So much comes to mind when thinking about New Orleans. It’s a city that’s known for its Mari Gras celebrations, vibrant music scene, and delicious cuisine. Of course, another element that makes up its rich tapestry is Voodoo. During my visit to the Crescent City, I was curious to learn more about this religion and was excited to be able to visit the New Orleans History Voodoo Museum.
Paris, quite poetically known as the City of Light, is perhaps one of the most romantic destinations in the world. Yet, deep beneath its streets lies a labyrinth that is dark, ominous, and truly macabre. I am referring to the famed Catacombs of Paris, where visitors can stroll through tunnels filled with elaborately arranged bones of the city’s long dead. While this subterranean “Empire of Death” may make some shudder, it is truly a unique and thought-provoking experience for those who wish to descend into it.
Among the graves of Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris is an elaborate mausoleum upon which a strange story has become attached. According to legend, it houses the remains of a Russian princess whose last will and testament promises a fortune to anyone who can spend one year, alone, inside her tomb. Her body lies inside a glass coffin within a chapel room lined with mirrors. As such, anywhere an intrepid visitor may look, they would see the visage of the mysteriously well-preserved princess. Those who attempted the feat failed after a short time, with some saying they felt their life force drained, and one having been driven mad. There’s even implications that the princess’ body rises from the grave and moves about the tomb. The exterior of the mausoleum supposedly features vampiric designs, such as stone wolf heads. It would seem this legend presents us with a vampire who developed a contest as a means to lure fresh victims to her resting place. Let’s unpack this story and see how it evolved.
In ancient Hawaii, there was a strict system of laws known as kapu that regulated many aspects of society. These rules could deal with religious practices, resource management, and behaviors relating to gender and social class. The punishment for breaking kapu could be death, unless the offender was able to flee to a sacred place of refuge, known as a pu’uhonua.
During the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials, 19 people were wrongfully convicted and hanged by order of the court. Given the lasting impact that the trials have had on the city, one would assume that the execution site would have remained well known. However, this was not the case. In the prevailing centuries, the location was generally forgotten by the public on multiple occasions. Thanks to scholarly research, the lost site was rediscovered and confidently confirmed in 2016. A year later, a memorial was dedicated there, ensuring that the area will not fade back into obscurity.
I’ve talked a bit about vampire killing kits before on this blog. These enigmatic objects are the subjects of debate, and encountering one many years ago led me down the path of writing my book, Vampires of Lore. This time, I’d like to share a picture of one that can be found in Orlando, Florida.
Nestled in a park in Salem, MA, is Pioneer Village, a living history museum designed to portray life in the city as it would have been in 1630. This places it 62 years before the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Thus, it generally depicts a world that the older participants of the trial would have been familiar with. Beyond its relevance for history enthusiasts, the site was also a filming location for a beloved Halloween classic.
Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan and is intimately tied to the culture there. As such, it’s not often you encounter a Shinto shrine outside of that country. A handful of shrines can be found in Hawaii due to the state’s strong Japanese heritage. One is Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii, which I took the opportunity to visit during my stay in Oahu.
One of the many distinctive aspects of New Orleans is its approach to cemeteries. Rather than just rows of headstones, the burial grounds of the Crescent City often feature unique, aboveground tombs. These structures create an atmosphere of something not unlike a neighborhood. This is so much the case that the great American humorist, Mark Twain, referred to the cemeteries of New Orleans as “cities of the dead.”
The Roman Baths, which give the City of Bath, Somerset its name, are a profound window into the world of Roman Britain. In ancient times, this site was a popular spa built around hot springs and dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva. People would come here for bathing, relaxation, and the hope of healing.
