Think about it, why are graveyards so scary to us?
Graveyards aren’t just places for peace and remembrance—they’re the setting of our deepest fears. But why do we fear them so much? In this episode of the Wondering Monsters Podcast, we dig into the spooky truth behind cemeteries, burial rituals, and the undead legends that haunt them.
From zombie folklore and haunted catacombs to ancient curses and safety coffins, we uncover why graveyards have terrified us for centuries.
In this episode:
- Why graveyards are the perfect backdrop for ghost stories
- How zombie myths evolved from ancient beliefs
- Real legends of cursed tombs and pharaohs' revenge
- Graveyard superstitions you’ve probably heard—but didn’t know the origin of
- Safety coffins (yes, really)—and the Victorian fear of being buried alive
This one’s for fans of horror, history, and haunted places. If you’ve ever walked past a cemetery at night and felt a chill, this episode explains why.
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Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:30 - Cemeteries are scary because of ghosts.
1:22 - Church graveyards
2:13 - Graveyards getting creepy
2:40 - Removed from the exposure of death
4:45 - Importance of ceremonious and ritual burying
6:51 - Burying in the basement?
8:43 - Pop culture, video games, movies and guardians
9:55 - Mummy's tomb and curses
11:38 - Treasure, cursed treasure and the ghosts guarding the treasure
12:58 - Modern day treasure hunt
13:38 - More on haunted cemeteries (Morrison, Poe)
15:40 - Haunted cemeteries possibly explained
18:01 - Graveyard magic and necromancy spells
19:54 - Relics, acquiring them, and saints
23:15 - How far back do burial practices go?
27:31 - How far back does visiting the dead go?
33:15 - Haunted places, tourist traps, placebo effect, and tulpas
37:17 - Doghead saints, miracles from saints that never existed
39:17 - I dare you to walk through the cemetery at night
42:45 - Catacombs, movie theaters, and bars
43:56 - Profiting off of ghosts and a haunted space
50:42 - Ranking
59:24 - Tupla revealed
1:00:04 - Next time and outro
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Also Mentioned in This Episode:
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Full Show Notes and Licensing Information.
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