Halloween Traditions Around the World
From Ireland’s Samhain to Mexico’s Day of the Dead and Bengal’s fourteen lamps, explore how different cultures welcome their ancestors and guard against unwelcome spirits.
S. B. Braithe
S. B. Braithe is a British author of literary horror, supernatural fiction and dark psychological stories. His work explores haunted places, folklore, grief, inheritance and the unsettling ways the past refuses to stay buried.
Port Arthur Ghost Tour: Ghost Stories and Haunted Places
Explore Port Arthur’s ghost stories, from the haunted Parsonage and Blue Lady to the Separate Prison and Isle of the Dead, with history and a practical ghost tour guide.
Château de Brissac: The Green Lady and the Pardon
Behind Château de Brissac’s Green Lady legend lies a killing, a disputed date and a royal pardon. Explore the record behind the ghost story and plan your visit.
Island of the Dolls Began With a Girl No Record Can Find
Explore the Island of the Dolls in Xochimilco: Julián Santana Barrera’s history, the uncertain drowned-girl legend and how to visit the original island.
What Is Durga Puja? The Untimely Awakening Behind Bengal’s Biggest Festival
What is Durga Puja? A Bengali writer explains Akal Bodhan, the five days, the food, and why Bengal wakes the goddess in autumn, not in spring.
What Is Mahalaya? The Bengali Dawn That Begins Durga Puja
What is Mahalaya? A Bengali writer explains the pre-dawn radio ritual, the Durga and Mahishasura story, and why this morning opens Durga Puja.
Čachtice Castle: The Blood Countess and the 1611 Testimony
At Čachtice Castle, the Blood Countess legend overshadows the servants who stood trial in 1611. A Dark Atlas investigation into Elizabeth Báthory, disputed testimony and the people the ghost story leaves behind.
Eastern State Penitentiary’s Ghosts and Its Rule of Silence
Eastern State Penitentiary was built to silence its prisoners. Today its ghost stories are full of voices. The Dark Atlas examines the history, the evidence and what those stories reveal about how we listen.
Corvin Castle: Was Vlad the Impaler Ever Imprisoned Here?
Was Vlad the Impaler imprisoned at Corvin Castle? Explore the records behind its legends, its dramatic restorations and what to know before visiting.
Hoia Baciu Forest: The Twisted Trees Were Made by Hand
Hoia Baciu Forest is famous for twisted trees, UFO photographs and paranormal encounters. Its deeper story is about ancient archaeology and a human-shaped woodland.