So you think you know enough spooky myths to freak out your friends this Halloween? Urban legends and bloodcurdling ghost stories are just what you need this time of year, but what truly sends a chill down the spine is a dose of haunting folklore passed through generations. From poltergeists lurking in graveyards to flesh-hungry cats and a murderous snow maiden, the myths and legends on this disturbing list will make your hair stand on end like never before.
1. The Mackenzie Poltergeist, Scotland.
In the shadowy darkness of The Black Mausoleum in Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Cemetery hides the ghost of Scottish lawyer Sir George Mackenzie. The violent punishments he bestowed on defendants in the 1670s earned him the nickname Bluidy Mackenzie, and to this day witnesses report finding unexplained burns and bruises on their skin after walking through the graveyard where his body lies. Described as ‘One of the most convincing supernatural cases of all time’ the poltergeist is also said to cause witnesses to collapse and dead animals are often found at the foot of Mackenzie’s dome-shaped tomb. It’s no wonder Edinburgh is considered one of the most haunted cities in Europe.
2. The Spectral Army of Souther Fell, England
On Midsummer’s Day 1945, more than twenty witnesses reported a mysterious sight. A long line of marching soldiers, cavalry and carriages was seen making its perilous way along the narrow ridge of Souther Fell, a path too dangerous for such a huge procession to traverse safely. The area was later searched, but no tracks or footprints could be found. Nor were there any military troops believed to be serving in the area at that time. The mysterious vision was never explained and to this day, visitors to England’s Lake District gaze in bafflement at the ledge where the phantom platoon is said to have marched and try to solve the puzzle of this peculiar mirage.
3. The Cat Sith, Scotland
For years, Scottish farmers have reported finding sheep with their throats ripped out; attacked in the night by an unidentified beast. Many witnesses also claim to have spotted shadowy feline shape, too distant to recognise for certain, but far too large to be a harmless household pet. Could these bloodthirsty killings and sightings of a catlike beast be linked? According to Celtic folklore, these attacks may be the work of the Scottish Cat Sith, a giant black cat with a ragged white chest, hell bent on stealing the souls of the dead before the Gods can claim them. The creature is said to stalk through graveyards across Scotland’s windswept highlands.
4. The Night Marchers of Honolulu, Hawaii
One of Hawaii’s spookiest ghost stories is the epic legend of the Honolulu Night Marchers. Witnesses have reported sitting innocently on the island’s shoreline at dusk, when they suddenly hear the bone-chilling rumble of drums. Though no earthly explanation for the thunderous sound has been offered, many believe it to be the rhythmic march of a band of undead Hawaiian warriors, making their ghostly way across the twilit beaches of Honolulu. Local legend has it that a parade of soldiers in ancient armour rises from the sea to pass across the island on certain nights of the year.
5. The Yuki Onna Snow Spirit, Niigata, Japan
Japan’s folklore is packed with perplexing myths of weird and wonderful creatures, and Yuki Onna, the soul-hungry snow spirit is no exception. The legend dates back thousands of years, with the original story describing a young woman who turned to icicles when she was made to bathe against her will. Another tale goes that an elderly couple welcomed a young girl in from the snow, only to find she had disappeared up the chimney in a swirl of ice. Believed to prowl the country’s Niigata region under the cover of snowfall, the pale-skinned young woman can be seen dressed in a white dress and cloak, hugging a small child. It’s believed she entices her victim to help her protect the child from the blizzard, before sucking his or her soul out through their mouth.
6. The Hawkesbury River Monster, New South Wales.
A distant cousin of the enigmatic serpent said to lurk in Scotland’s Loch Ness, the Hawkesbury River Monster is the name given to a mystery reptile spotted swimming in the depths of a river in New South Wales. Reports of long black fins and the long neck of a plesiosaur have led many to wonder if this legendary beast could actually be a surviving prehistoric monster. Families sailing on the river claim to have spotted a dark aquatic beast nearing the surface, its size and shape wildly different from any water creature we know to be present in the region’s waters.
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The Hawkesbury River Monster
