ANKOU (European)
Also known as “The Graveyard Watcher”, the Ankou is found all over Europe and is the spirit that guards cemeteries. The spirit originated from an ancient tradition that whenever a new cemetery was opened a selected victim would be buried alive to provide the place with a “ghostly guardian”. In Great Britain, the Ankou is said to be the origin of the phrase used by people whenever they are struck by an involuntary shiver, “Someone is walking over my grave.”
AUNGA (Malayan)
In Malaya it is believed that every human soul has two parts – and at death these break into two parts, the Aunga, or good ghost, and the Adaro, or evil ghost. According to tradition, the Aunga is immortal and will live on forever, watching over people, as long as it is treated with honour. The evil Adaro, however, can be dangerous but has only a limited time span and will eventually die.
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BAKA (Haitian)
The Baka is a cannibalistic spirit that rises from graveyards at night and preys on the living. Compared in some texts as being rather like a ghoul or zombie, the phantom is almost invisible and its teeth are more often sensed than felt. Legend has it that the Baka is the restless ghost of someone who belonged to a Haitian secret society, which initiates followers while they are alive into the way they must behave after death.
BANSHEE (Irish)
Many ancient Irish families claim to be haunted by the “Lady of Death” as the Banshee, or Bean Si, is known in the nation. The ghost appears at night just before a member of the family is about to die and wails and cries within view of the house. Legend states that the spirit is invariably female, can be young or old, with long hair, red eyes from crying and speaks in an unknown language. The Banshee may appear more than once before a family member dies. There are on record accounts of members of old Irish families dying thousands of miles away from their home with a Bean Si heard wailing in Ireland. Some experts have claimed that the ghost is that of an earlier member of the family who has been selected to be the “harbinger of death”.
BEAN-NIGHE (Scottish)
Another herald of death, the “Little washer by the Ford” as this ghost is known in Scotland materializes as a female carrying the recently washed grave clothes of the person about to die. The Bean-Nighe is invariably ugly and is said to have large, protruding teeth, one nostril and huge, pendulous breasts. The ghost is believed to be that of a woman who died in childbirth and like the Irish Banshee (see above) has been known to appear to exiled Scots as far away from home as Canada and Australia.
BERGMONK (German)
As its name indicates, this ghost bears a striking resemblance to a monk. According to German tradition, it is a towering figure intent on frightening people away from buried treasure. They are most frequently found in the vicinity of mines and are believed to be similar to the phantom guardians found in a number of other European countries with a similar purpose of scaring off fortune hunters – though why they should wish to do this is unclear.
BHUT (Indian)
According to Indian tradition, the Bhut is any angry ghost that is unhappy in the spirit world and sets out to bother the living. There are several different types of this phantom, the most feared being the Airi, which is apparently the spirit of a man who was killed while hunting. These ghosts are usually seen with packs of dogs and are considered an omen of death. They can, however, be driven off by burning a dish of turmeric, because they hate the smell given off by the spice.
BOGGART (English)
A disturbing and unpleasant type of ghost found in the North of England – in Lancashire, especially – where it targets farms and isolated properties. They can upset households in a manner similar to poltergeists, but are mostly prone to invading bedrooms at night, pulling the bedclothes off the sleepers and occasionally placing a “clammy” hand onto their faces. According to tradition, it is possible to prevent a Boggart from invading your home by hanging a horseshoe on the door or gate.
BOGIE (Scottish)
A terrifying ghost, the Bogie has the ability to change shape and can make a wailing sound that some experts have claimed imitates the phrase, “I want my bones”. According to ancient tradition these ghosts once served the devil during his evil missions among mankind, but now content themselves by materializing as dark, squat figures with ugly faces that particularly like attacking the young. This facility is believed to have been the origin of the expression used by parents over many generations to quieten a fractious child, “Stop that or the Bogie man will get you!” It is claimed they can be made to vanish by holding open a copy of the Bible in front of them.
BRAHMADAITYA (Indian)
Generally regarded as the most benign of Indian ghosts, the Brahmadaitya lives in trees and acts as a good luck symbol to surrounding villages. The spirit is believed to be the ghost of a Brahmin who died unmarried and is now committed to looking after his “family” on earth. The spirit apparently does not like his domain to be trespassed upon and has the power to break the necks of those who are foolish enough to do so.
BUGABOO (Indian)
Another Indian ghost that is said to be kindly disposed towards human beings. The spirits appear at nightfall and will not interfere with life unless they are threatened. Some experts have claimed that Indians do not actually believe in the existence of these ghosts, but they have become familiar in family life as the spirits used by mothers to quieten noisy or difficult children.
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CHAGRIN (European)
The Chagrin is an old gypsy word for a prophetic ghost, which can appear in many forms. The spirit is also referred to as a Cogrino or Harginn and is an omen of some kind of disaster that is about to happen. In some parts of Europe, it is said to appear in the form of a large, yellow hedgehog.
CORPSE CANDLE (Welsh)
Known as the Canhywallen Cyrth, this is the best known of Welsh phantoms and they are so named because of their resemblance to a candle flame. Like the Irish Banshee, the Corpse Candle will materialize near to a home where someone is about to die. The light of the phantom will indicate whether the victim is young or old: a small, blue flame for a child, while a large, red flame points to an adult. There are also numerous accounts in Welsh folklore of white lights being seen hovering over old bedridden men and woman before they pass away.
CO-WALKER (Scottish)
Another prophetic ghost, the Co-Walker has been described as similar to the better-known German Doppelganger (see below). They are identical spirits – “in every way like the man, as a twin-brother, haunting him as his shadow”, to quote one source – and appear to that person not long before they are due to die. According to accounts from the last three centuries, Co-Walkers have been seen at a number of funerals where their likeness to the dead person has had a horrifying effect on the mourners.
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DOMOVOY (Russian)
The Domovoy is the most famous of Russia’s ghosts. They are said to be invisible, but make their presence known by loud noises, throwing objects about and disturbing entire families. The similarity with Poltergeists (see here) has been much commented upon. Some old accounts of this spirit claim that those that have been treated with respect will find their household chores done when they awake in the morning.
DOPPELGANGER (German)
Sometimes referred to as the “ghost soul”, the Doppelganger is a German term for a ghost that is the exact likeness or “double” of the person they are haunting. These spirits are said to be harbingers of death and materialize with ever-greater frequency as the person concerned nears his or her end. The term was popularized by the German writer, E T A Hoffman, and made famous in Edgar Allan Poe’s story of “William Wilson” (1839) and Dostoyevsky’s novel The Double (1846).
DRUDE (English)
The Drude is a ghost associated with witchcraft. According to tradition, a young witch had the ability to become one of these night phantoms when she reached the age of forty. The spirit possesses the power to haunt her victims by inflicting t
errible visions on them and in some parts of the country is actually referred to as “the nightmare fiend”.
DUPPY (West Indian)
A frightening phantom that is said to be only able to appear at night, the Duppy is believed to be the personification of evil and must depart before dawn breaks. These spirits have a long tradition in the Caribbean and it is claimed that they can be summoned from tombs by placing a glass of rum and some gold coins on the grave. West Indians believe that if a Duppy exhales over a person they will become ill. The ghost can be prevented from entering a house by placing tobacco seeds around the doors and windows and if one of them is prevented from returning to the grave, it will never be able to haunt anyone again.
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ELEMENTAL (European)
Unlike most ghosts that are the spirits of the dead, Elementals are believed to be supernatural beings that have never been human. They are said to take the form of glowing human-shaped lights that materialize where tragic events have occurred. Stories of these strange phantoms have been recorded for centuries – a number of famous folk legends are based on them – and their favourite places for haunting are said to be treacherous marshes and shifting sands along the coast.
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FETCH (English)
A ghost similar to the German Doppelganger or Scottish Co-Walker in that it closely resembles the person it confronts. Believed to be an omen of death, the Fetch has been reported appearing before people in the open countryside and in houses – and in one case materialized as a corpse on a bed before its horrified living double who died a few days later.
FOSSEGRIM (European)
A water phantom, the Fossegrim or Neck, usually resembles a young man and haunts rivers and streams. According to European tradition, the phantom is very alluring to young girls who have been fickle with their affections. Generally believed to be harmless despite his name, the Fossegrim can be driven off by unsheathing a knife in the ghost’s presence as this will “Bind the Neck” in the words of an old saying.
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GALLEYTROT (English)
This is an animal ghost that resembles a large dog and has been mostly seen in East Anglia where it is said to move around country lanes “like an evil whisper”. The name is believed to be a corruption of the French gardez le trésor or “guardian of the treasure” and the majority have been seen close to old burial grounds. Some Galleytrots are stated to be black in colour with flaming eyes, while one of the most famous that is said to haunt the wilds of Suffolk resembles an enormous hound with the head of a monk.
GHOUL (Indian)
The Ghoul or Gul is sometimes compared to the vampire, although it does not attempt to bite those it encounters, but simply passes straight through bodies and buildings as if they were not there. According to various local traditions throughout the Indian subcontinent, the spirit has a hideous face and is mostly found in any area used for burying the dead or where soldiers have been killed in battle. There are stories that the Ghoul will steal corpses and has been known to prey on unwary travellers – although no one has survived such encounters to tell the tale.
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HAG OF THE DRIBBLE (Welsh)
Known in Wales as the Gwrach-y-rhibyn, this ghost is notoriously ugly, appearing as an old woman with long, matted hair, a hooked nose, piercing eyes and long arms with claw-like hands. Some reports of the phantom have stated that she looks as if she has scaly black wings, and all of them screech in a voice that is claimed to be an omen of death. According to tradition, the original hags were Welsh goddesses and are mostly to be found in the vicinity of old castles. “She is as ugly as the Gwrach-y-rhibyn!” has been a form of abuse in Wales for many years.
HARPY (Greek)
One of the oldest ghosts on record – the Harpy is a phantom creature with the face of a female and the wings of a bird. Ancient Greek tradition claimed she was a “wind spirit” who could play havoc in the affairs of human beings unless she was regularly propitiated. The activities of the Harpy were particularly feared around harvest time when she might call up gales to ruin the crops. She is also believed to have the power to capture the souls of men and women when they die.
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INCUBUS (European)
An evil spirit that materializes during the night in the bedroom of young girls with the intention of seducing them. According to medieval European folklore, the Incubus appears in the form of a handsome young man – who is referred to as “Demon Lover” – intent on turning their victims into wantons and whores. The only sure method of protection from their seductions is to hang herbs such as St John’s Wort around the bed. See also Succubus.
IGNUS FATUUS (European)
Ghostly dancing lights that are said to be omens of death when seen by travellers have been given various names throughout Europe, but are grouped under the term, Ignus Fatuus or “Foolish Fire”. Jack-o-Lantern and Will-o’-the-Wisp are just two terms applied to these phenomena that are said to appear where someone is going to die – and, indeed, they have a history of leading the curious into treacherous marshland as they most often appear near water. Recent research has suggested that these “ghosts” may well be caused by the spontaneous combustion of marsh gases.
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JAK (Indian)
Jaks are male ghosts that are often reported with female partners – known as Jakni – and seen together in rural villages. Their mission is to guard the local population from the myriad evil spirits that can make human life so difficult. However, according to some local traditions, Jak and Jakni have been known to remove household items to which they have taken a fancy and present them to their partners.
JINN (Arabian)
Sometimes pronounced “Genie”, these ancient Arab spirits have the form and substance of a ghost and are traditionally kept confined in a bottle from which they can be summoned by those knowing the secret commands, According to tradition, the Jinns are believed to have been created from a man’s shadow and can stretch and elongate themselves into any shape whether they are intent on helping or harming people. They have, of course, become the subject of many popular fairy stories.
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KELPIE (Scottish)
The Kelpie is a water-spirit that can materialize as a wild-looking man or a horse, both of which are planning to lure the unwary into the river and death by drowning. It is probably Scotland’s best-known ghost and is usually reported during storms when it makes a strange, wailing sound and often jumps into a river with its tail striking the water with a sound like thunder. An old Highland legend claims that anyone who can put a bridle on a Kelpie can keep it – but if this is ever removed the owner and his family will be accursed.
KHU (Egyptian)
The Ancient Egyptians believed that as soon as the soul left a dying person’s body, it would turn into a Khu or ghost. Those who had led evil lives, been executed for a crime or committed suicide would become a malevolent spirit and bring much harm on their family and relatives. In order to prevent years of haunting, the ghost would be placated with offerings. Those who had led good lives would return as benevolent spirits to watch over their families and had the power to take possession of the bodies of animals.
KIKIMORA (Russian)
Although the Kikimora is generally regarded as a Russian ghost, it has, in fact, been reported among the traditions of all the Slavonic-speaking peoples – including the Poles, Czechs, Serbians and Bulgarians. It is said that the spirit, which appears in an indistinct form, attaches itself to certain households and if treated with courtesy will protect the family from misfortune.
KIRKGRIM (Danish)
The Kirkgrim is associated with old Danish churches where it is said to live in the church tower and protect the building from vandalism. It is believed to be a similar ghost to that recorded in certain Scottish churches where an animal has been killed and buried in the churchyard to serve as a “haunting spectre” and similarly guard the building from sacrilege.
KNOCKER (English)
The Kno
cker is a ghost that dwells in mines, and for many years they were said to be quite common in the tin mines of Cornwall. It is believed they got their name from knocking on the walls of the shafts to give an indication where iron ore might be found. They also warn the miners of danger. In other parts of Britain a similar spirit, the Kobold has been reported, but they are apparently evil and cause rock falls and other small accidents.
KUEI (Chinese)
The Chinese have at least twenty distinct varieties of ghosts that are not always easy to distinguish from one another, although they are divided into two categories. The Kuei are associated with darkness, misfortune and death, while the Shen (see here) are ancestral ghosts to be revered. According to tradition, the Chinese do not fear the Kuei and will simply keep them away from their homes by hanging up iron or steel symbols.
The Mammoth Book of True Hauntings Page 59
