Humans have always had a generally curious nature when it comes to the world around us,

and that has led to the belief in some very bizarre things during less informed times.

Things like lambs growing on trees, animals spontaneously generating,

and Brussels sprouts harboring evil spirits.

Without further ado, let's take a dive into some of the weirdest things people actually used to believe.

Do you dread the annual ritual of facing a pile of Brussels sprouts at Christmas dinner? Back in the day, people feared Brussels sprouts far more than you do, and not just because

they didn't like the taste.

You see, there was once a time in medieval Europe when tiny demons were thought to be making their homes between the leaves of Brussels sprouts.

Once inside, they lay waiting for some unsuspecting human to chow down on the veggies so that they could enter their body, making them very ill, or at the very least giving them a wicked stomach ache.

Ever wondered why people take the

painstaking effort to cut a tiny cross into every Brussels sprouts bottom before

tossing them in the pan? Apparently that was the best way to purge the veggies of

their inherent evil. It was thought that this Christian symbol would drive the evil

spirit out from the leaves, making them safe to eat. Although the tradition has continued into modern day, many chefs have since stated that

carving a cross into your brussels will only make them go soggy.

So unless you really believe a demon is hiding in there, perhaps it's time to retire that

particular custom.

But where did this wacky belief come from?

It stems back to the even

funnier pagan view that farts were a sign of demonic possession. And since Brussels sprouts tended to

make people fart, they had to be evil. Thank goodness baked beans weren't around back then.

Plenty of bizarre ideas befell the minds of people in the Middle Ages. In fact, many

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