Strange Truths and Tall Tales: Product of Newfoundland

Newfoundland’s Valentine’s traditions range from playful greetings to daring card deliveries, but love on the island isn’t always lighthearted.

The story of Fanny Goff, said to be the most beautiful woman in Newfoundland, is one of romance and tragedy, proving that love can be as fleeting as winter frost.

And sometimes, love isn’t just for people but for place—like the deep connection Newfoundlanders have to the sea. But that lov...

In this episode I’ve got all kinds of Candlemas lore from Newfoundland -- everything from weather predictions to bear stories and card games it’s pleasant distraction from the winter weather. (PS... I'm not old enough to have read a newspaper in 1902, no matter what I say.)

I also share the story of The Little Candlemas Bear. On Candlemas Day, Little Bear wakes to find his shadow missing. His search leads to a warm home, a...

If you’re from Newfoundland, you probably already know that Tibb’s Eve means December 23rd. It’s the unofficial start of Christmas—when the holiday buzz really kicks in and everyone’s back home, ready to reconnect with old friends. But Tibb’s Eve didn’t always mean celebration.

Once upon a time, it was actually known as a day that would never come—a day ‘neither before nor after Christmas,’ in other words, it was never supposed to...

Part One: Jailhouse Jannies

In this episode, we’re diving into the spirit — and  mischief — of Christmas in Newfoundland.

First, I’ve got an old story from Trinity, where one group of mummers wound up in jail… but that was far from the worst thing to happen to them. I call the story Jannies in the Jailhouse.

I’ve come across this tale a number of times in my travels but I based my retelling on a version shared in the Daily News’ ‘T...

Part One: Newfoundland Adopts Right-Hand Drive

On January 2, 1947, Newfoundland made a switch that had everyone—drivers, pedestrians, and even horses—feeling a bit jittery.

Just past midnight, the colony's roads transformed as Newfoundlanders were suddenly required to drive on the right side of the road, leaving behind decades of left-side driving.

The change symbolized a shift away from British ties and toward a North America...

When nights grow long and familiar paths suddenly lead you astray; when fog shrouds the coast in deathly gloom and strange lights flicker in empty bogs, that’s the time when ghosts and ghouls explore this new found land.

Welcome to part three of the Strange Truths & Tall Tales Halloween Special.

The Restless Corpse of La Poile

This episode features an old story concerning a corpse in La Poile that seemed to have troub...

Halloween is getting closer and Newfoundland has no shortage of seasonally appropriate stories.

This instalment features an old folktale set near St. Bride’s, NL. It concerns a strange black Stag seen on the roadside and a series of unexplained deaths that plagues a family soon afterward.

Continuing on with the theme, I share some legends of other ghostly creatures from Newfoundland, starting with the headless ghost dog of Ellisto...

It’s October and the nights are getting noticeably longer. As darkness takes a hold. I’ve decided to embrace the ‘spooky season’ for some short Halloween episodes drawn fromNewfoundland history and folklore.

This instalment is a true story from the small town of Elliston (once known as Bird Island Cove).

It’s the story of an unwelcome visitor who turned up some 200 years ago.

Get the full story (and sources) at Night of the Thunder...

Part One: Mildred Baxter

Legend has it that folk-hero Mildred Baxter came to Harbour Breton in the mid-1840s to settle a score with her cheating fiance.

In order to make the trip from her home in England, she adopted a secret identity. She disguised herself as a man and took up life in Harbour Breton alongside her fiance and his new bride.

It’s a fascinating tale of love, lies and revenge that stretches the limits of credibility.

R...

Part One: Mummers & Murder

Newfoundland has a lot of interesting traditions but few are as celebrated as mummering.

Mummering is a Christmas tradition that dates back hundreds of years. It came to Newfoundland from England and Ireland with the first settlers. In it’s best known form, it involves costumed people visiting house-to-house during the 12 days of Christmas.  Once invited inside, the host tries to guess the mummer...

Part One: What is Tibb’s Eve?

For me, and a lot of other Newfoundlanders, the 23rd of December is Tibb’s Eve. It is Christmas Eve Eve and the unofficial start of the holiday season.

For some people, Tibb’s Eve has become synonymous with a good time, full of partying and alcohol. The connection with drinking is so strong that, for some people the day is known as Tipsy (Tip’s) Eve.

In this episode we did into it a little and chat a...

Part One: It Came From Outer Space

There's no shortage of Newfoundland and Labrador stories connected to outer space. There are Martian craters named for Gander, Nain and Nutak, local airports were alternate space shuttle landing sites for NASA, and there are plenty of unidentified flying object reports in the province including the much discussed 'Gander Incident' and the Random Island sighting that inspired a stamp fr...

Part One: Newfoundland Devils

If you believe the tall tales, the devil has left his mark all over Newfoundland. There are hoof prints in the resettled community of Flat Islands, Bonavista Bay and more in Keels on the Bonavista Peninsula but, perhaps, his most celebrated scar is in Fortune Harbour where a rock supposedly bears his handprint.

Visit Product of Newfoundland to see pictures.

This episode presents the story ‘Mr. Kinchl...

Bell Island, in Newfoundland’s Conception Bay, is full of mystery. Once home to an immense iron ore mine, the community drew people from all over the world.

Over the years its been home to many strange sightings, happenings and unexplained events. It has even been called one of the most haunted islands in North America.

This episode scratches the surface of some of Bell Island’s lore starting with a giant squid attack off the islan...

It was June 21st, 1720 and the sun was just rising over Trepassey, Newfoundland. The fishermen listened to the songbirds and gentle surf on the rocks as they readied their boats. Everything indicated a beautiful day ahead.

Then the birds stopped singing.

In the distance, there was a rumble of canon fire. On the breeze came the sound of trumpets and drums. Everthing was about to change…

Black Bart, the dreaded pirate, had come to ...