See the Mysterious Winter Parade That Brings Tourists to the Remote Island of Sardinia
Since ancient times, a town on the Italian isle has marked the season with a grim costumed festival
Before the Yule Lads Evolved Into Icelandic Versions of Santa Claus, They Terrorized Children Into Following the Rules
Today, the 13 brothers are said to leave presents in well-behaved youngsters’ shoes. But they used to be depicted as frightening monsters
The Discovery of a Jewish Teenager’s Holocaust Diary Reveals How Songs, Jokes and Stories Served as Cultural Resistance
Yitskhok Rudashevski documented his life while hiding from Nazis, as well as folklore told in his community that “must be collected and preserved as a treasure for the future”
Rare ‘Doomsday’ Oarfish Surfaces in California, Just the 20th Discovered in the State Since 1901
Kayakers spotted and hauled ashore the 12-foot-long oarfish, a deep-sea species known for its connection to earthquakes in Japanese folklore
Fabled Sword From Medieval French Folklore Disappears
Known as the “French Excalibur,” the blade is said to have hung from a rock face in the village of Rocamadour for 1,300 years
From China to the Mediterranean and More, Here’s How Different Cultures Envision Dragons
In some parts of the world, the mythical creatures are monsters. In others, they’re more benign beings
At Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade, Thousands Channel Aquatic Weirdness
Crowds decked out as fantastical sea creatures flocked to Brooklyn’s amusement district for the summer kickoff event
The Brothers Grimm Did Much More Than Tell Fairy Tales
A recent discovery in a Polish library of 27 books that were thought to have been lost sheds light on the breadth of the German scholars’ work
How the Hindu Deity Hanuman Inspired Dev Patel’s ‘Monkey Man’
The story of the half-human, half-monkey god mirrors the journey of the protagonist in Patel’s directorial debut
How the Memory of a Song Reunited Two Women Separated by the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
In 1990, scholars found a Sierra Leonean woman who remembered a nearly identical version of a tune passed down by a Georgia woman’s enslaved ancestors
Why Is the Year of the Dragon Considered So Lucky?
The only mythical creature in the Chinese zodiac, the dragon has long been associated with prosperity and imperial power
The Return of Mermaidcore
For a century, a collective love of tails and fins has helped women transgress on land and sea
Why It’s Time for a Worldwide Lights-Out Program
A new Smithsonian exhibition delves into the issue of light pollution, with easy solutions offering an immediate change
What You Should Know About the Mardi Gras Indians
For more than a century, New Orleans’ Black residents have donned Native-inspired attire to celebrate Carnival
Smithsonian Scholars Pick Their Favorite Books of 2022
This wide-ranging list offers context for our rapidly changing world
Traditionally Dyed Eggs Spring Into Action for Ukraine
The colorful folk art is a centuries-long custom
The Ancient Origins of the Easter Bunny
A scholar traces the folk figure’s history from the Neolithic era to today
Artist Preston Singletary Sheds New Light on the Tlingit Raven Tale
Stunning glassworks and custom soundscapes create an immersive reimagining of an ancient oral tradition
Smithsonian Scholars Pick Their Favorite Books of 2021
The writings of many fine authors support the research and ambitious undertakings of an Institution rising to the challenges ahead
Why ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’ Frightened So Many Parents in the 1990s
Launched 40 years ago, Alvin Schwartz’s spooky series pitted school administrators against PTO members pleading to ban the books
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