Do you ever hear about bloody mary, fairy, mermaid, and jack the ripper? Of course some of you ever hear that. That is called Urban Legend. By the way..what is the urban legend? Urban Legend is a form modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true. Okay, if you curious about that, i don't mind to share that with you. I just shared European Folklore only.So, I hope you might also like it and let's check this out!
Hello Friends!!! Today, I will tell you story about boggart. So... read carefully!!!^^
The Boggart is most commonly found in the counties of Yorkshire and
Lancashire, its name appears in places such as Boggart's Clough and
Boggart's Hole in Lancashire. Boggarts were mischievous spirits
responsible for mishaps and poltergeist activity within the home and in
the countryside. They would rearrange furniture, break pots and
generally be blamed for 'things that go bump in the night'.
They were often found attached to families and could be helpful
within the household until they were insulted in some way. Boggarts had
the ability to shape-shift, and sometimes appeared in the form of
animals. If offerings were left out for them they would not cause
trouble.
The supposed ghosts of people were also called Boggarts, and the
word may be have been used to explain any strange phenomena in the
past. An outbreak of poltergeist activity on a farm above Oldham in
Lancashire was attributed to a Boggart and there are several such
stories, some of which we will outline in the future.
People have always enjoyed scaring themselves silly with the
undead. So vampire stories have a long history, from traditional
tales to the latest movie release.
The first vampire stories that we know of came from ancient
Babylonia. Demons called Lilu were believed to wander the earth at
night, sucking the blood of pregnant women and babies. The word
“lilu” was adopted into ancient Hebrew writings as Lilith, the
first wife of Adam. Not being a nice person, she was booted out of
the Garden of Eden, and became the mother of all vampires. Vampire
stories spread through the cultures of the Middle East and were
present in Persia, where a vase was found showing a man fighting off
a vampire.
From the Middle East vampire stories entered Europe, probably
during the Crusades. In the eleventh century vampire tales became
prevalent in Europe, and any corpse that didn’t decompose as
expected became a cause for concern. By the twelfth century, writers
such as Walter Map and William of Newburgh were producing accounts of
vampires in England. These accounts have some common threads.
Vampires were people who died in a state of sin, they liked to bother
people they had known in life, and they could only be stopped by the
complete destruction of their corpse.
The belief that vampires caused the plague became common at this
time, too. And it’s actually reasonable to think that vampires
lurking around and spreading corruption would produce a plague. It’s
possible that some plague victims were quickly buried alive in
shallow graves, and dug their way out. This would back up both the
belief in vampires and the theory that they caused the plague.
We think of vampires as being a part of Eastern European culture,
and that region does have a rich heritage of vampire lore. But
vampire stories were cnmmon in all parts of Europe, in Russia, and in
the British Isles. And, as we know, they didn’t die out after the
Middle Ages. Strangely, the eighteenth century, which we call the Age
of Reason, saw a surge in vampire tales.
Two incidents in the 1720’s sparked this surge. A man named
Plogojowitz died in East Prussia and was said to have come back as a
vampire. Then, in Serbia, an ex-soldier named Paole also died and
apparently returned as a vampire. It was reported that Paole had been
bitten by a vampire years before. The two cases caused a great
controversy. The officials who documented the evidence said it was
all true, and most scholars said it was not, and that there were no
such things as vampires. Before the uproar died down a few years
later, people were staking down corpses all over central Europe.
All this led to vampire-themed poems by several German poets. One,
by Heinrich August Ossenfelder, is about a young man who is rejected
by a very religious girl. He threatens o suck her blood, showing that
his evil is stronger than her piety. This is actually not compatible
with the Age of Reason, which could be anti-Christian. Even the great
Goethe joined in the vampire craze, writing The Bride of Corinth.
It was also critical of Christianity; the bride dies and becomes a
vampire after the cruel fate of being sent to a convent.
But the eighteenth century was just a prelude to the vampire
literature produced by the nineteenth century. It began in 1816 with
a contest. Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, his wife Mary, and their
friend Dr. John Polidori were vacationing in Switzerland. The weather
was too bad to go out for several days, and to pass the time the
friends decided to see who could write the best horror story. (Mary
Shelley is, of course, posterity’s hands-down winner with
Frankenstein). Dr. Polidori completed a story called “The
Vampyr” that was published in 1819 and was very popular. Byron
started a vampire story, also, but it was never finished.
All kinds of vampires then appeared in literary works and popular
fiction. Elizabeth Caroline Grey is believed to be the first woman to
write a vampire novel. Vampire-themed penny dreadful were very much
in demand. On the European continent, Paul Feval produced three
vampire novels and Milvan Glisic wrote about a Serbian vampire.
Sheridan le Fanu wrote Carmilla, about a female vampire, in
1872.
It’s worth noting that vampires were not just considered fiction
in the nineteenth century; belief in them persisted. In Germany
people could purchase a vampire-killing kit.
The defining vampire tale of the nineteenth century, and all time,
has to be Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Stoker was born in
Ireland in 1847. He was a writer and theater critic, and manager of
the Lyceum Theater in London. He never went to Eastern Europe, but
was intrigued by the idea of the vampire and had a writer’s
imaginative gifts. He had originally planned to give his vampire a
different name, but while researching for the novel he learned that
“Dracula” meant “devil” in Romanian, and so decided on that
name. Dracula is written as a series of letters and diary
entries, a good technique for adding realism to an improbable story.
Stoker’s Dracula is the charming, elegant gentleman portrayed later
by Bela Lugosi in film. But the character Jonathan Harker describes
his handshake as “cold as ice--more like the hand of a dead than a
living man.” Dracula was published in 1897. It was only a few years
later, in 1922, that the first film version of it was produced. The
film was called Nosferatu, a strange name with obscure
origins. It was probably first introduced into English by travel
writer Emily Gerard in 1885. She wrote that Romanians had told her
about a vampire-like creature called the nosferatu, but the word has
no meaning in Romanian. It’s most likely that she wrote it
incorrectly, since she didn’t know Romanian. Nosferatu was directed by F.W. Murnau. He was one of the
most accomplished filmmakers of 1920’s Germany, a very prolific and
creative period. The haunting, cadaverous creepiness of its star, Max
Schreck, and its brooding use of light and shadow make it a classic.
The scene in which the nosferatu is struck by sunlight and killed is
riveting. But the movie was not without controversy. Florence Stoker,
Bram’s widow, sued the producers of Nosferatu for
copyright infringement, and as a result all the names of the
characters in the movie were changed; Dracula became Count Orlok.
Florence, who had no means of support other than the proceeds from
Dracula, continued her suit and asked that all copies of the
movie be destroyed. In 1925 a judge agreed to this. A few copies were
held back, though, and today Nosferatu is readily available
on DVD.
In 1931 Universal Studios produced the film Dracula after
studio head Carl Laemmle bought the rights to the story. The plan was
for Tod Browning, an experienced director, to direct film star Lon
Chaney in the role of Dracula. But by the time filming was ready to
begin, Chaney had passed away. No one really wanted Bela Lugosi for
the role, but Lugosi was so anxious to have it that he agreed to a
very small salary, and so he was finally cast as Dracula. Now it’s
hard to imagine anyone else in the film. Lugosi, a native of Hungary
and a veteran stage actor, brought a hypnotic and elegant menace to
the part. He could suggest more with his eyes than many actors with
their entire facial expressions. His thick accent added to the
character, and in the film the ladies in England find him exotic and
fascinating. With other fine performances, especially Dwight Frye as
Renfield, Dracula is*readily available on DVD and well worth
seeing.
Vampires continued to be a staple of movies; Christopher Lee
played them in the 1960’s and 1970’s with a charming British
accent and an evil grace.
In the 1970’s Barnabas Collins became a very popular vampire on
the TV soap opera Dark Shadows. Played by Jonathan Frid,
Barnabas was a reluctant vampire, having been turned into one by a
woman scorned. In the 1700’s Barnabas loves Josette, but Angelique
the witch loves Barnabas. When Angelique finally realizes she can’t
have him, she sends a bat to bite him and he becomes one of the
undead. Barnabas’s wealthy and embarrassed family then seals him up
in a coffin; two hundred years later he’s accidentally released,
and the story revolves around him looking for ways to cure his
vampirism. The production value of Dark Shadows was low and
the actors often stumbled over their lines. But the show had
absorbing plots and engaging characters, and was a great deal of fun,
anyway.
Today the Twilight series and movies are the rage among
teenage girls, who have always had a soft spot for vampires. You can
read some very interesting background by Stephenie Meyer, the author,
at www.stepheniemeyer.com/.
In the future, we’ll enjoy more great vampire stories, because
we know from experience that we’ll never get tired of vampires.
There are many Myths and Legends at
Glastonbury, two of which deal with Bible stories - one directly and one
indirectly. Glastonbury’s tales are often told singularly, as if each telling
were the one and only myth of the land, but when taken together they form many
connections, like the varied twigs and branches of one great, ancient tree.
King
Arthur
The Arthurian legends stretch out
across many lands, but in Glastonbury there seems to be a nexus of sorts.
Indeed many believe that this is where fabled Camelot once existed, the
backdrop of the famous Knights of the Round Table, Merlin the wizard and the
tragic and heroic figure of Arthur himself.
In nearby South Cadbury there is a
hill fort, a possible ancient remnant of Camelot proper. There is proof that
the hill fort dates back to the early 6th century and this is when many
believe the time of Camelot was.
There are more physical hints to
possible legendary connections between Glastonbury and famed Camelot. The enchanting
hill that rises above the lands of Glastonbury known as the Glastonbury Tor
-- is believed by some to be the mythical Isle of Avalon. At first blush it
seems like a silly link; after all, shouldn’t an Isle be surrounded by water?
But upon further examination it isn’t as silly as it sounds.
In the 6th century the water levels
of the region were much higher, which could very well have turned the Tor into
an Isle; an Isle often referred to the “Island of Glass” - a possible
etymological connection to the word “Glastonbury?”
Indeed the very structures of the
land are often linked to Arthurian legend. One such myth suggests that the
varying architecture was laid out in conjunction with the landscape to provide
a sort of celestial zodiac calendar with Arthurian imagery. Also at the
Glastonbury Abby monks claimed in the 12th century to have found a stone marked
“Here likes Arthur, king” and under it a man and woman’s skeletons - the bones
of Arthur and his wife, Queen Guinevere?
The
Grail
The Holy Grail features prominently
in Arthurian legend, which links to another set of myths around a biblical
figure - Joseph of Arimathea. Believed to be Jesus’ uncle, this Joseph was
supposedly the bearer of the grail from the Holy Land - along with, according
to legend - the body of the Messiah.
The grail was supposed to contain a
few drops of Jesus’ blood, and legend has it that Joseph buried it at the foot
of the Glastonbury Tor, from which sprang a spring of blood. To this day there
is the Chalice Well, where the water often has a reddish cast.
Also it was said that when Joseph of
Arimathea arrived in Glastonbury he stuck his thorn staff into the ground and
it turned into a thorn tree and blossomed. A cutting was taken from that tree
and planted in the Glastonbury Abby, where to this day a thorn tree from
Palestine blossoms every Christmas.
Most people know Stonehenge as the
man made ring of ancient stones in England and attribute to it some association
with the ancient Druidic and pagan people of that land. What they may not know
are the various legends ascribed to the stone ring legends that link its
construction to Ireland and even Africa, not to mention wizards and giants.
The
Stonehenge Myth
While Stonehenge itself is clearly
not a myth, there are myths that surround the origins of the stone ring,
especially concerning how, exactly, ancient man was able to lift and move
individual stones weighing 50 tons apiece.
Stonehenge is not simply a circle of standing stones, although that is
certainly what is the most apparent. The stones stand in a ditch carved out
around 3,000 BC, and as the stones themselves (or at least their placement)
date to around 2,200 BC, the construction of Stonehenge was not an overnight
accomplishment. This is one factor that many legends do not take into account,
as they ascribe the erection of the stones to magic or as the work of massive
giants, the one myth suggests that King Arthur was responsible for the creation
of the stone circle, harnessing the power of 15,000 knights and one wizard to
do so. The stones were in Ireland, and obtaining them necessitated the killing
of 7,000 Irish, who didn’t want to give up their stones. All the king’s men
couldn’t move the stones, however, but Merlin managed to magic them to their
resting place in Wiltshire.
And how did the rocks end up in
Ireland? According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, the author to first put Arthurian
Legend to narration, they were moved from Africa to Ireland by giants, brought
to the Emerald Isle because of special healing properties. Geoffrey was known
to inject a good deal of his own imagination into his “historical” writings.
The
Origin of the Stonehenge Myth
The presence of such a monumental
stone circle in the countryside dating back as far as living memory, and for
generations, practically demands a myth. With no express explanation in written
history for their presence, and thanks to the obvious purpose with which they
were placed, Stonehenge was bound to be a place of mystery and legend. The
sheer massiveness of each stone demands an explanation that is not forthcoming,
and so the myths came about to fill the void.
Today the Stonehenge circle and
earthworks are associated with—and used by—many groups claiming there is a
magical or spiritual significance there, a power that can be tapped into and
harnessed. Historians try to point out, often in vain, that the Druids who may
have used Stonehenge in antiquity have very little in common with those that
claim that connection today.
Final
Thoughts
The Stonehenge myths and legends are
in danger of being permanently affected by modern day tourism. Around the turn
of the last century many of the stones had fallen or were leaning precariously.
A great undertaking restored the monuments, but now a fight is on to move two
major roadways that pass right by the ancient site, without damaging it in the
process.Things that one would assume would not take thousands of years.
Three thousand years old the
Uffington White Horse is one of the more distinct of the many hill figures and
chalk figures that dot the English countryside. The White Horse has given rise
to many a theory as to the reason it was created; everything from a mystic
symbol of power to a road-side advert for a horse market, all contributing to
the overall air of mystery for the White Horse Myth.
In 1934 a grainy black and white
photograph gave the world the first apparent proof that the age old legend of a
monstrous creature inhabiting Scotland’s Loch Ness was indeed real. The
swan-like neck the head reminiscent of a water dinosaur, the hump suggesting a
long, powerful body; how could it not be the fabled Loch Ness Monster?
The
Loch Ness Monster Myth
Among the legendary creatures of the
world there are a few that stand out and are considered well known regardless
of where in the world the tale is told. One of the most endearing—and
enduring—is the myth of Nessie, the affectionate nickname of what is better
known as the Loch Ness Monster. Said to inhabit Great Britain’s largest
freshwater lake, Scotland’s Loch Ness, Nessie has been the subject of a great
deal of speculation and scrutiny over the years. While it may seem a fairly
modern myth, some references to an unusual creature have been made in writings
as early the 7th Century. Sightings are reported by locals, scientists,
tourists, and monster hunters, all of whom hope to be the one to provide
conclusive proof that the famous Loch Ness Monster is as real as the loch
itself.
The
Origin of the Loch Ness Monster Myth
That first
mention of a monster in the loch came by 7th century writer Adamnan, who was
recounting the adventures of Saint Columbia in the year 565. While critics
point out that the “Life of St. Columbia” depicts the holy man as something of
a monster slayer and use that to discount the reference to the loch monster, it
does remain as some proof that the legends of Nessie began long before the
“evidence” began to surface.
The
Sightings Begin
While tales of water monsters are
not unique to Scotland—which in fact has reports of other loch monsters such as
“Morag” from Loch Morar—it seemed that Loch Ness had more than its fair share
of reported sightings. Naturally many are simple hoaxes, people having a bit of
fun and coming along with a popular fantasy. Others are more serious on the
part of the reporters, people who claim to have seen either bits and pieces of
the monster (a head and neck rising swan-like from the loch, seen at a great
distance) or something more fantastic (a couple claiming a creature described
much like a dinosaur crossing the road in front of their car before
disappearing into the loch). Evidence of the photographic kind began to appear
as the technology to support it came along, the most famous of which is the
“Surgeon’s Photograph”, taken by Dr. Robert Kenneth Wilson.
This photo, taken in 1934, is often
shown cropped down to isolate the image of a head, neck and hump of a back in
the water. The effect makes the creature imaged seem much larger than it
actually is. Wilson, who never claimed it to be a photo of Nessie but rather
“something” he saw in the loch, remained stoic in the face of accusations that
it was a fake. Analysis of the ripples in the photo resulted in experts
claiming that the “creature” was very small indeed. In the end Wilson admitted,
decades later, that it was indeed a fake, so to speak. The “creature” in the
photograph was a toy submarine with a crafted head and neck attached.
Final
Thoughts
Theories
have been floated to support sightings in Loch Ness from gassy submerged logs
to boat wakes to an actual dinosaur surviving the march of time. In the end, it
hardly matters if no evidence to prove the Loch Ness Monster is real ever
surfaces, because the legend of Nessie is real enough.
