconic opening of the original Star Trek series is widely recognized as a soaring instrumental. Yet, many viewers don’t realize that the piece originally came with a set of lyrics penned by series creator Gene Roddenberry.

Composer Alexander Courage crafted the memorable melody, and his contract entitled him to royalties each time the theme aired. When the deal was renegotiated a year later, Roddenberry secured the right to add lyrics, which he did—though they were never used on the show.

Those unused words granted Roddenberry co‑authorship, meaning he earned half the royalties. He reportedly told Courage, “I need to make money somewhere else, because the profits from Star Trek aren’t going to cover it,” cementing the business‑first mindset behind the famous tune.

5 Solo Cup Lines Are Not For Measuring Alcohol

College parties often feature the classic red Solo cup, and a persistent myth claims the faint lines printed inside the cup indicate specific drink volumes—12 oz for beer, 5 oz for wine, and 1 oz for a shot.

Solo’s manufacturers have clarified that those lines are not measurement guides. They are simply a by‑product of the cup‑forming process, serving a functional purpose unrelated to beverage quantities.

Beyond that, why would anyone bother measuring their wine or beer in a disposable plastic cup when a proper glass or shot glass exists? The lines are decorative, not a built‑in bartender.

4 Back to the Future Was Never Supposed to Have a Sequel

The 1985 blockbuster Back to the Future wrapped up with Doc Brown soaring in his time‑traveling DeLorean, hinting at future adventures. However, that “to‑be‑continued” moment was originally a tongue‑in‑cheek joke, not a genuine setup for sequels.

Producers never intended a follow‑up; the ending was meant as a playful nod. When the film became a massive hit, studio executives retrofitted the ending, adding a “to be continued” banner to the theatrical prints, forcing a sequel that was never part of the original plan.

3 Schrodinger’s Cat Metaphor Was Not Meant to Be Serious

Schrödinger’s famed feline thought experiment is often presented as a literal paradox: a cat locked in a box is simultaneously alive and dead until observed. Physicists use it to illustrate quantum superposition, but the original intent was more tongue‑in‑cheek.

Erwin Schrödinger himself recognized the absurdity of the scenario. He deliberately chose a cat—a creature most people love—to highlight how ridiculous it would be to let an observer decide reality’s state, thereby critiquing the prevailing interpretations of quantum mechanics.

2 Seinfeld’s Festivus Was a Real Event in One Writer’s Home

Fans of Seinfeld instantly picture the aluminum pole, the “airing of grievances,” and the “feats of strength.” While the show treated Festivus as a fictional holiday, its roots are very real.

Writer Dan O’Keefe based the episode on a genuine family tradition his father forced upon them. The original Festivus was even more chaotic than the sitcom version, lacking a set date, official rituals, or any formal structure.

1 Bram Stoker Didn’t Intend for Dracula to Be a Work of Fiction

When The Blair Witch Project claimed to be a true story, audiences were spooked. Bram Stoker’s Dracula, though a classic of horror fiction, was originally marketed by the author as a factual account.

Stoker told his editor that the characters Jonathan and Mina Harker were real acquaintances who recounted their terrifying experiences, hoping the “true story” angle would boost sales.

His editor balked, noting the novel appeared shortly after the Jack the Ripper murders and that a supernatural tale presented as fact would be hard to sell. Consequently, Stoker was forced to cut over a hundred pages, including the opening that framed the narrative as a true account.

Some elements Stoker incorporated were based on real events, such as the ship Demeter—modeled after an actual vessel named Dmitri that wrecked while transporting cargo, with crew members reporting a mysterious black dog near a cemetery.

Whether Stoker’s claim of truth was a genuine belief, a marketing ploy, or a playful tease remains a mystery lost to history.

In the age of social media, the line between quirky and downright bizarre has blurred, and the phrase “top 10 more” now summons images of celebrities spouting theories that make you raise an eyebrow. From claims that dragons nest under Tulsa to ideas that math itself is a conspiracy, we dive into the most outlandish convictions held by some of the biggest names in entertainment.

10 Lady Gaga Gets Her Ideas From . . . Within

According to the avant‑garde pop icon Lady Gaga, the wellspring of her creativity resides in the very essence of her femininity—specifically, the fluids produced by her vagina. The “Born This Way” singer insists that women are fundamentally different from what conventional science tells us, and she claims that any sexual activity siphons away this creative reservoir, leaving her in a perpetual state of loneliness.

Gaga appears steadfast in her conviction, and while many might label her stance as pseudoscientific, there’s a strange pathos to her belief. If her theory holds water—pun intended—perhaps bottled water companies should consider a new line featuring the “essence of female creativity,” though the marketing copy would be a challenge to finish.

Regardless of the controversy, the pop star remains unwavering, convinced that her artistic spark is intimately tied to a part of her anatomy that most of us never consider a muse.

9 Missy Elliott And Black Cats

Superstitions abound, from avoiding stair‑climbing strangers to steering clear of ladders. Missy Elliott, however, adds a twist: the sight of a black cat triggers a full‑blown re‑planning of her day. She acknowledges that many deem her behavior “crazy,” yet she remains unfazed, insisting that a feline crossing her path demands immediate logistical recalibration.

While most superstitions have practical roots—like preventing accidents—Elliott’s belief leans heavily on folklore surrounding witches’ familiars and the devil. She admits that people label her as eccentric, but she doesn’t care; the black cat remains a powerful omen in her personal mythos.

8 Kyrie Irving Is (Kinda) A Flat‑Earth Advocate

NBA star Kyrie Irving, known for his on‑court wizardry, has also dabbled in cosmological controversy. Though he later softened his flat‑Earth proclamations, Irving’s curiosity extends to other fringe ideas: he muses that the Federal Reserve might have orchestrated JFK’s assassination and that the CIA could have been behind Bob Marley’s murder.

Even if his theories sound outlandish, Irving’s basketball prowess often overshadows his conspiratorial musings. Fans may overlook his speculation that Oprah and Cap’n Crunch conspired to dominate Venezuela for a Nazi‑run lunar colony, focusing instead on his slam‑dunk abilities.

7 M.I.A. Believes Google and Facebook Are Government Pawns

While tech giants already navigate a complex dance with governments, M.I.A. pushes the narrative further, asserting that both Google and Facebook operate directly under world‑government control. This viewpoint dovetails with the broader “New World Order” conspiracy, which posits a secret cabal seeking global domination.

The theory stumbles on a lack of concrete evidence, and its internal logic often unravels under scrutiny. Yet, if M.I.A.’s claim were true, the solution would be simple: abandon the platforms. The catch? In a world where these services dominate communication, opting out is far easier said than done.

Nevertheless, the track “Paper Planes” remains a timeless anthem, regardless of the alleged shadowy oversight.

6 Randy Quaid Thinks Hollywood Is Plotting His Demise

Randy Quaid, a veteran actor, contends that a clandestine Hollywood cabal is actively seeking his elimination. While the claim sounds like a Hollywood thriller, Quaid insists there’s a network of assassins targeting the brightest stars, and he’s somehow on their hit list.

Speculation abounds: Was Quaid once an insider? An agent? Or perhaps a secret operative? The mystery deepens as he likens his situation to a real‑life version of John Wick, perpetually on the run from unseen foes.

5 Mutya Buena Adds a Conspiracy to Another

Former Sugababe Mutya Buena has taken the art of layering conspiracies to new heights. After Robbie Williams revived the infamous “Pizzagate” narrative, Buena compounded the chaos by claiming the COVID‑19 pandemic is a smokescreen orchestrated by a shadowy elite to distract from a bizarre trial involving Hillary Clinton allegedly cutting a child’s face in a Washington pizza shop.

She further implicates former President Obama, Bill Clinton, and Oprah, weaving a tangled web that suggests a worldwide cabal pulling strings behind every major event. The result? A perfect storm of bewildering speculation that epitomizes peak idiocy.

4 Alicia Silverstone Believes Birds Have the Right Idea

Hollywood star Alicia Silverstone, alongside Mayim Bialik, champions a feeding method reminiscent of avian behavior: adults chew their children’s food and then spit it into the toddlers’ mouths. The logic? If it works for birds, perhaps it works for humans.

Critics point out that humans are mammals, not birds, and the practice offers no clear nutritional advantage beyond helping infants ingest foods they might otherwise struggle with. Nevertheless, Silverstone and Bialik defend their technique, insisting it’s a personal choice, even if it seems oddly pointless.

3 Rob Lowe Claims He Escaped a Bigfoot Attack

Actor Rob Lowe, famed for his roles in classic sitcoms, now claims he narrowly avoided death at the claws of a legendary cryptid during the filming of “The Lowe Files.” While trekking through the Ozark Mountains, his crew allegedly encountered a “wood ape” that threatened their safety.

Lowe admits he knows his tale sounds like a Hollywood kook’s confession, yet he swears the unseen creature stalked their camp. He now envisions a future where he either brokers peace with these hominids or engages them in a 1950s‑style biker gang showdown, complete with pipe wrenches and chains.

2 Alice Walker Endorses David Icke’s Reptilian Theory

Acclaimed author Alice Walker has publicly supported David Icke’s infamous claim that shapeshifting reptilian‑human hybrids secretly control world events. Icke’s narrative paints these “lizard people” as the true puppet masters behind global politics, often equating them with “Zionists” in his rhetoric.

Walker’s endorsement of such a theory is especially jarring given her literary focus on the struggles of Black communities. Critics argue that aligning with a conspiratorial worldview that targets Jewish people undermines her legacy and perpetuates harmful stereotypes.

1 Terrence Howard Says Mathematics Is a Lie

Actor Terrence Howard, known for his role in “Empire,” has taken a bold stance against the foundations of arithmetic. He argues that the equation 1 + 1 = 2 is a fabricated construct, insisting that “Terryology” proves 1 × 1 = 2, effectively flipping basic math on its head.

Howard’s logic suggests that if one multiplied by itself yields two, then the traditional square root of four equates to two, while the square root of two should be one—a claim that directly contradicts centuries of mathematical consensus. He urges listeners to seek a degree in “Terryology” from Howard University, a tongue‑in‑cheek nod to his alma mater.

While his assertions sound absurd, they spark conversation about how deeply we trust established knowledge and whether charismatic figures can sway public perception, even on subjects as concrete as mathematics.

When it comes to the top 10 superstitious numbers that pepper cultures worldwide, 3, 7 and 13 immediately jump to mind. Bad luck is said to arrive in threes, even death, while 7 is hailed as a prime bearer of good fortune. In 2016, the world collectively held its breath as actor Alan Thicke passed away on December 13, a date that seemed to echo the ominous reputation of the number.

Top 10 Superstitious Numbers Explored

10 Knock on Wood with a Twist

The age‑old practice of “knocking on wood” – or “touching wood” – is a global habit meant to stave off misfortune and invite good vibes. By giving a wooden surface a light tap, people believe they can keep bad luck at bay and pull fortune toward themselves.

In Iceland, the custom is so ingrained that you’ll hear knuckles clacking against doors everywhere, without a second thought. Locals often chant “sjö níu þrettán,” which translates to “seven nine thirteen,” while they perform the ritual.

Here, the number seven carries magical weight because it can be formed by adding three and four, symbols of the spirit and material realms respectively. The number nine emerges from multiplying three by three, echoing the Holy Trinity, while thirteen harks back to an extra month in the ancient Roman calendar that was deemed unlucky.

Reciting “seven nine thirteen” is believed to balance the good and the bad, acting as a charm that both wards off ill fate and summons positive energy.

9 Tuesday the 13th

Move over, Friday the 13th – in Spain, the real troublemaker is Tuesday the 13th. When the 13th lands on a Tuesday, the superstitious tend to stay indoors, fearing that misfortune may be lurking around every corner.

The day inherits its bad‑luck aura from Mars, the Roman god of war, whose name gave rise to “Martes,” the Spanish word for Tuesday. Historically, the fall of Constantinople on Tuesday, April 13, 1204, cemented the day’s ominous reputation.

Legend also ties Tuesday the 13th to the biblical “Confusion of Tongues” that erupted after the Tower of Babel was built, and the 13th chapter of Revelation, which foretells the Antichrist’s arrival, further deepening its dark connotations.

Because of this lingering dread, a popular saying emerged: “Don’t marry, go on a boat, or leave your house on a Tuesday.”

8 The Number of Good Fortune and Wealth

Back in 2016, a Sydney office tower changed hands for the eye‑catching sum of A$88,888,888. While the figure sounds almost whimsical, it dramatically accelerated the sale because the number eight is a powerhouse of luck in Chinese culture.

The digit eight appears everywhere in Chinese real‑estate: from street numbers to floor levels. Buyers often request that an eight feature in the price tag, hoping it will usher in prosperity.

Many apartment hunters even aim for the eighth floor or a unit whose address includes an eight, believing those numbers will bring them financial success.

Beyond property, the number eight permeates major events – the 2008 Beijing Olympics kicked off at 8 minutes and 8 seconds past 8 pm on 8/8/08, and the Petronas Twin Towers each boast 88 floors. Even phone numbers, like +86 28 8888 8888, have been sold for hefty sums because of the digit’s auspicious reputation.

7 On the Flip Side

While eight brings fortune, the number four is shunned across many Asian societies because its pronunciation closely resembles the word for “death.” This linguistic coincidence has birthed a widespread aversion known as tetraphobia.

Companies and developers go to great lengths to dodge the digit: Alfa Romeo rebranded its 144 model for the Singapore market, Nokia stopped releasing phones beginning with a four, and Beijing halted production of license plates containing the number.

Even architecture feels the impact – many hospitals and high‑rise buildings skip the fourth floor entirely. In Japan, the combination 49 (four‑nine) is especially unlucky, echoing a phrase that translates to “pain until death.”

6 The Number of the Beast

The figure 666 has long been linked to the “number of the beast” from the Book of Revelation, cementing its reputation as a symbol of the devil and spawning the phobia known as hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia.

In the United States, many believe the number has been covertly embedded in banking, Social Security, medical records, and even UPC barcodes, prompting some to avoid living in homes numbered 666 or to wait until their car’s odometer jumps past the dreaded triple‑six.

Highway 666 earned the nickname “Devil’s Highway” after a series of accidents that locals attributed to the route’s ominous number. Even former President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, altered their Bel‑Air address from 666 to 668 after moving in.

Nevertheless, 666 isn’t universally unlucky. On Friday, October 13 2017, Flight 666 departed Copenhagen at 13:00 and landed safely in Helsinki, proving that the number can sometimes fly under the radar of misfortune.

5 It’s All in the Numbers

Russia boasts a rich tapestry of number‑based superstitions. For instance, shaking hands over a threshold on a Friday the 13th is thought to offend the house spirit, Domovoi, especially on that infamous date.

Another quirky custom involves spitting three times over the left shoulder after complimenting someone’s looks or a newborn’s health, a gesture believed to ward off envy.

Some Russians even eat their bus tickets when the sum of the three left‑most numbers matches the sum of the three right‑most numbers, treating the act as a charm for good luck.

Additional taboos include delaying a newborn’s public debut for at least 40 days and avoiding even‑numbered flower bouquets, as even numbers are traditionally reserved for funerals.

4 Superstition in the Land of Magic

Four‑leaf clovers have long been a staple of Irish folklore, symbolizing protection against evil and the ability to glimpse fairies. The rarity of the leaf makes it a potent talisman for good luck.

Beyond clovers, Ireland has a famous magpie rhyme: “One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl and four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told.” The number of magpies seen dictates the appropriate gesture – a quick salute when the count is unfavorable.

If a lone magpie appears, a respectful wave is said to break any looming curse, ensuring the observer stays on the right side of fate.

Finally, should a funeral procession pass you, resist the urge to count the vehicles; doing so is believed to reveal exactly how many years you have left to live.

3 Friday the 17th

In Italy, the unlucky day isn’t Friday the 13th but rather Friday the 17th, dubbed a “black day.” The number 17 is considered inauspicious, while 13 is oddly viewed as a lucky charm.

The superstition may stem from the belief that the Great Flood began on the 17th day of the second month. Coupled with the crucifixion of Jesus on a Friday, the date has acquired a double dose of bad‑luck reputation.

Italians often carry talismans such as red horn pendants, horseshoes, or even a picture of a hunchbacked figure on this day, and they warn skeptics: “Not on Friday, nor on Tuesday does one marry, depart, or start anything.”

2 Unlucky for Some

New Zealanders harbor some of the world’s most distinctive superstitions, especially when it comes to new homes. A traditional house‑warming involves walking through every room with a loaf of bread and salt, while guests are expected to bring salt and coal to ward off fire hazards.

Historically, a virgin’s shirt would be sealed in a jar and buried in the garden to prevent house fires – a practice now rare due to the scarcity of virgins.

Data from 2016 revealed that properties bearing the number 13 often sold for less. In Mission Bay, Auckland, homes numbered 13 fetched $390,000 less than comparable houses, while in Orakei the shortfall was $350,000.

Interestingly, some neighborhoods like Glendowie and Northcote saw the opposite effect, with 13‑numbered homes commanding higher prices than the local median, suggesting the number’s luck varies by locale.

1 What’s Up with the Number 23?

Ever stumbled upon a Facebook group called the 23rdians? Members post photos of the number 23 popping up in everyday life, turning a simple digit into an obsession.

The fascination allegedly began with writer William Burroughs, who claimed to have met a sea captain whose vessel sank the very day Burroughs bragged about a 23‑year streak without maritime accidents. Later that night, a news report mentioned a Flight 23 crash in Florida, piloted by a man named Clark – the same name as the sea captain – cementing the number’s eerie reputation.

Since then, the number 23 has been linked to numerous tragedies: the Twin Towers fell on 9/11/2001 (9 + 11 + 2 + 0 + 0 + 1 = 23), Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times, and musician Kurt Cobain’s birth year (1967) and death year (1994) each sum to 23 (1 + 9 + 6 + 7 = 23; 1 + 9 + 9 + 4 = 23).

Every age probably thinks of itself as pretty enlightened. Today, we all seem to be fairly certain that we know how the world works but we can still see examples of people believing some stunningly foolish things all the time. In the future, it’s very likely people will be writing articles about the world of today and all the silly things we believed, just as we can now look at some of the things people in the medieval world believed and wonder how we ever survived as a species. 

10. Salamanders Can Live in Fire

For about 1,500 years people believed the humble salamander was somehow fireproof. This is made all the more amazing by the fact that, for those entire 1,500 years, we can safely assume everyone understood what fire did to living things. Nonetheless, this persistent belief actually gave rise to salamanders as a mythical beast.

Pliny the Elder insisted the cool flesh of the salamander could extinguish fire which probably killed a few salamanders who died trying to prove this against their will. He was just trying to prove what he’d heard from Aristotle, mind you.

By the time of Saint Isidor, between 560 and 636, people still believed this fact about salamanders and Isidor confirmed it along with suggesting they poisoned fruit. St. Augustine believed they lived in fire. Leonardo da Vinci insisted the little creatures ate fire instead of food. Paracelsus swapped fire out of the four primal elements and put the salamander in its place. 

So where did the belief come from? It’s speculated it may be due to the salamander’s tendency to live in rotten logs. If you were to throw one on a fire, chances are you’d see any living salamanders scuttle free, making it seem like they were indeed living in the flames. 

9. Newlyweds Had to Kiss Over Stacked Pastries 

Few events in a person’s life are subject to more curious beliefs and rituals than a wedding. Even today people still adhere to things like wanting to include something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. There’s not a lot of reason for it, it’s just either tradition or superstition, however you want to view it. 

In the Middle Ages, one of many wedding traditions involved creating a tower of cakes or spiced buns. Consider it an old-timey version of the multi-tiered cakes of today. But instead of just looking large and in charge, the newlywed couple had to arrange themselves over the top of this tower and kiss one another. If the kiss went off without a hitch, then it was good fortune for the couple. If the stack fell, well, better luck next time. 

8. In Medieval Italy They Believed Being Poor Was a Virtue

There’s a lot of talk of entitlement in the modern world but check out the habits of late medieval Italy to see some next level entitlement in action. At that time, the rich looked upon the poor as a means to an end. In this case, the end was Heaven. The means was giving them handouts so that they could pray for the rich and in term get them into Heaven.

The idea of being poor was considered virtuous at the time. Being poor was a hardship and conditioned your soul for good things to come. Along the way, they helped the rich get to Heaven by giving them opportunities to show they own good grace. So the rich saw no reason to do anything to help the poor long term. They didn’t even want the poor to go away. They wanted the poor to be there so they could be nice to them which would grant them eternal salvation. 

There’s even a saying that “the rich help the poor in this world but the poor help the rich in the world to come” which reflects this belief that one doesn’t necessarily need to eschew their riches or lift up the poor in this world, because everything will balance out in Heaven.

7. Medieval Scots Believed They Descended from an Egyptian Princess

Every people at one point or another begin to ask where they came from. That’s where origin myths and religions begin to form and while most of that is well established today, it all had to start somewhere. For the people of Scotland, there was once a belief that a woman named Scota helped form both Scotland and Ireland around 1400 BC. 

According to the tale, Scota was the daughter of an Egyptian Pharaoh named Cingris. There’s no record of this Pharaoh in Egypt and it seems to be solely from the Irish and Scottish lore.  Scota married a Babylonian fellow named Niul and together they had a son named Goidel Glas. It was he who created the Gaelic language, and the people known as the Gaels. 

In 1360, John of Fordun published a history of Scotland in which it’s believed he just took the Irish tales of Scota and made them into something he liked the sound of for the history of Scotland. In his version, Goidel Glas, now renamed Gaythelos, marries Scota. They get exiled to Spain from Egypt, have a son, and then he marries another woman named Scota who is the daughter of yet another Pharoah. Two of their sons conquered Ireland by defeating the Tuatha Dé Danann, who you might recognize as fairies, and some of their descendants called themselves Scoti, after Scota, which evolved to Scottish. 

6. Fruits and Veggies Need to Be Cooked For Safety

For better or mostly worse, a lot of our modern knowledge of medieval times comes from pop culture. To that end, most people imagine the medieval diet consisting of bread and mead, maybe some hard cheese and meat off the bone, possibly in a stew. 

Medieval people ate fruits and vegetables, but they approached them differently than we do in modern times. Most specifically, fruits and vegetables were not eaten raw ever because it was generally believed raw fruits and vegetables caused disease. 

Fruits that grew on trees were better than fruits on the ground because treetops were close to heaven. Watermelon and strawberry were lowly fruits better suited for poor folk. Doctors recommended some fruits be eaten at the beginning of a meal and others at the end for various pseudo-medicinal reasons like their ability to either stop you from puking or to help you go to the bathroom.

5. Crocodiles Weep With Remorse When They Eat, Hence Crocodile Tears

When you say someone is shedding crocodile tears, you’re roasting them for their insincerity when they pretend to be concerned but are not. This comes from the widely held belief that serpents, but very specifically crocodiles, shed tears for their prey as they ate them. So while the visual would indicate the beast was somewhat remorseful over the kill, the fact was it was still eating something so there was a marked lack of sincerity.  

The Voyage and Travels of Sir John Mandeville used the saying in 1400, and the saying can also be found in a letter from 1569 but is presented there in the context that it was common enough knowledge not to need an explanation. Crocodiles wept in false sadness when they ate. 

Ironically, crocodiles do shed tears when they eat but the cause may be related to air being forced through their sinuses when they eat, rather than any kind of dinner-related remorse.

4. A Magnet Could Be Demagnetized with Goat Blood

Magnets are pretty cool even today so you can imagine what people must have thought about them hundreds of years ago. The ability to move metal with unseen forces had to be pretty close to magical. 

If something is magical that arguably meant there were magical ways to deal with it. In the case of magnets it was believed you could neutralize their power with things like diamonds or goat’s blood. Garlic was another item put forth by alchemists as a means of demagnetizing them, though a man named William Gilbert had to disprove it all in the year 1600, presumably by showing off bloody yet fully functional magnets. 

3. People Believed Witches Stole Men’s Penises 

Any beliefs about witches have to clearly be taken with a grain of salt because we’re starting from the standpoint that witches were real. That aside, when it came to fear of witches, some writers went above and beyond to make up reasons to fear them and Heinrich Kramer may have taken the cake.

In his 15th century witch hunting guide Malleus Maleficarum, Kramer warned that witches had the ability to steal a man’s penis. They could even keep it as a pet and feed it grain. He goes on to say such things have been seen by many. He also claims one man, in an effort to regain his stolen penis, was forced to climb a tree and raid a nest in which many penises were being kept to pick the one he liked best. 

The idea of penis trees was one that pervaded the mythology around witches and a mural was uncovered in the year 2000 in Massa Marittima in Italy depicting numerous witches under such a tree. Some people still contend it’s just a fertility symbol and not related to witches, but given the history there’s definitely room for debate. 

2. It was Long Believed Lynx Urine Solidified Into Precious Stones

When we think of big cats we usually imagine lions, tigers, panthers and maybe the cheetah. Less remembered is their somewhat smaller but still intimidating cousin the lynx. One of the lesser known claims to fame of the lynx is that its urine crystalizes into a precious stone called lyngurium. This came from the philosopher Theophrastus back around 200 BC or so.

By the medieval period, lyngurium was enjoying a fully flesh out life in the hands of lapidary experts concerned with precious stones and their nature. Books were written detailing the physical nature of the stone and even its medicinal properties. Keep in mind, this stone never existed at all and none of these people had seen it or knew anything about it for that reason.

It would not be until the 17th century when new authors finally began to stop writing about the fictional stone. 

1. John Mandeville Perpetuated the Belief that Cotton Came From Lambs That Grew on Plants

Medieval art is often perplexing when you see how animals and other natural things are presented, especially when they are tragically off the mark from reality. It makes you wonder how anyone could depict a real thing so wrongly. Unfortunately, at the time, a lot of art was being done by people who had never seen the things they were drawing and was based on second or third hand accounts. And then some of it was just random, made up stuff. That’s where the Vegetable Lamb of Tartary comes in.

Cotton was a new thing for the Western world at the time of John Mandeville. For whatever reason, as he explored (or pretended to explore) a world few people back in England had even heard about, the man insisted on making things up. So when news came of cotton, that was like wool but came from a plant, Mandeville related the story of how it was indeed a small, long-stemmed plant that blossomed a tiny lamb on the top of it. This understanding of cotton lasted from the 13th through the 17th century. Try to imagine that, generations of people believing tiny sheep growing as flowers were producing fabric for them. 

The little plant lamb didn’t just look like a lamb, it was one. It would dangle from its stalk and eat everything it could reach around the plant, then it would die when no food was left. You could catch one and eat it and the meat was said to taste like fish while the blood was like honey. So this was no quick misunderstanding. Mandeville, and whoever took up his bizarre tale, was sincere in their efforts to just make up silly things and have people believe things.