Folklore & Superstition

You know Cinderella was the only girl who could wear the glass slipper. But did you know her two stepsisters cut off parts of their feet to try to fit into it? That's just one gory detail Disney left out.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Who wouldn't want to rest in peace in one of the happiest places on Earth? OK, spending the afterlife in an amusement park may not be for everyone, but are there people who try to send the deceased on a forever roller coaster ride?

By Nathan Chandler

Folklore is stories, art and dance. It's rituals and special birthday meals; how you treat a cold; even the chain emails you sometimes get. Why do these things get passed down, and how do we keep them alive?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

It seems like every town has that one restaurant whose eggplant parmesan can kick-start contractions. But is a labor-inducing recipe an old wives' tale?

By Alia Hoyt

For centuries, people have considered four-leaf clovers to be magical — whether as an aid to spot fairies or a charm to bring the bearer good luck. So what exactly makes these tiny plants so special?

By Oisin Curran & Desiree Bowie

Visitors to remote jungles face several potential dangers. Disease, ferocious animals, deadly plant life, the risk of having your head shrunken … wait, what?

By Josh Clark

Before you board the crab boat for your first fishing gig, the captain tells you to ditch the suitcase and the banana. This is deadly work. Are you really going to argue with superstition?

By Debra Ronca

The Mayans created a sophisticated set of calendars to help them plant crops, plan religious ceremonies and keep their history. How did they do it?

By Ryan Johnson & Cristen Conger

The idiom says whatever can go wrong will go wrong. Is it the mysterious power of Murphy's Law, or is it simply people who give the law relevance?

By Josh Clark

From Johnny Appleseed to Paul Bunyan, figures of American folklore continue to inspire and engage. Before the invention on radio and television, people created these characters to help people cope with hard times. Learn more about these legendary figures.

Everybody has bad days, but fortune seems to have it in for some people. You decide: Are these 10 infamous cases of bad luck coincidences or curses?

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd. & Laurie L. Dove

July 7, 2007 is considered by many people to be one of the luckiest days of the century. Find out what the excitement surrounding 7/7/07 is all about.

Conspiracy theories are often ridiculous explanations for a disputed case or matter. There are conspiracy theories about everything from aliens to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America. Find out how these theories get started in this article.

By Marshall Brain

The fear of Friday the 13th isn't exactly grounded in scientific logic. But that doesn't stop us from feeling that it's unlucky.

By Tom Harris

OK, so a good friend of mine was driving down the highway and he picked up this hitchhiker… Urban legends are the basis for some truly spooky ghost stories. See how the tales get started and how they make their way to you.

By Tom Harris

We have all heard that anytime the thirteenth day of the month falls on a Friday that it is considered an unlucky day. Where did this notion come from? Find out the answer to that question in this article.