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Glossary of Supernatural CreaturesFor centuries people all over the world have believed in supernatural creatures such as ghosts, goblins, zombies and other frightening characters. Over time, these other-worldly beings have been captured in local folklore and the belief in them has kept many of these legends alive right up until modern day.
Now, to many of us in today's world, we know and understand that there are no "zombies" wandering around ready to eat our flesh or that a "troll" isn't going to stop you from crossing a bridge or that a "werewolf" is suddenly going to appear at your door during a full moon. However, there are still some countries where the belief in these supernatural creatures remains fairly strong. For those folks that are interested, the following glossary briefly explains who and what these creatures are according to various folklore legends and stories. And keep in mind... these other-world beings are also perfect choices as costume ideas for Halloween night. Who Are These Supernatural Creatures?AcheriAn Acheri is an Indian spirit or ghost. This ghost is believed to be in the form of a small Indian girl who comes down from mountains and hilltops bringing disease and illnesses to the people of the villages below. Children are especially vulnerable to this. Wearing a red ribbon around the neck is thought to give protection. Afrit An Afrit comes from Arabic mythology and are believed to a ghost-like form that embodies fire. In Muslim theology, they are the second most powerful of the five classes of Jinn that is mentioned in the Qur'an. Afrit's are also known by the following names: efreet, ifreet, afrit, afreet.
This sea sprite is known to help or hinder Cornish fishermen on the English coast. They have two forms in which they appear to be worshipped: Bucca Widn (White Bucca) and Bucca Dhu (Black Bucca). Bucca was also sometimes referred to as a tin mining spirit. Demon (Daemon) This is an evil spirit from the underworld that are considered supernatural beings between mortals and gods with the power to intervene in people's lives causing misfortune and havoc. They are believed to be able to seduce, afflict, or possess humans as well. Domovik This is a spirit of Russian mythology who lives either behind your stove or under the doorstep. He acts as a guardian or watchman for the home, however if you upset him in any way, he may decide to burn your house down. A good way to keep a Domovik happy is to always leave a snack in the fridge for him.
Originating from German folklore, the Kobold is a mischievous sprite that is usually invisible. However, it can materialize in the form of an animal, fire, an object or as a human being the size of a small child. They are known to play tricks, but to also bring good luck to a household provided the owners of the home take good care of them. Kobolds who are neglected, made fun of, or otherwise treated badly have been known to become quite malevolent and vengeful. Puca (Phooka) The Puca (also known as: also Pooka, Puka, Phouka, Púka, Pwca) comes from Irish and Welsh folklore and is said to be one of the fairy-folk who can shape-shift. Whatever animal form it takes (dog, goat, rabbit, etc.) it will almost always have dark fur. However, it most commonly takes the form of a sleek black horse with a flowing mane and glowing yellow eyes. Although a human would be in for a wild ride should it ever ride on the back of a Pooka, the sprite won't actually do the person any harm. In fact, it is said to have the ability to speak to humans, and legends tell of Puca's helping people by giving advice and leading them away from danger. Troll The troll comes from Norse mythology and is portrayed as a fiendish and fearsome giant living underground in hills, caves or mounds. They have large noses and ears, shaggy hair or fur, long arms, and basically have an unkempt appearance. The males are believed to have a very low intellect while the females are apparently quite cunning.
A zombie is a reanimated human corpse. A powerful Voodoo sorcerer is apparently able to accomplish this feat, according to Afro-Caribbean spiritual beliefs. The reanimated corpse is then used to perform evil deeds. This is still an accepted phenomenon among some of the Haitian populace, even today. |
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