The Creepiest Old Folklore Stories I Wish I Didn’t Know

Today we’re diving into four of the creepiest old stories from European folklore and fairy tale tradition.
Not the cute, polished versions… but the original ones that are strangely dark for something people used to tell children.

In this video I’m sharing four real, documented stories:

• The Corpse Bride
A Jewish Ashkenazi folktale from Eastern Europe: a man jokingly slips a ring onto what he thinks is a branch… and accidentally “marries” a dead bride. This graveyard legend appears in 19th-century Jewish folklore collections and later inspired the modern corpse bride motif.

• The Juniper Tree (The Juniper Tree, Brothers Grimm)
One of the most disturbing Grimm tales: a jealous stepmother kills a boy, hides his body in a chest, and serves him in a stew. The story ends in supernatural revenge and transformation, and yes – this is an actual Grimm fairy tale, not a creepypasta.

• The Three Snake Leaves (The Three Snake Leaves, Brothers Grimm)
A soldier uses magical snake leaves to bring a princess back to life… but instead of a happy ending, it turns into betrayal, attempted murder, and very cold justice. Dark resurrection vibes, fully documented in the Grimm collection.

• The Glass Coffin (The Glass Coffin, Brothers Grimm)
A lesser-known Grimm story about a young woman trapped in a glass coffin by a sorcerer, hidden underground until a wandering tailor stumbles into her fate. It feels like a strange cousin of Snow White, but much more eerie and symbolic.

All of these come from real folklore and fairy tale sources, nothing invented for the video. I’m just retelling the original versions… which are honestly way creepier than most modern horror movies.

If you love dark folklore, weird old stories, and the unsettling side of fairy tales, you’re in the right place.

Tell me in the comments which story got under your skin the most and if you want a Part 2, because I have plenty more.

Thank you so much for watching and supporting my channel, love you guys.