From the Hollow

Welcome to the Cabinet of Curiosities—a collection of gothic history, strange traditions, haunted places, forgotten folklore, dark symbolism, and the stories hidden behind art and books.

Here you’ll find ancient festivals, eerie legends, Victorian oddities, supernatural inspiration, book reviews, collector features, and the beautifully strange details that shape my worlds. From haunted Pittsburgh to poisonous gardens, from ravens and roses to old rituals and whispered ghost stories, this is where mystery, history, and art meet.

If you love gothic atmosphere, dark fiction, and the allure of the unusual, you’re in the right place.

Lughnasadh: History of the Celtic Harvest Festival

As summer begins its slow journey toward autumn, fields of grain sway beneath an increasingly golden sun. The frantic growth of spring has settled into abundance, and communities throughout history have paused to recognize a simple truth: the harvest has begun. Long before pumpkin spice and county fairs became seasonal traditions, the ancient Celts celebrated this turning point with Lughnasadh (pronounced LOO-nah-sah or LOO-nuh-suh), one of the four great Gaelic seasonal fest

Aug 16 min read

Kronia: Ancient Greece's Festival of Equality, Harvest, and the Golden Age

In the heat of the Athenian summer, as the grain harvest drew to a close and the hard work of the fields gave way to celebration, the people of ancient Greece observed one of their most remarkable festivals: Kronia. Held in honor of the Titan Cronus (Kronos), the festival was more than a thanksgiving for a successful harvest. It was a brief glimpse into an idealized past—a time the Greeks believed humanity lived in peace, prosperity, and equality. Unlike many religious festiv

Jul 274 min read

Mirrors as Portals: Folklore, Horror, and the Symbolism of Reflections

Few objects have earned as much suspicion throughout history as the ordinary mirror. Every home has one. We use them without thinking, trusting that the reflection staring back belongs to us. Yet for thousands of years, cultures around the world have treated mirrors with caution. They have been covered after deaths, avoided during certain rituals, blamed for trapping spirits, and imagined as doorways between worlds. Perhaps that is because mirrors challenge something fundamen

Jul 246 min read

The Witch’s Familiar: Myth, Magic, and Misunderstanding

Few figures in folklore are as quietly misunderstood as the witch’s familiar. Depending on the time period, the familiar has been described as a magical assistant, a demon in animal form, a supernatural spy, or simply an ordinary creature caught in extraordinary accusations. Like many elements of witchcraft folklore, the truth depends less on evidence and more on fear, interpretation, and the stories people chose to believe. And that is what makes the familiar so fascinating.

Jul 104 min read

Black Dog Folklore: Death Omen, Guardian, or Trickster?

There are few creatures in folklore that can silence a room quite like the black dog. Unlike werewolves, vampires, or witches, the black dog doesn't always arrive with violence. Sometimes it simply appears at the edge of a lonely road, standing motionless beneath the moonlight. Sometimes it's seen sitting quietly in an abandoned churchyard. Other times it's heard before it's ever seen—a heavy padding of paws behind a traveler who turns around to find...nothing. Is it coming t

Jun 294 min read

The Woman in White Legend: A Haunting Global Ghost of Grief and Loss

There are certain legends that don’t feel like they belong in the same category as “monsters” at all. The Woman in White is one of them. Even across the cultures where she appears, she rarely comes across as something purely frightening. Instead, she feels like a story the world keeps telling to explain grief that never fully leaves. What makes the Woman in White so compelling is how widely she appears. She is not confined to one region or one tradition. You’ll find her in Eu

Jun 243 min read

The Symbolism of Ravens in Art and Literature

Few creatures have captured the imagination of humanity quite like the raven. Intelligent, mysterious, and often associated with the supernatural, ravens have appeared throughout mythology, folklore, literature, and visual art for centuries. Their glossy black feathers and haunting calls have inspired fascination and fear in equal measure, making them one of the most symbolically rich animals in creative expression. Across cultures and artistic movements, the raven has repres

May 224 min read

Saturnalia: The Ancient Roman Festival

Every December, when the nights stretch long and the world leans into the glow of candles, feasts, and celebration, I love looking back at the winter traditions that came long before us. One of the most vibrant — and honestly, the most chaotic in the best possible way — is Saturnalia, Ancient Rome’s week-long festival for Saturn, the god of agriculture, liberation, and golden-age abundance. If you’ve ever wondered why winter is so full of feasting, gift-giving, and joyful re

Dec 17, 20253 min read