As if dragons aren't scary enough––or cool enough, take your pick––there are all sorts of creepy tales from around the world about all the creepy creatures out there just waiting to get their claws into some poor, hapless traveler.
No, this isn't the stuff of SyFy Channel fame––we're talking about folklore, and it's fascinating!
After Redditor Minnesota Connections asked the online community, "What's your favorite "creature" from myths and urban legends and why?" people proved only too eager to weigh in. It turns out people love this stuff (and they enjoy passing it on even more).
"Back in the 70s..."
This one is pretty local to Loveland, OH, but I really like the Loveland Frog. Back in the 70s there were a few sightings of a weird "humanoid frog" that would scurry around on its hind legs. Eventually it was shot by police, who discovered that it was a large pet iguana with the tail cut off. Local newspapers played up the story big time.
"Out of the darkness..."
Goatman. The idea that you don't know it was there until after it's gone is super freaky. I remember reading a story once about a group that went camping out in the desert somewhere, all sat round a fire at night. Out of the darkness a man with a goats head walks up to the fire and sits amongst them. They all carry on like it's not there but are all somehow aware it's there but some kind of calms comes over them all. After a while the Goatman stands up and puts his hand on the shoulder of the man next to him who also then stands up. They walk away together into the darkness and no one says anything and remains calm like nothing is wrong. Over the next hour they slowly come to there senses that this wasn't normal and some creature has taken there friend away into the night.
"I just love the idea..."
Giphy
Leviathan/Kraken. I just love the idea of giant sea monsters for some reason. Whenever I'm playing a video game and there are giant sea monsters, I get so giddy.
"From Japanese folklore..."
From Japanese folklore the Ashiarai Yashiki its a giant foot that crashes through peoples houses and demands to be washed.
"It's basically..."
The manananggal from Philippine mythology. Really unique.
It's basically a girl that turns into a vampire at night and eats unborn children. It detaches its torso and flies around at night, and it hates garlic and holy items.
"It's a win-win..."
A Japanese monster which forces you to give it a piggyback ride, then either crushes you under its weight or makes you rich if you make it to your destination. It's a win-win in my eyes.
"It's said..."
Skinwalker: Native American abominations. Can shape shift into animals, paralyze people with their gaze, incredibly strong and fast and have magic. It's said they're so powerful even mentioning them can draw them near.
Seriously how the hell is this not a movie yet.
"There's an old version..."
I kinda like all the deadly women yokai in Japan.
Yuki-onna, a ghost woman who might cause you to freeze to death. Futakuchi-onna, a woman with a mouth in the back of her head that'll eat you out of house and home. But my favorite might be kuchisake-onna, the slit mouthed woman.
There's an old version and an updated new version. In the old version she holds a fan over her face, and in the new she wears a surgical mask like many people actually do in Japan. So late at night you're walking through the streets and you come across a young lady crying. You approach to ask her what's wrong and she turns, the lower half of her face covered. She says she's just been dumped and asks you if you think she's pretty. If you say no, she'll kill you, if you say yes she'll remove her mask and reveal her sliced open cheek and enormous sharp teeth. Then she'll ask you again if you think she's pretty. Say no, she kills you. Say yes, she cuts your cheek to match her own.
"They're water spirits..."
The Kelpies of Scotland are my all-time favorite. They're water spirits that take the form of horses. They seem peaceful at first and will lure the victim onto their back, and then the victim's hands stick to it! Once the victim(s) are stuck, the Kelpie drags them into the body of water nearby, drowns them, and then eats them, leaving the entrails behind. Some myths say that if you bring your own bridle and capture a Kelpie, it can be turned tame and used as a work horse. They can also turn into humans! and can be either malevolent or benevolent. Mostly malevolent.
"I remember..."
Not necessarily my favourite but dragons/ great serpents (wyrms and wyvens mostly) are pretty common in folklore around here in the NE of England with stories such as the Lambton worm, Sockburn worm and the Laidly worm.
I remember my parents and teachers telling me the stories and they have stayed with me throughout my life, although I have not heard mention of them in years, I wonder if kids are still taught them. In general the UK has a ton of folklaw that is often overlooked for the likes of Bigfoot and the fay folk.
