"The most wonderful time of the year" usually brings to mind warm thoughts of gifts, sweets, family gatherings, and Christmas trees, but did you know of the terrifying monsters that make their appearance during the holidays? In America, children strive to be good all year, hoping that Santa will bring them their most wished for gifts at Christmas time. If you were naughty, the worst thing that...

In today's America, you won't find too many places where groups of people still go door to door, singing Christmas carols to their neighbors. Yet, most of us are familiar with the idea of Christmas caroling and it has always been part of our collective imagination about the holiday season. But where does this tradition come from? You might be surprised to learn that it has its roots...

Broom or Besom Symbolism and Meaning - How Did Brooms Become Associated with Witches? Around Halloween, we often see silly pictures of witches flying on broomsticks. The drawings are so familiar that we don't even question them anymore, but if you stop to think about them, they are a rather strange image. Where did the idea of these magical, mischievous, flying women come from? There is a...

What is the Meaning and Symbolism Behind Dragons? Dragons have very different meanings in the East and the West. In the East, the dragon is a positive symbol associated with rain and storms, bodies of water, good luck, and prosperity. In the West, dragons are almost always evil, ferocious, fire-breathing monsters who guard a treasure and need to be defeated by a brave hero. Let's take...

What is the Symbolism & Meaning Behind the Wolf? Many people are fearful of wolves and think of them as vicious, aggressive creatures, but these feelings are mostly a result of cultural conditioning, as the truth is far different. While it is true that wolves are predators, they are actually quite friendly, sociable, family-oriented, and tend to stay away from humans (this is most probably...