The Legend of The Tuatha De Danann

 Author: Dalton Riddick

The Tuatha De Danann are the most important figures in Irish mythology. They originally descended from the skies on clouds and inhabited Ireland. Time passes and eventually humans reach Ireland and fight the Tuatha De Danann. Humans claimed victory and the Tuatha De Danann became fairies to influence Irish folklore for good or for bad. The Tuatha De Danann are an example of the people that lived before trying to explain supernatural creatures.

The main figures of the Tuatha De Danann were Dagda, Brigid, Lugh and Morrigan. Dagda, often known as the “Good God,” is a character of duality. He is the largest of the Tuatha De Danann but wields a club that can kill and revive anything it touches. Brigid is known for fertility and flames associated with a forge. Lugh is craftsman and warrior. He is mainly associated with all of the victories that the Tuatha De Danann have won. and lastly Morrigan is usually represented as a crow typically on a battleground. They usually shape the outcome of conflicts and bring about death.

The idea of the Tuatha De Danann still hold relevance in modern day Ireland. For example there are multiple festivals held year round that some of the Tuatha De Danann are directly associated with. Lughnasadh is a festival that has been recorded to have been celebrated throughout Ireland, Scotland, and even the Isle of Man. The festival is typically held around August first and is held for the Tuatha De Danann, Lugh. 

Athletic events, feasting, and even trading were held during this festival. Lughnasadh isn’t particularly held anymore but some events like the “Puck Fair” share the same activities as Lughnasadh. Imbolc is another Irish festival that was celebrated throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. Imbolc was celebrated because the Tuatha De Danann, Brigid. In Christian records Saint Brigid would do everything the Tuatha De Danann Brigid would do. How Imbolc would be celebrated was the night before everyone would weave a Brigids Cross and hang it on their door. It was said that Brigid or Saint Brigid would visit your home and protect it from disease, fire, and even evil fairies trying to invade your home. The tradition has of Imbolc has died but is considered a religious or a cultural holiday.

Even if the Tuatha De Danann don’t hold as much cultural signifigance as they once did they are still historically important from how much the communities of paegans benefited from the organized events. Though we may not be able to say that Lugh brought about the season of Autumn the paegan people of Ireland had a grasp on the events that happened with the Tuatha De Danann.

Works Cited:

“The Mythological Cycle: The Tuatha Dé Danann and the Origins of Ireland.” Irish History, The Mythological Cycle: The Tuatha Dé Danann and the Origins of Ireland -IrishHistory.com.

Sullivan, Kerry. “Tuatha De Danann, The Enchanting Predecessors of Irish Fairies and Elves.” Ancient Origins, 20 July 2019, Tuatha Dé Dannan, the Enchanting Predecessors of Irish Fairies and Elves | Ancient Origins. 

“Who Are The Tuatha De Danann? Demystifying The ‘God-Folk’ of Irish Mythology.” Irish Myths, 15 November 2023, Who Are the Tuatha Dé Danann? Demystifying the “God-Folk” of Irish Mythology - IrishMyths.

The Lucky Number 7

Author: Bryntrisha Mathis

When you think of a number one through ten what comes to mind? Most people would say seven.The number seven is the lucky number of the world that is in the roles of our everyday lives. Many do not know the significance of this prime,odd,unique number in the world we live in. A Daily Mail  article shares how the number is brought up in cultures and religions all around the world and the history behind this number and the relation back to ancient times. For musicians this number is important. There are originally 12 notes in a musical scale,but the most common way of grouping is with seven notes. (Derbyshire, Davide. Daily Mail).

This number is significant in the bible. When dating back to the creation of the world god created it within six days but when that seventh day arrived it was used as his rest day.Seven symbolizes completeness and perfection. That leads to the creation of our weekdays. A completed week consist of seven days.The number seven occurs multiple times in the bible for several different reasons. This number is said to bring about great things for us, challenge us, and even judge us. For sacrifice of an animal the bible states that they must be at least the age of seven before they are able to be sacrificed. (What is the Biblical Significance of the Number Seven).

When looking into the make of our world it is made of 7 seas and 7 continents. If you look into studies there are originally eight planets, but some do not think of Jupiter as a plant which takes it down to seven. When thinking of a rainbow, colors are usually all a person thinks of and the acronym “ROY G BIV” which is for red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet but take into thought the number of letters there are seven right? When Isaac Newton first thought of the colors there were only five but later two were added. Anna Pukas the author of Express describes the world’s seven wonders: the Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza, Colosseum, the Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, the statue of Christ, and the rock city of Petra. (Anna Pukas, The Magnificent 7)

The number seven will forever be the number of the world, and the luckiest of them all.When first used for the simplest of things no one thought it would have the reoccurrence it does. Randomly asking someone to give facts or information about this number the responses would mostly consist of the obvious, it is a prime odd number that is only divisible by itself. There are deeper ways of thinking into this number with interesting concepts and theories that relate together in creating our world the such a distinctive number.

Works Cited:

“What is the Biblical Significance of the Number Seven?” YouTube, 30 November 2017.

Derbyshire, Davide. “Why ‘lucky 7’ really is the world’s magic number.” DailyMail.com, 10 April 2014

Pukas, Anna. “The magnificent 7: The meaning and history behind the world’s favorite number.” Express,10 April 2014

Anna Power. “A party style”.  Apartystyle.com, 3 June

Link for Further Research:

Daily Mail “Why Lucky 7 Really Is The Worlds Magic Number”
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2601281/
This source from daily news gives more information on the things that the number seven relates in you our creating of a day and the make of the world.

“What Is the Significance of The Number Seven?”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBRXMRYzYOg 
This video provides more information on the significance of the number seven in the bible and the way it shapes the world into what it is today.

The Magnificent 7
www.express.co.uk/news/uk/469565/The-magnificient-7-The-meaning-and-history-behind-the-world-s-favourite-number
This web source by Anna Pukas of the Express provides additional informational about  ancient history and the number seven.

The Queen Mary

Michael Dunbar

The Queen Mary 

TheQueen Mary  ship is a museum and also a hotel now is located in Long Beach, California known for its grand size along with its number of rumored hauntings on the ship. According to Chavdar Chanev of the online articles RMS Queen Mary the Queen Mary has a twin sister ship named Queen Elizabeth which both were commissioned by the Navy to oppose the ocean liners built in Germany and France during the World War II period. The ship which was built and sailing in the 1930s was known to be bigger than the great Titanic. In 1967 the ship was withdrawn from service with thousands of transatlantic voyages then turned to a maritime museum and hotel located in Long Beach, California. During the ships time under ceased service during World War II gave shelter too over 800,000 troops and was known for carrying the most people ever on a floating vessel which was 16,683 according to Kathy Weiser from Legends of America. Along history The Queen Mary’s hotel guests had bad life ending accidents while staying on board which made the ship their last living place on earth. This would create a great amount of reporting’s from residents on board the ship of unexpected interaction with spirits during their time spent there. Information from Planet Paranormal portrays that the rumors of ghost are true because this source provides evidence such as audio and visual evidence that has been captured on the ship by investigators. Background information from Kathy Weiser on some of the ghosts that are still haunting the vessel that have been encountered is a little girl named Jackie who drowned in one of the second level pools during the ships sailing days and to this day her spirit refuses to move on. Other sightings such as in the ship’s first-class lounge, a beautiful young woman in an elegant white evening gown has often been seen dancing alone in the shadows of the corner of the room. Also while researchers who would investigate the lower part of the ship heard horrid screams and sounds of colliding ships. Further research from Tom Crawford of Ghost Source and Portal to the Paranormal provides insight that Queen Mary collided with a smaller British ship, the H.M.S. Curacao, causing the ship and its three hundred passengers to sink. Some investigators would say that the screams and hauntings are being created by the three hundred men who were killed. Many more sightings, accidents, and activity has happened along Queen Mary voyages. This is why it’s one of the top tourist attractions known today.

EVP VIDEOS: 

Queen Mary pool Female voice say's "Mommy who ist it"? and then "mom or Bob."

Queen Mary First Class Pool - Female singing)

Works Cited

Bob Davis from Planet Paranormal, Nightwatchers . 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5iXfeDpZkdw

Chanev, Chavdar. RMS Queen Mary.  Queen Mary 2 Cruises 2016, written on November 29, 2015. http://www.queenmarycruises.net/rms-queen-mary/ 

Crawford, Tom. The RMS Queen Mary. Ghost Source and Portal to the Paranormal. 14 Nov.2009. http://www.ghostsource.com/hauntings/hauntings-the-queen-mary-ship.php

Hipmunk. The Queen Mary Ship. https://assets.hipmunk.com/assets/hotel_image/v1/563526d88f3484588f865ed9.jpg

Irsay, Steve.” Queen's Haunted History Highly Documented”. Grunion Gazette, The/The Downtown Gazette (Long Beach, CA) (Published as Downtown Gazette, Long Beach, CA. October 4, 2004 http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/105B054F90F5AF7A?p=NewsBank

Joe and Vici Ruffulo, Investigators. Nightwatchers .13 November 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fBzArvj8gBc

Planet Paranormal. Welcome to QueenMaryShadows.com. Planet Paranormal 2014. http://www.queenmaryshadows.com/history.html 

Peter James, Bob Davis and Brian Clune. Nightwatchers. 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GX1UtYA1_mE

Ramiro Ramirez, Producer. The Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. Ramirez Films, 2010.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Gv3epRoxzkE

Sergio Ramirez, Editor. The Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. Ramirez Films, 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Gv3epRoxzkE

Weiser, Kathy. Ghosts of the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Legends of America, March 2013. http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ca-queenmary.html.

Links for Further Research:

Queen Mary Talking Ghost Child Jackie Speaks to Bob Davis and Brian Clune of PLPI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GX1UtYA1_mE

The link above directs you to ghost investigations on board Queen Mary by Bob Davis and Brian Clune of PLPI.

The Queen Mary: Ghost Investigation (Part 1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Gv3epRoxzkE

This link provides one of the first investigations of the Queen Mary accused hauntings.

History Behind the Queen Mary

http://www.queenmaryshadows.com/history.html

This link will allow you to receive further knowledge behind Queen Mary’s history throughout the world.

The Dark Queen of the Sea

Maddie Campanella Article:
 

Queen Mary in Long Beach -- Painting by Chris Butler

The Queen Mary, built in 1936, in Clyde, Scotland, was one of the biggest and strongest ships of this time. Stretching 1,000 feet long and more powerful than the Titanic, the Queen Mary began her first voyage May 27, 1936. Just three years later in 1939, WWII broke out and Queen Mary was turned into a ship for the troops with the name of “The Grey Ghost.” Over the Queen Mary’s time at sea, she encountered one collision, and also participated in the D Day Invasion. Later on in 1946, Queen Mary carried war brides and their children to America and Canada. After the 13 “war bride” voyages, the ship was refurbished and returned to its original purpose as a cruise ship. Finally in 1967, after 1,000 transatlantic crossings, the Queen Mary was retired and sold to the city of Long Beach California for 3.45 million dollars.            
 
The Queen Mary has been investigated many times for paranormal activity, but has not been proven right or wrong that paranormal activity does exist on the boat. The paranormal investigation team has often compared the boat to the Titanic to show just how amazing and powerful this new ship was in 1936. While the Queen Mary had 1,001 voyages, the Titanic couldn’t last through one when it collided with a glacier. The Queen Mary also has many newspaper articles of many occurrences that happened during the life of the ship. Some that are included are the collision that happened during the war causing the other ship to sink. The paranormal investigators were unable to prove or disprove that the ship was haunted or had factual paranormal activity occurring on the boat. Even though the paranormal investigators were unable to prove the whip was haunted, there has been over 113 reports of paranormal experiences on the ship from common people that visit the now docked floating hotel. The Queen Mary has seen 49 deaths in the time that it cruised the Atlantic.            
 
It is said that the spirit of a little girl still lingers by the indoor pool looking for her stuffed animal or mother. She died by sliding down a railing on the boat but slipping to a drop that broke her neck. Other stories include that of the chef during the war. It is said that the troops did not like his food so they shut him in the oven and let him cook to death. You can still hear his dreadful screams when you are anywhere near the kitchen. Others believe the soul of a young man still haunts the doors of gate 13. For he was trapped inside the watertight gate that chopped his body in half. The story says that his spirit has been seen walking into the light by gate 13.  
 
Works Cited:
 
“RMS Queen Mary Hotel Long Beach CA California by Long Island Paranormal Investigators - Ghost Haunted Demonic Investigation Ghost Hunter New York NY.” RMS Queen Mary Hotel Long Beach CA California by Long Island Paranormal Investigators - Ghost Haunted Demonic Investigation Ghost Hunter New York NY. Long Island Paranormal Investigators, 2013. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.  
 
“The Queen Mary Haunting.” - Your Ghost Stories. YourGhostStories.com, 2006. Web. 8 Oct. 2015.  
 
Champion, John. “The Queen Mary Is Not Haunted (But I understand Why You Think She Is).” Center for Inquiry- CSI. 1 July 2013. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.  

SDPRS. “RMS Queen Mary Research.” San Diego Paranormal Research Society (SDPRS). San Diego Paranormal Research Society, 2009. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.

Weiser, Kathy. “The Queen Mary of Long Beach - History and Hauntings.” Legends of America, 1 Mar. 2013. Web. 8 Oct. 2015.  

Links for Further Research:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS-X7zdo20c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZfu_re_jwM

http://www.queenmary.com/history/comparison-fun-facts/wwii-facts/ 

Taj Mahal

Author: Keyana Logan

 E. de Gracia Camara, 2008.
A front view picture Taj Mahal

 The Taj Mahal of Agra, India is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, for reasons more than just appearing magnificent. The history of the Taj Mahal increases the heart to the magnificence. A heart that is filled with passion, regrets, and more love. If it were not for love the world would not be the same but, most important the Taj Mahal would not be here. A model of how profoundly a man adores his wife, that even after she abides but reminiscence, he made sure that this memory would never fade away. This man was the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who was head-over-heels in love with Mumtaz Mahal, his dear wife. Mumtaz Mahal was a Muslim Persian princess and Jahan’s dad was an emperor. It was at the age of 14 that he met Mumtaz and fell in love with her. Five years later in the year 1612, they got married (Ahmed). Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631, while giving birth to their 14^th child. It was in the memory of his beloved wife that Shah Jahan built a magnificent monument as a tribute to her, which today known as the "Taj Mahal".

A video showing different pictures of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is located on the right bank of the Yamuna River in a vast Mughal garden that encompasses nearly 17 hectares, in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh. The monument, begun in 1632, was finished in 1648, unverified but nonetheless, tenacious; legends attribute its construction to an international team of several thousands of masons, marble workers, mosaicists and decorators working under the orders of the architect of the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahori. The Taj Mahal's pure white marble shimmers silver in the moonlight, glows softly pink at dawn, and at close of day reflects the fiery tints of the setting Sun (“Taj Mahal”). However, the Taj Mahal can be seen not only as a mausoleum for the empress but, also as the glorious climax of Mughal architecture in India.

            In a matter of time, something that is full with love and a magnificent monument can turn into such a bad thing.  Preservationists say the 350-year-old marble masterpiece is falling prey to shoddy repair work, graffiti, air pollution, and even a deteriorating foundation. The Indian press has been filled with reports that the latest government efforts to control pollution around the Taj are failing and that the gorgeous white marble is deteriorating a possible casualty of India's booming population, rapid economic expansion and lax environmental regulations. Some local preservationists, echoing the concerns of R. Nath, an Indian historian who has written extensively about the Taj, warn that the edifice is in danger of sinking or even collapsing toward the river. They also complain that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has done slipshod repair work and call for fresh assessments of the structure's foundations (Bartholet). All good things end.

            Will the Taj Mahal really collapse in five years? Both the Indian MP and the historian quoted by the daily say it is a false alarm though there are such fears due to the drying of the Yamuna River. It is a 50/50 chance that the Taj Mahal will collapse. Architects have been expressing fears that a dry river could pose a threat to the Taj Mahal (Khandelwal). After researching the Taj Mahal I will end by saying the beautiful monument has a while before it actually collapse.

Works Cited:

"Taj Mahal." UNESCO World Heritage Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/252>.

Ahmed, Akbar. "The Taj Mahal." History Today 43.5 (1993): 62. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.

Bartholet, Jeffrey. "WHAT AILS THE TAJ MAHAL? (Cover Story)." Smithsonian 42.5 (2011): 44-57. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.

Khandelwal, Brij. "Will the Taj Mahal collapse in 5 years?." South Asian Post 20 Oct. 2011: 17. Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.

Links for further research:

Taj Mahal

http://www.tajmahal.gov.in/

The official Taj Mahal site.

History

http://www.tajmahal.org.uk/history.html

History of the Taj Mahal and when it was first built.

Architecture

http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Culture/Archit/TajM.html

The architecture and history on the Taj Mahal.