October 22^nd 2016 marked the 46^th anniversary of William “Billy Goat” Sianis’ death. October 22^nd 2016 also marked the first time the Chicago Cubs won the pennant since 1945 moving on to the World Series.

The Chicago Cubs have not won the World Series since 1908, the longest drought in Major League Baseball. Right behind them are the Cleveland Indians who last won a World Series in 1948. Both teams will meet on October 25^th for Game 1 of the World Series in probably the most anticipated game in not just baseball, but sports history.

The Curse of the Billy Goat is probably the most famous of curses behind the curse of the Kennedy family. Between 1876 and 1945 the Chicago Cubs were one of the most successful baseball teams winning 16 pennants. Sporting Life newspaper called the 1908 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers A Battle of Titans! The 1908 World Series was actually a rematch of the 1907 World Series where the Cubs played against the Tigers, winning four games to none. The teams met again in 1908 with the Cubs winning five games for their consecutive World Series title.

In 1945 the Cub yet again met the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. The Cubs won game 1. Detroit won game 2. The Cubs won game 3…but something very odd happened during game 4.

The owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, William “Billy Goat” Sianis purchased two tickets to game 4. One for himself, and one for his pet goat named Murphy. At the gate, Andy Fran, an usher stopped him saying that no animals were allowed. Sianis appealed to the owner, P.K. Wrigley who said it was fine for Billy to come in. When Sianis asked why not the goat, Wrigley replied “Because the goat stinks.” According to legend, Sianis threw up his arms and said “The Cubs ain’t gonna win no more. The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field.”

The cubs lost game four and were swept by the Tigers for the remainder of the series.

In 1969, a year before his death, Sianis said he felt better about it all and so lifted the curse…but the goat was not satisfied.

In 1973, the goat Socrates – a descendant of Murphy, along with Sam Sianis – a nephew of William, were escorted to Wrigley in a white limousine and walked down a red carpet towards Wrigley Field, but was again denied entrance.

In 1984, Sam Sianis and his goat were allowed to walk Wrigley Field where he raised his arms and said “The curse is lifted.” The Cubs failed to make the World Series that year, even though they were just one game away from winning.

1989, Sam and his goat walked Wrigley again in an attempt to beat the curse. No luck.

2003 – the Bartman Ball…

and more years of unfortunate events in past decades, including balls dribbling beneath people’s legs, black cats, and you name it.

So, has the cursed been lifted?

The Cubs are now walking into the World Series for the first time since 1945. For safe measure, should a goat be given a seat at Wrigley Field…just to be safe? We think so. Give the goat a seat!

-Gravedigger

A witch needs a witch bottle – that is for certain.

A witch bottle is a container jar spell that protects the witch against evil spirits, magical attacks and protects their home. Accounts of witch bottles have been dated as far back as the 15^th century.

Witch bottles are typically prepared for the witch by a fellow worker or by the witch themselves. The contents of the witch bottle vary to the specifics needed for that witch, but they will contain herbs, magical oils, stones or gems of some sort, needles, pins, and perhaps the nail clippings or hair clippings of the witch the bottle is meant for.

Many witch bottles have been found in old homes in England and the United States. One witch bottle that was discovered in England contained urine, hair and pins and had been buried upside down. Another witch bottle found in Newark contained hair, nails and urine. Witch bottles could be hidden in the walls, buried beneath the home, or around one’s fireplace. Bottles could also be located near doors or windows since that’s a way other witches or evil spirits could get in.

Now, if you ever walk into someone’s home and you notice a lovely bottle, colored so that you really can’t make out its contents and it’s positioned by the door, well then…you better be nice to that person, because you never know who is a witch.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/31107319/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/th-century-urine-filled-witch-bottle-found/#.WAr4O5MrIg4

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2801346/witch-bottle-unearthed-newark-330-year-old-vessel-filled-hair-urine-ward-evil-spirits.html

-Gravedigger

This one is a bit strange, even for us, but we decided to write about it since some of our followers are intrigued by UFO’s and conspiracy theories. All of the detail we will cover has been published in the below articles for your review.

There is a growing segment of the population that believe that events around us are controlled by a group or groups of people. These beliefs stretch on into varying levels of life; economy, politics and so on. While some people brush away the words ‘conspiracy theory,’ thinking that any such belief is unreal there are some people who stand by ideas that not everything is what its seems.

Max Spiers was a 39-year-old conspiracy theorist from Canterbury, England with a large following. He also spoke at conferences about the subject matter. In June, Spiers was in Poland where he was scheduled to give a talk about his varying conspiracy theories, including UFOs. During his time there, he contacted his mother and told her that if anything were to happen to him that she should investigate it. Spiers had been staying with a woman, sleeping on her sofa and it was there on the sofa that he proceeded to vomit and spew a black liquid until he died. His death has been ruled due to natural causes, even though no paper work has been provided to his mother. Spiers’ mother, his former fiancé and his followers are challenging those findings.

Those that knew Spiers believe it was his research into UFOs, government cover-ups, and investigating people in politics, business and entertainment that got him killed.

So what was Spiers researching before he died? He believed that black magic is at the core of what runs this world.

Some of the conspiracy theories Spiers believed in include:

• Black magic is at the root of the control of mankind
• Mind control
• Fourth Reich
• New World Order
• UFO Cover-up
• Shapeshifters live among us
• Entire underground cities exist beneath the surface

And more…

Did Spiers die of an alien virus, as some other conspiracy theorists believe? Was he getting too close to something? Or, did he really die of natural causes?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/17/uk-conspiracy-theorists-mother-fears-he-was-murdered-in-poland

http://nypost.com/2016/10/18/dead-ufo-expert-was-about-to-expose-elites-using-black-magic/

https://mic.com/articles/157088/max-spiers-theories-death-sparks-interest-in-what-ufo-conspiracy-theorist-allegedly-knew#.YABSOh9py

http://nypost.com/2016/10/17/ufo-expert-found-dead-vomiting-black-liquid/

http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/722828/Max-Spiers-Conspiracy-theorist-death-NO-INQUEST

-Gravedigger

Apparently there is a shortage of exorcists. In an article published in The Telegraph in September 2016 exorcists are in urgent demand.

According to Valter Cascioli, a psychologist with the International Association of Exorcists (Yes, there is a thing) a lack of priests to perform exorcism is an emergency. Dr. Cascioli also teaches at the Pontifical University of Regina Apostolorum, a Vatican supported university in Rome. Cascioli attributed the increase of possession to people’s increase in the practice of the occult and satanic practices. He also attributed the rise of evil forces to people’s decline in faith. He was also clear to point out that it was important not to confuse mental illness with demonic possession.

Two of America’s leading exorcists, Father Gary Thomas and Father Vincent Lampert agree that there is a rise of demonic possession and a need for exorcists. Both claim pagan activities, declining mental health facilities, and a spiritual void in America is contributing to people being possessed. Father Thomas has conducted about 60 exorcisms in about 10 years.

In Rome, Father Vincenzo Taraborelli says he sees about 30 people a day. Father Taraborelli is also 79 years old and says that there is little success finding new exorcists.

“I told the bishop that I can’t find anyone willing to do this. Many of them are scared. Even priests can be scared. It’s a difficult life.”

-Gravedigger

There are some games so terrifying they should not be played. The game of The Midnight Man has made the rounds on the internet as a creepypasta, actual instructions for the game, and I’ve been told there is a low budget horror film out there somewhere with this premise.

If you think the Ouija board is dangerous then you are not aware of the dozens of occult games that some people claim open portals to dark things.

The Midnight Man game is said to welcome into your home the entity of The Midnight Man. The purpose of the game is to welcome him into your home and continue moving so he does not catch you.

DISCLAIMER: We are not responsible for any harm that may come to you, your family or friends as a results of playing The Midnight Man game.

If you’re brave enough, crazy enough, and want to meet The Midnight Man then follow the instructions below. You have been warned.

Materials

1 candle

Lighter or a book of matches

A piece of paper

1 pin

Access to a closed wooden door

Salt

Preparation

Before midnight write your full name on a piece of paper. Prick your finger with a pin and drop a drop of blood onto it.

Turn off every single light in your house – all of them.

Place the paper with your name and blood in front of a closed wooden door. Light the candle and place it on top of the paper.

Shortly before midnight, knock on the wooden door. You will knock a total of 22 times, the last knock must be at midnight.

At midnight, open the door, blow out the candle, and then close the door.

Relight your candle.

The Game

1. Begin to move about your home with the candle in your hand.
2. If your candle goes out you have 10 seconds to relight it.
3. Continue moving through your house and do not stop until 3:33am.
4. If you are unable at any point to relight your candle within the 10 second limit sit down, surround yourself with salt and do not move until 3:33am.

The End

The game ends at 3:33am. If you are seated within a circle of salt you are free to exit.

Important Notes

DO NOT LET THE MIDNIGHT MAN CATCH YOU.

Accounts differ as to what happens if he catches you. Some accounts say you will have hallucinations of your worst fears and others claim that he will remove your organs.

How do you know if the Midnight Man is in your home?

The candle goes out

Soft whisper

Unexplained noises

Human figure appears in the darkness

During the game:

Do not turn on any lights until 3:33a

Do not use a flashlight or your cellphone light

Do not fall asleep while playing the game

Do not leave your house during the game

Do not taunt the Midnight Man

Finally, at the end of the game, never assume the Midnight Man has left your house.

Goodluck

-Gravedigger

The 2005 film             The Exorcism of Emily Rose was loosely based on the real life exorcisms of Anneliese Michel.

Michel was a young German woman who underwent a series of Catholic exorcisms. Because of Hollywood, when most people think of the Catholic rite of exorcism they think of one event culminating with the expulsion of an evil spirit. This is not the case. Exorcism is usually a multiple series of rites.

Michel was born to a Catholic family in Leiblfing, Bavaria in West Germany. Her parents Josef and Anna also had 3 other daughters. Michel was known to be very religious, regularly attending mass. When Michel was 16 she had a convulsion and was soon after diagnosed with lobe epilepsy. She would suffer seizures and was eventually instituted in a psychiatric hospital.

While hospitalized, Michel was prescribed a series of medications including those to treat psychosis and schizophrenia, anti-seizure, mood stabilizers and anti-psychotic drugs. Michel complained about seeing devil-faces and hallucinated while praying. Her health continued to decline, and she became intolerant of religious objects, including crucifixes.

Michel went on a pilgrimage to a non-Catholic sanctioned holy site with a family friend to San Damiano. There she refused to walk past religious objects and drink the blessed water. It was at this time that her family concluded that her illness was actually demonic possession.

Father Ernst Alt was contacted by Michel’s family and upon inspecting her he claimed that he believed she was possessed. He petitioned his local bishop to allow an exorcism. In September of 1975, Bishop Josef Stangl gave permission for Ernst to proceed with the exorcism. Ernst enlisted the help of Father Arnold Renz.

Between 1975 and 1976 Ernst conducted 67 exorcisms on Michel, one to two exorcisms per week lasting hours. During this time her family had ceased all medical treatment. Michel talked about dying, and that her death would atone for wayward youth and apostate priests. She had also stopped eating and her knees had broken due to her continuous genuflections.

Michel died in her home on July 1, 1976. Her autopsy reported her death being due to malnutrition.

Michel’s parents, Renz and Ernst were charged with neglect. Their trial began in March 30, 1978 and drew considerable interest. Tapes of the exorcism were played in which the priests claimed were demonic voices coming from Michel identifying themselves as Lucifer, Cain, Judas, Iscariot, Hitler and Nero. The priests went on to say that they believed Michel’s soul was saved just before her death. They were found guilty of manslaughter and were sentenced to six months in jail, later suspended to three years’ probation.
Her parents later had her body exhumed, claiming that they wanted to rebury her in an oak coffin as the original one was made of cheap material. The priests were not allowed to see her body but a nun claimed to have a vision that Michel’s body was still intact. The body was reburied in an oak coffin lined with tin.

In 1984 a petition was submitted to the Vatican and the decision was made that Michel was not possessed but rather suffered from mental illness.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES

The below video shows images of Anneliese Michel and includes audio recording of her voice before the exorcisms and during.

-Gravedigger

Gloomy Sunday is a song composed by Hungarian pianist and composer Rezső Seress during the Great Depression.  The song was so gloomy, so depressing that it took some time for Seress to find a publisher. One publisher reportedly said of the song:

It is not that the song is sad, there is a sort of terrible compelling despair about it. I don’t think it would do anyone any good to hear a song like that.

Seress finally located a publisher and the song was published in 1933.

The original lyrics were titled The World is Ending. Poet László Jávor wrote his own lyrics titled Sad Sunday. The lyrics are about a person who wants to commit suicide after their lover’s death.

The song with the lyrics was recorded in 1936. Billie Holiday released a version in 1941, popularizing the song in the English speaking world.

Urban legends say that the song has been associated with numerous suicides, including in the United States and Hungary. Some radio stations even refuse to play it. Even the BBC banned Billie Holiday’s version of the song, because they feared it would lower morale during wartime.

In January 1968, Seress, the composer of the song, committed suicide.

Here are two versions for your listening pleasure.

-Gravedigger

I hate scrolling and scrolling and scrolling along to find something good to watch on Netflix this time of year. I wish Netflix had a better and more extensive horror movie catalogue, but they don’t – hint hint Netflix.

To save you sometime we put together a small list of horror films we recently enjoyed on Netflix.

The Invitation

Hush

The Legend of Hell House

Hellraiser

Jaws

Extraordinary Tales

Sleepy Hallow

Housebound

The Rite

The Taking of Deborah Logan

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night

From Dusk Till Dawn

Troll Hunter

Darling

We Are Still Here

Wes Craven’s New Nightmare

Flowers In The Attic

Underworld

The Fly

Re-Animator

Are there any horror titles I missed that you really enjoy on Netflix? If so, let us know at Twitter @burialdaybooks

-Gravedigger

Disclaimer: We are not responsible for any supernatural, paranormal or related consequences that may occur to you or your family or friends while playing a Ouija Board. You take full responsibility for playing.

You have seen them in plenty of horror movies and supernatural shows, Ouija Boards. You may even know someone or know someone who knows someone who has played with a Ouija Board. Given this time of year, you may even be wondering if you should try at a game. They are not that difficult to find. Amazon.com carries a variety of Ouija Boards retailing for about $24. You can find the classic board or one with an antiquated, wooden look to it. The classic board has 558 four star customer reviews, many are in jest such as:

1.0 out of 5 starsevil spirits

By Amazon Customer on November 4, 2015

Size: Glossy Exclusive Paper

Contacted Grandpa and ask him where the money is buried. Dug up a dead cat instead. Stupid evil spirits.

5.0 out of 5 starsFinally made a new friend

By 7elevenHeaven on August 30, 2016

Size: Glossy Exclusive Paper Verified Purchase

Summoned a demon. Afraid to give less than 5 stars and anger it.

5.0 out of 5 starsDespite haunting, looks nice as decoration

By Amazon Customer on November 10, 2015

Size: Glossy Exclusive Paper Verified Purchase

Used it. Now haunted. Barely get any sleep due to paralyzing fear. But at least it worked. And it looks nice on my desk.

But then there are reviews like:

By Lupercalion August 11, 2016

Size: Glossy Exclusive Paper|Verified Purchase

Takes you back. Work well with friends. Just be careful of what comes and try not to upset the dead.

By Jennaon April 16, 2016

Size: Glossy Exclusive Paper|Verified Purchase

I played this game with my friends and it worked! My friend didn’t think it would work and disrespected it and then the end lifted up and crushed her thumb. It then began talking about people from our school. We then stopped playing with it and we are still terrified.

By Amazon Customeron April 25, 2016

Size: Glossy Exclusive Paper|Verified Purchase

Didn’t do a thing

So what is the point of a Ouija Board? What does this thing do anyway?

It’s simply a flat board with the printed letters of the alphabet split across in two rows and a numeric row beneath of numbers 0-9. In each corner you’ll find one of the following words ‘Hello,’ ‘Goodbye,’ ‘Yes,’ and ‘No.’ All boards will come with a planchette, a device that is used to guide across the surface.

A Ouija board, sometimes called a spirit board, claims that by using it you can make contact with the dead.

Here are the general steps to playing with a spirit board, oh, and there are people who just make spirit boards at home out of whatever material they have around, following the general principle and design.

Step 1. Find a quiet space alone or with friends.

Step 2. Remove anything that can distract you. Turn off your phones, television, music, etc. Some people like to dim the lights.

Step 3. Set the board on your lap, or on a table top or flat surface. All players should be within reach.

Step 4. Place two fingers lightly on the planchette, clear your mind and ask your question.

Step 5. All players take turns asking questions. There should be an agreement as to which questions are asked. Wait, and if the planchette moves wait to see what it spells out.

Some additional notes:

Be polite. You never know exactly who you are going to get.

Ask simple questions at first. Closed ended ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer questions may be good at the beginning.

Don’t ask for physical signs to happen in your space.

Don’t believe everything you are told.

All players should participate asking questions.

If you are in the room and you are not playing you should not be in the room. Everyone in the room should be participating.

Very important, when you are done tell the board goodbye and if it does not move over to the word slowly guide it over ‘Goodbye.’ You have to close the board. You don’t want to leave the portal open.
Let us know on Twitter if you’ve used a Ouija Board and what your experience was or if you plan to use one. @burialdaybooks

Good luck!

-Gravedigger

Ronald “Butch” DeFeo is serving 6 consecutive life sentences at Sullivan Correctional Facility in Beekman, New York for murdering his entire family.

Butch was the oldest of five children of Ronald Sr. and Louise DeFeo. Ronald Sr. worked at a Brooklyn Buick car dealership through which he was able to afford a middle-class life for this family. He was known for being hot tempered and engaging in fights with his wife and children. Butch was very much like his father in that he was known to have violent outbursts. His family had taken him to a psychiatrist when he was a teenager but Butch declined returning, saying that it did not help. Instead of seeking additional treatment his parents tried to placate his misbehavior, giving him money and gifts. Butch would go on to become an LSD and heroin user and was eventually thrown out of school because of his anger issues.

Ronald Sr. gave his son a position at the car dealership, regardless of Butch’s ongoing violent behavior. DeFeo would spend his money on drugs, alcohol, and guns and even threatened his father with a rifle during an argument. Butch even planned and executed a mock burglary, stealing a large deposit from his car dealership. When questioned by the police he flew into a rage. When Ronald Sr. questioned Butch whether he was involved in the robbery Butch threatened to kill his father.

On the night of November 13, 1974, Butch entered his parents’ bedroom while they were sleeping and shot them in their bed with a .35-caliber Marlin rifle. He then entered his brother’s bedroom and shot both of them before finally shooting both of his sisters dead in their beds.

The next morning, he dressed for work, gathered his bloody clothes and rifle and dropped them in a storm drain on his way to work. When he got to work he made it seem as though he was not sure why his father was not there. Butch made a point of seeing several people throughout the day, and each time commenting how he had not heard from his family. When authorities were finally contacted, Butch claimed a robbery must have taken place and his family was murdered. He even went on to suspect that the murders were related to the mafia. The police even placed Butch in protective custody. While searching the home the police discovered the empty box for the .35-caliber Marlin and Butch eventually confessed.

During the trial Butch’s defense pleaded insanity, claiming that he had heard voices. The psychiatrist for the prosecution argued that Butch suffered from antisocial personality disorder and that he was very well aware of his actions.

DeFeo was found guilty on November 21, 1975.

In December of 1975 George and Kathy Lutz moved into the former DeFeo home with their three children, and after 28 days they fled, leaving behind all of their belongings claiming they were being tormented by the supernatural.  Those 28 days that that Lutz family spent in the former DeFeo home have generated multiple books and an almost unending horror movie franchise.

So was DeFeo really hearing voices? Or, was it all part of his strategic defense to cover up his violent behavior? Was there anything supernatural at play at the Amityville house? Ultimately, something horrible happened at the Amityville house and something caused the Lutz family to flee.

-Gravedigger