10 Everyday Things With Dark Histories

When you pour yourself a morning coffee, fasten your seatbelt, or hum along to a nursery rhyme, the last thing on your mind is history. We often take daily objects and habits for granted, assuming they were born out of simple necessity. Yet, behind many ordinary things lurk unsettling origins—moments of cruelty, superstition, or scandal that shaped what we now consider “normal.”

Here are ten everyday things with surprisingly dark backstories.

1. Coffee – Once Considered Satan’s Drink

Today, coffee powers our mornings and fuels entire office cultures. But in the 16th century, this beloved drink was demonized. When it reached Europe, some priests claimed it was “the bitter invention of Satan.” In fact, Pope Clement VIII had to personally taste it before declaring it harmless. Earlier, in the Ottoman Empire, drinking coffee could even get you executed. The Sultan Murad IV outlawed coffee and patrolled the streets himself, beheading anyone caught sipping it. So that latte on your desk? Once, it was a crime punishable by death.

2. High Heels – Born on the Battlefield

High heels might seem like a symbol of glamour and elegance today, but they were originally designed for soldiers. In 10th-century Persia, cavalrymen wore heeled boots to help them stay balanced while firing arrows on horseback. Later, European aristocrats adopted heels as a mark of power. Men like Louis XIV strutted around in bright red heels to display dominance. Only centuries later did heels become a fashion statement for women. So next time you see a pair of stilettos, remember: they were once instruments of war.

3. Toothpaste – Made with Burnt Bones and Ash

Minty fresh breath hasn’t always been the standard. The earliest versions of toothpaste were far from pleasant. Ancient Egyptians used a mixture of crushed ox hooves, burnt eggshells, and pumice. Romans preferred powdered bones and oyster shells. Even into the 19th century, tooth-cleaning powders often contained charcoal or brick dust, which wore down enamel more than they cleaned. We take fluoride and fresh mint flavors for granted, but our ancestors literally scrubbed their teeth with ashes.

4. Nursery Rhymes – Innocent Tunes with Gruesome Origins

“Ring Around the Rosie” might sound like a playful rhyme for children, but historians believe it references the Black Death that ravaged Europe. The “rosie” is said to represent the rash that appeared on plague victims, and “ashes, ashes, we all fall down” eerily mirrors the mass deaths. Other nursery rhymes also conceal grim truths—like “London Bridge Is Falling Down,” which some interpret as hinting at human sacrifice within its foundations. Singing these cheerful tunes at school hides the fact that they were once coping mechanisms for unspeakable tragedies.

5. Umbrellas – A Symbol of Beatings and Bad Luck

The umbrella is a lifesaver on rainy days, but its history casts a shadow. In ancient Egypt, umbrellas were reserved for royalty to shield them from the sun. Commoners who dared to carry one risked severe punishment. In Victorian England, opening an umbrella indoors was thought to invite misfortune or death—a superstition born from the fact that early umbrellas had sharp metal spokes and springs. Opening one indoors could cause accidents, leading people to associate them with bad luck.

6. Chocolate – Sweet Treat, Bitter Past

Nothing feels more innocent than biting into a chocolate bar, but the history of chocolate is far from sweet. For centuries, cocoa plantations relied heavily on enslaved labor. Even after abolition, child labor and exploitation have persisted in cocoa production, particularly in West Africa. European colonizers also stripped indigenous cultures of their sacred relationship with cacao, turning it into a commercial luxury. That box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day carries a history of blood, sweat, and exploitation.

7. Forks – Once Called “Devil’s Tools”

The fork is such a basic utensil that it’s hard to imagine meals without it. Yet when forks were first introduced to Europe in the 11th century from the Byzantine Empire, people considered them blasphemous. Using a fork was thought to mock God’s creation because humans already had fingers. Clergy members even referred to forks as “instruments of the devil.” Those who used them were mocked for being vain or arrogant. Today, stabbing a piece of pasta with a fork seems harmless, but centuries ago it would have branded you a sinner.

8. Perfume – Used to Mask Death and Disease

Perfume has long been linked with beauty, but its early use was far more macabre. In medieval Europe, people believed disease spread through foul air. When the Black Death swept through, doctors and the wealthy carried perfumed sachets or wore masks stuffed with herbs to “purify” the air they breathed. Perfume was also widely used in burial rituals to cover the stench of decaying bodies. The fragrance we now associate with attraction was once a shield against death itself.

9. Makeup – Once Filled with Poison

The beauty industry is worth billions today, but cosmetics have always walked a dangerous line. In Elizabethan England, women painted their faces with “Venetian ceruse,” a foundation made of white lead. It gave a pale complexion but slowly poisoned the skin, causing hair loss, lesions, and eventually death. Similarly, kohl eyeliner in ancient times often contained lead and antimony, both toxic substances. That harmless swipe of lipstick or foundation in your morning routine has a disturbing ancestral connection to poison.

10. Seatbelts – Born from Tragedy

Seatbelts are the ultimate symbol of safety, saving thousands of lives every year. But their widespread use only came after devastating losses. In the early days of automobiles, seatbelts weren’t standard. Car companies feared that promoting them would make vehicles seem dangerous. It wasn’t until the 1950s and 1960s, after countless deaths in car accidents, that public outcry forced governments and manufacturers to make them mandatory. The lifesaving strap across your chest is a grim reminder of how many lives had to be lost before change was made.

Everyday objects often seem simple, useful, and even comforting. But when you peel back the layers of history, you find stories of fear, cruelty, and superstition hidden in plain sight. The next time you sip your morning coffee, open your umbrella, or brush your teeth, remember—you’re not just engaging with an object. You’re brushing against centuries of human struggle, belief, and sometimes horror.

History has a way of hiding in the ordinary. The trick is to look close enough to see the shadows.