Category: Legends and Lore

The Tragic Tale of Danny the Ghost Boy

Alex Matsuo

CW: Child abuse, physical violence

I’ve been trying to find fresh content when it comes to Christmas ghost stories and Christmas monsters. Mostly because there’s already so much information about Krampus, Frau Perchta, Belsnickel, etc. This story was one that I heard from one of my co-workers. So, thanks for the tip, Joni!

Now in full disclosure and full transparency, I haven’t been able to find any primary source for this story. Any references that I found have come from listicles and blogs. But considering it does exist online it had to come from somewhere. I need your help in solving this Christmas mystery, especially if you’re in South Africa or you know someone from South Africa. 

I’ll be honest when I heard about Danny, I immediately thought of Danny Phantom, the cartoon from Nickelodeon. It was an awesome cartoon and I loved it.

Obsessed with Cookies

The story of Danny the Ghost Boy goes like this; Danny was a little boy (age unknown) who really enjoyed Christmas cookies. He’s a little boy, he’s a kid. That’s to be expected. He enjoys cookies, especially cookies made by grandma. Now grandma warned him not to touch or eat the cookies because some of the cookies were going to go to Santa and the rest of the cookies were going to be for Christmas, which was the next day. But Danny really wanted a Christmas cookie like really wanted it. He could not stop thinking about it. 

So, he tried to think up ways to get a cookie without anyone noticing. Finally, Danny decided to take a risk and eat up a couple of the cookies, hoping that no one would notice. But even if someone did notice, the only person he would have to face would be his grandma. She is a sweet little old lady so you know there’s nothing wrong with facing grandma and just saying sorry. I mean I will admit I’m one of those people that will ask for forgiveness instead of permission, so maybe Danny had the same mindset. It is sweet little old grandma, what harm could come? 

A Tragic End

So, Danny ate some of the cookies. When his grandma found out she was mad. I mean we are not talking like she was just disappointed in Danny not following directions. She was mad. Grandma was so mad that she grabbed a stick and started beating Danny with it. She started beating this little boy just for eating cookies. Granny beat him around his shoulders and his head and just kept hitting him with a stick.

She hit him so many times that Danny did not survive the ordeal. I told you it was dark. So yes, a little boy sneaking in some Christmas cookies managed to trigger the rage of grandma. Triggered to the point where she unalives her grandson, all for a bunch of cookies. Grandma was emotional and really stressed out and Danny taking the cookies was the last straw. 

Now for poor little Danny he did not move on to the afterlife. Instead, he stayed put as a ghost. Danny now wanders the earth during the holidays. He’s looking to haunt naughty children who may want to steal their own Christmas cookies.  He wants to haunt these naughty children so that they do not suffer the same fate as he did. Imagine being so naughty that a ghost warns you not to make the same mistake he made.

Analysis

I have some thoughts on this story like I mentioned at the beginning of the blog. There’s no primary source material for the story. At least none that I have been able to find in the time that I’ve researched this. But to be honest, the only ghost children during the holidays I could find is Ignorance and Want from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. But there are some themes here that I find interesting. Mainly Danny haunting naughty children so that they do not make the same mistake that he did. It very much reminds me of Jacob Marley and him warning scrooge to not make the same mistakes that he did, or his chains would be heavier than Marley’s.

there’s something to be said about this type of ghost story really that’s trying to teach a lesson and warn kids now during you know the holidays and everything it’s not even just during the holidays it’s not uncommon for these stories to come up as a warning to get kids to behave so it sounds like this could be south Africa’s way of scaring children into following directions. it is not that “oh you don’t want to eat Santa’s cookies and you want to be good because if not Santa will bring you coal” it’s “no if you eat the cookies your grandma could possibly unlive you” …all for cookies. That is kind of what boggles my mind too. It’s not anything about money I mean I don’t know maybe grandma really did snap when that happened to Danny.

What do you think of this story?

Feel free to share with your friends and family who also enjoy the spooky stuff especially during the holidays.

The Story Of Hans Trapp: The Cannibal Christmas Scarecrow

Alex Matsuo

Christmas is not only a time for merriment and holiday cheer, but also a time to tell spooky stories. This is especially so if you want to get children to behave. We have Krampus, Frau Perchta, and other monsters to coerce children into being angelic creatures. And yet, one terrifying monster seems to get forgotten; Hans Trapp.

Who is Hans Trapp? He’s a cannibalistic Christmas scarecrow that works alongside Santa Claus. If you’re not good, Hans will kidnap you and take you into the forest to eat you. Let’s learn more about this terrifying monster!

A Monstrous Man

This legend is well known in the French regions of Alsace and Lorraine. He is a lesson to be learned in what happens when you stray from God, turn to the Devil, and become obsessed with wealth and power.

He lived in the 1400s and was very rich and powerful. But he was also merciless and feared by the people who lived in Alsace. He got obsessed with power and started making deals with the Devil to make that happen. In short, he sold his soul to Satan. The Catholic church and the pope found out about it and excommunicated him.

As a result, he was shunned from his community. Hans was banished, stripped of his titles, lands, and money. He resorted to living in the mountains of Bavaria, Germany, and dedicated himself to practicing black magick and the occult. He ended up losing his mind from isolation. Hans went from obsessing over power to wanting revenge on those who wronged him. While this was happening, he had a hankering for human flesh. 

One day, he stuffed his clothing with straw and disguised himself as a scarecrow and placed himself along the road. A 10-year old boy from the village walked by, and Hans stabbed him. He took the body back to his lair, sliced the boy into tiny pieces, and cooked his flesh! But before he could eat, he was struck with a divine lightning bolt. Depending on which version you read, he hits his head on a rock and dies when he fell. There’s another version where the bolt of lighting burst his head open and unalived him.

Consequences

You could say that God was basically fed up with Hans’ evil doing. Today, his spirit lingers and he lives on dressed as a scarecrow. Because Hans is stuck in this sort of purgatory, he works with Santa Claus to earn redemption. We have a “good cop/bad cop” set up where Santa gives the good kids presents while Hans punishes naughty kids. 

Hans Trapp is a warning to children to be good or he will use his scarecrow disguise to get them if they don’t change. He’ll carry the naughty children off to the dark forest, never to be seen again.

The Real Hans Trapp

Hans Trapp is based on a real person named Hans von Trotha, who lived from 1450-1503. He was a German knight and marshal in the Palatine territory. This would be the French/German area. He commanded two castles on the German side of the border.

As the story goes, he got into a land dispute with the church, specifically Weissenburg Abbey. The abbot wouldn’t concede certain properties to von Trotha, so he had the nearby river dammed so that the local village would be cut off from its water supply. When the abbot complained, Hans von Trotha tore down the dam, which flooded the village and damaged its economy. There was now open warfare between Hans Von Trotha and the abbey.

Even the Emperor at the time couldn’t stop it, so they had to get the Pope Innocent VIII involved. Then, his successor Alexander VI asked Hans to come to Rome in 1491 to prove his loyalty to the Church.  He refused to go to Rome to present his defense and wrote a letter instead. He accused the Pope of impure acts and overall, being corrupt and shady. Needless to say, the letter didn’t work. He was eventually excommunicated in 1491.

Hans went on to serve the French court, and he was given the title Chevalier d’Or by King Louis XII. After he died, all of the charges against him were forgiven.

Legacy

You can tell that Hans von Trotha wasn’t well liked since the legacy of Hans Trapp is much more famous than he is. When people hear his name, they think of a cannibalistic Christmas scarecrow instead of a knight fighting over his land. It just goes to show how the dominant group can not only rewrite history, but also our personal narratives.

Are Paranormal Investigators Creating Their Own Ghosts?

Alex Matsuo

For decades, paranormal investigators and ghost hunters have been exploring the unknown. Storytelling and research are part of the process. We learn about the legends and lore behind haunted locations and other ghost stories. These elements go hand-in-hand like peanut butter and jelly. Or, chicken nuggets and barbecue sauce. And, now I’m hungry.

Our minds are powerful tools. Is it possible to simply manifest your own thoughts with a self-fulfilling prophecy, or completely create your own entity? For the sake of sanity and keeping track of my own thoughts, let’s move forward with the idea that spirits exist in some form.

Stories, Legends, & Lore

We need the stories and the historical context to better understand what’s going on behind the reports of alleged hauntings. Is it be possible that as more people learn the stories, all of that energy collects and creates a haunting? This could very well explain activity from the ghost of a person who never existed. Let’s consider popular locations that host investigators almost every night of the year. Each night, we tell the same stories. Perhaps that expectation is what is actually haunting us instead of a spirit?

Take Gettysburg as an example. People visit the battlefield, and history is on repeat. From reenactments to films to paintings to ghost walks to museums to even just sitting in a restaurant, Gettysburg’s story is on repeat. That energy has not had a chance to just rest in over two hundred years. Could it be possible that the apparitions that we see are merely from our own minds?

Manifestation & Intention

The manifestation of thoughts and intentions is becoming widely popular these days. On social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok especially, there are creators providing exercises and meditations for the manifestation of intentions. While paranormal investigators aren’t necessarily going through this intense process, many do set their intentions ahead of time of what entities they want to engage with. They may picture specific people in their heads or just a general idea of who they want to interact with.

Thoughtforms and Tulpas

Several years ago, I want to say 2011, I was made aware of the theories of thoughtforms and tulpas. I actually covered this subject quite extensively in my book, The Haunted Actor, where I theorized that hauntings come from people, especially emotionally powerful people like actors. To put it simply, all tulpas are thoughtforms, but not all thoughtforms are tulpas. Clear as mud, right?

This is where I derail the idea that hauntings are tulpas. Tulpa is Tibetan word for a being that was created by mental discipline. It takes intense thought and concentration to manifest an entity. There is a specific intention behind a tulpa, and its creation is not an accident. I’ve also read that tulpas are created through dismantling one’s own psyche. Meaning one creates a tulpa together by piecing together parts of yourself to create this being. Essentially, a tulpa is your own creation from parts of yourself.

Thoughtforms seem to happen with a similar intention but seem to be more accidental. Also, there doesn’t seem to be parts of yourself being used for creation. For example, a bunch of people investigating the ghost of little Sally at the haunted asylum may be unintentionally creating Sally herself. Sally could very well be a real person, but her spirit isn’t what is haunting the asylum since she crossed over decades earlier.

Fun fact: I’ve also read that elementals are thought-forms. But that is a discussion for another time.

The Phillip Experiment

The Philip experiment was conducted in 1972 in Toronto, Canada by Dr. A.R. George Owen and the Toronto Society for Psychical Research (TSPR). The experiment was to determine whether subjects could communicate with fictionalized ghosts through human will. According to Dr. Owen, he believed that “Ghosts have an objective reality, but they are created out of the minds that see them.” Dr. Owen, who is a mathematical geneticist, lead the experiment while it was overseen by a psychologist named Dr. Joel Whitton.

The idea of the experiment would be that participants would make up a fictionalized ghost, and then try to make contact during seances. In case you’re wondering, yes, the 2014 film, The Quiet Ones, is loosely based on the Philip experiment.

The Participants

The participants of the experiment included eight participants, one of them being Dr. Owen’s wife Iris Owen. Other participants included:

  • Margaret Sparrow, former chairperson of MENSA
  • Andy H., industrial designer
  • Lorne, Andy’s wife
  • Al Peacocok heating engineer
  • Bernice M, accountant
  • Dorothy O’Donnel, bookkeeper
  • Sidney K., sociology student

All of the people who participated were members of TSPR.

Creating Philip

First, the group had to agree on a backstory for their ghost. They decided that the ghost’s name would be Philip Aylesford, and he would live in the 1600s during the time of Oliver Cromwell. He was an aristocrat, married to a cold woman named Dorothea, with whom he had a daughter. One day, Philip rode by a gypsy encampment and fell in love with a woman named Margo. He brought her back to secretly live in his gatehouse, and they had an affair. Eventually, Dorothea found out and accused Margo of witchcraft.

Afraid of losing his status and possessions, Philip did nothing. Tragically, Margo was sentenced to death and burned at the stake. Burdened by guilt and remorse, Philip committed suicide at the age of thirty.

Contacting Philip

The group started meeting weekly starting in September 1972. They would have informal gatherings where they discussed Philip, meditate on him, and visualize him. This went on for about a year with no results. However, it should be noted that the room was fully lit. Sometimes, the participants said they felt a presence in the room, but there was nothing extraordinary that would make them think it was Philip.

Then, the group decided to change the dynamics of their atmosphere and recreate a traditional seance environment. Dr. Owen dimmed the lights. They sang songs and pictured where Philip would have lived and what he looked like. Also, they managed to get antiques from the time period.

This seemed to have worked. Philip made himself known through a distant rap on the table. In traditional seance fashion, the group had Philip rap once for yes and twice for no. Eventually Philip was able to dim the lights on his own, create a cold breeze, and other incredible psychokinetic phenomenon. The group even did a demonstration in front of 50 people, and Philip delivered. However, the group was never able to make Philip materialize.

Continuing the Experiment

TSPR was so impressed with their results with the Philip Experiment, they attempted the experiment a few more times with different spirits. They managed to create and contact a French Canadian spy named Lilith. Instead of taking over a year to make contact, Lilith made herself known in just five weeks. The group also created a man from the future named Axel as well as a medieval alchemist named Sebastian.

In Australia, a group conducted what became known as the Skippy Experiment. With six participants, the group created the ghost of a 14-year old girl named Skippy Carmichael. According to the group, Skippy communicated mainly using raps and scratching sounds.

Final Thoughts

Even after all this, I’m not 100% certain what we’re communicating with in these haunted locations. Are we truly talking to a sentient beings created from our own minds, or are we talking to the souls of those once lived? Thanks to the Internet, these stories are more readily available than ever. This means that we will continue to read, meditate, and regurgitate these stories until we join the other side.

Even if we set up our intentions, could it be possible that we’re creating our own ghosts? Given that I can’t manipulate a K2 meter or a REM-Pod with my own mind, I have a hard time believing this. This is why I find equipment so faulty. If it is our consciousness that is manipulating the equipment, how come we can’t do it right now when we’re alive? What changes once we leave our physical body?

Sources

https://www.liveabout.com/how-to-create-a-ghost-2594058

https://livinglibraryblog.com/the-philip-experiment/

“Philip”. The Mystica. Retrieved 2015-01-16

John Robert Colombo (1995). Ghost Stories of Ontario. Dundurn. pp. 123

http://www.frontrowreviews.co.uk/news/the-story-behind-the-quiet-ones-the-real-life-philip-experiment/29720

11 Fascinating New Year’s Eve Traditions from Around the World

Alex Matsuo

Counting down from ten, kissing at midnight, watching the ball drop…these are all your typical New Year’s Eve traditions. We’ve all adopted these traditions as normal, and it almost feels strange to not do them. However, many of us ring in the New Year while fast asleep in our beds because we’re too old to stay up until midnight. This is also a very “American” thing to do these days. So, I was inspired to see how other parts of the world ring in the new year, and I was not disappointed. Some countries and cultures even ring in the new year in a spooky way, which always excites me. For some people, these traditions are going to seem pretty strange, and I’m here for all of it.

Here are eleven New Year’s traditions from around the world! For some people, these traditions are strange. For others, it’s normal. If you’re looking for a way to really shake off the bad energy that encompasses 2020, you might want to give a few of these traditions a try!

Romania – Animal Dances to Ward Off Evil Spirits

Photo 72824541 © Kutizoltan – Dreamstime.com

I had heard about this tradition while I was in Romania during the summer of 2004. Full disclosure: I was there for a mission trip and the tradition was disclosed to me like it was some evil Satanic ritual. I know better now. I actually had to do a little digging to find more information. This tradition is so fascinating! This isn’t the only tradition that Romanians do for New Year’s Eve, but it is certainly the most interesting. Romania has so much rich tradition that pre-dates Christianity. This tradition involves animal masks, bears, and dancing. People wear animal masks like goats, horses, and bears, and dance in their houses to ward off evil spirits, many going house to house. The “Dance of the Bear” is the most popular. These animal dances symbolize death, rebirth, and prosperity.

Germany – Lead Pouring

This is some witchy, fortune-telling business and I am here for it. In some parts of Germany, people participate in a practice called bleigiessen, also known as lead pouring. They will melt a dollop of lead, and then drop it in cold water. Whatever shape the lead forms, that is what may come your way in the new year. A heart obviously means love, a crown means wealth and prosperity, a ball or star means happiness. But if a cross forms, it means that you may experience death.

Ireland – Open Doors

A few days ago, I saw a meme floating around Facebook that said that according to Irish tradition, you open your door at midnight. Upon further investigating, there’s actually much more to this tradition. You have to open your front door and your back door! Just before midnight, you open your back door to let the “Olde year out.” Then, you open the front door to let the “new year in.” While doing this, you would also greet your neighbors (since they have their doors open too) and wish them a happy new year! I have a feeling people are going to open every door and cupboard in their house to show 2020 its way out.

Ecuador – Scarecrow Burning

I read this and immediately yelled, “YAS!” Basically, to banish anything bad like unfortunate events, bad luck, ill-fortunes, etc. Ecuadorians fill scarecrows with paper and light them on fire at midnight. But these scarecrows don’t just look like scarecrows. They can look like effigies of pop culture figures, politicians, and other icons of the year. You could say they are burning all of the bad stuff from the year and cleansing it so they can start the new year anew. For extra bonus points, you can jump through the flames 12 times. I also read that men will dress in drag as the widows of the burnt effigies and ask for small change. Something tells me Ecuador will have a LOT to light on fire for 2020.

Chile – Party with the Dead

In Chile, a small town called Talca celebrates the end of the year with the dead. Meaning, they have a cemetery sleepover. It’s customary to spend the night in a cemetery during the last night of the year. It is believed that the spirits of lost loved ones are waiting for their living relatives and ready to spend time with them.

Japan – 108 Rings

If you think the traditional New Year’s Eve countdown from ten is too much, imagine counting from 108! Before the stroke of midnight, Buddhist temples will ring their bells 107 times, and then ring once more when it’s midnight. This tradition is called joyanokane. It is believed that the ringing of these bells will cleanse us from the impurities and sins from the previous year. Why 108? According to Buddhist and Japanese traditions, there are 108 evil passions that all human beings possess. Japanese folks will also enjoy a dish of toshikoshi soba noodles that are said to bring good luck and wish for long life.

Cuba – Tossing Buckets of Water

If you’re looking for a way to get rid of all that negative energy from the year, then this next one might be the answer to your prayer. In Cuba, it is customary to throw out buckets of dirty water on New Year’s Eve. The dirty water represents bad omens and negativity, thus washing away bad energy. This is all for the sake of beginning the New Year with a fresh start.

Peru – Annual Fighting Festival

This tradition technically takes place on December 25th, but it is a tradition for the new year. Each December 25th, the Peruvian province of Chumbivilcas hosts a day of fist-fighting known as Takanakuy. There’s a sporting arena all set up for fistfights between children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly. Along with that, there’s music, food, drinking, celebrations, just like a holiday festival. The idea behind Takanakuy is to “put all grievances behind” before entering the New Year. This may have been used as a form of the justice system back in the day. Basically, it’s your chance to settle disputes or let out all your rage before the clock strikes midnight on January 1st. You can punch out your frustrations and start the new year with a clean slate.

Italy – Kissing Fest

In Venice, Italy, sharing a kiss with someone you love on New Year’s Eve in Piazza San Marco is tradition. In 2008, Venice hosted over 60,000 people in Piazza San Marco for the world’s largest “kiss in.” The event included concerts, fireworks, and even lessons on how to achieve the perfect kiss.

Scotland – First Footing

Scotland is very passionate about the New Year, also known as Hogmanay! The song we sing at the stroke of midnight, “Auld Lang Syne” comes from Scotland. The Scottish New Year’s tradition is believed to date back to the 8th or 9th century and brought about by none other than the Vikings. Before midnight on the night of the 31st, you had to have all of your ashes taken out, clean the house, and clear your debts before the bells toll midnight. Then there’s the tradition of “first foot” or “first footing”, meaning the first person to cross the threshold into your home after midnight. If it’s a dark-haired person with gifts like bread, coins, coal, etc. is good luck. Otherwise, a light-haired man was thought to be bad luck. I almost forgot to mention that Hogmanay also has fireball festivals to ring in the new year, which is pretty awesome.

Denmark – Breaking Plates

If you want to show your friend that you love them, smash all of your chipped plates on their front door. The more broken plates you have at your front door, the more good luck you’ll have for the upcoming year. You could say it’s like a big popularity contest with broken china.

Sources

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/new-years-effigies-ecuador

https://www.italymagazine.com/italy/life-style/venice-seals-romantic-reputation-new-years-mass-kiss

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-History-of-Hogmanay/

Takanakuy: Boiling Blood and Healing Wounds in Peru

https://www.uncover-romania.com/attractions/history-culture/traditions/new-year-traditions-in-romania/

New Year’s Traditions from Ireland

5 Christmas Ghost Stories to Make Your Holidays Spooky

Alex Matsuo1 Comment

It’s Christmas! After you’re done opening presents and enjoying a wonderful dinner, it’s time to sit down and enjoy a story. Keeping with tradition, what’s Christmas without a good ghost story session?

The Headless Horseman

via History Haunted

When I see anything to do with “Headless Horseman”, I’m immediately taken to Washington Irving’s story and images of Ichabod Crane. But this isn’t quite the same story, but it’s just as charming and spooky. Located in Suffolk, Roos Hall is reportedly one of the most haunted places in the United Kingdom. The hall dates back to the 16th century and has seen a lot of history in its time. With lots of history, come stories of ghosts and specters. Inside one of the cupboards, there are reports of the Devil’s cloven hoofprint.

There’s also a hanging tree rumored to be haunted. Also known as Nelson’s Tree, the tree was on a gibbet where multiple criminals were executed. Now to the Christmas ghost story. Every Christmas Eve, a headless horseman is seen galloping down the driveway. But that’s not all. He’s pulling a coach with four horses. The horseman and his crew rush silently towards the hall before disappearing. Why does this happen? It’s a mystery.

Brooklyn Doorbell Dasher

via The Bowery Boys

In December 1878 at 136 Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn, NY, Edward F. Smith was dealing with a strange occurrence. You can read the original story here if you have an account with the New York Times. A few weeks before Christmas, his doorbell rang. When he went to answer the door, no one was there. Sure, maybe this was a case of Edward being the victim of doorbell dash. But then the ringing happened again. Edward checked the door again…no one. The ringing continued throughout the night with the same result; no one was there. Then, the ringing escalated to banging. But no one was at the door. This continued nightly.

Edward enlisted the help of family and friends and stationed them throughout the house, trying to find the culprit. He even sprinkled ash and flour along with the doorway and the path leading up to the door. Nothing. He also called the cops, and detectives were sent to the house. The detectives were blown away by the occurrence and they came back with reinforcements the next night. That same night, a brick was thrown through the window. But again, no one was there. Even the cops stationed outside didn’t see anything. The house was also checked for wires and anything indicating fraud. Again…nothing.

Anne Boleyn

This may be one of the most heartbreaking holiday ghost sightings. We know Anne Boleyn as the second wife of Henry VIII. Even though Henry went through so much to divorce his first wife so he could marry Anne, he still had her beheaded after a whirlwind of wrong. Anne had a hard time in life, and she truly didn’t deserve what happened to her. She grew up at Hever Castle in Kent, UK, and it seems that where she was the happiest. According to legend, every Christmas Eve, the spirit of Anne Boleyn glides over the River Eden heading towards Hever Castle.

The Singing Spirit

May Yohé | Victoria & Albert Museum, Lafayette archive circa 1899

In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania there sits the Hotel Bethlehem. This is a location very familiar to paranormal investigators, as there are a number of reports of hauntings. One such story is that of May Yohé, a stage actress whose talents earned her critical acclaim around the world. She married a wealthy lord and she soon joined the British aristocracy. However, that wealthy lord went bankrupt. May’s life went down a terrible path. She eventually married an American soldier, but he too robbed her of her wealth. Throughout her life, May said that she spent some of the best days of her life in Bethlehem. Visitors at the Hotel Bethlehem have reported seeing May Yohé’s spirit next to the Christmas tree. She’s in elegant attire and is sometimes heard singing songs next to the piano.

Brown Lady of Raynham Hall

via Wikimedia Commons | Public Domain

Most paranormal investigators and researchers are familiar with the famous photos of the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall. But what many don’t know is that the ghost story tied to this photo is actually a Christmas ghost story. In the 1700s, Charles Townsend married Dorothy Walpole. They lived in wedded bliss until Charles started becoming paranoid that Dorothy was cheating on him. Instead of sorting through it like a rational human, Charles locked Dorothy away in Raynham Hall. He actually told her friends and family that she had passed away. Dorothy lived the rest of her days in captivity and secrecy. All she could do is wander the halls of her home. Since then, a woman in a brown tattered dress is seen around the hall.

The first report of the Brown Lady was in 1835 by Lucia C. Stone during Christmas time. One of the reports even said that they saw a woman with a glowing face and empty sockets where her eyes should have been.

10 Reasons Why Christmas Is More Paranormal Than Halloween

Alex Matsuo

If you think that spooky season is over just because Halloween has passed, think again! December and Christmas have more than enough paranormal elements to make it just as spooky, if not MORE spooky, than Halloween. We all know by now that there are a lot of pagan elements integrated into Christmas traditions already. Sure, that’s creepy when you think about it. But there are so many other elements about Christmas that make it supernatural. Should spooky season continue into the holidays? YES!

1. Santa Claus

What being is more supernatural than Santa Claus? I’ve always wondered about Santa. Is he a magical human being? Or is he an elemental? The fact that Santa has the ability to stop space and time so that he can deliver presents to every child around the world is nothing short of impressive. But it’s also mildly terrifying. A being with that much power can certainly dismantle society and the human race as we know it. And yet, he chooses to deliver presents instead. How lucky are we?

2. Spooky Stories Were Told in Winter

Even back before Christmas was a thing, this time of year signaled the end of summer. Mother Earth literally goes to sleep. It’s a time where nature dies, so to speak. And what doesn’t die, goes to sleep. The days are shorter and the nights are longer. Plus, it’s cold outside. There’s snow. No one is traveling, let alone going outside to see friends after dark. So, people were inside their homes much more. Think of a crackling fire and flickering candlelight. It is the perfect setting for telling ghost stories. This was a thing for several centuries even after Christmas was introduced. Even Charles Dickens called Christmas Eve, “the witching hour for storytelling.” Sure, the tradition has died off a little, but it’s making a comeback.

3. Christmas Monsters

I recently covered ten of my favorite Christmas monsters in a recent blog. Seriously, what is more paranormal than monsters, witches, goblins, and more? We have Frau Perchta, Krampus, Gryla, and more! These monsters were mainly used as incentives to behave not only during the holidays but throughout the year. Most of these monsters would come out during the 12 Days of Christmas, which I’ll be covering later in this blog. But seriously, while Halloween has its plethora of traditional monsters, Christmas monsters might be a bit scarier!

4. Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice has both scientific and spiritual significance. It happens the instant the North Pole is aimed furthest away from the sun on the 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth’s axis. Also, this is the time that the sun shines directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. Usually, the Winter Solstice happens between December 20th and 23rd, but most celebrate it on December 21st. Spiritually, it’s a significant event for us because it signifies a shift around the world. It’s a time for rest and reflection as the Earth goes to sleep. It’s a time for personal growth and discovering yearnings within yourself.

5. Flying Reindeer

Flying. Reindeer. Let’s think about that! These reindeer pals of Santa Claus can not only fly, but they can move at super sonic speed around the world. Or, they aren’t affected by Santa freezing time and are able to trying. Either way, flying reindeer might be the most extraordinary cryptid out there. What gives them the ability to fly? Well, most people say it’s magic. But what if they were born with the ability to fly? And why reindeer? Couldn’t Santa’s sleigh be pulled by a legion of Mothman instead? Well, if you didn’t have nightmares before, that’s a doozy for you.

6. Frosty the Snowman

This is another element of Christmas that’s honestly quite terrifying when you think about it. Remember the movie, Jack Frost? Yes, a kids’ movie but also the producer of nightmares. Snowmen are inanimate objects. They aren’t supposed to come to life. That is unless you put a magic hat on it. I’ve always been fascinated by the Frosty lore because it does have significant paranormal ties. The first thing I think of is haunted objects. Could you give something a bit more life by manifesting it into reality?

7. Inhuman Entities

Inhuman doesn’t mean evil! Not to be redundant from the Christmas monsters topic, but can we talk about elves and fairies? Yes, these inhuman entities, or elementals, play a significant role during the holidays. Elves are working tirelessly in Santa’s workshop to make toys. Fairies are contributing their powers to make the season more magical. If you look up different Christmas lore, there are a ton of stories featuring inhuman entities. It’s pretty cool when you think about it. But what I find really funny is that during the rest of the year, these inhuman entities are evil and want to end us.

8. 12 Days of Christmas

We all know the famous song, but what are the 12 days of Christmas, really? Today, we know it as the time between the birth of Christ and the arrival of the Magi. But the 12 days of Christmas has several meanings to different cultures. You might notice in Christmas monster folklore that a lot of these creatures are rampant during the 12 days of Christmas. There’s a reason for this. During the olden days in some parts of the world, these dozen days were considered unholy. Therefore, these Christmas monsters had the ability to roam the Earth. In other folklore, like the Kallikantzaros, the sun stops moving. So, it seems like the 12 Days of Christmas are a holiday version of The Purge for monsters.

9. Magic

Magic is everywhere during the holidays. It’s in movies, songs, and cards. We hear “Christmas magic,” “holiday magic”, “magic of Santa Claus”, the list goes on. Why is Christmas magic more acceptable during the month of December but not for the rest of the year? I may or may not be looking at a certain religious group here. Perhaps it’s not really magic coming into play, but everyone falling for the commercialization of Christmas? I just find it ironic. It seems the holidays are a time where people are less afraid of the occult.

10. Ghosts & Spirits

Besides ghost stories being an old holiday tradition, did you know that more hauntings are reported during the holidays? Well, there hasn’t been an official study on this yet. But there should be! I can only speak for myself and my team about it. We usually get a spike in requests around the holidays. I have a theory. I urge you to take it with a grain of salt, as it is just a thought. With Winter Solstice around this time, plus, the holidays being a time for family, I think spirits want to come back and spend the holidays with their living relatives.

Sources:

https://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/history/elves.htm

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/dec/22/how-ghost-stories-have-shaped-my-life

https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/holidays/articles/its-a-paranormal-christmas

https://exploredeeply.com/live-your-purpose/winter-solstice-spiritual-meaning

History of the Tradition of Elves

10 Christmas Monsters to Make Your Christmas Spookier

Alex Matsuo1 Comment

When we think of Christmas, images of lights, Christmas trees, cookies, presents, snow, and Santa Claus flood the mind. We think of the holidays as the “most wonderful time of the year.” Rarely do we think of spooky things. Thanks to the Puritans and Halloween, scary entities like ghosts and monsters are typically kept to the fall. But, in parts of Europe, Christmas monsters are not only an integral part of the holidays, they play a starring role.

The holiday season in Europe, not only includes Christmas, but also the 12 Days of Christmas. They are seen as the 12 days between the birth of Christ and the arrival of the Magi.

In some parts of the world, the 12 days of Christmas were seen as unholy days. This would be when Christmas monsters would be able to come out back in the olden days.

Let’s take a look at ten Christmas monsters to make your Christmas more spooky!

The Kallikantzaros

The Kallikantzaros are from Southeastern European and Anatolian folklore. Their lore is so interesting! Throughout the year, the Kallikantzaroi spend their days trying to cut down the World Tree in the underworld. They use this big saw and work together nonstop. But then, during the 12 Days of Christmas, or when the sun stops moving, the Kallikantzaroi come to the Earth’s surface. While here, they wreak havoc on sinners! They are even known to sit on the door frames outside brothels and attack sinners as they leave. By the time they return to the underworld, the World Tree healed itself. Thus, the Kallikantzaroi start all over trying to cut down the World Tree.

Krampus

As mentioned in this video, Krampus was my gateway Christmas monster. The day before St. Nicholas Day, Krampus and St. Nick go to houses and give away presents or punishment. St. Nicholas will reward the good children with presents. Krampus will “reward” the naughty children in the most terrifying way. He will beat them with birch sticks, put them in a basket, and take them to hell. If you look at the Germanic lore of Krampus, he will actually EAT the naughty children. This seems to be more effective than Elf on the Shelf, right?

Lussi

Lussi is from Norway and Sweden, and she’s another one you don’t want to mess with. Today, Lussi is portrayed as a beautiful woman in a white sash, and St. Lucia’s Day is on December 13th. St. Lucia is seen as angelic, and pleasant. But just a few centuries earlier, Lucia was known as Lussi, and she wasn’t quite so nice. Back then, Lussi is portrayed as a hideous demon who travels by broomstick with her legion of demons, trolls, and other evil spirits. If you aren’t tucked safely into bed, Lussi and her crew would kidnap or kill you!

Frau Perchta

While Krampus was my first love, Frau Perchta is my current love. To be honest, she makes Krampus seem a bit soft. Frau Perchta is the upholder of cultural taboos, especially when it comes to spinning and weaving. You should have your spinning done by Christmas. Plus, eat fish and gruel on Frau Perchta‘s feast day. If you haven’t finished your spinning, or abide by Frau Perchta’s feast day, there’s hell to pay. During the 12 Days of Christmas, she roams the countryside going into homes. She will know immediately if you’re naughty or nice, finished spinning, and ate fish and gruel. If you’re nice, you get a coin. If you’re naughty, she will slit your belly open, take out your insides, and stuff you with garbage and straw.

Straggele

The Straggele are the helpers of Frau Perchta in Switzerland. That’s right, she has groupies! The Straggele are a band of demons that help Frau Perchta during the 12 Days of Christmas. They love feasting on leftovers during this time. If you don’t leave out your leftovers, then they go for something much more succulent; your wallet and your children. According to lore, they will rip your children to pieces. In some variations, they will just rob the kids. In others, they throw the kids in the air while ripping them apart. #FeedtheStraggele

Grýla

If Frau Perchta is my first love, Grýla is a close second. She is a giantess from Icelandic folklore, and she can really scare some kids into behaving! Each Christmas, Grýla comes from her cave in the volcanic mountains, and she will take all of the naughty children in town and puts them in the bag. She will carry all the naughty kids back to her cave. Then, she boils them alive and eats them! The Icelandic government ended up banning the use of Grýla to get kids to behave. She’s also the mother of the Yule Lads, who you will meet next!

The Yule Lads

via Artic Portal

The Yule Lads are a band of brothers you don’t want to mess with. These thirteen brothers wreak havoc in the nearby village. They come to town one by one, visiting kids during the thirteen days before Christmas. Children leave their shoes out on window sills and each Yule Lad will leave a present in their shoe. If the kid is naughty, they will get a potato. The Yule Lads will also cause chaos based on the name. For example, Spoon Licker will lick spoons. Window Peeper will peep into widows and steal stuff inside. Sausage Swiper steals sausages.

Jólakötturinn

via Iceland Review

Also known as the Yule Cat, Jólakötturinn is Grýla’s house cat. Remember, Grýla is a giantess, which means that Jólakötturinn is a giant cat! It is a black cat that prowls the countryside on Christmas Eve that eats anyone who isn’t wearing at least one new piece of clothing. If you’ve ever wondered where the tradition of Christmas jammies and Christmas socks came from, this might be connected. The oldest written account dates back to the 18th century and may have been used to motivate people to finish their chores by Christmas. Why? The reward was for new clothes.

Belsnickel

via DenofGeek

You might know who Belsnickel is if you’ve watched The Office. Belsnickel has many of the same characteristics as Krampus, but he’s not as scary. He’s a crotchety old-man dressed in fur who works alongside Saint Nicholas. He will bring presents for good children and whipping naughty children. He may be based on Knecht Ruprecht. What’s interesting is that he has also been known to wear a mask with a long tongue, which sounds like Krampus.

Mari Lwyd

Mari Lwyd is a delightful custom in South Wales. To put it very simply, Mari Lwyd is a Christmas zombie horse that wants to eat and drink everything in your house. As you can see in the picture, dressing up as Mari Lwyd involves a horse’s skull on a pole while the person is hiding under a cloth. During Christmas, Mari Lwyd stands outside your door and sings songs to get inside. The person living inside has to respond with their own song. This back and forth of singing continues until someone relents. If it’s the homeowner, Mari Lwyd gets to raid their pantry and drink all of their beer.

Why Did We Stop Telling Ghost Stories at Christmas Time?

Alex Matsuo1 Comment

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Today, we don’t associate Christmas with the paranormal. Let alone see it as a time for ghost stories. Those traditions are for Halloween, right? Well, that’s not how it used to be. It’s oddly delightful that the most famous Christmas story of our time is also a ghost story. For hundreds of years, telling ghost stories on Christmas was a tradition. Some believe that the tradition pre-dates Christmas itself.

The History of Christmas Ghost Stories

Wait, so how in the world did ghost stories make it into Christmas tradition in the first place? This goes back to ancient times back to the pagan roots of Yuletide.

When winter came around, the nights got longer. People spent a lot of time indoors together and telling ghost stories was a popular past time. It makes perfect sense when you think about it. Winter was considered a time when Mother Nature was sleeping and everything is “dead”, so to speak. The Earth is going through its process of rebirth during the Wintertime. From a psychological standpoint, people start thinking about death and lost friends and loved ones during the darkest time of the year. Since we’re stuck inside, we have a lot more time to reflect.

Also, it helps that the candlelight created spooky shadows in the darkness. Let’s not forget that the Victorians had an obsession with death as well!

Before Christmas, Winter Solstice and Yule were celebrated. During this time of year, folks considered the veil to be thinner. This means that ghosts have better access to the world of the living. Even during medieval times, Christmas and Yule were a time for telling ghost stories.

Cancel Christmas

The Puritans wanted Christmas out of the holiday narrative. It was a time of debauchery and other sinful activities with lots of indulgences. We’re talking about food, drink, and physical activities. The Puritans wanted it gone, no exceptions. In the mid-17th century, Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell admonished Christmas. He said this based on the argument that the Bible doesn’t condone it. He also included that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th. Well, he isn’t wrong. Christmas was put on December 25th to appease those celebrating Yule and Winter Solstice.

Before Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843, he wrote several other Christmas ghost stories. If you look them up, their plots and themes were eerily similar. They all include a man who despises the holidays, and they change by the end of the story.

Christmas in Dickens’ time was unimportant. People rarely took the day off. The Industrial Revolution had a lot to do with that. However, when A Christmas Carol was published, Britain commercialized Christmas. It resembles the holiday we celebrate today. Dickens certainly had a hand in that.

The Decline of Christmas Eve Ghost Stories

Dickens eventually stopped writing Christmas ghost stories, and that contributed to its downfall. In fact, Dickens thought that he killed Christmas and that its ghost was haunting him. You could argue that Dickens was responsible for the sentimental value of Christmas we have today.

The commercialized Christmas we celebrate today in the United States is based on Victorian customs. Christmas cards, Christmas trees, stocking stuffers, caroling…that’s all Victorian England. Of course, their roots being from pagan customs. But, one tradition didn’t come over; ghost stories on Christmas Eve. Today, we get ready for Santa on Christmas Eve instead of gathering around the fireplace telling spooky stories.

When Dickens took a step back from writing Christmas ghost stories, other authors tried to fill in the void. But they didn’t have that panache that Dickens possessed. Those ghost stories didn’t take off like A Christmas Carol.

Why Didn’t This Tradition Come to the United States?

Today, ghosts and ghost stories stay in the month of October. Well, at least traditionally. We don’t see ghosts and spooky decor during November and December. Since some of America’s earliest long-term settlers were Puritans, it’s not shocking that Christmas ghost stories didn’t become popular.

Granted, America had Washington Irving and Edgar Allan Poe. However, their stories are rarely associated with winter, let alone Christmas. Irving tried though. He’s responsible for creating our modern depiction of Santa Claus.

Another piece of this puzzle is the immigration of Irish and Scottish immigrants to America. What exactly did they bring? Well, Halloween.

It is a weird blend of Irish and Catholic traditions with Samhain and All Souls’ Day merged. For years, Halloween was a holiday for the Scots. They actually tried their hardest to disassociate Halloween from ghosts and make it more about Scottish tradition. It didn’t catch on. As we know today, their attempt was unsuccessful. Ghosts and all things spooky eventually transferred to the famous fall holiday.

Popular Christmas Ghost Stories

Did you know that The Turn of the Screw was a Christmas ghost story? Yes, the same Turn of the Screw that Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor is based on. The book by Henry James opens with a group of men telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve.

Another Fun Fact: Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven takes place in December. It’s a Christmas ghost story!

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
‘Tis some visitor,’ I muttered, ‘tapping at my chamber door –
Only this and nothing more.’

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.”

Excerpt from The Raven, 1845

One of the latest pieces of evidence of Christmas ghost stories came from 1915. Since then, it seems the ghosts and spooks of the winter went to Halloween for good.

So, who do we blame? The Puritans and Halloween.

Sources

https://www.deseret.com/2010/12/23/20367942/telling-ghost-stories-is-a-lost-tradition-on-christmas-eve#kelsey-grammer-as-ebenezer-scrooge-and-geraldine-chaplin-as-the-ghost-of-christmas-future-in-a-musical-version-of-a-christmas-carol-in-the-books-introduction-charles-dickens-himself-calls-it-a-ghostly-little-story

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/plea-resurrect-christmas-tradition-telling-ghost-stories-180967553/#:~:text=Dickens%20discontinued%20the%20Christmas%20publications,of%20its%20own%2C%20and%20other

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-ghost-stories-go-christmas-180961547/

https://historydaily.org/christmas-ghost-stories

People Used To Tell Ghost Stories At Christmastime
Why the Heck Does That Christmas Song Talk About Telling Ghost Stories?

Slenderman: The Internet’s Darkest Urban Legend and Its Chilling Legacy

Alex Matsuo

In 2009, Slenderman was born from a simple Photoshop contest. But within a few years, this internet creation would inspire terrifying real-life acts, leaving behind a trail of fear and fascination. What makes this modern myth so dangerous?

Don’t go into the woods at night. 

Actually, don’t even look at the woods. 

Slenderman just might be there waiting for you behind the trees…waiting to take you away into oblivion.

When it comes to myths and legends, Slenderman is a modern-day urban legend. Bloody Mary, the Woman in White, The Man with the Hook, Crybaby Bridge are all urban legends that are made of nightmares. Slenderman has good company. He has even made an appearance in media and art, If you play Minecraft, you might be familiar with the Enderman characters, which are long, tall, block characters. People assume Slenderman was their inspiration because of how they look. 

Even though he’s fictional, the stories about him are so realistic that many think he’s a god. Slenderman has even become one of the most popular characters for Halloween. In 2018, the movie, “Slender Man” came out. A documentary was created in 2016 called, “Beware the Slenderman”. Movies and documentaries have been made with Slenderman in the starring role. Throughout this time, Slenderman has truly garnered a cult following.

In order to fully understand the Slenderman legend, we have to understand exactly where it all started. 

From Art to Reality

Slenderman is a modern urban legend that has been creeping us all out since 2009. He became popular on the online forum, Something Awful. The original artist’s name is Eric Knudson, who created Slenderman while competing in an online contest. The contest was issued by Something Awful. The rules were that participants had to create a photo that looked paranormal. Participants had to use an average, everyday photo. Using the pen name Victor Surge, Eric took two black and white photos of children and inserted Slenderman into the background. From there, a legend was born.

The Great Creator

via fandom.com

Eric Knudsen is a pretty normal guy. He lives with his wife in Florida and he’s a family man. He found inspiration from HP Lovecraft and Stephen King while creating Slenderman.

Slenderman’s tall, thin, faceless look came from by “The Mist”, written by Stephen King. There are tentacles that sprout out of Slenderman’s back, he is known to stalk the woods at night, and he can cause amnesia. What is even more interesting is that it seems that Knudsen just planted the seed and then left the story up for others to adapt as they saw fit. 

He hasn’t been involved much when it comes to the art and video game incarnations of his creepy character. Why? He says he’s too busy with real-life stuff. It’s also possible that the crimes that were inspired by Slenderman might have made Eric want to stay behind the scenes and to back off his involvement with the character.

It can be said that because Slenderman really has no official creator, he doesn’t have an official canon. There are hundreds of people who have written their own stories about Slenderman. You could say that his story is still being written as we speak. Parsec Productions created their own version of Slenderman for a video game where it plays a starring role.

Is There a Chance Slenderman Could Be Real?

Of course, Slenderman is fiction, right? And there is no way that he could ever be real. Well, that’s what we think.

But, there is also a theory that one can manifest an entity if enough brain power is engaged. Don’t believe us? Let us tell you about the Philip Experiment. In the 1970’s in Canada, a group of people managed to create their own ghost with his own back story and everything. Philip was able to think for himself and had his own free will. Philip became so strong that he was able to move tables around the room and eventually outgrew his creators. This has also been a practice for centuries by Buddhist monks, where they create entities called “tulpas.”

Could something like this happen with Slenderman? If enough people around the world have a specific image in mind, and they treat him like an existing being, they could very well bring him into this world.

Inspiring Crimes

via ABC News

While Slenderman is fictional, he has inspired not only art, comics, and movies, but also some real-life horror stories that have ruined many lives. Let’s just say we need to teach our children the difference between reality and pretend.

Crime #1

Two girls by the name of Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser thought Slenderman was real. They truly wanted to be his followers, like Slenderman was some sort of deity. The girls were just twelve years old at the time. Anissa and Morgan believed that they had to become servants of Slenderman, and had to appease him to protect their families. So they decided to attack their young friend, Payton Leutner. They stabbed her 19 times and left her severely wounded in the forest. Luckily, Peyton survived the attack.

Police arrested Anissa and Morgan, and they were put on trial. Morgan was sentenced to 40 years in a psychiatric facility. Anissa was sentenced to 25 years. Morgan was the one who allegedly did most of the dirty work while Annisa looked on, which is why she received a more severe punishment. Both girls were clearly mentally ill.

Crime #2

In the same year that Anissa and Morgan committed their crime, a thirteen-year-old Ohio girl also attacked her mother with a knife. According to the mother, her daughter was waiting for her in the kitchen with the knife. She was wearing a white mask. During the incident, the mother thought her daughter was acting like a completely different person. Luckily, mom survived the attack with minor injuries. The girl obsessed over Slenderman and even created a whole world for him in the video game Minecraft. She was tried as a juvenile and confessed that she had attacked her mom in an attempt to please Slenderman.

Crime #3

In 2014, a fourteen-year-old girl was inspired to set her house on fire. Yep. Slenderman inspired her to burn her house down. While the home was destroyed, the family survived.

In Conclusion

Slenderman is nothing more than a creative entity created by the human mind. Had Eric Knudson lived centuries ago and came up with this idea, there’s a good chance that Slenderman would have become a mainstream legend. Considering he has inspired crimes and heinous acts, maybe it’s better that we’ve only all become acquainted with Slenderman today and not decades ago.

All it takes is for a seed of inspiration to be planted, and the story will grow by itself. Slenderman was truly a collaborative effort from thousands, if not millions of people. 

Whether you believe Slenderman to be pure fiction, or if you believe in the possibility that he could manifest thanks to the power of the mind, let’s hope it stays in a fictional place. It seems that once Slenderman crosses over to the real world, that is when true chaos ensues. 

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27776894

The Story Of Slenderman, The Internet’s Own Monster

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/06/03/the-complete-terrifying-history-of-slender-man-the-internet-meme-that-compelled-two-12-year-olds-to-stab-their-friend/

The Fascinating Legend of the Werewolf

Alex Matsuo

When looking at the history of mankind, we’ve evolved. Our beliefs, how we work, and how we act in the world has greatly changed. Many of the myths and lore that terrified us in ancient times have since been explained by science and reason. Yet, there are a few legends that have remained steadfastly. They are constantly present in our society, and keep us completely fascinated.

One such legend is that of the werewolf. For example, take a look at how many books and movies have been inspired by the werewolf lore. While mainly a plot device for fiction, there was a time when werewolves were very much believed to be real. And it affected how people lived their lives and what they believed in.

Today, the movie “I Am Lisa” comes out, and it had me thinking about how werewolf lore is sill dominant in our society to this day. Let’s take a look!

What is a Werewolf?

According to most legends, werewolves are people who transform into vicious and powerful wolves. They usually transform on the night of a full moon. Today, we know that these creatures are mythological. But for a time in human history, they were very much thought to be real. With any legend, there are variations. There are accounts that believe that werewolves could be a mutant variation of a human and wolf. Either way, werewolves are very much feared to this day and are one of the most popular plot devices in books and movies.

Where Did the Legend Come From?

Many believe that the legend of the werewolf may have come to fruition as early as 1800 BCE in “The Epic of Gilgamesh.” In the poem, Gilgamesh rejects a potential lover. Why? She had turned her previous partner into a wolf. That’s a mood killer. But it’s not clear whether or not she turned the poor man into a werewolf, or just a wolf. Yet, it’s been used to support the ancient origins of the legend.

“The Epic of Gilgamesh” isn’t the only place where you can find supposed werewolf lore. Greek mythology has its share as well. Let’s take a look at Lycaon. Zeus gets angry after Lycaon serves him the remains of a boy that was sacrificed. For his punishment, Zeus turned Lycaon and his sons into wolves. You may have noticed that the name Lycaon is awfully similar to “lycan.” We’ll get into that in a moment.

Another early werewolf legend is written by Petronius. Satyricon was written around 62-63 CE, and depicts the story of a werewolf or shapeshifter that takes the form of a wolf.

In Saga of the Volsungs, a father and son find wolf pelts that possess the power to turn people into wolves for ten days. The father and son go on a killing rampage. However, the father mortally wounds his son. But don’t worry, the son makes a full recovery after a raven gives the father a leaf with healing powers.

Is There a Difference Between a Werewolf and a Lycan?

This is one of those questions that is discussed a lot in the world of the paranormal, anthropology, horror enthusiasts, the list goes on. There are consistent similarities. For example, both werewolves and lycans become so when they’re bit. They both possess supernatural strength and expert tracking abilities.

The main difference is that a werewolf’s transformation happens during the full moon, and they have no control over the process. A lycan’s transformation occurs anytime and can be triggered by emotions or simply willing it to happen. So, it seems like the lycan has more control over whether or no it transforms.

Also, a werewolf looks like a bigger version of a wolf, while a lycan looks more like a wolf humanoid-type creature. Lycans are also said to be smarter than werewolves. Given that lycans seem to have more control in their process, they seem to be more conscious of their humanity than the werewolf.

While silver can kill a werewolf, a lycan has to be decapitated. This means that lycans can be much more difficult to kill. Silver can slow down a lycan and wound it, but it won’t kill it.

Real-Life Werewolves

There are folks out there today who do believe that they are werewolves and/or possess lycanthropic powers. This, of course, can be explained by means of mental illness. Accounts of these cases could very well explain why there are so many werewolf legends in the sixteenth-century. But most of the “werewolves” during this time were actually serial killers.

Werewolves continue to play a large role in who we are as a society. Because we have science and the medical field to explain things that people didn’t know about centuries ago, we can simply just enjoy the legend for what it is.

What is your favorite werewolf movie? Why do you think there is still so much interest in werewolves today? Let me know in the comments!

Sources

https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-the-werewolf-legend

https://www.livescience.com/24412-werewolves.html

Lesser-known Lore of Werewolves

https://mythology.wikia.org/wiki/Werewolf

https://aminoapps.com/c/virtual-space/page/blog/the-difference-between-lycans-and-werewolves/rkIe_ulal0eErpDp1xPWxENwJzXq3

https://www.lorepodcast.com/episodes/3

https://www.lorepodcast.com/episodes/71