31. Medieval Aliens

When things happen so far back in history, it’s hard to decipher fact from fiction. This legend about the green children of Woolpit is an example of that. One summer in the 12th century, two kids showed up in the small town of Woolpit, located in Suffolk, England. The children, who were later discovered to be siblings, had a green color to their skin, spoke an unknown language, and would only eat fava beans. 

The young boy eventually died, but the green girl survived and adjusted to life among other humans. When she learned to speak English, she explained that she and her brother came from Saint Martin’s Land, where everyone was green. Some people believe this story is folklore, but others believe it actually happened and has a realistic explanation. The children could have been Flemish refugees, which would explain their “strange” language. In addition, their green hue could have been due to extreme anemia and dietary deficiencies. We’ll probably never learn the truth, but it’s a fascinating story nonetheless.