Ten Interesting Curses From Around the World

The supernatural has always been a fascinating and entertaining topic all throughout time. From witchcraft to ghosts, from unreal creatures of the night to the living dead. One thing most cultural supernatural myths and backgrounds have in common is curses. The idea of being cursed by some supernatural being, item, or simple activity done at the wrong time, can be said to cause bad luck and horrible things to come your way. Usually, these horrible happenings come with a cure or ritual that can end the curse but the cursed may not make it long enough to find out what that cure is. Now, whether or not these curses are true or make believe, used to scare people into behaving, there are some truly creative and horrifically interesting curses that have occurred throughout the world. Here are some of the most interesting curses found across our planet’s darkest crevasses, to peak your spooky curiosities.

10. Japan's Killing Stone

The Japanese culture is no stranger to superstition and curses. It could be said that they have some of the most terrifying myths and stories, based on curses and hauntings, in all of Asia. One of the more recent stories shining it’s light lately, is the cursed Killing Stone, or Sessho-seki. The Sessho-seki is a volcanic rock said to be the transformed corpse of Tamamo-no-mae, who was a demonic nine-tailed fox disguised as a beautiful woman. Her spirit was trapped inside this cursed boulder which was said to spew poisonous gas, killing anyone who came near it. As of March 2022, this mythical demon's prison cracked and split in half, supposedly freeing the evil spirit inside. Though logic would say it was simply nature that split this slowly eroding rock in two. Other’s fear that it is a bad omen that will bring nothing but bad luck for the future.

9. The Cursed City of Trasmoz

Trasmoz is a small village of around 62 people. It is located in Aragon, in the Moncayo Mountains. This once largely populated and successful town met its downward spiral during the 13th century. All thanks to the inhabitants who lived in the Trasmoz castle, who were forging coins within the castle walls. The occupant’s great idea to cover up all the sounds and smells from their illegal activities, was to start a rumor that witches were using the castle to make potions and cast spells. This brought some negative attention from the Church, which ultimately excommunicated the village as punishment for witchcraft. And the curse that was brought upon this little village shortly after, isn’t one brought by evil forces or witches, but the Church itself. In 1511, with the permission of Pope Julius II, the Church cast a curse against the village using a religious chant of Psalm 108. The years that followed, the small village met with many horrible experiences, including their castle burning down, a deadly pandemic, and the decline of their population. The only way to break this “holy” curse was for the Pope to remove it. Which none has yet to do. However, the community has since seemed to embrace their witchy background in modern days. Going so far to rebuild a portion of the castle into a witchcraft museum and hold an annual festival in memory of the lives lost and lies spread.

8. Egyptian Curse of The Pharoah’s

Egyptian history is another one that is full of supernatural events and curses. The Curse of the Pharoah or The Mummy’s Curse, is by far the most popular. All of the tombs and pyramids have various hieroglyphics warning anyone who may disturb the bodies within, of their soon to be doomed fates. There are various stories that give truth to these warnings and curses. Stories like the curse of Kom Abu Billo, where an archeologist (Zahi Hawass) was transporting items he recently removed from the ancient cemetery. As he was transporting them, his aunt died and then every year after, on the same day, another member of his family would come to pass away. Then there is Tutankhamun’s Curse, where after Egyptologist Lord Carnarvon and his financial sponsor both died 4 months after opening the tomb, under mysterious and strange circumstances. These are only a couple of the many, many cursed stories involving these beautiful and hauntingly enchanting tombs. Coincidence? Or is it truly supernatural magic at work?

7. Scotland’s Cursed Alloa Tower

The curse of Alloa Tower was a curse placed on this townhouse’s builder, John Erskine 17th Earl of Mar. Rumor’s have it that the Earl was not a good man. He supposedly had the Cambuskenneth Abbey destroyed and then took the stones to build his own home, Mar’s Wark. The then angry and vengeful Abbot decided to put a curse on the Earl to punish him for his selfish, heartless acts. The majority of the curse actually coming true. He said that the home would go unfinished and horses would be stabled in its walls. The building was never finished and during the 17th century it did serve as stables and barracks. He cursed John Erskine’s family as well, stating that three of his children would never see the light of day. Three of his children were born blind. The abbot cursed that he would see his home burn and wife die in the flames. Which passed in 1801 when the tower was damaged in the fire and John Erskine’s wife did perish in the flames as he watched. These were just a few of the many prophesied curses the abbot said that came true in time. Karma or not, it was truly an unlucky life and ending for the Earl and his family.

6. The Curse of the Bell Witch Tennessee

Anyone born in or around Adams, TN probably knows the haunting story of the Bell Witch and her home at the now historical visit site, the Bell Witch Cabin and Cave. The Bell Witch is supposedly an evil spirit that haunted and tormented the Bell Witch family in the early 1800’s and who possibly continues to visit the land every so often to this very day. The rumors of what or who this spirit was, varies from the spirit of a hateful neighbor to the spirits of local Native American’s whose bodies were buried under the Bell’s land. But the story is widely known, people from all over the world had witnessed the hauntings back in the day. And people still come from all over to catch a glimpse of the history in modern times. Aside from the curse the spirit was on the family itself, the land is supposably cursed as well. The story being, if you take a stone from inside the cave on the land, you will be cursed and bad things will immediately befall you. The curse still goes strong with people to this very day testing it only to regret their decision and try to break the curse by returning the stone by any means possible. The employees get dozen of stones returned by mail, or finding them with notes at the gates, and even people traveling back to return and apologize to the spirit in person after having various people in there life die, get sick, injured, or any other manner of bad things that may have happened since taking the cursed cave’s rocks.

5. The August Curse

The August Curse where from the years 1991 to 2001, Russia experienced tragic events ranging from supernatural to explainable, all which seemed to occur or start in the month of August. This started in 1991 with a failed coup that left the 3 Soviet coup conspirators dead. In 1992 a plane crashed in Ivanovo, Russia, killing everyone aboard. In 1994 there was a train crash, killing 20. As well as a reservoir flood that killed 29 and left over 700 homeless. Every August leading up to 2001, from multiple plane crashes, wars, financial struggles, and terrorist attacks, these tragic events continued right on schedule, leading the people of Russia to label the month of August as cursed.

4. The Curse of Tippecanoe

The curse of Tippecanoe, or Tecumseh’s curse, was a curse put on President William Henry Harrison and every other US president elected in years that ended with a zero. The curse came from the Shawnee tribe Chief Tecumseh’s brother, known as the Prophet. After many years of Harrison’s mistreatment of the Native American people and the loss the Indigenous people experienced in the Battle of Tippecanoe. Tecumseh’s brother, Tenskwatawa, cursed Harrison and every president after him elected in a year ending in zero with death during their presidency. Harrison was the first to fall to the curse, dying 30 days after election from pneumonia. The curse continued with Abraham Lincoln who was elected in 1860, he was later assassinated. James Garfield, who was elected in 1880 and also assassinated. William Mckinely (1900), Warren G. Harding (1920), Franklin Roosevelt (1940), and John F. Kennedy (1960) all also dying during their presidency from natural causes or assassination. Ronald Reagan was the first president to be elected on a cursed year to survive the curse, despite an assassination attempt and several other hardships during his presidency. Him being the one who supposedly broke the curse. However, it is speculated the curse is still active seeing as every president elected on a year ending with zero has had at least one unsuccessful assassination attempt against them.

3. The Cursed Honduran White City

It is said, in Honduran Lore, that there was a hidden, lost city deep within the Honduran jungle known as La Ciudad Blanca or The White City. An ancient, illusive city only caught throughout history in glimpses, supposably known for worshipping a monkey god. It was considered cursed by the disease, famine, and slavery brought on by the Spanish Invasion. And since then, the monkey god that protects the area, uses the disease and surrounding nature to protect it from any other outsiders who dare search for it. The area is full of diseases including a flesh eating disease caused by the bite of sand flies, which nearly ended the lives of recent excavators and archeologists who claimed to have found the The White City. While in the area they also nearly fell victim to wild, dangerous, venomous snakes and have said that even though they didn’t get to examine the area as much as they would like, it is far to dangerous to ever go back. Perhaps the ancient monkey god’s curse is continuing to do it’s job. Making The White City, not only one of the last unexplored places of the planet but possibly one of the most untouchable still.

2. The Cursed History of Delhi's Jamali Kamali

Jamali Kamali is a beautiful 16th century marvel, located in Delhi. This building houses a mosque as well as the tomb of poet Jamali, and Kamali, who was thought to be his disciple of sorts, is buried next to him. Many people who visit this monument claim to be met with an immediate since of unease. And after leaving, are plagued (or cursed) with frequent hallucinations and nightmares. Many people have mentioned seeing and feeling things that were not there. All of this leading to the believe that this monument is full of djinns and other evil spirits and ghosts. Though these events and accusations do sound quite frightening, it is said that they are nothing but rumors and stories. Stories that have ruined the reputation of this once beautiful and meaningful monument.

1. Voodoo and a Swamp Curse

The Manchac Wetlands in New Orleans, Louisiana is full of mystery and danger. Dangerous wildlife, mysterious swamplands, and apparently a Voodoo Priestess’ curse. Julia Brown lived on the edge of the swamp near the town of Frenier. She helped the town’s people on occasion and was known for her magic doings and her eerie, quite threatening songs she would sing, claiming she would take the town down with her when she died. Supposedly she felt used, that the people took advantage of her and never returned her kindness. At the time the city of Frenier and the surrounding cities were quite prosperous, relying on a railway to export their logging goods and receive groceries from out of the area. And then in 1915, Ms. Brown’s curse seemed to come to fruition. A hurricane swept in, seemingly out of no where, killing nearly 300 people and wiping away the railways and most of the building and home in the collective cities. This hurricane was thought to be Julia’s work. A fulfillment of her curse as the hurricane strangely hit on the day of Julia Brown’s funeral. It seems she meant what she sang, and supposably the swamp is still haunted by the ghosts of that unfortunate stormy night.