Not too sure about the article's premise, but there's some interesting bits in the feature: 'When we think about Christ in the manger, we see the added vulnerability of babies born in poverty, especially in societies with high rates of child mortality. No wonder that The Woman in Black, a story...

A pouca, or in Irish púca, usually refers to a magical being--a "water sprite,” or "mischievous fairy”--a word adapted by Shakespeare for his character Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream. [It is said that this] air is about the death of one such spirit. There is a story that this tune was heard by...

This is the name given to the feelings of dread/apprehension/tension/sadness/anger on a Sunday, when one knows the weekend is drawing to a close and the working week will begin the next day. For me it is very real, tends to kick in abut 6.30PM, when I know I have just the evening left to pursue...

Apparently it was National Masturbation Day on Tuesday (28th May) The first National Masturbation Day was observed May 7, 1995, after sex-positive retailer Good Vibrations declared the day in honor of Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, who was fired in 1994 by President Bill Clinton for suggesting...

Please excuse me if this has been done before... I'm new here. :) I was reading the thread on the Origins of Islam, and a brief side-conversation came up about the date of Christmas. Popular belief is that the date was chosen to coincide with the pagan festival of the same date. Here's...

Similar to the Xmas thread - for anything unusual that is Valentine-related (not just bloody new either ;) The alternative was "My Funny Valentine" so.....). http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040212.wlove0212/BNStory/Front/

Reading about Frozen Dead Guy Day in this month's FT, and thinking back to other bizarre local celebrations such as Mike the Headless Chicken Day, I was wondering if any of you lot know of any more days for the Fortean calendar?

With April Fool's Day approaching, I've been wondering, what is the origin of this occasion. The French have something similar, don't they? What about other cultures? Carole

[Emp edit: Thought it worth having a separate thread for this apart from the Seasonla one: www.forteantimes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11985 I've now megred a few threads and posts together to make this one.] An ancient tradition mentioned in the article on the Fortean homepage - Last of...