HALLOWEEN

The Real Story Behind the Iconic ’Friday the 13th’ Whisper Sound Effect

Whether you think it's saying "chi chi chi, ha ha ha" or "ki ki ki, ma ma ma," you know the one we're talking about.

Victor Hugo, Anne Rice, and Thomas Hardy were all believers.

9 Authors Who Believed in Ghosts

Some, like Harriet Beecher Stowe and Victor Hugo, believed they had communicated with spirits directly; others, like Nathaniel Hawthorne and Thomas Hardy, had ghostly encounters they couldn’t explain.

Scientists investigated whether Ouija Boards could speak for those beyond the veil.

8 Victorian Scientists Who Investigated Ghosts

Some 19th-century scientists embraced psychical research, while others tried to debunk the sensational stories.

A Brief History of the Ouija Board

The Ouija board has terrified countless slumber party children and served as a plot vehicle in a number of Hollywood films. Here’s where it came from.

Where did this phrase come from, anyway?

Why Do We Say “Trick or Treat” on Halloween?

The origins of the phrase (indirectly) involve smelly cabbage, Donald Duck, and several Canadian journalists.

10 Facts About Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios

In the weeks leading up to Halloween, the family-friendly characters that normally populate Universal Studios are replaced with killer clowns and chainsaw-wielding maniacs.

Carving pumpkins is one of the most famous Halloween traditions.

15 Spooky Halloween Traditions and Their Origins

Love Halloween costumes and spooky decorations? Let’s dig a little deeper and learn the creepy stories behind the holiday's traditions, from carving pumpkins to munching on candy corn.

The cover of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ by Ruben Toledo.

10 Blood-Curdling Facts About ‘Dracula’

In true undead style, Dracula holds up well: He’s as creepy today as he was when Bram Stoker invented him in 1897.

Should You Feed Your Pets Pumpkin?

It's supposed to aid in digestion. Here's what a vet has to say.

An Evening Seance Newspaper Illustration.

10 Facts about the History of Spiritualism

From spiritualism's beginnings at the Fox cottage to ectoplasm, so-called spirit photography, and beyond, here's what you need to know about this controversial cultural phenomenon.

The United States is host to a number of wild and weird urban legends.

The Spookiest Urban Legend in All 50 States

From classics like the vanishing hitchhiker to creepy cryptids, ghostly vehicles, deadly curses, and some stuff you’ve probably seen on Facebook.

Guided by Voices: 7 Books Supposedly Written by Ghosts

From famous authors to a Roman emperor, these spirits sure had a lot to share.

There are said to be several White Ladies roaming the world.

15 Tales of Women Ghosts

Whether born of folklore or a historical tragedy, each of these ladies has a haunting tale.

This pair of men's black leather Blucher ankle boots from the 1840s was found under floor of an old military prison at Weedon, Northants, in 1939.

Lost Soles: When Concealed Shoes Kept Witches Away

The folk magic tradition of concealing shoes to trap witches probably started in the Middle Ages.

Mel Blanc's headstone in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

11 Unique Headstone Inscriptions

The occupants of these noteworthy graves made sure their final words were memorable.

Thrill your favorite gorehound with these spooky gifts.

12 Killer Gifts for Fans of ‘Halloween,’ ‘Friday the 13th,’ and Other Classic Slasher Movies

These horror gifts are perfect for fans of '70s and '80s slashers like 'Halloween,' 'Friday the 13th,' and other gory flicks.

A “vampire” skeleton found in Sozopol, Bulgaria.

8 Historical Methods for Keeping the Dead in their Graves

People tried their best to keep the dead from rising again with scythes, chains, nails, and more.

‘Sound Effects No. 13 – Death & Horror’ is downright spooky.

Death & Horror: How BBC’s Controversial Sound Effects Album Became a Surprise Hit

The campaign to ban “Sound Effects No. 13 – Death & Horror” didn’t stop it from becoming the first sound effects album to break the UK Top 100 charts in the 1970s.

How UNICEF Transformed Halloween Trick-or-Treating

UNICEF is as big a part of Halloween as a carved pumpkin. Here's how that relationship began.

The cover of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein.’

11 Surprising Facts About Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’

Here are the nuts and bolts about Mary Shelley's 200-year-old tale about what can go wrong when people play God.

Joseph E. Baker, Library of Congress // Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

17 Signs That You'd Qualify as a Witch in 1692

Discover whether you are guilty of maleficium and/or would have been accused of practicing witchcraft according to the laws and evidence used during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.

Make no bones about it: These advent calendars will get you pumped for the big day.

10 Great Halloween Advent Calendars to Help You Count Down to the Spookiest Time of the Year

Celebrate the spookiest time of the year with these top-rated Halloween advent calendars.

20 of the Best Pumpkin Spice Products to Satisfy Your Autumnal Obsession

From flavored coffee to candles that'll make your whole house smell like a freshly baked pie, these pumpkin spice products are perfect for fall.

Whatever you do, don't play that Silver Shamrock jingle.

18 Surprising Facts About ‘Halloween III: Season of the Witch’

The controversial sci-fi horror film wasn’t a hit with critics or fans in 1982, but “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” has morphed into a cult classic over the years.

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