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Weird Facts

The world’s history books teach us about famous figures, ancient civilizations and important events that have shaped our world. But there is so much more to history than just the ‘big moments’. History is full of weird and wonderful tales, bizarre events, quirky people, and strange happenings, and it is these ‘weird facts’ that bring to life our past in a way that is fun, amusing and sometimes shocking!

Woodcut depicting a vagrant being punished in the streets of Tudor England. Source: Public domain
4 January, 2024 - 23:55 Cecilia Bogaard

Unemployment Under Edward VI Was Punished with Branding and Slavery

In the annals of history, peculiar laws are often found, shedding light on the societal norms and governance of bygone eras. One such oddity is the Vagrancy Act of 1547, a draconian decree that sent...
Papier mache masks on sale for making effigies or “monigotes” to burn during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Ecuador. Source: Iryna / Adobe Stock
31 December, 2023 - 23:56 Cecilia Bogaard

Ecuadorian Effigies Share Last Will and Testament on New Year's Eve

In Ecuador, New Year’s celebrations are steeped in unique traditions and peculiar rituals. One such eccentric custom is the creation and burning of Año Viejo effigies on the night of the 31st...
Disputing clerics from the 14th-century Grandes Chroniques de France. Source: Public domain
30 December, 2023 - 17:00 Cecilia Bogaard

At One Point, There Were Three Catholic Popes at the Same Time

One would hope that church leaders are always the epitome of ethical eminence and spiritual integrity. But reality is seldom so simple. In fact, in the annals of ancient history, there exists a...
When reindeer ruminate, aka chew, they are actually catching up on their sleep, claims new study. Source: Leo Rescia / Current Biology / Furrer et al.
22 December, 2023 - 23:18 Cecilia Bogaard

Scientists Discover A Reindeer Superpower - Ruminating is a Naturally Restful Sleep Hack!

Throughout history, reindeer have woven themselves into the fabric of Arctic society, mythology and folklore. Reindeer have also found their way into popular culture, prominently featuring in the...
A Chasqui roadrunner playing his pututu. Source: Public domain
17 December, 2023 - 21:57 Cecilia Bogaard

Inca Chasqui Relay Roadrunners Revolutionized Communication

In an era devoid of the internet and telephone, the ancient Inca—reigning from the 15th to 16th centuries—turned to the Chasqui runners to provide direct communication. Operating in the Andean...
Representational image of an aboriginal man playing a didgeridoo. Source: Mockup Station / Adobe Stock
15 December, 2023 - 13:37 Cecilia Bogaard

The Aboriginal Didgeridoo Was a Tool for Healing and Peace

Never has it been more important to search for clues to finding healing and peace in the world. With that in mind, it appears that within ancient Aboriginal societies the didgeridoo is believed to...
Representational image of the pious Saint Drogo. Source: nsit0108 / Adobe Stock
10 December, 2023 - 14:00 Cecilia Bogaard

Saint Drogo was the Bilocating Patron of the Unattractive

Sometimes it really does seem that there is a saint for everything. For among the vast pantheon of saints stands Saint Drogo, a 12th-century Flemish nobleman who, after experiencing an inexplicable...
Rastafarian playing reggae music. Source: Victor / Adobe Stock
8 December, 2023 - 21:54 Cecilia Bogaard

Reggae Music Lyrics are Intimately Linked to Historic Babylon

Next time you find yourself swaying along to Bob Marley’s Exodus , pay attention to the lyrics. “We know where we’re going. We know where we’re from. We leaving Babylon. We going to our Father’s Land...
Image from the Philips Sonicare toothbrush advertisement. Source: CM Dental.
4 December, 2023 - 21:59 Joanna Gillan

Romans Used Powdered Mouse Brain and Human Urine in Their Toothpaste

Romans were particularly meticulous about their oral care, but their toothpaste recipes were anything but ordinary. A primary ingredient in Roman toothpaste was powdered charcoal, derived from...
Australian Aboriginals are the first culture to make bread. Source: Riccardo Niels Mayer / Adobe Stock.
28 November, 2023 - 14:03 Joanna Gillan

Australian Aboriginals Have Been Baking Bread for 34,000+ Years!

Long held as the inventors of bread , the Egyptians, credited with this culinary innovation around 8000 BC, have been surpassed by Australian Aboriginals in historical precedence. Remarkably,...
Lead white was a lethal pigment. Source: rodjulian / Adobe Stock.
25 November, 2023 - 21:51 Joanna Gillan

Lead White Was a Lethal Pigment That Painted a Deadly History

Lead white, a pigment as notorious as it is historic, has painted a perilous line through human history. For over two millennia, this deceptively vibrant hue has been a silent killer , lurking in the...
Human skull and bread. Source: Samitanun / Adobe Stock.
24 November, 2023 - 13:54 Joanna Gillan

Human Bones Were Ground into Flour to Make Bread in 16th Century France

In human history, there are some tales so bizarre they surpass the wildest fiction. One such story, rooted in the grim realities of 16th century France, reveals a desperate and macabre solution to...
The El Colacho baby jumping festival. Source: Viaggio Routard / Flickr.
19 November, 2023 - 21:53 Joanna Gillan

El Colacho: The Spanish Festival Where Men Jump Over Newborn Babies

In the heart of Spain, the quaint village of Castrillo de Murcia becomes the epicenter of a centuries-old tradition known as El Colacho, where men vault over newborns to ward off evil—a spectacle as...
Sky burial in Tibet. Source: CC BY-SA 3.0
15 November, 2023 - 13:58 Joanna Gillan

In Tibetan Sky Burials, The Dead Are Given To Vultures to Feast Upon

Tibetan sky burials present a striking and somewhat shocking funeral tradition, where the deceased are offered to vultures. This practice, deeply ingrained in Tibetan culture , is also known as the '...
Orange festival of Ivrea. Source: Umur / Adobe Stock.
11 November, 2023 - 21:38 Joanna Gillan

Italy’s Battle of the Oranges Signifies a Maiden’s Revenge Against Her Lord

When one thinks of battles, the imagery that comes to mind usually involves swords, shields, and soldiers. But in a small town in Northern Italy, the weapon of choice is... oranges? Each year, Ivrea...
Brihadeeswarar Temple. Source: krishna / Adobe Stock.
8 November, 2023 - 22:00 Joanna Gillan

India’s Mysterious Brihadeeswarar Temple Doesn’t Cast a Shadow

India's history boasts numerous architectural masterpieces. Among them is the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Tamil Nadu, known for a very unique feature : its shadow seems to completely vanish at noon! An...
At Tlacaxipehualiztli, Aztec priests wore the skin of sacrifice victims. Source: de Art / Adobe Stock.
4 November, 2023 - 21:50 Joanna Gillan

At this Aztec Festival, Priests Wore Capes of Human Skin from Sacrifice Victims

Few festivals of the ancient world are as strikingly eerie and gruesome as the Aztecs' Tlacaxipehualiztli. Held annually during the second month of the Aztec calendar, Tlacaxipehualiztli was a...
Mesopotamian cylinder seal showing Sumerians drinking beer with straws. Source: Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative / CC by SA 4.0.
3 November, 2023 - 21:59 Joanna Gillan

Sumerians Used Straws to Drink Beer from Shared Vessels!

In the quest to uncover the everyday lives of ancient civilizations, archaeologists have stumbled upon some fascinating finds. Among these intriguing artifacts are the beer pots of ancient Sumer ,...
Detail of ‘The Love Potion’ (1903) by Evelyn de Morgan. Unlike the creation of this woman, Locusta of Gaul’s potions were made in hatred. Source: Public Domain
27 October, 2023 - 22:59 Joanna Gillan

Mithridatism is An Ancient Method to Become Poison-Proof

Defying death one sip at a time, mithridatism is the audacious ancient art of self-immunizing against poisons . Named after its most famous proponent, King Mithridates VI of Pontus , this practice...
Naki Sumo Baby Crying Festival. Source: lensonjapan / Flickr.
23 October, 2023 - 18:51 Joanna Gillan

Sumo Wrestlers Make Babies Cry at the Ancient Naki Sumo Festival

History is replete with oddities and peculiar rituals that have stood the test of time, and Japan, with its rich tapestry of culture and traditions, is no exception. Enter the "Naki Sumo Baby Crying...
A Roman wearing Tyrian purple. Source: AI generated.
21 October, 2023 - 22:57 Joanna Gillan

Roman Citizens Could Be Punished with Exile for Wearing Purple

The ancient Roman Empire was not only a marvel of architecture, politics, and warfare but also a hub of societal regulations and fashion statements. One might believe that the color of a garment...
Human remains of bones and skulls at a traditional cannibal site. Source: simanlaci / Adobe Stock.
20 October, 2023 - 14:50 Joanna Gillan

Fiji’s Rampant Cannibalism for 2,500 Years Earned it the Name ‘Cannibal Isle’

Fiji , the idyllic paradise in the South Pacific, carries a dark historical secret. Long before it was renowned for its scenic beauty, early European explorers knew it as the foreboding 'Cannibal...
Red feathers. Source: Thewonderalice / Adobe Stock.
15 October, 2023 - 22:55 Joanna Gillan

Red Feathers Were More Valuable Than Gold in Ancient Hawaii

From the gold coins of the Roman Empire to the jade treasures of ancient China, every culture has its emblem of wealth and status. But in the lush landscapes of ancient Hawaii , an unlikely item...
Leech Finders, from the print collection Costume of Yorkshire (1814), by artist George Walker and engravers Robert and Daniel Havell. Source: New York Public Library.
12 October, 2023 - 14:56 Joanna Gillan

Leech Collectors Used Amputated Legs to Procure Leeches

When it comes to historical jobs that will make your skin crawl, leech collecting certainly tops the list. While today, leeches might be an oddity or a relic of ancient medicine, they were once...

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