Horrifying History

A few month’s ago my mom sent me an article over Facebook Messenger. It was from a group that I wasn’t part of, and because of that all I could see was the title of “Lizzie Halliday”. I had no clue what it was and wasn’t motivated to join another group, so I asked my mom what it was about. She responded with “Lizzie Halliday: The Worst Woman on Earth”. After speculating for a moment on what would...

Winston Churchill was a man very well known in history. He was a British statesman, public speaker, and author who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, and from 1951 to 1955. He rallied his people during World War II, and helped lead his country to victory. But after he rose in political prominence before World War I; Winston gained the reputation of having erratic judgement...

There are a lot of different cult leaders out there, but many of them have a lot of the same characteristics. They are able to bind their followers to them by shared belief and practices. They boost their societal status by projecting dominance over others, either physically or mentally. They often display arrogance, and share their controversial views to gain followers. Now a great example of thi...

It is said that a good magician never reveals their secrets, and this statement couldn’t be more true when it comes to a man from Poland named Wolf Messing. Some say he was all smoke and mirrors, and others say that he was one of the greatest psychic performers that ever existed. So who actually was this man who was said to mesmerize everyone from Josef Stalin to Marilyn Monroe? So settle in my sp...

Halloween has been around for more than a thousand years. Originally a religious observance, it has evolved over the centuries until its religious practices have all but disappeared. Today, Halloween is considered to be a holiday for dress-up and fun. Halloween's origins have been traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was believed that on that day; the souls of the dead returne...

As humans, we are naturally afraid of the unknown. Our minds try to make concrete unknown things as a way to try to control what we don't understand. Monsters are one of the things that humans do this with. Since ancient times, monsters have been used as a way to explain natural phenomenon, maintain power, and inspire awe or fear. But what if monsters are actually real? Our website is the one stop...

Double, double toll and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble... Witches are one of the most popular Halloween costumes out there. But why? Many women believed that Halloween was the best day for divination, and they would seek out fortune tellers to discover the name of their future husbands. This along with a combination of other traditions across the millennia led to witches becoming a symbol o...

Halloween is consided to be one of the most common times of the year for crime to occur. Car accidents, property crime, robbery, and violent crimes rise exponentially due to many reasons including; increased drug and alcohol use, people leaving their homes for trick or treating, and Halloween being known as a prank holiday. But the crimes you are about to hear are not just pranks. Join the voices...

Telling ghost stories is a tradition during the month of October. Some do this by sitting in a circle on the floor with the lights off. Others venture to their local cemetery on a moonlit night. Either way - people feel the tension in the air, and a hint of nervous excitement for the ghoulish tales to be told. When people hear a ghost story; many don't believe that it can be true. But then in thei...

John Dee was a brilliant mathematician, astronomer, and alchemist who was an advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. He advocated for the creation of English colonies in the new world, which would help develop the British empire. He was considered to be a one man “think tank”, who was a visionary of the Elizabethan court. But John was also heavily involved in astrology, magic, and the occult. He advised the...

Many people are afraid of death, because they think it is the end. Others are afraid, because they think they will spend eternity alone. But that isn’t necessarily true. In some parts of the world, you can get married (like it or not) after you die. Yes my spooky friends…you could be married after you die. Since Halloween is just around the corner, I have teamed up with the amazing podcast Creepy...

Hi my spooky friends…Halloween is almost here, and we at Horrifying History wanted to give you all some tasty treats. Today is the first of several collaboration episodes that we have done to celebrate Halloween, and how better to start than tell some ghost stories with great friends. The first is from the group called the Tribe of the Greyhorn Pagans. They are not just a place for those on a spir...

Many people world wide believe in the existence of aliens. In recent polls; two thirds of both Americans and Canadians believe that there is intelligent life that exists on other planets. Scholars believe that public fascination with UFOs started in 1947 after a pilot flying in Washington state reported seeing disc-shaped objects in the sky with him. In the next decade; people thought that aliens...

Both in the past and today; droughts cause massive problems. It can cause poor quality, or shortages of drinking water. It can impact air quality as dry conditions can result in dust in the air. It also can result in forest fires. A lack of rain can also cause low crop yields, which impacts food prices and can create food shortages. It also can cause an increase of disease, such as the West Nile v...

Some of the most popular settings for horror movies, books, and tv shows is an asylum. This is because these dark and imposing places have seen a lot of pain and fear. Many think that these negative emotions bleed into a building, and becomes so strong that it affects others for years. The area we are going to talk about today is no different. So get comfortable my spooky friends…you are about to...

When people think of Canada; the first thing that comes to mind is definitely not a cult. After all, Canadians are known around the world for valuing tolerance, multiculturalism, and religious freedom. But that doesn’t mean that there are not, or never have been cults in Canada. So snuggle in my spooky friends…you are about to hear the tale of Brother XII and the Aquarian Society. Our website is t...

Even if you believe in curses; you may find the idea of a cursed film ridiculous. But the thing is my spooky friends, some movie productions have been so wrought with bad luck that it seems that a curse is the only logical explanation. Whether you are a believer or not, you might want to count yourself lucky that you were not involved in some of the movies we are going to tell you about today. So...

The Battle of Gettysburg is one of the most famous battles of the American Civil War. It occurred from July 1 to July 3, 1863 in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and this battle had the largest number of casualties for this entire war. This battle was the turning point of the Civil War after Union Major General George Meade’s soldiers defeated the Confederate army lead by General R...

One of the great mysteries in life is what happens when we die. Most religions tell us that there is some sort of afterlife, and one of the more popular ideologies concerning this is reincarnation. Reincarnation literally translated means “to take flesh again”, and it means that when we leave one life - we move onto another. The reason behind this is so our spirit can further learn and grow. But i...

Poorhouses, which were also known as almshouses or poor farms, were not a place that you wanted to end your days in. These places were tax supported residential institutions that took in those who could not support themselves. In these facilities; people were often given not enough food to eat, and what they were given were often unpalatable. They were forced into crowded and unsanitary conditions...

Everyone loves a good mystery. Whether they are fictional or real; they allow us to become absorbed by something other than our own worries. They satisfy our curiosity, and give us the promise of maybe something more. But there are some mysteries that keep our curiosity, since these mysteries remain unsolved. So get comfy my spooky friends…you are about to hear some very creepy unsolved mysteries....

The city of New Orleans in the US state of Louisiana is famous for being the birthplace of jazz music. It is also known for its festivals like Mardi Gras, its vibrant nightlife, and their amazing food. But another thing that New Orleans is known for is its darkness. New Orleans attracts fans of the macabre with its haunted houses, voodoo museums, and its historical cemeteries. Legends of New Orlea...

Did you know that Britain had their very own Nostradamus? She was known as Mother Shipton, and her life and prophecies have been debated for years. So who was this woman, and why are her predictions so disputed to this day? So snuggle in my spooky friends…you are about to hear the tale of Mother Shipton. Our website is the one stop spot for everything spooky!   Go to https://horrifying-history-sho...

Childhood games are more than a chance to have some fun. It is an opportunity to enrich a child’s brain, body, and teach them important life lessons. But not all games are nice ones like Scrabble. Supernatural games have been played by children around the world for decades, but what if these games are not just a little bit of fun? So gather around my spooky friends…you are about to hear about some...

A young woman fell in love with a handsome young man, and planned to spend the rest of her life with him. But the thing that she didn’t expect was that her life was going to end so soon. So snuggle in my spooky friends…you are about to hear the tale of Maria Marten and the Red Barn Murder. But here is a warning to you all…today we will be talking about a graphic death. Listener discretion is advis...