In recent years, the internet has developed a certain amused fascination with an old Welsh Winter-time custom known as the Mari Lwyd. Around the Christmas season, photos and short blurbs about this strange tradition circulate across social media, often met with general interest and brief chuckle because of the chaotic…

A dive into the way international tensions between the United States and Russia helped propel the French colony of Algeria into nationhood and independence The Cold War as a Global Conflict The Cold War played a significant role in the process of decolonization. The struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union bled out into the…

“The Spinning Room Lady” Frau Perchta may be one of the oldest supernatural entities associated with the Winter holidays, possibly influencing later stories of Krampus, St. Nicholas, and the traditions associated with them. This has been debated among scholars of folklore however, as some sources claim that she has been mentioned in regions of…

Krampus Throughout the world, traditions have persevered surrounding the Winter Solstice, evolving from old Pagan beliefs and often assimilating into modern Christianity. Much of the old Pagan rituals and symbols can be seen today in modern Christmas or Yuletide celebrations, such as the use of the Yule log, leaving treats or…

Loch Ness was an isolated lake, not easily accessed by travelers until recently. The lake lies along a geographic line between the old Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland. Loch Ness is a fairly large body of water, about 24 miles long and over 600 feet deep. Before it was probed…

(This article was originally published to my now closed ‘Hubpages’ account, in August of 2019. It has since been copied and pasted on several strange sites, but my multiple DMCA petitions have been overlooked. If there is any concern about this, feel free to contact me at any time. I…

The number 13 is well known as being unlucky. Friday the 13th is especially known as an unlucky or even dangerous day among those who hold to superstition. But why is this day seen in such a negative light? And why is even the number “13” seen as unlucky on…

Some historians have argued that different cultures and societies can coexist peacefully, and without ongoing conflict. This is why some believe that the Civil War was caused by a “blundering generation,” or by a generation of people and politicians acting irresponsibly, rather than by an irreconcilable conflict. Although there may…

I watched again. I watched as the sun went down. And even knowing better, I let it happen. I let it happen again. Like every soiled mattress. Caked in whatever your god finds precious. Like every torn fiber. By means both lovely and heinous. Every mother’s eyes close for the…