Let’s explore another three creepy curses from all over this weird world of ours!
King Casimir’s Curse
In 1492, Grans Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, Casimir IV Jagiellon, died and was interred in a red marble tomb within Wawel Cathedral, Krakow, Poland. This was all well and good, until 1973, when the tomb was opened in order to complete conservation work.
This work was well anticipated, as permission to examine historical sites was difficult to achieve at the time, but the opening was supported by Cardinal Karol Wojtyła – archbishop of Krakow who went on to become Pope John Paul II – and was eventually allowed.
Excitement in Poland rivalled that of the opening of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. King Casimir IV was a 15th century legend, highly renowned across Europe – even receiving the English Order of the Garter for chivalry – and under his rule, Poland became a powerhouse.
Following his death on a hot summer’s day in Old Grodno Castle – the one on current day Belarus – King Casimir was quickly encoffined and sent to Wawel Castle, where he was interred in the cathedral, resting peacefully until the day researcher’s broke open him tomb.
Only a few days later, four of the research team were dead. In the years to come, even more passed away. In total, 15 people who came in contact with the tomb had died.
Was this the King reaching out from beyond the grave, punishing those who dare defy his eternal rest?
For years, many thought this was the case, however researchers eventually discovered the real reason behind these mysterious deaths – toxic mould.
Aspergillus flavus, the same fungus that was found in King Tut’s tomb, is known to cause infections and deaths, particularly in people with weakened immunity. The fungus had been sealed away within the tomb since the late 1400s, creating a toxic time-bomb. In fact, the King’s corpse was said to have decomposed remarkably quickly in the heat of the summer, becoming the perfect breeding ground for the toxic spores.
That being said, some wonder if the 15 deaths could really be attributed to the mould alone and the story of King Casimir’s Curse is still repeated as a warning against disturbing the peace of the dead.
The “My Way” Killing Curse
Karaoke is popular all over the world, but it’s particularly popular in parts of Asia, including the Philippines, which is home to this particular curse.
According to some, since 1998, around a dozen murders have occurred which directly relate to the signing of a single song – My Way, popularised by Frank Sinatra.
One infamous incident happened in May 2007, when karaoke singer, John Mark Arimbuyutan was shot dead by a bouncer in Rizal as he sang My Way off-key.
Further killings are said to include a 2010 incident which say two men shot while singing the song at a Christmas Party and a 2018 stabbing at a birthday party, just as the victim was about to sing the opening lines.
Whether or not these incidents are the fault of the song itself, many in the Philippines avoid sining it in public, and many karaoke bars have removed it from their machines all together.
You may think you’ll be safe if you choose a different song, but beware – “Karaoke Rage,” as some call it, takes place the world over. Maybe play it safe and hand the microphone over to someone else.
Rihanna’s “Umbrella” Curse
The acclaimed song, Umbrella, by Rihanna became an anthem for summer 2007, topping the charts in 19 countries including the UK Singles Chart for 10 consecutive weeks – one of the few songs to do so.
There is, however, another thing the summer of 2007 is famous for – extreme rain and flooding.
Looking for a story, The Sun Newspaper (the force behind The Crying Boy Curse) decided this phenomenon was directly linked to the song and thus created the “Rihanna Curse”.
The thing is, it wasn’t just the UK that experienced this bizarre coincidence. The same thing seemed to happen in New Zealand, which experienced some of the worst storms in its history while Umbrella topped the charts. As soon as it was replaced, the storms finally calmed.
But wait, there’s more! Romania was experiencing the hottest, driest period since 1946, until Umbrella topped the charts. As soon as it did, Romania experienced the worst storms and rainfall in its history!
Coincidence or is this song curse? Interestingly, Rihanna’s marketing team made the most of the weather and collaborated with an umbrella company to produce Rihanna umbrellas.
Don’t forget to subscribe and follow our social channels below!
The Hawthorn Files 