One Halloween night, as the sun slipped beneath the horizon, the young children were coming back from their rounds through the little Yup'ik village on the tundra in Southwest Alaska. The teenagers had waited their turn and eagerly squeezed out of their home, as their mother told them they were allowed to leave. They raced through to each of the small houses that dotted the … [Read more...] about Ghost Tales of the Arctic: The Frozen Spectre
folktale
The Utterly Wicked Truths About “Dark” Magic
The occult, by definition, boils down to an involvement in the supernatural, mystical, or magical beliefs, practices, phenomena. In the sixteenth century, the term occult sciences was used to refer to astrology, alchemy, and natural magic. In the nineteenth century, occultism emerged in France and began to be associated with various esoteric groups therein connected to Éliphas … [Read more...] about The Utterly Wicked Truths About “Dark” Magic
Gretel & Hansel (2020), a Grimm Fairy Tale
Folklore has an extended history of portraying witches as evil, human-sacrificing, child-eating monsters--and for with all of the religious turmoil and economic insecurity that these stories sprang from it's no wonder. Hansel and Gretel are no different, in fact, it may be the most telling story of them all; for the real evil lies not within the woods, but in the home from … [Read more...] about Gretel & Hansel (2020), a Grimm Fairy Tale
From the Original Vampires to Modern Representations in Movies
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 records of vampire phenomena of … [Read more...] about From the Original Vampires to Modern Representations in Movies
Ghost Tales of the Arctic: The Red Skeleton
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. A very long time ago, in the Cape Prince of Wales, in a village off the shore, there … [Read more...] about Ghost Tales of the Arctic: The Red Skeleton