It’s often said Newfoundland’s first legislature was held in a tavern. What’s less-well-known is that they failed to pay their tab and that the owner, Mary Travers, collected her due in a way the government wouldn’t soon forget.

From pigeons and brooms to uni-brows and whistlers, Newfoundlanders have no shortage of superstitions. In honour of Friday the 13th, here’s a collection of 13 things that are (or were once considered to be) bad luck in Newfoundland.

Kicking the concern and other strange Newfoundland Christmas customs.

Not every mummer story has a happy ending. In 1860 a group of mummers killed a man in Bay Roberts , NL — that was only one incident in a string of violent behaviour.

On Dec 12, 1942, 99 people died in a tragic fire at the Knights of Columbus Barn Dance— and it may not have been an accident.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that ol’ Rockyfoot was not drawing near.

Discover the true story of the Waterwitch shipwreck near Pouch Cove, Newfoundland in 1875. A daring rescue in a winter storm saved 11 lives and earned local heroes national medals for bravery.

When World War II came to Newfoundland Botwood was forever changed — and Bob Hope got to add a joke to his repertoire.

On November 2, 1878 a giant squid came ashore in Thimble Tickle, Newfoundland. It became a world record holder, inspired a life-sized sculpture and appeared on a stamp. It also became dinner.

Old time magic for Halloween in Newfoundland

Murder, macabre justice and mayhem! In 18th century Newfoundland there was a punishment worse than death — the gibbet.

There are mysteries in the deep but from time to time the come to the surface — here are 10 times Newfoundland sea serpents and lake monsters made the news.

The truth is out there… maybe in Gander, Harbour Mille or Random Island, NL

Re-telling of a folktale about how the devil came to leave his mark in a rock outside Fortune Harbour, Newfoundland.

On October 19, 1936 some parts of Newfoundland thought the world was ending. Literally.

Haunted, historic and open to the public — five of the most convenient places to encounter a ghost in Newfoundland.

A little more than a century ago a newspaper’s bizarre tale of a pirate treasure and spectral dogs on the shores of Quidi Vidi created a sensation in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Discover the Brigus Tunnel, a historic Newfoundland heritage site built in 1860 for the cod fishery—now linked to pirate legends and folklore.

On September 14, 1896 St. John’s city workers made a gruesome discovery under Military Road.

The first time Queen Elizabeth II appeared on a postage stamp it was in 1932… and it was in Newfoundland.