Halloween is almost here! And nothing says Halloween quite like creepy, scary monsters. Many of the traditions surrounding Halloween that have been passed down through the years involve some of the most gruesome monsters and creatures. Ghosts, goblins, ghouls and witches are just some of those beings that are more active around the time of Halloween.
Stories and legends of different types of monsters date back to some of the earliest known recorded times in history. These stories range from ancient China and Greece to more modern times, some as recent of the 1950s. There is one thing for certain. These legends aren't going to stop being repeated any time soon.
Werewolves, mummies, vampires and witches are some of the first things that come to mind when anyone mentions Halloween. These monsters are widely known as the classics for Halloween, but where did they originate?
I have a list of 15 monsters. We'll look at 7 of them this week and the remaining 8 next week.
1. Vampire
There are stories of vampire-like creatures from as early as
ancient Greece. This centuries-old monster is said to be undead, meaning they
are animated and act similar to a living human. They survive by draining the
living of their bodily fluid, primarily blood, by way of biting their victims
with sharp fangs. Sunlight will burn a vampire's skin, so they are active
mostly at night. They can occasionally be active during the day if the weather
permits. This is why storms, mist and cloudy days contain a sense of
foreboding. According to folklore, a vampire's downfalls are crosses, silver,
and garlic. They can also be extinguished by stabbing them in the heart with a
wooden stake. To be safe, it would work best to decapitate them.
2. Zombie
Stories of zombies date back to 17th-century Haiti. Zombies
are said to be the result of voodoo. A voodoo practitioner would utilize a
mixture of herbs, bones, shells and other animal parts as part of their
practice. This mixture could cause symptoms such as confusion, difficulty
walking, trouble with breathing, and sometimes even resulting in a coma for the
victim. These instances resulting in a coma seem to be the basis for believing
that a zombie is raised from the dead. These undead corpse monsters are known
for feeding on human flesh (focusing mostly on brains).
3. Mummy
Mummification began in ancient Egypt. It was a special
method for preserving the body used in burial rituals. References to the mummy
as an undead monster gained popularity after King Tut's tomb was found in 1922.
This resulted in many classic horror films such as the 1932 Boris Karloff
movie, The Mummy. Similar to zombies, mummies are reanimated corpses. The main
objective of the mummy is to get revenge. Mummies, especially royalty, were
buried with riches that lured treasure hunters. As movies have shown us, many
of those who looted tombs ended up with much more than they bargained
for. A mummy's greatest weakness is fire. If a fire can't be produced easily,
decapitation is an option for protection.
4. Werewolf
Werewolves are cursed humans who turn into large, strong
wolf-like monsters during each full moon. The curse is the result of being
bitten by a werewolf while it's in its monster form. Some legends say the
monster looks like a human/wolf hybrid while others say they are all wolf.
While they're in this wolf state, their hunger for human flesh is unquenchable.
One of the first mentions of the werewolf is in the world's oldest known
Western prose, the epic poem Gilgamesh, written approximately 1400 BCE. Another
early mention of werewolves is from Greek mythology and the legend of Lycaon.
Werewolves are also mentioned in early Nordic legends. Werewolves are
exceptionally strong beasts, their weakness is silver. They can still be harmed
in many of the same ways that humans can, but silver will do the job much more
efficiently.
5. Frankenstein's Monster
English author Mary Shelley published Frankenstein in 1818. The
novel is about Victor Frankenstein, an alchemist/scientist…and madman. He seeks
to create the perfect being. He is successful in building a sentient humanoid
creature by way of connecting many different human parts that he scavenged from
graveyards. Rather than pleasing him, what he created frightens him to the
point of abandoning that creation. What is left behind is a scared but hideous
monster that no one wants anything to do with. Frankenstein's monster is strong
but can be annihilated in much the same ways as a normal human.
6. The Grim Reaper
The idea of the Grim Reaper originated in 14th-century
Europe following the black plague. The Grim Reaper is often thought to literally
be death itself. However, that's not quite so. After passing over into the
realm of the dead, the Grim Reaper is the being that guides those into the
afterlife. While its only duty is to gather departed souls to make sure they go
to the correct place, the Grim Reaper is an intimidating creature. There are
stories of seeing the reaper before death has occurred. Speculation suggests
that the Grim Reaper resembles the skeleton of a human covered in a cloak and
carrying a scythe.
7. Witch
Witches are traditionally women who harness the power of
magic. Largely thought to be sinister, many women were accused of witchcraft in
the Salem Witch Trials in 1692-1693 in Massachusetts and hanged (in France
witches were burned at the stake, in England they were hanged. Since those who
settled in what is now Massachusetts came to the new world from England, they
were hanged rather than burned). While many of the powers that witches possess
are capable of harm and cursing another being, there are also many harmless
practices. The spooky factor of witches lies in the unknown. Magic can be
awe-inspiring but equally frightening, especially if a witch chooses to use
dark magic. Originally, witches were depicted as nasty, hook-nosed old women
who use gross potions and spells to carry out their evil deeds. In more recent
times, witches are simply women who possess the ability to harness magic, can
be any age and look as normal and beautiful as any other woman.
Check back next week for a look at the remaining 8 monsters on the list of 15.
