The summer of 1816 was an unusually rainy one. A group of young people, visiting in a villa at Lake Geneva, began to tell stories of ghosts and monsters and other fantasy creatures when the weather kept them inside for several days. Out of these stories would eventually come several works including Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein …
The modern representation of witches in most media... Wizard of Oz, for example, while it is not recent does show one of the best examples of good versus bad characterizations with two "bad" witches and a good witch. One of the witches is killed by being squashed by a house and the other melts. When …
Continue reading Witches, warlocks & wizards…oh my! Halloween-Part Two
The origins of the jack o'lantern do not begin with pumpkins, as many are familiar with. As the legend goes, in Ireland there was a man called Stingy Jack who made a deal with the Devil. He invited the Devil along to the pub to have a drink with him. However, as Jack was a …
Continue reading The Jack O’Lantern: Halloween Countdown- Part One
Where did tea come from? Why did turning teacups over become a thing? The origins of the title of this blog should probably be explained (as promised). Also, what does it have to do with history? Well, it all has to do with drinking tea in the 1700’s. Don’t forget your teaspoon! It was only …
Teacups Upside Down 