Stories and Folklore
Stories and FolkloreThe Headless Horseman: From Folk Legend to Halloween Classic
The Headless Horseman first appeared in Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and is one of the most iconic legendary figures in American Halloween.
Why we tell ghost stories on Halloween
The practice of telling ghost stories stems from the Irish and Scottish custom of fireside storytelling on winter evenings, when tales were told on Samhain night to pass the long, dark hours.
The Origin of the 'Bloody Mary' Legend
'Bloody Mary' is often thought to be connected to the nickname of Mary I, Queen of England, and later turned into an urban legend about saying her name in front of a mirror
Why black cats are tied to Halloween
The connection between black cats and Halloween comes from medieval European misunderstandings of cats and witches, while in modern times it is more just a symbolic and stylistic element
The Legend of the Black Cat and the Moon
Why do Halloween black cats always appear with the moon? A gentle world folklore quiz
Uninvited Jack-o'-Lantern (Original)
Every year on the last day of October, it returns to the same front door