When you picture a banknote you probably see crisp paper, a familiar portrait and some fancy security threads. Yet underneath the ink and watermarks, some pieces of money conceal secret pictures, hidden symbols or cheeky Easter eggs that only the most observant eyes spot. In this roundup of 10 banknotes hidden with covert designs, we dive into the fascinating back‑stories of each enigmatic note, from wartime emergency cash to futuristic space currency.

10. Banknotes hidden: Secrets Revealed

10. Germany’s 50-Pfennig Emergency Money

Germany entered World War I already grappling with a shortage of coins and metal. As hostilities erupted in 1914, the price of silver surged and copper and nickel were diverted to armaments, leaving the home front virtually coin‑less. In response, municipalities and private firms began printing their own paper cash, known as notgeld or emergency money, to keep commerce moving.

Early issues of this notgeld were stark, issued in 25, 50 and 75‑pfennig denominations as well as a few marks. Later, the notes blossomed into colorful works of art, featuring folklore, satire, political commentary and even playing‑card motifs. By war’s end, collectors chased these quirky bills as fiercely as they were printed.

For three years after the armistice, many notgeld series were produced solely for collectors, rarely entering everyday circulation. During this period, the “serienscheine” series appeared – a set of notes sharing a common narrative theme. By 1921, hyperinflation had taken hold, and the shortage of any usable currency became acute; even postage stamps sealed in aluminium or celluloid were repurposed as money.

Finally, in 1923 the Reichsbank introduced the Rentenmark, effectively ending the notgeld era and restoring a more stable monetary system.

9. Burmese 1-Kyat Democracy Note

Burma (now Myanmar) endured a civil war that stretched from its 1948 independence well into the 21st century, wreaking havoc on its financial system. Amid the chaos, a particularly striking note emerged – the 1‑kyat “democracy” bill.

General Aung San, the nation’s first de‑facto prime minister, was assassinated just months before the British formally ended their rule. His daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi, was merely two years old at the time. Decades later, Suu Kyi returned to lead a non‑violent campaign for democratic elections, only to be placed under house arrest and silenced, with even her image becoming illegal to display.

In 1989 the military junta released a 1‑kyat note featuring General Aung San’s portrait. The watermark mirrored the front image, but an anonymous engraver subtly softened the general’s features, allowing Suu Kyi’s likeness to appear as a hidden watermark. For the short window before the note was withdrawn, holding it up to the light let reformists glimpse their forbidden leader’s face.

Suu Kyi spent the next two decades under house arrest, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, and was finally released in 2010. Two years later her party won a parliamentary majority, marking a dramatic turn in Burmese politics.

8. Oranienburg Concentration Camp’s 50-Pfennig Note

When prisoners arrived at Nazi‑run camps and ghettos during World II, they were forced to swap their cash for “camp scrip,” a low‑quality, almost worthless local currency. The first such scrip was issued by the Oranienburg Concentration Camp, located just outside Berlin.

Oranienburg opened in 1933 after a wealthy banker donated a lumber yard to the regime. Among its earliest inmates was graphic artist Horst‑Willi Lippert, imprisoned for his anti‑Nazi stance. Ordered to design the printing plates for the camp’s money, Lippert embedded a subtle protest within the notes.

His 5‑pfennig note displayed a guard tower looming over barbed wire, the 1‑mark showed an elderly man digging a trench, and the 50‑pfennig featured barbed wire and stern armed guards. After the initial run, Lippert altered the word Konzentrationslager by erasing the top of the “g,” turning it into Konzentrationslayer – a silent accusation that the camps were “concentration killers.” This change is visible in the image above.

The Nazis never detected Lippert’s covert message, and his design became a template for other camp currencies throughout the Reich. Lippert survived the war and later confirmed his acts of quiet resistance.

7. Canada’s $1,000 Devil’s Face Bill

In 1951, Queen Elizabeth II posed for the renowned Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh. Three years later, one of those portraits was chosen for a new series of Canadian banknotes ranging from $1 to $1,000. The design placed the queen on the right side of each note so that folding wouldn’t obscure her image.

However, the original photograph featured a tiara, which Canadians found too formal. Artists removed the tiara, but they also failed to adjust the lighting behind the queen’s left ear. This oversight created an unintended dark shape that many swore looked like a demon hovering behind her ear. After complaints, the Bank of Canada commissioned artists to obscure the devilish figure, re‑issuing the series in 1957 – except for the $1,000 bill, which remained unchanged for several more years.

The $1,000 note gained notoriety for another reason. In 2000, Canada withdrew large‑denomination notes to combat organized crime, as gangsters favored the “pinkies” (so‑called for their pink hue) for easy smuggling. A million dollars in $100 bills weighs about 10 kg, whereas the same amount in $1,000 bills weighs only 1 kg, making it far more portable for illicit transactions. By 2011, nearly a million of these “pinkies” remained unreturned, hoarded by the criminal elite.

6. Congo’s 20,000‑Zaire Notes

Leadership upheavals often wreak havoc on a nation’s currency. After Belgium granted independence, the newly formed Democratic Republic of the Congo plunged into civil war, and its democratically elected prime minister Patrice Lumumba was assassinated. The CIA‑backed dictator Joseph Mobutu seized power, renaming the country Zaire and amassing a massive personal fortune.

For 31 years Mobutu ruled with an iron fist, siphoning wealth while the nation’s infrastructure crumbled into poverty. When Mobutu was finally overthrown in 1997, he fled to Morocco, where he died of prostate cancer a few months later.

Following the regime change, the country reverted to its original name, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but faced a severe shortage of banknotes. To bridge the gap, authorities took the existing 20,000‑Zaire notes and punched out Mobutu’s portrait, creating temporary notes that circulated until fresh currency could be printed.

5. Colonial America’s Privately Issued $5 Bill

During the British colonial era, before the American Revolution, local banks produced their own paper money for nearby communities. Early issues were simplistic and easily forged, prompting a shift toward more elaborate designs that incorporated local folklore as an anti‑counterfeiting measure.

One such tale originates from Windham, a small town in eastern Connecticut, during the mid‑1750s French and Indian War. One sweltering June night, townsfolk were startled by a mysterious racket. Believing an enemy raid was imminent, they armed themselves and rushed toward the source, only to discover a pond teeming with hundreds of fighting frogs – half of them dead – battling over a dwindling water supply.

Inspired by this bizarre encounter, the Windham Bank issued a $5 bill depicting a pair of combat‑ready frogs as the central motif. Two women appear on the note as well, likely local figures whose names have been lost to history.

4. Burma’s 35 Kyats

Most countries issue currency in denominations that are multiples of five or ten, but Burma (Myanmar) broke the mold under dictator General U Ne Win, who was fascinated by numerology and eccentric rituals.

Born Shu Maung in 1911, Ne Win joined the Japanese‑backed Burma Independence Army at age 30, later switching sides to drive the Japanese out. After Burma’s 1948 independence, he rose to power, first as a caretaker in 1958 and then as a lifelong ruler after a 1962 coup.

Ne Win’s rule was marked by incompetence and bizarre habits – he walked backward over bridges to ward off evil spirits and allegedly bathed in dolphin blood to extend his life to 90, his lucky number. In 1970 he even reversed traffic flow, moving cars to the right side of the road because an astrologer warned that the nation was becoming “too left‑wing.”

His love of numbers manifested in currency. In 1985 he introduced 15‑, 35‑, and 75‑kyat notes, followed by denominations based on multiples of his favored number, resulting in 45‑ and 90‑kyat bills. After his eventual ouster, these odd denominations were demonetized, and Ne Win died under house arrest at 91.

3. Seychelles 50‑Rupee Note

Queen Elizabeth II appears on the currency of more nations than any other individual, gracing the banknotes of 33 countries in 26 distinct portraits. One lesser‑known example is the 1968 Seychelles 50‑rupee note, which features a portrait based on a 1955 painting commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers.

Hidden within the design, the palm trees to the right of the queen subtly spell out the word “sex,” a detail that’s hard to notice at first glance. Initially thought to be a printing error, investigations revealed that the two commissioned artists had drawn the palms correctly; the alteration likely stemmed from the engravers, whose identities remain secret due to anti‑counterfeiting concerns.

A companion 10‑rupee note from the same series also harbors a concealed word – “scum” – tucked beneath the flipper of a sea turtle. Some speculate that pro‑independence activists slipped these hidden messages into the notes to embarrass the British Crown. Both notes stayed in circulation until 1973, three years before Seychelles achieved independence in 1976.

2. The Quasi‑Universal Intergalactic Denomination

Not to be confused with the British slang “quid” for the pound sterling, the Quasi‑Universal Intergalactic Denomination (QUID) was engineered for future space travelers. Shaped like miniature Nerf balls encased in plastic, these tokens were a joint effort by England’s National Space Center and the University of Leicester, commissioned by the foreign‑exchange firm Travelex.

Professor George Fraser of Leicester explained that conventional payment methods—cash, credit or debit cards—would fail in space. Sharp edges on coins could damage equipment, while magnetic strips and chips would be ruined by cosmic radiation. Moreover, the vast distances involved (over 230,000 miles to the Moon) render chip‑and‑PIN technology impractical.

QUIDs are crafted from Teflon, a polymer resistant to extreme temperatures and radiation, and feature rounded edges. Each sphere displays the Sun at its core, with the eight planets orbiting around its rim, each marked with a unique code akin to serial numbers on paper money. In 2007, a single QUID was valued at $12.50, €8.68, or £6.25.

Competition soon emerged: In 2013 PayPal announced efforts to develop its own interplanetary monetary system that would operate without traditional cards, currency or QUIDs.

1. Germany’s 10,000‑Mark Reichsbanknote

After the 1919 Treaty of Versailles formally ended World I, Germany faced crippling reparations that shattered its economy. The nation lost valuable coal‑rich territories such as the Saar (placed under League of Nations control) and Upper Silesia (ceded to Poland), making economic recovery virtually impossible.

Furthermore, Germany was forced to accept sole responsibility for the war, funneling billions of marks to France, Belgium and other Allied nations. With the economy already in tatters, the government resorted to printing ever‑larger denominations, spiralling into hyperinflation. A single mark bought virtually nothing, prompting the issuance of massive notes.

By 1922 the Reichsbank released a 10,000‑mark note featuring Albrecht Dürer’s painting “Portrait of a Young Man.” However, an anonymous engraver inserted a subtle political jab: a hooded vampire, symbolising France, lurked behind the young man’s left shoulder, ready to “suck” his blood. Tilting the note to the right reveals the faint figure. Even after the vampire’s presence was discovered, the Reichsbank refused to withdraw the notes and even reissued more with the hidden creature intact.

The economic fallout was stark. In January 1922 a 10,000‑mark note could purchase 110 kg of meat; by year‑end the same note bought only 2 kg. By 1923, 100,000 marks equaled one US dollar, and a year later that dollar was worth 4.62 million marks. The hyperinflation era eventually gave way to the Rentenmark, stabilising the currency.

Welcome to our deep dive into the world of 10 popular symbols, each boasting an origin story that’s more twisted than a pretzel. From patriotic mascots to ancient charms, these icons have traveled a long, often contradictory road to become the visual shorthand we recognize today.

10. Uncle Sam

When you think of American patriotism, the bald eagle and the Statue of Liberty might spring to mind, but none quite match the stone‑faced, flag‑clad figure of Uncle Sam. He’s long been the visual embodiment of U.S. pride and, in many ways, the nation itself.

Travel back to the 1830s, however, and you’ll discover that mentioning Uncle Sam to a true‑blue patriot could earn you a swift, metaphorical punch. The cartoon figure originated from a real man named “Uncle Sam” Wilson, a food‑supplier for troops during the War of 1812. Yet the caricature was initially crafted to mock the U.S. government, appearing in political cartoons that lampooned everything from the country’s bellicose tendencies to rampant corruption.

During Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, the public began to notice the uncanny resemblance between the cartoon and the president himself, prompting a dramatic shift in perception. Lincoln’s popularity helped flip Uncle Sam’s reputation from a derisive jab to a beloved national mascot.

9. The Skinhead Look

Shaved heads, sturdy boots, and an abundance of swastika tattoos have become synonymous with perhaps the most hateful subculture on the planet: the skinheads. Many assume these neo‑Nazis simply followed the trail blazed by Hitler or the KKK, but that’s a massive misconception.

The roots of skinhead culture actually sprouted in late‑1960s England, drawing inspiration from the Mod movement—a group of style‑conscious minimalists—and from Jamaican music culture. The early scene blended shaved heads with a love for black musicians, resulting in a multicultural, music‑driven aesthetic.

Indeed, the original skinhead clubs were as likely to be seen nodding to Bob Marley as they were to sporting booted feet. Over time, however, the scene darkened, alienating members of different races and embracing Nazi imagery, eventually morphing into a symbol of intolerant hatred.

8. The ‘Shaka’

If you’ve ever set foot on a Hawaiian beach or watched a surf movie, you’ve likely seen the iconic hand gesture known as the shaka. Curl the middle fingers, extend the thumb and pinky, wave them back and forth, and you’ve signaled a laid‑back vibe and a wish for peace.

Contrary to its modern, breezy connotation, Hawaiians say the shaka began as a mocking gesture aimed at a man who suffered a gruesome industrial accident. Hamana Kalili, a worker at the Kahuku Sugar Mill, lost his three middle fingers when his hand was caught in a sugarcane press, rendering him unable to work.

Kalili later became a train guard for the sugar‑cane deliveries, but local kids, who often hopped onto the trains for illicit rides, used the shaka to signal his presence and ridicule his fingerless state. What began as a derisive signal evolved into the universal sign of goodwill we recognize today.

7. Guy Fawkes

Thanks to the cult classic V for Vendetta and the rise of internet‑driven activism, the grinning mask of 17th‑century English revolutionary Guy Fawkes has become a universal emblem of resistance against “the man.”

Executed in 1606 for attempting to blow up Parliament, Fawkes has been embraced as a folk hero by anyone harboring a grudge against authority. Stylized masks bearing his visage frequently appear at protests worldwide.

Yet, despite his anti‑establishment reputation, the Gunpowder Plot was not a bid for liberty but a Catholic‑driven scheme to murder the Protestant royal family and reinstall Catholic rule in England. The conspirators sought to re‑establish a regime of religious persecution, not the freedom many associate with Fawkes today.

6. The Heart

The heart is the ultimate symbol of innocent love and affection, a staple of Valentine’s Day that’s been used for centuries by romantics seeking to convey emotion. Its simple, pink silhouette is often lumped together with circles and squares as merely a basic shape.

But the iconic shape looks nothing like the actual organ, prompting countless theories about its true origin. Ancient Rome offers the most plausible explanation, and it’s far from the cutesy narrative we might expect.

The Romans employed a powerful contraceptive herb called silphium, which became so popular that it was eventually harvested to extinction by the hyper‑sexual Roman populace. The plant’s seedpods bore a heart‑shaped form, even appearing on Roman coinage. Millennia later, that same silhouette has been repurposed to symbolize romance, shifting from a symbol of casual sex to one of tender affection.

5. Che Guevara

Even if you haven’t studied history, you’ve likely seen Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s face plastered on posters, T‑shirts, and countless other merch items. The Argentine guerrilla leader played a key role in the Cuban Revolution, and his image has become shorthand for open‑mindedness and resistance to oppression.

Ironically, after his Cuban stint, Guevara morphed into an oppressive, racist, and sexist figure. While leading Cuban mercenaries in the Congo, he displayed a volatile temper, demanding absolute obedience from his troops and berating those he deemed lazy as “acting like women.” He also treated his African soldiers with a discrimination that bordered on outright racism.

Most strikingly, Guevara’s notion of “freedom” was paradoxical: he coerced men into fighting for a revolution they barely understood, expecting them to stay silent and obey without question. The very symbol that now stands for liberation was once wielded by a man who suppressed the very freedoms he purported to champion.

4. The Inverted Cross

Death‑metal bands, horror movies, and Goth culture have taught us that the inverted cross epitomizes darkness and evil. A simple crucifix turned upside down, it’s often wielded by those seeking to insult traditional religion, under the assumption that a “backwards” cross equals “anti‑religion.”

However, many Christian scholars point out that the inverted cross actually carries a holy connotation. According to Christian tradition, Saint Peter requested to be crucified upside down, seeing his own martyrdom as a sign of humility because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus.

Thus, several Christian sects regard the inverted cross as a deeply meaningful symbol—some even consider it more significant than the traditional upright cross. The Pope’s throne, for instance, features a massive upside‑down crucifix, challenging the pop‑culture narrative that frames it solely as a symbol of malevolence.

3. The Rabbit’s Foot

The rabbit’s foot sits alongside four‑leaf clovers and lucky pennies as a well‑known charm of good fortune. For centuries, this severed foot of a cute woodland creature has been employed as a talisman to attract luck, though its origins are far more macabre than the modern charm suggests.

In earlier times, crafting a rabbit’s foot charm involved gruesome rituals and ominous folklore. It was believed that witches could transform into rabbits to travel unseen, and capturing a witch‑rabbit and claiming its foot would bestow dark power upon the bearer.

To maximize the charm’s potency, the foot had to be taken from a living rabbit in a graveyard on a rainy Friday the 13th—quite the elaborate and eerie requirement. Over the years, the dark‑magic aspects faded, leaving only the belief that a rabbit’s foot brings luck, now commonly found as a keychain or trinket for the superstitious seeking a boost in fortune.

2. The Jesus Fish

Ever find yourself stuck in traffic, glancing at bumper stickers and noticing a small fish emblem among the sea of slogans? That tiny fish, known as the ichthys, is an extremely popular symbol of the Christian faith, often claimed to represent the numerous fish references found throughout the Bible.

However, the truth is far stranger and less appropriate for Sunday school: the symbol originally depicted the vagina of a pagan deity called the Great Mother. In ancient times, this goddess was widely worshiped, and the image of her genitals—rendered as a stylized fish—symbolized fertility.

When Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, the ichthys was co‑opted by the burgeoning faith. Its sexual connotations were swept under the rug, and new “Christian” origins were invented to satisfy the devout. Thus, an image that began as a representation of a pagan fertility goddess now quietly adorns countless Christian stickers and car decals.

1. The Swastika

There is perhaps no more instantly recognizable or universally reviled symbol than the swastika. The horrific deeds of the Nazi Party have ensured that this emblem will be despised for generations to come. Yet, the swastika’s own victim list includes the Nazi regime itself.

When famed German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann uncovered the ancient city of Troy in 1871, he also discovered a peculiar symbol that seemed to promise good fortune: the spindle‑whorl, or swastika. This emblem appeared on countless artifacts dating back thousands of years before Troy’s existence.Schliemann’s fascination with the image turned him into an international celebrity, and the world quickly began to share his obsession. By the early 20th century, the swastika adorned everything from Coca‑Cola bottles to American military gear, celebrated as a symbol of luck and prosperity.

It wasn’t until 1920 that the burgeoning Nazi Party officially adopted the swastika, claiming it represented the ancient roots of their “master race.” In the subsequent years, a symbol that had long ushered in good luck for millennia was twisted to justify the most horrific mass slaughter in history.

Each day we meet people and exchange a host of symbols and expressions whose roots have faded into obscurity. In this roundup we dive into some of the most familiar sayings, customs, and gestures whose beginnings are now a mystery. Got another example? Drop it in the comments so everyone can discover its story.

10 Symbols Whose Origins Remain Forgotten

1 Red Herring

The phrase “red herring” today means a false clue meant to throw investigators off the scent of the real culprit. Its birth, however, is literal: a smoked fish with a strong, pungent smell. In the days of bloodhounds—nature’s most tenacious trackers—a fresh, smelly herring tossed on the ground could easily mask a pursuer’s trail. Drop the fish a day or two out of the water, and the scent becomes so overpowering that even the keenest hound can be fooled, sending the chase spiraling in the wrong direction.

2 Handshake

Grasping another’s hand as a greeting or contract seal dates back to at least the second century BC. The gesture proved that neither party concealed a weapon, broadcasting trust, equality, and sportsmanship. A right‑hand clasp sealed a deal; a left‑hand shake, however, was believed to dissolve it. The record‑breaking hand‑shaker was U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, who shook 8,513 hands on January 1, 1907 at a White House reception. That feat held until July 1977, when New Jersey mayor Joseph Lazaron topped it with 11,000 handshakes in a single day.

3 Victory Sign

The two‑finger V sign has worn many hats. Americans recall President Richard Nixon flashing it, while Winston Churchill wielded it as a beacon of triumph. Churchill famously turned his palm outward to dodge the British‑born obscene version of the gesture, which flips the palm inward. In the 1960s the V morphed into a peace emblem and now serves as a celebrity greeting. Its earliest documented use comes from the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, when British archers, whose two fingers held their bows, raised them to show the French that the feared fingers were still intact after a threat to cut them off.

4 Blessing Sneezers

When someone sneezes, the reflexive “bless you” hails from a time when people believed a sneeze could expel the soul, leaving it vulnerable to wandering evil spirits. A quick blessing was thought to shield the departing spirit. Tradition also warned against opening one’s mouth again to thank the well‑wisher, lest the same spirits slip back in. Another theory paints sneezing as a sign of robust health, turning the blessing into a congratulatory toast. In German‑speaking lands, the response “Gesundheit!” wishes the sneezer continued good health and a long life.

5 Thumbs Up

Contrary to popular belief, the thumbs‑up did not stem from gladiatorial verdicts of life or death. An old English saying—“Here’s my thumb on it!”—described sealing a bargain: two parties would wet their thumbs, raise them, and press them together as a sign of agreement. This tactile ritual likely birthed the modern raised‑thumb approval gesture. Even some ape species flash a raised thumb, perhaps celebrating the very fact they, too, possess opposable thumbs.

6 Military Salute

The classic military salute—four fingers touching the brow—may trace back to Roman legionaries shielding their eyes from the glare of superior officers. Medieval knights sometimes lifted their helmets in a similar motion to signal they bore no hostile intent. The term “sallet,” the name for a knight’s helmet, echoes the word “salute.” The 20th‑century “Roman salute,” now linked to fascist regimes, has no authentic Roman precedent and is prohibited in modern Germany, where misuse can earn up to three years in prison.

7 Crossing Fingers

Originally, crossing one’s fingers required two participants: one person formed the wish with a forefinger, while the other supported it, creating a literal “X” of unity and strength meant to ward off witches. Over time the gesture became a solo luck charm. It also serves a cheeky legal function: crossing the middle over the index finger creates a loophole that lets a speaker back out of a promise.

8 Rock Paper Scissors

Rochambeau—better known as rock‑paper‑scissors—has settled countless disputes worldwide. In an odd Florida case, a weary judge grew tired of endless debates over deposition venues and ordered the parties to resolve the matter with a single RPS showdown. Indonesia puts its own spin on the game with “earwig, human, elephant”: earwig drives the elephant mad, the human crushes the earwig, and the elephant crushes the human. Some versions boast 101 gestures and a staggering 5,050 possible outcomes. The World RPS Society even tracks official tournaments, though the true origin of the name “Rochambeau” remains a mystery.

9 OK Sign

The ubiquitous “OK” gesture hides a tangled past. One theory points to the 1830s era of comic misspellings, where “OK” stood for “Oll Korrect,” a playful take on “all correct.” Another story links it to President Martin Van Buren, nicknamed “Old Kinderhook,” whose campaign slogan morphed into the hand sign. Some argue French soldiers in the American Revolution invited girls to meet them “aux kayes” (the docks), birthing the gesture. A handwriting mishap may have turned an intended “OR” (order received) into the familiar circle‑and‑finger shape. Even railroad agent Obadiah Kelley’s initials (OK) may have helped popularize it.

10 Christmas Symbols

Most scholars agree that Jesus was likely born in spring, yet we celebrate his nativity in winter. Pope Gregory VII merged existing pagan winter festivals with Christianity, allowing evergreen trees—symbols of hope and renewal—to become seasonal fixtures. Martin Luther, walking home one night, saw stars glimmer through fir branches and recreated the effect by placing candles on an evergreen, birthing the modern Christmas tree in the 16th century. Early English‑speaking Christians shunned trees as pagan, but Pennsylvania Germans popularized them in America during the 1820s, and the custom spread nationwide.

St Nicholas, a 4th‑century Turkish bishop known for generosity, attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. His name evolved from “St Nikolaas” to “Sinterklaas” and finally “Santa Claus.” Candy canes began as shepherds’ staffs in the 1700s, later reshaped into a Christian emblem. Holly represents Christ’s crown of thorns. Gift‑giving mirrors the Magi’s offerings, carols echo angelic hymns, and the star atop the tree recalls the celestial beacon that heralded Christ’s birth. The “X” in “X‑mas” isn’t a secular shortcut; it derives from the Greek letter chi, the first character of “Christ,” originally used to avoid over‑using the holy name.

If you’ve been glued to screens for far too long, you might forget that our planet is steeped in age‑old traditions. That’s why we’ve compiled the top 10 coolest folk symbols from every corner of the world, each a living reminder that something ancient still lingers in modern life.

Why These Are the Top 10 Coolest Folk Symbols

10 The Green Man, Britain

The medieval period in Europe was a whirlwind of change. At the dawn of the era, the Western Roman Empire was collapsing while Christianity was gaining momentum. By the time the Renaissance rolled in, the seeds of the Enlightenment were already sprouting. Yet, amid all this upheaval, vestiges of pre‑Christian customs stubbornly persisted. In Britain, people still twirled around maypoles, clung to ancient tongues, and recounted tales that pre‑date the gospel. Those old habits, superstitions, and visual motifs have survived into the present.

The Green Man—an ever‑present foliated head that peers out from carved wood and stone pillars inside countless churches—stands as the quintessential example of this continuity. His leafy visage, peeking out of sacred architecture, links us directly back to those earlier, nature‑focused rites.

This leafy figure is a relic of the nature‑centric religious practices that existed before the Roman occupation of Britain. He is believed to bring good harvests and to warn humanity that turning one’s back on nature invites its wrath.

Seeing such overtly pagan imagery on the walls of Protestant churches can feel odd to modern believers. However, when trying to persuade masses to embrace a new faith, leaders often grafted beloved elements of the old onto the new. The Green Man, scattered across Great Britain, proves that even the most ancient cathedrals can house older, lingering symbols.

9 Potnia Theron, the Mediterranean and Near East

The Eastern cousin to the Green Man is the “Master of Beasts,” a cross‑cultural motif showing a figure holding wild animals aloft as if they were trophies. Unlike its Brythonic counterpart, which focuses on plant life, this image emphasizes mastery over animals. Yet the true show‑stopper is the “Potnia Theron”—the Mistress of Beasts—who adds a layer of mystique.

The earliest known instance dates to around 6,000 BC: a clay figurine from the Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük in modern‑day Turkey, depicting a seated female flanked by two lionesses. From there, the motif radiated throughout the Mediterranean and Near East, symbolizing humanity’s dominion over the animal kingdom—perhaps a nod to hunting and husbandry.

Scholars admit we still don’t fully grasp its meaning. The figure appears in Mycenaean Greek religion, representing goddesses such as Artemis (the huntress) and Cybele. Artemis, originally a foreign mother‑goddess from Asia Minor, even attracted a cadre of castrated priests—a truly unique twist in Greek worship.

8 Nain Rouge, Detroit, Michigan

Shifting to a more contemporary folk emblem, Detroit boasts the Nain Rouge—a mischievous imp that haunts the Motor City. Children shudder at the legend, while party‑goers revel in the annual Marche du Nain Rouge parade that celebrates the figure’s quirky spirit.

The creature has become a hipster‑friendly mascot, plastered on trendy cafés and boutiques as a “keeeewl retro” emblem. Its origins are a blend of French colonial folklore (the “lutin”) and local Native American myth, making it a syncretic symbol of mischief and bad luck.

Despite its playful modern usage, the Nain Rouge has deep roots dating back to Detroit’s early French settlement. The legend says the imp, a small demonic being, brings misfortune, prompting the city’s spring parade to chase it away for the rest of the year.

7 Onryō, Japan

Ancient traditions sometimes get a spectacular makeover in modern pop culture. Japan’s belief in vengeful spirits—especially the Onryō, a ghost driven by a desire for revenge—has endured for centuries. In traditional Japanese lore, dishonor is a grave sin, and those wronged often return as restless phantoms.

The Onryō has leapt from folklore into contemporary horror cinema. Iconic J‑Horror films like Ringu and Ju‑On feature these pale, long‑haired specters in white funeral garb, a visual directly inspired by Edo‑era Kabuki costumes.

These ghostly figures have reshaped the horror genre worldwide, steering audiences away from slasher flicks toward supernatural terror. The legacy of the Onryō demonstrates how an ancient myth can dominate modern screens and inspire countless chilling stories.

6 El Hombre Caiman, Colombia

The Colombian coast tells a rib‑tickling tale of the “Alligator Man.” Legend says a young, lecherous fellow loved spying on women bathing in the Magdalena River. One day, a witch granted him two potions: one to turn him into an alligator for better concealment, and another to revert him to human form.

Testing the potions, the witch watched the man transform into a reptile and, delighted, threw the reversal potion into the water. Unfortunately, it only restored his upper body, leaving his lower half forever scaly and green. When he demanded a fix, the witch refused, cursing him to remain that way eternally.

The story is so beloved that the town of Plato, near the Magdalena River, erected a massive statue of this half‑crocodilian perv. It stands as a reminder that folk legends can be both scandalously funny and deeply rooted in local identity.

5 Shetani, East Africa and the Island of Zanzibar

Across Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, and Zanzibar, you’ll encounter the Shetani—devilish sculptures ranging from dog‑headed demons to stunted hags and surreal elephantine forms. The term shares its linguistic roots with the Islamic “Shaitan” and the Christian “Satan,” underscoring a shared notion of malevolent spirits.

These eerie carvings aren’t just decorative; they play a serious role in contemporary belief. In 2001, Zanzibar experienced a panic when locals claimed the bat‑winged Shetani known as Popo Bawa was assaulting victims—a story the BBC reported as involving the creature “sodomizing” its mostly male prey.

Cultic practices surrounding Shetani persist throughout East Africa, proving that ancient mythic figures can remain vibrant in modern spiritual life, far beyond mere architectural embellishment.

4 Woyo Tribal Masks, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola

The Woyo people of Central Africa wear striking masks during ritual dances performed by the “ndunga,” the group tasked with upholding tribal law and order. Imagine a traffic cop pulling you over, only to be wearing one of these vivid, expressive faces.

These masks serve a grave purpose: they empower the ndunga to hunt down alleged criminals, witches, and those blamed for natural calamities such as droughts, floods, or failed harvests. Each mask carries a distinct “character,” revealed through the dance, reinforcing societal norms and supernatural accountability.

3 The Night Hag, Worldwide

Few motifs appear on every continent, but the Night Hag—also known as the Old Hag—does just that. This wizened, malevolent crone materializes at night, pressing down on sleepers’ chests, causing a terrifying sensation of suffocation.

Most scholars link the phenomenon to sleep paralysis, yet the dread remains. In East Asia, Buddhist monks and nuns are blamed for sending the hag into dream realms to punish the wicked. In Brazil, she prowls rooftops, descending onto the bellies of those who have overeaten, earning the name “Pisadeira,” meaning “She Who Steps.”

The Night Hag’s global presence underscores a shared human fear of nocturnal oppression, regardless of cultural context.

2 Manaia, New Zealand

Take a quick image search of Maori carvings and you’ll be greeted by a bewildering mash‑up: a serpent‑like creature, a bird‑headed humanoid, a profile‑facing figure, even a dinosaur‑ish silhouette. The ambiguity is the point.

The word “Manaia” offers no clear definition. Maori dictionaries list meanings ranging from “a grotesque beaked figure” to “ornamental work,” “a lizard,” “the sea‑horse,” and even “a raft.” Each translation hints at something decorative yet enigmatic.

Is it a raft? Perhaps you’ll drown in speculation. In related Polynesian languages, similar terms translate to “embellishment,” suggesting the designs may simply fill architectural corners on lintels and pillars.

Yet the consistency of the motif across centuries implies deeper significance. Whatever the original intent, the Manaia endures as a striking, mysterious element of Maori art that continues to captivate viewers worldwide.

1 Bhoma, Bali

We began with Britain’s Green Man and the Mediterranean’s Potnia Theron, but the island of Bali adds its own spectacular figure: the Bhoma. This fierce guardian graces temple façades and other structures, echoing the Green Man’s nature‑linked symbolism—only it looks like it could devour its counterparts whole.

In Balinese Hinduism, Bhoma is the offspring of Vishnu and the earth goddess Pertiwi. He embodies a nature spirit, crowned “King of the Jungle,” tasked with protecting sacred forests at the foot of holy mountains.

Bhoma’s fierce visage serves a protective function, warding off malevolent forces and ensuring the sanctity of the natural world. Those who underestimate his power quickly learn why he’s taken seriously by devotees and temple artisans alike.

In a world where roughly 6,500 different languages are currently spoken, an assortment of common symbols, emblems, and logos can often bridge the gap between cultures. Certain images, and the concepts they represent, can be easily recognized by most. However, some of the most familiar images associated with modern ideas, products, or movements come to us from our most ancient ancestors.

With a wealth of history, wisdom, and hidden meanings behind them, some of these ancient symbols convey much more than their modern contexts might suggest. Let’s look at ten symbols whose modern contexts can’t compare to their ancient origins.

Related: Top 10 Sayings With Misunderstood Origins

10 The Bluetooth Rune

It’s probably fair to say that the majority of people have come across this symbol at some point. Given that smartphones are owned by almost 92% of the world’s population, the Bluetooth symbol is likely one of the most recognizable icons of the 21st century. What few people realize, however, is that the symbol was inspired by ancient Viking runes, the written alphabet used by the Germanic people of Northern Europe in the first millennium AD.

The widely identifiable icon was created by Jim Kardach, who had been reading a historical Viking novel while developing Bluetooth wireless technology. The story featured Harold Gormsson, a king who ruled over tribes in Denmark and Norway during the Viking Age. Nicknamed Harold Bluetooth, Kardach felt that Gormsson’s endeavor to unite the Viking tribes was similar to the purpose he hoped to achieve with his new technology. The resulting Bluetooth logo combines the runic figures of “H” and “B.”

The exact origins of Viking runes are the subject of debate, but it’s possible that they came from the Etruscan alphabet. The name “rune” derives from the German root word “-run,” which means “secret” or “whisper.” Given that runes were mostly used by the wealthier members of Viking society to record moments of great importance, this name seems rather fitting!^[1]

9 The Celtic Harp

Also known as the Gaelic harp, this is one of the most common symbols of Ireland. As well as featuring prominently in its national imagery, coins, and uniforms, the harp is associated with numerous Irish companies, including Ryan Air and Guinness. The Celtic harp set against a green background first appeared as a symbol of Ireland in 1642 (LINK 2). This strengthened a link between the instrument and the Irish people that had been established by bards and musicians who had played it for their chieftains and kings in ancient times.

As a symbol, the Celtic harp is believed to represent, among other things, the immortality of the soul. One of the oldest musical instruments in the world, a Pictish carving on an 8th century stone cross is one of the earliest known images of the harp in Ireland. Harps are associated with St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music, and are also referenced in the Old Testament as an instrument for healing. That’s something to bear in mind when knocking back a pint of Guinness ale.^[2]

8 The Rod of Asclepius

A global symbol of healthcare and medicine, the Rod of Asclepius is an internationally recognized representation of the medical profession. The symbol portrays a serpent coiled around a staff, traditionally represented by a knotty tree limb. It is associated with the Greek Demigod Asclepius, who was renowned for his powers of healing and unrivaled medical aptitude. According to mythology, he received this wisdom from the whisperings of snakes. The relevance of Asclepius is even reflected in the original Hippocratic Oath. This began with the invocation, “I swear by Apollo the Healer and by Asclepius ….”

The significance of the image as representative of the art of healing is tied with the symbolism of both the staff and the snake. Traditionally, the rod has been depicted as a symbol of authority, while the serpent signifies rebirth, rejuvenation, and revitalization. The snake also represents the dual nature of the medical profession, which involves both life and death, as its venom can be fatally poisonous but also possesses medicinal properties. Keep an eye out for this one the next time you see an ambulance drive by!^[3]

7 The Alphabet

Perhaps one of the most obvious examples on this list, the modern western alphabet derives, of course, from ancient Greek alphabetic writing. Emerging sometime around 800 BC, the Greek alphabet was the world’s first fully phonetic alphabetic script. There were actually several regional and local variations. However, the ancient Greeks still acknowledged the immediate source by referring to their alphabets as “Phoenician letters.” The Phoenicians were the peoples occupying the regions in what is now Lebanon and parts of Syria and Israel.

Of all the local variations, it was the Ionic alphabet that was eventually adopted by Athens in classical Greece. This alphabet contained 24 letters and eventually became dominant across the Greek-speaking world. Given the reach and influence held by ancient Greece, later to be replaced by the Roman empire, it’s unsurprising that its alphabet seeped its way into the alphabetic systems of most of Europe.^[4]

6 The Swastika

Since the early 1920s, the swastika has become a symbol associated with hatred and fear. Adopted as an emblem of the Third Reich, the Nazi’s redesign of this auspicious and sacred symbol has led to it being reviled by the West. The swastika served as a holy symbol in Asia for millennia and maintains its immense spiritual significance today. To Buddhists, it represents the footprints of the Buddha. The Jains regard it as one of the 24 Tirthankara saviors, while Hindus see the right-hand swastika as a sign of Surya (the Sun) and auspiciousness. They view the left-hand version, the sauvastika, as symbolic of the night and the goddess Kali. The word swastika itself derives from the Sanskrit svastika, meaning “conducive to well-being.”

The swastika as a spiritual symbol has also been found all over the world, appearing in several cultures across northern Africa, as well as the Mayan, Aztec, and Kuna civilizations of South and Central America. It was also adopted by numerous First Nation groups of North America, including the Hopi, Navajo, and Passamaquoddy. It’s also seen throughout Europe, where the first known example dates back some 15,000 years. It was used by Celtic, Vinca, Greek, and Roman cultures. The discovery in the 1870s of some 1,800 depictions of the symbol at Hisarlik, Turkey, led to its association with luck and success by the beginning of the 20th century. Around this time, German nationalists began to favor it, culminating in Hitler’s adoption of the swastika as a symbol of the burgeoning Nazi movement.^[5]

5 The Star and Crescent

Today, the star and crescent is used as a national symbol for numerous countries, including Turkey, Algeria, Tunisia, Pakistan, and Malaysia. Featured on the flag of the Ottoman-Turks, it gained prevalence as a symbol of the Ottoman Empire after 1757. Its use in mosques and minarets also led to the association of the star and crescent with Islam.

The star and crescent’s origins may partially stem from long-established Mesopotamian iconography. Here, the crescent was associated with the moon god Sin and the star with the goddess Ishtar, who represents Venus. However, the symbol in its current form was likely developed in the Greek colony of Byzantium around 300 BC. Within this context, it represented the moon and the goddesses Luna and Diana, with the morning star also associated with Venus.^[6]

4 The Shamrock

With a name derived from the Irish word “seamróg” or “seamair óg,” which translates as little clover, the shamrock is another of Ireland’s most recognizable emblems. Its depiction can be seen everywhere on the Emerald Isle. As an image of a three-leafed clover, it is traditionally rooted in the holy trinity symbolism of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, is purported to have used the shamrock in his teachings to convert the people of Ireland to Christianity in the 5th century.

What few realize is that the sacred trinity symbolism of the shamrock dates back even further than the teachings of St. Patrick. The symbol was originally associated with the Celtic earth-mother goddess Danu. Possibly a deity of fertility, wisdom, and the wind, the three leaves are believed to have represented her status as the maiden, the mother, and the crone of Ireland. Just don’t get it confused with the four-leafed clover, which has an entirely different meaning!^[7]

3 The Fleur-de-Lis

The fleur-de-lis symbol is used today in all manner of contexts as a purely decorative element, as well as a representation of light, life, and perfection. However, it is most commonly found in Catholic emblems. It symbolizes the Holy Trinity and purity and is ascribed to the Virgin Mary. While also appearing as a decorative feature across numerous European nations, it has most frequently been seen in France. In fact, the symbol has come to closely represent French royalty, with legend claiming that an angel presented one to Clovis, the Merovingian king of the Franks.

Translating in English to “flower of the lily,” the fleur-de-lis is believed to depict a stylized lily or lotus flower and has been used in the artworks of some of the earliest civilizations. Utilized for both ornamental and symbolic purposes, the fleur-de-lis has been found on Mesopotamian cylinders, Mycenean pottery, Egyptian bas-reliefs, Sassanid textiles, Gaulish and Mameluk coins, Japanese emblems, Indonesian clothing, and Dogon totems. It has often been associated with the sacred goddesses of these cultures.^[8]

2 The Skull and Crossbones

A symbol comprised of a human skull with two long bones crossed beneath, the skull and crossbones has come to represent poison, danger, and warnings, as well as toughness and ferocity. Most commonly used today to demarcate toxic substances unfit for consumption, it has also been used as an emblem for pirates and, even today, as the insignia for numerous military and naval services throughout the world. However, this symbol has often been found in antiquity to convey a meaning termed in Latin by the Medieval intellectuals of Europe as “Memento Mori”: Remember, you are mortal.

The original meaning of the symbol was to act as a reminder of the temporary and transient nature of human life and the inevitability of death. It was used to prompt one to remember that there is eternal life within each of us and to strive to reach advanced spiritual heights. The image taught that, although death may come, the soul transcends the demise of all that is physical.^[9]

1 The Black Sun

Another spiritual symbol hijacked by the Nazis, the Black Sun has been associated with the Third Reich since the 1930s. The specific configuration used by the Nazis was first utilized at Wewelsburg Castle following renovations by Heinrich Himmler. The Nazi’s own particular design was a new and unique take on various ancient representations of the “Sun Wheel” symbol. It is composed of twelve Sig-runes, which represented victory to the Nazis and was their recreation of the Viking Sowilo-rune.

The number twelve is highly significant in various spiritual belief systems and occult cosmogonies. Interestingly, the Nazi configuration shares many similarities with decorative Merovingian disks dating from the early Medieval period. The power and influence held by the Merovingian kings in Germania during that time frame may well have been something that the Nazis wished to emulate.

The sun wheel is a powerful spiritual symbol found in the iconography and religious art of numerous prehistoric cultures across the world. Throughout many of these societies, the sun has been worshipped as an all-powerful and supreme preserver of life. The Sun Wheel symbol is said to invoke the sun’s great cosmic powers to bless the world with life, fertility, prosperity, abundance, and peace. Black Sun imagery may have held significance within German and Norse mythology in accounts of the apocalyptic events associated with Ragnarök. In the story, the wolf who chases the sun eternally across the sky finally catches and swallows it, causing the beginning of an age of darkness, regression, and chaos.^[10]

Status symbols are some of the hardest to understand aspects of any culture or society. What makes any given thing a symbol of importance? Is a rare NFT of a cartoon monkey really indicative of anything? What about a Ferrari? Truth is, status symbols have always been pretty mysterious and weird. Just look at these…

10. Pineapples

Our ancestors were harvesting pineapple in South America thousands of years ago, and why not? It’s delicious, refreshing, and it looks pretty cool as far as fruit goes as well. Columbus was so impressed with the fruit that after pillaging the New World, he brought it back to Europe with him and soon it became the “it” thing for anyone who was anyone.

In the 16th and 17th Century, Europeans fell in love with the pineapple. It was exotic and hard to come by, so getting a hold of one indicated you had money or influence. Charles II commissioned a painting of himself with a pineapple. The cost of building a greenhouse to grow pineapples in England was upwards of £28,000. Many of them failed, and it took years to grow the fruit, all of which added to the cache of having one. So how much did a pineapple cost back then? About £60. Adjusted for inflation, that’s around £11,000 today. So in a lot of ways, a pineapple was legitimately like owning a 75-inch TV, or some other needless luxury. 

Ironically, or maybe not depending on your perspective, people would not actually do much with those pricey pineapples. If you’re spending that much, you’re not just making a fruit salad, right? So, often, the fruit would just sit on a table like a decoration to show off for anyone who came by. 

9. Ornamental Hermits

If a pineapple seems like an obscure sort of decoration, a hermit has to be next level. In the 18th century, part of tending a garden meant making it as lush and luxurious as possible if you wanted to show off your station in life. After all, only the most high society types would be able to afford majestic topiaries and exotic flowers from abroad. But at some point, this evolved beyond normal garden fixtures to include the ornamental hermit.

Just as the name suggests, an ornamental hermit was a man, a literal person, who lived in a little shack or hovel on the grounds of another person’s home. Think of a garden gnome only in real life. These men would dress as druids, grow long beards, and essentially look like your own personal Gandalf. They also didn’t bathe, just to complete the illusion. 

The hermit was not to speak with anyone for a period of seven years. They’d just live there, not bathing, and looking the part. The trend evolved from the idea of Roman Emperor Hadrian having a single person retreat at his villa, something that was later adapted by Pope Pius IV. And by the 18th century people just decided that having a lone hermit was in keeping with more of an emotional ideal of the melancholy. That is to say, they exemplified introspection and somberness, feelings which were valued at the time and apparently best appreciated in living, breathing form. Only the most wealthy of people could afford to hire a person to live like this and thus, one of the most bizarre status symbols was born.

Luckily for the would-be hermits, the trend did not last long.

8. Men’s High Heels

These days, high heel shoes are almost exclusively sold to women. People would arguably look at a man strangely if they saw him wearing heels because of cultural biases we still hold relating to what qualifies as menswear and womenswear. What’s odd about this is that high heels were originally made for men and not women. 

Heels date back to somewhere between the 10th and 15th century in Persia. And they weren’t considered effeminate or odd in any way, just the opposite. Heels were worn by warriors as they allowed them greater control and security in stirrups on horseback. 

At the time, the Persian military was not accessible to just any man. If you planned to ride on a horse, then you needed to be wealthy enough to buy your own. Thus, those who could wear heels were part of the elite class. The heels were introduced to Europe at the end of the 1500s when the Persians made a grand tour of Europe looking for allies in war.

European nobility couldn’t resist the allure of something new and unique. To them, heels were manly and cool, so they all wanted a pair of their own. When people of lower station began wearing heels, the aristocrats made higher heels. They became impractically high and that cemented them as the shoes of the elite because normal people couldn’t actually perform real jobs in high heels, so only the upper crust could get away with wearing them. 

7. Low Number License Plates

Cars as a status symbol is by no means a new idea. As long as cars have existed, there have been the more expensive and luxurious versions that people have sought as a way to show off their wealth. The Rolls Royce Boat Tail will set you back $28 million if you’re looking to show off your fancy car chops today, but it’s not the only car-related status symbol out there by any means. 

In Rhode Island and several other states, you don’t need a multimillion dollar automobile to show off your street cred. You just need the right license plate. Low numbers have long been desired by license plate enthusiasts.

When license plates were first issued, they did them in the most logical way you could imagine – numerically. So the first plate ever issued was just number 1. And so it went. As plates go out of circulation, those numbers can be reissued. Or, if they still exist, owners can will them to relatives or even sell them. And people pay a lot of money for them. 

The governor got that number one plate back in 1903. You can imagine the imagined cache of having a car emblazoned with a government-sanctioned “1” on it. It created the idea that a low number was somehow good. This is a trend you can see every day in almost anything with a numerical ordering system. People want to be number one. Oftentimes it makes no sense at all, but we still like the sound of it. That’s essentially how it works with these plates. It’s meaningless, but people still want them. 

What’s a low plate worth? Delaware’s “9” sold for nearly $200,000 in 1994. A 14 went for $325,000. Despite not meaning much objectively, they have that subjective value which allows someone to say they’re the top. Or at least top 14. And that means a lot to some folks. 

6. Dueling Scars

Have you ever heard the saying “chicks dig scars?” Juvenile though it may be, there’s something to the idea of scars being cool. Maybe not literally, but you can’t deny that there is a cultural sort of appreciation for someone who has battle scars or evidence of trauma. Why? Who knows? But you can see it in books and movies all the time, those scenes where the hero takes their shirt off and dramatically reveals the cuts and holes and tears of a hard life that shows just how tough and admirable they must truly be. 

The idea that scars are desirable wasn’t born in a vacuum of fiction. In real life, people have pursued scars as a way to show off their own badassery for longer than you might think. A 2008 study shows that women were more attracted to men who had facial scars. But the practice of scarring to be cool goes back further.

Germans used to engage in duels ostensibly to get cuts on their faces. This was done by college men in fraternities to show off their manliness. The Nazi party actually reintroduced the practice of dueling in 1936. The duels were never meant to be malicious or to settle real disputes; they were just sort of like a Fight Club-style battle to prove one’s toughness.

As you might expect, not everyone was inclined to let an opponent slash them with a rapier. Word is that some men used razors on their own faces, or even paid doctors to do it for them. 

5. Wigs

If you’ve seen any period piece movies that cover 18th century England, then you know wigs were a prominent part of British high society. All the aristocrats in old movies wear those giant, puffy white wigs. The concept of the powdered wig actually comes from France and King Louis XIII, who wore one to cover his baldness. The wigs were powdered because, made from horse or goat hair as they were, and never actually cleaned, they smelled awful and were full of lice. Powder cut back on the nastiness. 

As we saw with high heels, the elite in society love nothing more than to do what everyone else is doing, and so the wig trend spread rapidly. They became more ornate and complex as the trend grew and, just like a pair of sneakers in modern times, if you wanted to stand out among a certain crowd of people, you had to have the best looking wig you could get. Some high end wigs, when adjusted for inflation, could cost over $10,000. 

Wigs became so popular that a black market arose and wig theft became a serious problem. To appreciate just how serious, you should know that some people apparently trained monkeys to snatch wigs right off people’s heads and run away with them. 

4. Lawns

Some people take their lawn care very seriously. You might even say too seriously. Many neighborhoods have that one lawn that’s just pristine and green all year around because someone is devoting a ton of time to making it look majestic. A lot of other people don’t care. But once upon a time, a lawn was a thing of true status. 

A patch of grass seems like an odd status symbol, but not once you realize what it represents. In a way, it’s actually very crass. A lawn, once upon a time, showed your wealth because it was wasteful. A peasant couldn’t afford a lawn. The land was their livelihood. A farmer couldn’t have a lawn, they needed that land to grow food to make a living. But a rich person? They could waste so much land. So a large lawn indicated you didn’t care about how much space you wasted. 

Over time, homeowners got to have their own property and their own lawns, which, in their way, showed a kind of independence. It showed success. We still kind of think of homeownership in those terms, but not necessarily the needless patch of grass in front of one.

3. Paper Fans

Most people today take paper for granted. You go to Staples and buy a slab of it for your printer and it costs a few bucks. No big deal. But if you get into the world of paper, you’ll learn that paper is never “just” paper. There’s that cheap printer paper you can buy that’s made from processed wood pulp and costs under $10 for 500 sheets. Or you can buy 50 sheets of paper made from processed elephant poop for $32. 

In Korea, hanji was handmade paper produced from mulberry trees. It was used for writing but also numerous decorative and artistic purposes as well. One of those purposes was for folded hand fans. These fans were only allowed to be used by men in public and were shown off as a status symbol. 

The more ornate the fan, the more important the person wielding it arguably was. Different colors, shapes and decorations showed off that status. For instance, the more bamboo ribs the fan had, the higher the status. Royalty would wield fans with 50 ribs. Lesser aristocracy might have 40. 

2. Salt

Of all the seasonings in the world, none is more important to chefs than salt. When a chef says something needs seasoning, they don’t mean saffron. They mean salt. And, historically, salt has been a big deal. Salt used to be one of the most valuable commodities in the world. In Ancient Greece, slaves would be sold for salt. Clearly it had some serious value, and this extended through much of history.

Because of its value, those who could show off salt were also showing off their social status. The true bigwigs of society could afford salt cellars, an ornate container that held salt and at gatherings and parties, the host would show it off like it was a Porsche in the driveway. At a dinner, those of greater status would be seated above the salt. Lesser folks sat further away. 

1. Pillows

Pillows hold an odd position in the world at large. You have one on your bed for sleeping, but some people also have a good half dozen on the bed that are just there for decoration. The same thing happens on sofas as well. The world is full of pillows, many of which are just there to look nice but not be used for anything.

Pillows date back some 9,000 years. The first Mesopotamian pillow was made of stone and served the purpose of keeping your head off the ground so fewer bugs would crawl in your mouth at night. 

The stone pillow became widely popular and only the wealthy could afford them because carved stone isn’t cheap today and it wasn’t cheap back then. Thus, a pillow was something that showed off your status as a big wig. 

Decorative pillows spread to other cultures. Ornately painted ceramic pillows became a status symbol in China. In the Middle Ages, soft pillows were used by the rich and eschewed by the men as being weak. 

To this day, we’ve kept up the idea of the decorative pillow as something opulent, even though it has no real use as a pillow. The next time anyone complains about you have pillows you can’t actually use, just tell them you’re participating in a 9,000 year old tradition of decadence.