Across time and around the world, scary stories have always had a powerful effect on us. Whether you love them or hate them, tales of horror, misfortune, and magic captivate us and leave us wondering. Many offer us lessons to take with us through their realistic themes and tales of warning. Often, they remind us of our own mortality, forcing us to face uncomfortable truths–while also providing us comfort in the unifying force of shared human experience.

Read on to discover a few of these spooky stories of lore from around the globe…

Possibly the first ever illustration of La Llorona from the Florentine Codex (1570s), Library of Congress

La Llorona

Latin America

Throughout Latin America, the tale of La Llorona (or "The Weeping Woman”) is one of despair and grief. Legend says that La Llorona was once a beautiful woman who, after discovering her husband’s unfaithfulness, was thrown into a fit of rage by the betrayal. In her blind anger, the woman drowned her own children. When she realized what she’d done, she was overcome with grief and horror. It is said that La Llorona’s soul is tethered to the living world to this day, spending eternity wandering by bodies of water while crying for her lost children. When heard, the cry of La Llorona brings misfortune to those who are unlucky enough to be within earshot.

The tale of La Llorona dates back to 16th century Mexico City but inspiration for the titular character traces back to Aztec creation stories. The legend varies regionally across Latin American and the Southwestern United States, but the core themes of the story ring true across all versions: betrayal, sorrow, maternal love, and the consequences of losing control of one’s emotions.

Sōma no furu-dairi by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (19th century), Victoria and Albert Museum

Gashadokuro

Japan

Yokai are a type of spirit with supernatural abilities found throughout Japanese folklore. These spirits take on a variety of forms and can be playful, malevolent, and everything in between. Gashadokuro, whose name translates to “rattling skeleton”, is a yokai in the form of a giant human skeleton who roams the Japanese countryside in the middle of the night. Made up of the bones of fallen soldiers and victims of starvation, the bodies of these individuals join Gashadokuro while their spirits become vengeful yokai known as the hidarugami.

Wandering through the country, Gashadokuro can be heard by the characteristic “gachi gachi” sound of their rattling bones–though they’ve also been known to sneak up on their victims unheard. Gashadokuro are angry, holding onto the pain of untimely death, and will stalk the land and hunt human prey until all of their rage is finally released, allowing the monster to collapse into a pile of bones.

“The Haunted Lane” stereograph by Melander and Bro (1889), Library of Congress

The Woman in Grey

England

The Woman in Grey, also known as “The Grey Lady” or “The Lady in Grey”, is a ghostly figure found in various cultures across the globe but is more often attributed to English folklore. Often associated with tales of untimely death and lost love, the Woman in Grey is depicted as a mourning woman dressed in flowing gray, black, or white clothing.

Whether the figure is that of a single spirit or the manifestation of multiple women appearing across time and place varies depending on who is telling the tale. It is said that the woman, or women, died tragically, whether that be by her own hand, her lover’s, or in a terrible accident. Many believe that the woman haunts specific locations, like old houses or forests, appearing to those who encounter her with an air of sadness and foreboding. The story serves as a reminder of the dangers of unresolved issues that may just linger with us into the afterlife.

Carved turnip (1850),  National Museum of Ireland

Jack-o-Lantern

Ireland

This common Halloween decoration actually has ancient roots. The tradition of carving and illuminating turnips dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sa-win). The name “jack-o-lantern” didn’t come about until much later, gaining traction in the 19th century.

In Irish folklore, “Stingy Jack” was a clever but dishonest and manipulative person. The devil, being interested in Jack’s deceitful deeds, came to earth to pay the man a visit. Realizing that he was about to lose his life and his soul, Jack used his cleverness and quick wit to trick the devil several times into letting him remain on earth. At the end of his life, Jack was barred from entering both heaven and hell, with neither side wanting the trickster residing among them. Having no place in either afterlife, Jack was doomed to roam the plane between heaven and hell for eternity with nothing but a carved turnip to guide his way.

Dybbuk by Ephraim Moshe Lilien (1908)

Dybbuk

Judaism

In Jewish folklore, the Dybbuk is a restless, often malevolent, spirit believed to be a lost human soul. These spirits are said to wander the land of the living until they can find a living body to possess. Historically, individuals suffering from mental illness were said to be inhabited by the Dybbuk, with the only cure being an exorcism carried out by a miracle-working rabbi known as a Baal Shem. “Dybbuk” comes from the Hebrew word “dabaq” meaning to cling, stick, or stay close to–hence the “clinging” of a lost soul to its human host.

Despite having origins that date back to the 16th century, the Dybbuk found its greatest popularity just a century ago through S. An-sky’s 1920 play of the same name. In this production of “The Dybbuk”, a young bride named Leah is possessed by the spirit of her deceased lover, who died before they could marry. Leah must seek out a rabbi who can help free her from the spirit's grasp. In the end, Leah dies and is reunited with her lover in the next life.

This past weekend, visitors to the Reher Center enjoyed these tales and more at our Stories of Lore public program–a spooky night of storytelling and community. Interested in attending future events like this one? Check out our events page to see what’s coming up!