Topic
Europe
-
Kikimora
The kikimora is a female house spirit from Slavic tradition. She spins at night, breaks dishes, and sits on the chests of people while…
-
Selkie
Selkies are seals that shed their skins on land and live as humans. In tales from Scotland, Ireland and the Faroes, a man steals…
-
Wild Hunt
The Wild Hunt is a ghostly host that storms across the sky on winter nights. Depending on the region, it is led by Wotan,…
-
Krampus
Krampus, Knecht Ruprecht, Père Fouettard and Zwarte Piet are the dark companions of Saint Nicholas. While he hands out gifts, they threaten children who…
-
Funken Witch
At the Funken fires in Vorarlberg and other Alemannic areas, a witch effigy is burned each year atop a tall wooden tower. The fire…
-
Loch Ness Monster
Nessie is the world’s best-known lake monster. The modern legend began in Scotland in 1933, and its most famous photo was a hoax, yet…
-
Beast of Gévaudan
Between 1764 and 1767, an unknown animal killed about a hundred people in the Gévaudan region of southern France. Hunting it down became a…
-
Fairies
In European folklore, fairies stand between humans and spirits: they steal children, lure dancers into their ring and pair favors with danger. Cottingley photos…
-
Angels of Mons
In August 1914, angels or phantom archers were said to have protected British soldiers during the retreat from Mons. The legend began with a…
-
Witches’ Sabbath
The witches’ sabbath is the nighttime gathering with the Devil described by early modern judges and theologians. In Basque Zugarramurdi it led to history’s…