Mothman Mothman is the name of a cryptid speculated to exist after several reports of unidentified creatures seen in the Point Pleasant area of West Virginia from November 15, 1966, to December 15, 1967. The first newspaper report was published in the Point Pleasant Register dated November 16, 1966, titled "Couples See Man-Sized Bird ... Creature ... Something".[1] The being subsequently entered regional folklore. Mothman was introduced to a wider audience by Gray Barker in 1970,[2][3] and later popularized by John Keel in his 1975 book The Mothman Prophecies, claiming that there were supernatural events related to the sightings, and a connection to the collapse of the Silver Bridge. History[edit] On November 12, 1966, five men who were digging a grave at a cemetery near Clendenin, West Virginia, claimed to see a man-like figure fly low from the trees over their heads.[5] This is often identified as the first known sighting of what became known as the Mothman. Analysis[edit] Popular culture[edit]
Loch Ness Monster: Facts About Nessie Though there are dozens, if not hundreds, of lake monsters around the world, one superstar marine denizen outshines them all: Nessie, the beast said to inhabit Scotland's Loch Ness. Some say it's a myth; others say it's a living dinosaur or even a sea serpent that swam into the lake before it became landlocked. Whether real or fictional, it is what Scotland is best known for around the world (aside from whiskey, bagpipes and kilts). Some claim that the Loch Ness monster was first reported in A.D. 565, when — according to Catholic legend — St. The first purported photo of Nessie was published in The Daily Mail on April 21, 1934.Credit: The Daily Mail In fact, there are no reports of the beast until less than a century ago. Civic pride In 2010, archives shed some light on how seriously some locals took the monster. Like other reputed lake monsters around the world, those who are convinced that Nessie exists have tried to pass legal measures to protect them. Elusive beast Related:
Chupacabra The chupacabra (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃupaˈkaβɾa], from chupar "to suck" and cabra "goat", literally "goat sucker") is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas, with the first sightings reported in Puerto Rico. The name comes from the animal's reported habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock, especially goats. Physical descriptions of the creature vary. It is purportedly a heavy creature, the size of a small bear, with a row of spines reaching from the neck to the base of the tail. Eyewitness sightings have been claimed as early as 1995 in Puerto Rico, and have since been reported as far north as Maine, and as far south as Chile, and even being spotted outside the Americas in countries like Russia and The Philippines, but many of the reports have been disregarded as uncorroborated or lacking evidence. History Possible origin Radford divided the chupacabra reports into two categories: Reported sightings Appearance
Scottish Myths and Legends When the Scots emigrated from Ireland, they brought with them a rich blending of belief and tradition based on Celtic myths and legends and Celtic Christianity. Isolated in the islands and highlands, uniquely powerful and superstitious Scottish legends and myths developed in which tradition and a very strong belief in the "second sight" and the faery world predominated. This worldview persisted well into the 20th century (and, we're sure, continues its influence to this day). The result was a culture circumscribed by ritual - each and every day had its ritual elements (how to stir the pot, how to lead the cows, how to celebrate the feasts and saints' days), designed to ensure good luck and blessings and to avoid tragedy. One of the most common elements of Scottish precognition is seeing the dead before they die (ie, knowing who is going to die soon). It's hard to know what to make of all this. Visit our History of Halloween page to learn about the celtic origins of Halloween.
List of cryptids The following is a list of cryptids, animals and plants studied under the field of cryptozoology. Their presumptive existence has often been derived from anecdotal or other evidence considered insufficient by mainstream science. The status of cryptids on this list falls into six categories: Unconfirmed – cryptids whose existence is alleged but not demonstrated.Disputed – cryptids that have a body of evidence against their existence.Proposed [animal name] – cryptids with an alternative explanation accepted by the general scientific community.Extinct – animals that are generally believed to be extinct, but which cryptozoologists believe may have an extant relict population.Confirmed [animal name or cause] – animals once classified as cryptids but whose existence has now been confirmed.Hoax – cryptids once thought to be real but later conclusively proven to be hoaxes. Cryptids[edit] See also[edit] Notes[edit] References[edit] Jump up ^ Posted by Velociman at June 8, 2004 9:27 PM (2004-06-08).
Scottish Folktales / Celtic Fairy Tales Legends from Scotland - Compass Rose Cultural Crossroads by Anonymous (1889) Originally published as Folk-lore and Legends Scotland The folktales in this collection come from Folk-lore and Legends Scotland, published by W. W. Gibbings, 18 BURY ST., LONDON, 1889. Contents: Many fine collections of Scottish folktales, fairy tales, and myths have been published over the years. You are free to use the folktales and legends in this online collection on your own Web site as long as you credit Compass Rose Cultural Crossroads as the source and provide a link to our Web site:
Spring Heeled Jack There are many theories about the nature and identity of Spring-heeled Jack. This urban legend was very popular in its time, due to the tales of his bizarre appearance and ability to make extraordinary leaps, to the point that he became the topic of several works of fiction. Spring-heeled Jack was described by people who claimed to have seen him as having a terrifying and frightful appearance, with diabolical physiognomy, clawed hands, and eyes that "resembled red balls of fire". One report claimed that, beneath a black cloak, he wore a helmet and a tight-fitting white garment like an oilskin. Many stories also mention a "Devil-like" aspect. History Precedents In the early 19th century, there were reports of ghosts that stalked the streets of London. The most important of these early entities was the Hammersmith Ghost, which in 1803 and 1804 was reported in Hammersmith on the western fringes of London; it would later reappear in 1824. Early reports Official recognition Alsop case Scales case
Scottish myths, folklore and legends Kelpies The mythical kelpie is a supernatural water horse that was said to haunt Scotland’s lochs and lonely rivers. The kelpie would appear to victims as a lost dark grey or white pony but could be identified by its constantly dripping mane. It would entice people to ride on its back, before taking them down to a watery grave. Selkies Selkies were mythical creatures that could transform themselves from seal to human form and back again. Tales once abounded of a man who found a beautiful female selkie sunbathing on a beach, stole her skin and forced her to become his wife and bear his children, only for her to find the skin years later and escape back to seal form and the sea. The Loch Ness Monster (‘Nessie’) One of Scotland’s most famous unsolved mysteries is that of the Loch Ness Monster (or ‘Nessie’ as it has affectionately come to be known). The large dinosaur-like creature is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Robert the Bruce and the Spider The legend of Sawney Bean
Devil's Footprints The Devil's Footprints is a name given to a phenomenon that occurred in February 1855 around the Exe Estuary in East Devon and South Devon, England. After a heavy snowfall, trails of hoof-like marks appeared overnight in the snow covering a total distance of some 40 to 100 miles. The footprints were so called because some people believed that they were the tracks of Satan, as they were allegedly made by a cloven hoof. Many theories have been put forward to explain the incident, and some aspects of its veracity have also been called into question. Incident[edit] On the night of 8–9 February 1855 and one or two later nights,[1] after a heavy snowfall, a series of hoof-like marks appeared in the snow. "It appears on Thursday night last, there was a very heavy snowfall in the neighbourhood of Exeter and the South of Devon. The area in which the prints appeared extended from Exmouth, up to Topsham, and across the Exe Estuary to Dawlish and Teignmouth.[4] R.H. Evidence[edit] Theories[edit]
Jersey Devil The Jersey Devil is a legendary creature or cryptid said to inhabit the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey, United States. The creature is often described as a flying biped with hooves, but there are many different variations. The common description is that of a kangaroo-like creature with the head of a goat, leathery bat-like wings, horns, small arms with clawed hands, cloven hooves and a forked tail. It has been reported to move quickly and often is described as emitting a "blood-curdling scream. The Jersey Devil has worked its way into the pop culture of the area, lending its name to New Jersey's team in the National Hockey League, and appeared on an early episode of The X-Files. Origin of the legend[edit] There are many possible origins of the Jersey Devil legend. The common accepted origin of the story, as far as New Jersey people are concerned, started with Mother Leeds and is as follows: Reported encounters[edit] Sightings of 1909[edit] Explanations[edit] Popular culture[edit]