Did You Know?
In medieval Europe, animals could be excommunicated from the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church would sometimes excommunicate animals considered problematic, such as swarms of locusts or rats. These ceremonies followed the same format as human excommunications and were believed to invoke divine intervention against pest problems.
Did You Know?
In feudal Japan, some ninja would train by trying to sneak up on birds without startling them.
This specialized training exercise helped develop stealth movements. If a ninja could approach a bird without causing it...
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Viking women who died in childbirth were considered to have died in battle.
These women were believed to go to Valhalla, traditionally reserved for warriors who died in combat. This belief...
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Medieval European courts would employ professional insulters to mock visiting diplomats.
These professional mockers would test foreign diplomats' composure through elaborate insults. The practice was used to assess visitors'...