Newfoundland
Stories
Tangly, Timeless, and Totally True-ish
@Productofnfld
A complaint about skinny-dipping, a call for public whippings, and a mysterious signature… Victorian Newfoundland gets weird.
Long before Port de Grave became famous for its Christmas lights, mysterious glowing lights were reported off its shores. Discover Philip Tocque's 1800s account of Newfoundland's eerie "weather lights" and the mystery that still has no clear explanation.
One 19th-century author claimed an 800-foot iceberg lingered in St. John's Harbour for two years. Was it fact or one of Newfoundland's greatest tall tales?
Captain James Walsh never captured a giant bear or encountered a sea serpent. So why did Newfoundland newspapers insist he did? A true tale of hoaxes, humour, and mystery.
Moose, rabbits, squirrels and more: you might be surprised which Newfoundland animals are ‘come from aways.’
Just one day after the Roswell UFO incident made headlines, four glowing objects streaked across the skies over Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador — sparking local fears that Earth might have more extraterrestrial visitors.
French forces once seized Trinity Harbour. Decades later, a cannon blast sent the town into panic—for nothing. A true story of war, fear, and a prank that echoed through history.
In 1583 Sir Humphrey Gilbert’s Newfoundland voyage ended in disaster — but not before he spotted a strange creature in the North Atlantic that he could only describe as a lion.
What is Jiggs’ Dinner? Explore Newfoundland’s iconic Sunday meal—its ingredients, surprising origins, and how a borrowed tradition became a lasting piece of local culture.
In the early 20th century John Vincent, a young artist from Newfoundland, caught the attention of art critics on both sides of the Atlantic and soon became famous as ‘the fisherman who painted the pope’.
The sad true-life tale of 17-year-old Newfoundlansailor Stephen Drodge and his final voyage on the schooner Jesse.
According to the newspapers, a strange glow in the water off Newfoundland lead a drowning man to salvation… but was it just a tall tale?
Stranded on a barren island just after Christmas, two men built a boat from scraps, rusty nails, and ice—then trusted it with their lives.
A young schoolteacher’s 1876 Christmas journey from St. John’s to Fogo reveals mummering, bonfires, and outport hospitality — a timeless Newfoundland Christmas story about belonging, tradition, and finding home in unexpected places.
On Christmas Eve, 1726, Paddy Kelly met something on the road near Keels — a black cat that seemed to growing larger with every step it took.
They were supposed to leave before winter. When they didn’t, the Christmas whales of Springdale turned a frozen bay into a story no one would forget.
A starving horse. A loyal Newfoundland dog. And a tragedy so unsettling it sparked outrage in 1882.
Instead of Christmas lights and carols, young men in Bonavista Bay had a different holiday tradition: bare-knuckled fights.
What happens to the people who disappear from our lives? Claire Porter’s Chokecherries turns that question into a haunting and unforgettable folk ballad.
Check out this moving short doc about photographer Ting Ting Chen and her friendship with Robert Tilley — exploring art, aging, memory, and the creative connection they forged travelling Newfoundland.
Newfoundland songwriter Adam Baxter reflects on lost friendships and growing older in “21’s,” a piece of warm, thoughtful folk from his forthcoming album OTIS.
Loud, energetic, and emotionally charged, Newfoundland alt-rock project Yes, Officer delivers a powerful new album that’s needs to be heard.
St. John’s rock band The Way East delivers catchy hooks and optimism on their new single Poor Decisions.
Kitchinparti are back with a high-energy take on the Irish classic “Golden Jubilee” — the perfect soundtrack for May 2-4 kitchen parties, campfires, and long weekend singalongs.
In this episode, we explore the legend of Peter Easton, trace the curious origins of Happy Adventure, and speak with Tammy L. Hynes about her Adventure Knox series—where Newfoundland’s history, folklore, and imagination collide in captivating stories.
Newfoundland has its share of strange Christmas stories — but not too many involve hand-to-hand combat with a supernatural house cat. This one — from Keels— does.
They were supposed to leave before winter. When they didn’t, the Christmas whales of Springdale turned a frozen bay into a story no one would forget.
It’s Halloween, and we’re getting spooky.
In this episode of Strange Truths & Tall Tales, we dig into Newfoundland death omens — the strange signs people once believed foretold death or disaster.
In this episode hear the story of the Charles Haskell — a banks schooner that couldn’t quite leave her ghosts behind. The tale has been told for over a century and even inspired a folk song.
A ghostly knocking. An unexplained death. And a real tragedy in the dead of night. This Halloween, step inside the haunted halls of Foran’s Atlantic Hotel.
The story of the wartime sinking of the Newfoundland ferry — SS Caribou, and a chat with rising NL folk musician Tyler Humby about his new song — The Caribou.
From playful Valentine’s traditions to heartbreaking loss, love in Newfoundland is never simple. Some stories fade, but others like ‘Fanny Goff’ — the story of Newfoundland’s most beautiful woman — endure.
-
Dive into Newfoundland’s coolest stories with this interactive map!
Each icon marks a tale waiting to be discovered. Just click on any icon to get a quick peek—a little description to spark your curiosity—and then follow the link to read the full story. Whether you’re into history, folklore, or quirky local legends, there’s something here to surprise and delight you. Start exploring and uncover the hidden gems of Newfoundland, one story at a time!
A complaint about skinny-dipping, a call for public whippings, and a mysterious signature… Victorian Newfoundland gets weird.