The story of pirate Peter Easton and the tale of Newfoundland’s most famous mermaid share one point of connection — Richard Whitbourne.

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.

Phantom weather lights, jack o’lanterns and carving far-creepier-than-anticipated halloween turnips in Newfoundland.

In 1884, a ship was found drifting off Newfoundland—lamps still burning on the table, crew vanished. Was it ice, mutiny, or murder? A century later, a new clue washed ashore.

Was Happy Adventure, Newfoundland named by pirates?

Sheila's Brush is a piece of Newfoundland weather folklore associated with St. Patrick's Day... but where did it come from?