Explores the claims of people who say that their houses are haunted. They report butcher knives flying through the air and evil messages scrawled on their walls. One family even hired a ghostbuster.
Four incredible true stories of paranormal encounters are examined in this eye-opening look at the astonishing, undeniable power of the mysterious forces called poltergeists.
For the incoming Puritan settlers 17th-century New England was a place filled with fear and uncertainty. It was an environment that--coupled with a backdrop of religious extremism--bred an anxiety so intense it ultimately turned deadly. As a result of the 1692 Salem witch trials 19 men and women were hanged and one man was "pressed" to death following the untenable accusations made by several young girls from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. When the hysteria finally subsided and new community leaders came into power apologies were made and in 1711 legislation was passed that offered some financial restitution to the families of the victims. This program provides a comprehensive account of the actual events and examines the possible causes behind this highly notorious and puzzlingly complex period in early American history.
Every October 31 pint-sized ghouls and goblins wander through neighborhoods knocking on doors and asking for treats . . . little do they know they're actually carrying out an ancient tradition dating back thousands of years. Discover how the "trick-or-treat" custom originated during the harvest festivals in ancient Ireland when food and sweets were used to coax the dead into remaining in the spirit world. Learn how Christianity tried to co-opt the celebration by turning it into All Saints Day but how the underlying--and sometimes controversial--dark elements of the holiday have survived.
Mention the word "vampire" and immediately one conjures the image of Count Dracula created from countless movies and pop culture. Since Bram Stoker first published his novel "Dracula" in 1897, the world's most popular vampire has made his appearance in 44 languages. However, the vampire myth dates back more than 1,000 years prior to Stoker putting pen to paper. It shows up in ancient civilizations, including Greece and China. VAMPIRE SECRETS presents a tale from the crypt about how the vampire legend has been interpreted around the world and in different cultures.
