The Snallygaster is a mythical dragon-like beast said to inhabit the Blue Ridge Mountains near Braddock Heights, Maryland.
Etymology
Snallygaster is from the German, Schneller Geist meaning "quick spirit".
Descriptions
The Snallygaster was described as half-reptile, half-bird with a metallic beak lined with razor-sharp teeth, occasionally with octopus-like tentacles.
Behavior
The Snallygaster swoops silently from the sky to pick up and carry off its victims. The earliest stories claim that this monster sucked the blood of its victims. Seven-pointed stars, which reputedly kept the snallygaster at bay, can still be seen painted on local barns.
Sightings
The Blue Ridge Mountains area was settled by German immigrants beginning in the 1730s. Early accounts describe the community being terrorized by a monster called a Schneller Geist, meaning "quick spirit" in German.
It has been suggested the legend was resurrected in the 19th century to frighten freed slaves.
In February and March 1909, newspaper accounts describe encounters between local residents and a beast with "enormous wings, a long pointed bill, claws like steel hooks, and an eye in the center of its forehead." It was described as making screeches "like a locomotive whistle." A great deal of publicity surrounded this string of appearances, with the Smithsonian Institution offering a reward for the hide. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt reportedly considered postponing an African safari to personally hunt the beast.
References
The Valley Register, February 12—March 5, 1909.
Hooper, Anne B. (1974). Braddock Heights: A Glance Backward. Great Southern Printing Co. p. 71-72. ASIN: B0006CEDUA.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Encantado (South America)
Encantado is a word in Portuguese roughly translating as "enchanted one", and is also a commonly used greeting in Spanish meaning "enchanted", as in "enchanted to meet you". The Brazilian term is used for creatures who come from a paradisiacal underwater realm called the Encante. It may refer to spirit beings or shapeshifting snakes, but most often it designates dolphins with the ability to turn into humans. Although belief in them is starting to wane, there are still plenty of South Americans who believe in their existence ardently, and claim to have seen and interacted with them, or even that they are related to them. They share the most of the same themes and features as the fairies of European folklore.
Most commonly, the stories involve a type of freshwater dolphin which lives in the Amazon River called the Boto. It is larger and more primitive-looking than the other type of Amazon dolphin, the Tucuxi. The stories also involve snakes, whose kinds can vary from the common type to coral snakes.
Characteristics
There are three elements that best characterize encantados: superior musical ability, their seductiveness and love of sex (often resulting in illegitimate children), and their attraction to parties. Despite the fact that the Encante where they come from is supposed to be a utopia full of wealth and without pain or death, the encantados crave the pleasures and hardships of the human world.
Transformation into human form seems to be rare, and usually occurs at night. The encantado will often be seen running from a festa, despite protests from the others for it to stay, and can be seen by pursuers as it hurries to the river and reverts back to dolphin form. When it is under human form, it wears a hat to hide its prominent forehead, that does not disappear with the shapeshift.
Besides the ability to shapeshift into human form, encantados frequently wield other magical abilities, such as the power to control storms, "enchant" or haunt humans into doing their will or becoming encantados themselves, and inflict illness, insanity, and even death. Shamans and holy men are often needed to intervene and ameliorate the situation, but sometimes the spell is so great that it can not be completely cured.
Folklore
Kidnapping is also a common theme in such folklore. Encantados are said to be fond of abducting humans they fall in love with, children born of their illicit love affairs, or just anyone near the river who can keep them company, and taking them back to the Encante. The fear of this is so great for many people who live across the Amazon rivers area that many of them, children and adults alike, are terrified of going near the water in certain hours like 6 PM or basically alone. Some who have encountered encantados out in canoes have been said to have gone insane, although the creatures seem to have done little more than follow their boats and nudge them from time to time.
References
Hall, Jamie. "Enchanted Dolphins." Half Human, Half Animal: Tales of Werewolves and Related Creatures. Bloomington, IN: 1st Books, 2003, 55-88. ISBN 1-4107-5809-5
Monteiro, Walcyr. "Visagens, Assombrações e Encantamentos da Amazônia."
Most commonly, the stories involve a type of freshwater dolphin which lives in the Amazon River called the Boto. It is larger and more primitive-looking than the other type of Amazon dolphin, the Tucuxi. The stories also involve snakes, whose kinds can vary from the common type to coral snakes.
Characteristics
There are three elements that best characterize encantados: superior musical ability, their seductiveness and love of sex (often resulting in illegitimate children), and their attraction to parties. Despite the fact that the Encante where they come from is supposed to be a utopia full of wealth and without pain or death, the encantados crave the pleasures and hardships of the human world.
Transformation into human form seems to be rare, and usually occurs at night. The encantado will often be seen running from a festa, despite protests from the others for it to stay, and can be seen by pursuers as it hurries to the river and reverts back to dolphin form. When it is under human form, it wears a hat to hide its prominent forehead, that does not disappear with the shapeshift.
Besides the ability to shapeshift into human form, encantados frequently wield other magical abilities, such as the power to control storms, "enchant" or haunt humans into doing their will or becoming encantados themselves, and inflict illness, insanity, and even death. Shamans and holy men are often needed to intervene and ameliorate the situation, but sometimes the spell is so great that it can not be completely cured.
Folklore
Kidnapping is also a common theme in such folklore. Encantados are said to be fond of abducting humans they fall in love with, children born of their illicit love affairs, or just anyone near the river who can keep them company, and taking them back to the Encante. The fear of this is so great for many people who live across the Amazon rivers area that many of them, children and adults alike, are terrified of going near the water in certain hours like 6 PM or basically alone. Some who have encountered encantados out in canoes have been said to have gone insane, although the creatures seem to have done little more than follow their boats and nudge them from time to time.
References
Hall, Jamie. "Enchanted Dolphins." Half Human, Half Animal: Tales of Werewolves and Related Creatures. Bloomington, IN: 1st Books, 2003, 55-88. ISBN 1-4107-5809-5
Monteiro, Walcyr. "Visagens, Assombrações e Encantamentos da Amazônia."
Curupira (Brazil)
The Curupira is a male supernatural being who guards the forest in Tupi mythology in Brazil.
He usually takes the form of a boy with (literally) flaming hair and green teeth. His most startling characteristic, however, is that his feet are turned to face backwards.
Its raison d'être is to protect the forest from the destructive habits of man. It happily tolerates those who hunt for food but is infuriated by those who hunt for the pleasure of it and will lay traps and confuse them so that they become eternally lost in the forest. His backward feet, for example, have the effect of confusing hunters who may try to follow his tracks.
The Curupira blends many features of West-African and European fairies but was usually regarded as a demonic figure.
He usually takes the form of a boy with (literally) flaming hair and green teeth. His most startling characteristic, however, is that his feet are turned to face backwards.
Its raison d'être is to protect the forest from the destructive habits of man. It happily tolerates those who hunt for food but is infuriated by those who hunt for the pleasure of it and will lay traps and confuse them so that they become eternally lost in the forest. His backward feet, for example, have the effect of confusing hunters who may try to follow his tracks.
The Curupira blends many features of West-African and European fairies but was usually regarded as a demonic figure.
Besta-Fera (Brazil)
Besta-Fera is a Brazilian version of a centaur. The name can be translated either as bestial beast or ferocious beast and is often employed in a figured sense to refer to anyone that is exceedingly angered.
According to legend, it is believed that it is the Devil who leaves hell during full-moon nights.
It has the body of a horse and a human torso. It runs through villages until it finds a tomb, where it disappears. The sound of its hooves is sufficient to terrorise people. A pack of dogs follow it; the Beast whips these, and any other animals it encounters.
According to legend, though terrible, it is not dangerous to people. The tradition says that when somebody sees its face, they go mad for several days, but then recover.
According to legend, it is believed that it is the Devil who leaves hell during full-moon nights.
It has the body of a horse and a human torso. It runs through villages until it finds a tomb, where it disappears. The sound of its hooves is sufficient to terrorise people. A pack of dogs follow it; the Beast whips these, and any other animals it encounters.
According to legend, though terrible, it is not dangerous to people. The tradition says that when somebody sees its face, they go mad for several days, but then recover.
The Demon Cat (Washington DC, USA)
The Demon Cat(DC) is a spectral animal that is said to haunt the United States Capitol of Washington D.C.
Story
During the 1800s, cats were kept as mousers in the Capitol building. Over the years, the cat population at the Capitol building dwindled to nothing except for the specter of one lone black cat which is said to have stayed. There are tiers of basements and sub-basements connected by tunnels under the Capitol building. The catafalque, a raised platform where caskets of those given state funerals are stored in the basement, is said to be the home of the demon cat known affectionately as DC.
Sightings
For over one hundred years, this cat has been sighted by capitol building guards and janitors. The demon cat waits to be seen until its victim is alone late at night. Members of the evening protection service shudder at the thought of seeing DC. The demon cat is said to walk towards its intended target, swell to the size of a panther, and roar and snarl at its victim. It often leaps with its claws extended and vanishes in midair. DC is not a frequent visitor to the capitol building.
Omen
Many are convinced that it is a warning of unpleasant events to come. It is said to show itself before great tragic events such as disasters and presidential assassinations. It also shows itself before changes in presidential administrations. The cat was supposedly seen before the assassinations of President Lincoln and Kennedy. It was also seen before the crash of 1929 which led to the great depression. DC may have been seen before the events of hurricane Katrina. Because those that see the apparition have to worry about keeping a security clearance, sightings of DC are not always well publicized to coworkers, the outside world, or at all. It is not said if DC has been noticed during the election of Obama and the big economic crisis.
References
Alexander, John. Washington's Most Famous Ghost Stories. (Arlington: Washington Book Trading Company, 1988)
Story
During the 1800s, cats were kept as mousers in the Capitol building. Over the years, the cat population at the Capitol building dwindled to nothing except for the specter of one lone black cat which is said to have stayed. There are tiers of basements and sub-basements connected by tunnels under the Capitol building. The catafalque, a raised platform where caskets of those given state funerals are stored in the basement, is said to be the home of the demon cat known affectionately as DC.
Sightings
For over one hundred years, this cat has been sighted by capitol building guards and janitors. The demon cat waits to be seen until its victim is alone late at night. Members of the evening protection service shudder at the thought of seeing DC. The demon cat is said to walk towards its intended target, swell to the size of a panther, and roar and snarl at its victim. It often leaps with its claws extended and vanishes in midair. DC is not a frequent visitor to the capitol building.
Omen
Many are convinced that it is a warning of unpleasant events to come. It is said to show itself before great tragic events such as disasters and presidential assassinations. It also shows itself before changes in presidential administrations. The cat was supposedly seen before the assassinations of President Lincoln and Kennedy. It was also seen before the crash of 1929 which led to the great depression. DC may have been seen before the events of hurricane Katrina. Because those that see the apparition have to worry about keeping a security clearance, sightings of DC are not always well publicized to coworkers, the outside world, or at all. It is not said if DC has been noticed during the election of Obama and the big economic crisis.
References
Alexander, John. Washington's Most Famous Ghost Stories. (Arlington: Washington Book Trading Company, 1988)
Bonhomme Sept-Heures (Quebec, Canada)
The Bonhomme sept-heures is a kind of bogey man in the folklore of Quebec (Canada)
Etymology
Bonhomme sept-heures means seven o’clock man and may have been taken from the English bone setter, an old name for a traveling medicine man. Another origin might be bomb setter, the person who was in charge to lighten the gas or oil lamps in Montreal in the XIXth century. He had to fulfill his duty before 7 o'clock. Both origins are contested as there are earlier forms of bogeymen (called Bonhomme Basse-Heure) with similar names in the folklore of France.
Description
The bonhomme sept-heures looks like an old man with a hat, a stick and a bag where he puts the naughty children or store sand that he would throw into children's eyes to blind them.
Behavior
The seven o’clock man steals children that he find alone on the street after 7 o'clock.
-taken from Monstropedia
Etymology
Bonhomme sept-heures means seven o’clock man and may have been taken from the English bone setter, an old name for a traveling medicine man. Another origin might be bomb setter, the person who was in charge to lighten the gas or oil lamps in Montreal in the XIXth century. He had to fulfill his duty before 7 o'clock. Both origins are contested as there are earlier forms of bogeymen (called Bonhomme Basse-Heure) with similar names in the folklore of France.
Description
The bonhomme sept-heures looks like an old man with a hat, a stick and a bag where he puts the naughty children or store sand that he would throw into children's eyes to blind them.
Behavior
The seven o’clock man steals children that he find alone on the street after 7 o'clock.
-taken from Monstropedia
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Bloody Bones (Southern United States)
"Bloody Bones is a boogeyman feared by children.
Origin
According to Scott Andrew Hutchins, Bloody Bones comes from Ireland and is sometimes called Rawhead and Bloody-Bones, Tommy Rawhead, or Rawhead. Though the stories originated in Ireland, they have spread through the UK and North America, and the stories maintain popularity in the American south.
Description
Hutchins quotes Georgess McHargue as saying that Bloody Bones "is rumored to have a crouching form like a rock. He is covered all over with matted hair, has pale flat eyes, and lives in dark cupboards,".
His appearance varies greatly depending on the telling. He is variously described as looking like:
A crouching, rock-like hairy creature
A gremlin with twisted flesh
A dog or old man covered in scabs
A burn victim, but with sharp claws and teeth
A giant razorback boar with missing pieces of flesh
A hairy creature with long fangs, a bushy tail, and razor claws
In some tellings, he can take any form he chooses
Behavior
Bloody-Bones is said to live near water (in older tellings) and under sink pipes (in newer tellings). Rawhead/Bloodybones rewards very good children, but will punish naughty children by dragging them down the drainpipes or into the water and drowning them. In addition to drowning naughty children, he is said to be able to turn them into objects such as pieces of trash or spots of jam, which are inadvertently cleaned-up and thrown out by unwitting parents.
Quote
The following rhyme originated in Yorkshire/Lancashire:
Rawhead and Bloody Bones
Steals naughty children from their homes,
Takes them to his dirty den,
And they are never seen again.
Art/Fiction
Bloody Bones is Monster in My Pocket #68.
Clive Barker's Rawhead Rex is derived from the mythological figure.
Rawhead-and-Bloody Bones is one of the main villainous figures in the Courtney Crumrin comics (and the only villain so far to live), presented as a nigh-unkillable being immune to all curses, who enjoys slaughter and whose lair contains the still-living skulls of his victims. He was summoned to do the dirty work of a warlock; Courtney Crumrin eventually retaliated by doing the same thing and having Rawhead kill him.
A version of Bloody Bones appears in the Anita Blake novel Bloody Bones.
Tommy Rawhead appears in the 2000AD comic strip London Falling by Simon Spurrier, appearing to be a bearded homeless man in London; when he takes his hat off, he is revealed as having no skin on his scalp (in effect, a raw head).
Rawhead and Bloodybones is described in a song of the same name on the Siouxsie and the Banshees album Peepshow (1988).
Here's Rawhead and Bloodybones Reaching from dark cupboard Crouching under stair, Lurking in chimney, Pond or well We're down here, Held here Dragged here And drowned here by Rawhead and Bloodybones.
In Supernatural episode 1.12 Faith, the monster Sam and Dean are fighting in the beginning is referred to as a Rawhead.
Rawhead and Bloodybones, as either one or two entities, appear in the novel The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding. He stalks his victims invisibly from behind. The victim is only vulnerable if they look over their shoulder three times.
Rawhead and Bloody Bones appears briefly in The Dresden Files comic book Welcome to the Jungle #1. It's described there as "something formed from the leftovers at a slaughterhouse" and resembles a flayed minotaur with lots of shark-like teeth.
Rawhead and Bloody Bones appears briefly at the end of the first comic book mini-series Courtney Crumrin & the Night Things by writer/illustrator Ted Naifeh."
~taken from Monstropedia
Origin
According to Scott Andrew Hutchins, Bloody Bones comes from Ireland and is sometimes called Rawhead and Bloody-Bones, Tommy Rawhead, or Rawhead. Though the stories originated in Ireland, they have spread through the UK and North America, and the stories maintain popularity in the American south.
Description
Hutchins quotes Georgess McHargue as saying that Bloody Bones "is rumored to have a crouching form like a rock. He is covered all over with matted hair, has pale flat eyes, and lives in dark cupboards,".
His appearance varies greatly depending on the telling. He is variously described as looking like:
A crouching, rock-like hairy creature
A gremlin with twisted flesh
A dog or old man covered in scabs
A burn victim, but with sharp claws and teeth
A giant razorback boar with missing pieces of flesh
A hairy creature with long fangs, a bushy tail, and razor claws
In some tellings, he can take any form he chooses
Behavior
Bloody-Bones is said to live near water (in older tellings) and under sink pipes (in newer tellings). Rawhead/Bloodybones rewards very good children, but will punish naughty children by dragging them down the drainpipes or into the water and drowning them. In addition to drowning naughty children, he is said to be able to turn them into objects such as pieces of trash or spots of jam, which are inadvertently cleaned-up and thrown out by unwitting parents.
Quote
The following rhyme originated in Yorkshire/Lancashire:
Rawhead and Bloody Bones
Steals naughty children from their homes,
Takes them to his dirty den,
And they are never seen again.
Art/Fiction
Bloody Bones is Monster in My Pocket #68.
Clive Barker's Rawhead Rex is derived from the mythological figure.
Rawhead-and-Bloody Bones is one of the main villainous figures in the Courtney Crumrin comics (and the only villain so far to live), presented as a nigh-unkillable being immune to all curses, who enjoys slaughter and whose lair contains the still-living skulls of his victims. He was summoned to do the dirty work of a warlock; Courtney Crumrin eventually retaliated by doing the same thing and having Rawhead kill him.
A version of Bloody Bones appears in the Anita Blake novel Bloody Bones.
Tommy Rawhead appears in the 2000AD comic strip London Falling by Simon Spurrier, appearing to be a bearded homeless man in London; when he takes his hat off, he is revealed as having no skin on his scalp (in effect, a raw head).
Rawhead and Bloodybones is described in a song of the same name on the Siouxsie and the Banshees album Peepshow (1988).
Here's Rawhead and Bloodybones Reaching from dark cupboard Crouching under stair, Lurking in chimney, Pond or well We're down here, Held here Dragged here And drowned here by Rawhead and Bloodybones.
In Supernatural episode 1.12 Faith, the monster Sam and Dean are fighting in the beginning is referred to as a Rawhead.
Rawhead and Bloodybones, as either one or two entities, appear in the novel The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding. He stalks his victims invisibly from behind. The victim is only vulnerable if they look over their shoulder three times.
Rawhead and Bloody Bones appears briefly in The Dresden Files comic book Welcome to the Jungle #1. It's described there as "something formed from the leftovers at a slaughterhouse" and resembles a flayed minotaur with lots of shark-like teeth.
Rawhead and Bloody Bones appears briefly at the end of the first comic book mini-series Courtney Crumrin & the Night Things by writer/illustrator Ted Naifeh."
~taken from Monstropedia
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