Photography by Racheal Lomas Have you ever wondered where the modern vampire first appeared within human history? Well, any documentation outside of ancient mythology came with historic value, from credible sources such as historian William of Newburgh. Due to his reputation as a noteworthy and careful historian, his History of English Affairs serves as one of the earliest … [Read more...] about From the Original Vampires to Modern Representations in Movies
folklore
The Tale of the Red Skeleton: A Yup’ik Ghost Story
Like many other folktales of the arctic region, Yup’ik folklore emphasized keeping children safe from the elements and the dangers of being alone and ill-prepared. This folktale is no different, but it definitely gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it over an early-winter bonfire. Photography by Jayberrytech A very long time ago, in the Cape Prince of Wales, in a … [Read more...] about The Tale of the Red Skeleton: A Yup’ik Ghost Story
Ghost Tales of the Arctic: Don’t Take What Belongs to the Dead
While attending college in the Interior of Alaska, at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, I was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Yup’ik—a Central Alaska Native language—on Halloween of my second year, my professor deemed it appropriate to tell us Alaska Native ghost stories. Hearing these stories in Yup’ik gave unique perspective on the particular experience of growing up in … [Read more...] about Ghost Tales of the Arctic: Don’t Take What Belongs to the Dead
Inuit Spirit of Death: The Keelut
What is the Keelut? Photography by Nick Bolton This creature is an Inuit legend, one who hunts people during the winter, but it's not actually a predator in the strictest sense--it's a spirit of the Netherworld. The Keelut (key-loot), also known as the Qiqirn (key-kern) is sometimes referenced as a spirit of death or an evil earth spirit. While it is actually a spirit, it … [Read more...] about Inuit Spirit of Death: The Keelut
Is the Adlet the Werewolf of the Far North?
What is the Adlet? Artwork by Mary Farnstrom Not a true werewolf—but they are the closest thing you’ll see to one in Inuit folklore. The Adlet (ah-dlit), also known as the Erqigdlet (urk-kig-dlit) in Greenland, is considered the arctic counterpart of the well-known werewolf and for good reason. Although they are not shapeshifters and the moon has no effect on them, their … [Read more...] about Is the Adlet the Werewolf of the Far North?