Buzz
We’ve all encountered situations like this: you grab a box of pop-tarts for breakfast, head home, and prepare for bed. Suddenly, a strange clattering noise echoes from the kitchen. Upon investigating, you find your frosted morning snack hovering mysteriously above a gaping hellish portal that has materialized on your kitchen floor. Congratulations, you’ve just acquired some haunted pop-tarts. Below is a list of other cursed and haunted objects that aren’t quite as breakfast-friendly.
10. The Swansea Devil
How far would you go if you were passed over for a job? Would you leave scathing one-star reviews about the company that rejected you? Perhaps you’d obsessively follow or harass the person who landed the position instead? Or maybe you’d go as far as placing a sinister Satanic carving across from the company’s building, complete with a curse predicting its downfall? Too extreme? Not for the scorned architect in 1890s Swansea, South Wales, who, after being denied the opportunity to reconstruct a church, did exactly that.
Legend has it that when renowned architect Sir Arthur Blomfield outbid a local architect for the contract to rebuild the historic St. Mary’s church in the town center, the local man was furious. Years later, he bought a row of old cottages opposite the new church, demolished them, and erected a large red-brick building adorned with a grinning devil statue. The embittered architect then cursed the church, declaring it would soon be destroyed, and the devil would gaze upon the ruins with an everlasting smile. During the Blitz, Swansea was bombed by the Luftwaffe, and St. Mary’s suffered a direct hit, fulfilling the curse. Today, the Devil statue remains a peculiar landmark in Wales’ second-largest city, peering out at shoppers from a window in the Quadrant Shopping Centre.
9. Man Proposes, God Disposes
A strange, possibly supernatural suicide occurs on a college campus. What might the victim’s note say? Perhaps ‘The voices commanded me to do it.’ Maybe ‘The Devil forced my hand.’ Or even ‘The Polar Bears compelled me to do it.’
This cursed artwork, created in 1864 by Edwin Henry Landseer, is often concealed by staff at Royal Holloway, University of London, to prevent superstitious students from being distracted during exams. One belief suggests that anyone sitting directly in view of the painting will fail their test. Another tale recounts a student who locked eyes with one of the ferocious Polar Bears, went insane, and took their own life after writing ‘The Polar Bears made me do it’ on their exam paper. While the curse may not be genuine, it’s undeniable that focusing on an exam while two savage bears devour frozen polar explorers is no easy task.
8. Letta the Doll
A quick search for ‘Real Annabelle haunted doll’ or ‘real Robert the haunted doll’ yields images of rather unremarkable children’s toys. Their terrifying reputation and rise to fame in horror pop culture are what make them chilling. Letta, however, looks absolutely horrifying.
According to legend, this eerie doll was crafted for a young gypsy boy more than two centuries ago. Tragically, the boy drowned, likely in a moment of sheer panic, and his spirit is said to be eternally trapped within what is arguably the most unsettling doll ever created. Now, Letta resides in Australia, traveling across the country with its owner, Kerry Walton, as part of various tours.
7. The Chained Oak
Located near the village of Alton in Staffordshire, England, this ancient Oak Tree is a sight to behold—and not in a good way. Encased in massive, rusted chains, it appears as though the tree might have once been a fearsome predator in the forest, preying on unsuspecting travelers before being subdued and anchored to its current location by the villagers.
The true story behind this tree is equally chilling. As the tale goes, the Earl of Shrewsbury, residing at the majestic Alton Towers estate (now a popular theme park), was returning home one night when his carriage was halted by a beggar woman. She pleaded for a penny, but the Earl callously refused. Enraged, she cursed him, declaring that for every branch that fell from the ancient oak, a member of his family would die. That very night, a violent storm tore a limb from the tree, and by dawn, a family member had met a grim fate. In desperation, the Earl ordered the tree to be bound in chains to prevent further tragedy.
6. Any Sweater given to a Partner
Being a knitting enthusiast might seem like a peaceful pastime, but for many, it comes with an unexpected relationship hazard. Known as the 'Sweater Curse,' this belief suggests that knitting a sweater for a romantic partner can spell doom for the relationship. Knitters often joke that their craft and their love life are better kept separate, as the act of creating such a personal gift seems to foreshadow an untimely breakup.
Rather than attributing this curse to supernatural forces, knitters tend to offer more logical explanations. Some believe it’s a matter of bad timing—knitting a sweater takes so long that a failing relationship might naturally fizzle out before it’s finished. Others think it’s a subconscious 'last-ditch effort,' where the knitter senses the relationship is nearing its end and pours their energy into a final, elaborate gesture. Whatever the reason, the advice is clear: if you value your relationship, avoid knitting sweaters for your partner!
5. Merlin’s Oak
This is our second enchanted oak and another tale from Wales. This particular tree is tied to Merlin, the legendary wizard from Arthurian lore (specifically the original Welsh tales, not the later French adaptations with the sword-in-the-stone trope that oddly casts the English as heroes).
Carmarthen, often hailed as Wales' oldest town, has deep roots in the legend of Merlin, or Myrddin in Welsh. The town’s name, Caerfyddrin, translates to 'The Fort of Merlin,' linking its origins to the mythical figure. A grand oak tree once stood here, said to have been planted by Merlin himself. A prophecy warned, 'When Merlin’s Oak falls, so too shall Carmarthen.' After the tree was removed due to decay, the town experienced a train derailment and devastating floods the following year. A preserved branch of the oak is now displayed in the local museum, perhaps safeguarding the town from further calamity.
4. Okiku
Creepy doll? Absolutely. Religious overtones? Definitely. A story involving haunting or possession? You bet. But an inanimate object that grows human hair? Hold on, what?
Legend has it that this doll belonged to a young girl on Japan’s Hokkaido island, who, as the story goes, passed away and now inhabits her beloved toy. When her family relocated, they left the doll with the monks at Mannenji Temple. Today, ‘Okiku’ remains there, her eerie ability to grow hair astonishing visitors and worshippers alike. Some even claim that peering into her slightly open, lifeless porcelain mouth reveals that her teeth are also growing. *shudder*
3. Portrait of Delphine LaLaurie
The atrocities committed by Delphine LaLaurie, a notorious slave owner from New Orleans, have been widely documented, cementing her place as one of history’s most malevolent figures. It’s no wonder her unspeakable acts have woven her into the fabric of dark folklore and urban legends.
In the 1990s, residents of an apartment building located on the site of LaLaurie’s infamous house of horrors decided to spruce up their shared spaces with new artwork. They commissioned local artist Ricardo Pustanio to create a portrait of a notable local figure. Instead of choosing someone like Louis Armstrong, Truman Capote, or even DJ Khaled (though he wasn’t famous yet), they opted for a cheerful depiction of Madame Delphine LaLaurie. Unsurprisingly, the portrait turned out to be haunted. Residents reported terrifying encounters with LaLaurie’s ghost, leading to the painting being removed, concealed, and stored away. Perhaps next time, they’ll choose a less sinister subject—maybe a cheerful clown?
2. Haunted Ledger
A recurring theme in stories of cursed objects is the chaos that ensues when an item is taken from its rightful place. This usually involves ancient tombs or sacred sites, but in the case of this haunted ledger from a jewelry shop, the supernatural force simply wanted to return to the seaside.
After the demolition of the ‘Shorland Fooks’ jewelry store in Brighton, England, builder Tony Benyovits discovered an old ledger hidden behind a wall. He took the historical retail artifact to his home in Maidstone, Kent, 65 miles away. Soon, his family experienced a series of eerie events: unexplained voices, ghostly figures, and even mysterious images appearing in their rug. One spirit even told Tony’s daughter, Josephine, that the ledger needed to be returned to Brighton by the 100th anniversary of its first entry. To appease the restless spirits, the family donated the ledger to Preston Manor, Brighton’s most haunted house, where it remains today.
1. The Woman From Lemb Statue
Whenever a plump, featureless statuette is discovered in Europe, it’s often automatically labeled as a fertility goddess. The rounded stomach, broad hips, and elongated neck seem to suggest it, but the truth is, the true purpose of these ancient idols remains a mystery. What we do know is that touching the ‘Woman from Lemb’ could be fatal—not just for you, but for your entire family as well.
Much like the curses associated with mummies, this artifact is said to have brought death to numerous archaeologists and collectors who dared to handle it. Today, the enigmatic stone figure is housed in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, where it continues to intrigue and unsettle visitors.
