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Goldkohlen zu Bayern

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Tradition: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternative Names: –
Category: Flame

The Myth

Die Goldkohlen zu Bayern, meaning the Golden Coals of Bayern, is a legend about a mysterious fire burning in a field near a farmhouse. The fire is tended by three unknown men who sit silently around the flames. To anyone who sees it, the fire appears to offer ordinary glowing coals, but its true nature is revealed only through a strange encounter with a servant girl.

One early morning, while it was still dark, a maid from Bayern went outside to gather fire so she could cook soup. Seeing the flames burning in a nearby field, she approached the three men and filled a pot with glowing coals to take back to the house. Yet when she placed the coals on the hearth, they immediately went out. She returned to the field and tried again, but the second pot of coals also extinguished as soon as she brought it home. When she came for a third pot, one of the previously silent men finally spoke, warning her, “Now you need not come again.”

The third batch of coals also went out on the hearth. Frightened by the strange events and the man’s warning, the maid told the farmer and his wife what had happened. They sent her back to bed, then went into the kitchen themselves. There, instead of extinguished coals, they discovered a large quantity of gold coins lying on the hearth. The farmer and his wife kept the treasure for themselves, while the maid’s strange encounter with the silent men had unknowingly led them to a hidden fortune.

Sources

La Fontaine, Edmond de. Luxemburger Sagen und Legenden. Luxemburg: Jos. Beffort, 1882.

Spunkie

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Tradition: Scottish Mythology
Alternative Names: Spunkie, Teine Sith, Fairy Light
Category: Flame

The Myth

The Spunkie is a mysterious wandering fire from Scottish mythology, particularly associated with the Scottish Highlands. It appears as a strange light that lures unsuspecting travellers away from safety and toward danger. Sometimes it takes the form of a linkboy, a boy who carries a burning torch to guide pedestrians through the darkness in exchange for payment. At other times, it appears simply as a distant light that continually retreats as someone approaches, tempting them to follow it farther into the wilderness.

The Spunkie is notorious for leading travellers to their doom. Its deceptive lights can draw people away from familiar roads and into dangerous places. It has also been blamed for shipwrecks, as sailors have mistaken a light shining from the shore for a harbour beacon, only to discover too late that it offered no safe passage. Such tales made the Spunkie a feared presence around Scotland’s coasts and darkened landscapes.

Other Scottish traditions regard these mysterious lights as omens of death or the ghosts of deceased people. They are said to appear above lochs and along roads used by funeral processions, linking their flickering glow with the dead and the passage between life and death. In the Hebrides, a strange light is sometimes called the teine sith, meaning “fairy light,” although this name does not necessarily indicate any connection with the fairy race.

Sources

“Will-o’-the-wisp.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will-o%27-the-wisp

Wanyūdō

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Wanyuudo, Wanyūdō, Katawaguruma
Category: Flame

The Myth

Wanyūdō is a terrifying yōkai from Japanese folklore, depicted as a human head attached to the hub of a gigantic wheel engulfed in flames. The face is often described as that of a bald Buddhist monk, while the burning wheel rolls endlessly through the streets. According to Toriyama Sekien’s Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki, the creature travels in circles on its single fiery wheel, and anyone who sees it risks losing their soul. A traditional protection against Wanyūdō is to place a sign on the door of one’s home bearing the words “This is the village of Katsumo,” which is said to discourage the creature from approaching.

Wanyūdō is closely associated with another supernatural being called Katawaguruma, or the One-Wheeled Cart. In earlier tales, including Shokoku Hyakumonogatari, Katawaguruma haunted Higashinotoin Street in Kyoto and was depicted with a human face attached to the centre of a burning wheel. Some versions portray a woman riding upon the fiery cart. Toriyama Sekien appears to have developed Wanyūdō using Katawaguruma as a model, illustrating the two creatures consecutively in his compendium as a possible pair.

The name Katsumo has a literary origin connected to an ancient Chinese anecdote about Zengzi, a disciple of Confucius renowned for his filial piety. Zengzi refused to enter a village whose name could be interpreted as “overcoming one’s mother,” considering it an expression of disrespect toward one’s parents. This story became part of a proverb about rejecting wrongdoing, alongside an anecdote in which Confucius refused to drink from a spring associated with theft. In the Wanyūdō legend, the reference to Katsumo transforms this moral tradition into a supernatural ward against a fearsome spirit.

Sources

Hans Watzlik. “Jungferblitz.” In Böhmerwald-Sagen. Budweis: Böhmerwalder Dorfbücher, 1921, Heft 5. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/tschechien/watzlik/jungferblitz.html

Blendende Licht

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Tradition: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternative Names: The Blinding Light
Category: Flame

The Myth

Das blendende Licht, meaning the Blinding Light, is a terrifying supernatural glow that appears at night and surrounds those who encounter it. Its radiance grows increasingly intense as it approaches, eventually enveloping its victim in a dazzling brilliance that makes it impossible to see clearly or find a way to escape. The light is associated with a sinister, almost devilish enchantment that can lead unsuspecting travellers into mortal danger.

One night, a woman from Remich mistook the bright moonlight for the approach of dawn. Believing morning had arrived, she set out carrying a measure of grain toward the Herder Mill near Bous. When she reached the hill above the mill, she noticed a light shining in the valley and initially assumed it came from the mill itself. However, the light gradually moved toward her, growing larger and brighter until it surrounded her in a blinding glow.

Terrified, the woman called upon all the saints in heaven for help and ran frantically in every direction, but the dreadful light continued to close around her. In desperation, she cried out, “I believe in God the Father!” At once, the enchantment vanished. Only then did she realize, with renewed horror, that she was standing on the steep, high bank of the millpond. Had she taken just one more step, she would have plunged into the water and drowned.

Sources

La Fontaine, Edmond de. Luxemburger Sagen und Legenden. Luxemburg: Jos. Beffort, 1882.

Maiden Lightning

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Tradition: Czech Mythology
Alternative Names: Lightning Maiden
Category: Flame

The Myth

Maiden Lightning is a beautiful supernatural woman who appears during violent thunderstorms. She is completely naked, with fiery red hair and a body that glows so brightly that light radiates from her skin. Her arrival is accompanied by crashing thunder and flashes of lightning, and she can vanish in an instant, leaving behind a blazing flame.

One day, an elderly woman from Mugrau was gathering berries in the forest when a terrible storm approached. Seeking shelter, she climbed inside a hollow maple tree. As she peered outside, she saw the glowing maiden standing before her. Concerned that the stranger would get soaked, the old woman invited her to share the shelter. The maiden refused, explaining that she could not enter because the woman possessed the mysterious Lightning Thread.

At that moment, thunder roared and a spark ignited a nearby tree, sending a bright flame shooting upward. The maiden disappeared, leaving the old woman alone in the hollow tree. Had the bailiff not been carrying the Lightning Thread, the fire would have engulfed her shelter. The encounter revealed the maiden as a powerful spirit of lightning, whose fiery presence could ignite trees during a storm.

Sources

Hans Watzlik. “Jungferblitz.” In Böhmerwald-Sagen. Budweis: Böhmerwalder Dorfbücher, 1921, Heft 5. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/tschechien/watzlik/jungferblitz.html

Blauwbroek

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Tradition: Dutch Mythology
Alternative Names: Blue Breeches
Category: Flame

The Myth

The Blauwbroek is a mysterious ghost from the Dutch province of Gelderland, said to wander across the heath in the form of a glowing sheaf of thatch. By day, it becomes a large, invisible spectre, capable of interfering with travellers despite remaining unseen. It can abruptly push people off the road without warning and even bring horses to a complete standstill, leaving those who encounter it helpless before an invisible force.

According to local tradition, the spirit was once a land surveyor or an arsonist, though the precise origin of the figure remains uncertain. Its name, meaning “Blue Breeches,” is probably derived from the little blue flame associated with its appearance, which resembles a pair of trousers. The Blauwbroek thus combines the eerie imagery of a wandering fire with the frightening idea of an unseen spirit that can obstruct people and animals along the road.

Sources

“Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten.” Abe de Verteller. https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/

Aarnivalkea

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Tradition: Finnish Mythology
Alternative Names: Virvatuli, Aarretuli, Aarreliekki
Category: Flame

The Myth

The Aarnivalkea is a mysterious eternal flame in Finnish mythology, associated with will-o’-the-wisps and the hidden treasures of the supernatural world. These strange fires mark the places where fairy gold lies buried beneath the earth. Their flames burn endlessly, revealing the presence of riches that would otherwise remain concealed from human eyes.

The treasures guarded by the Aarnivalkea are protected by a magical glamour that prevents people from discovering them by chance. Even someone who passes directly over a buried fortune may remain completely unaware of its existence. To overcome this enchantment, a fortunate seeker must find the seed of a mythical flowering fern. This rare magical seed is said to lead its possessor toward the hidden gold, allowing them to locate treasures that ordinary people cannot find.

The fern seed is believed to possess another extraordinary power: it grants invisibility to the person who carries it. The legend claims that the fern flowers only on exceptionally rare occasions, despite ordinary ferns producing spores rather than flowers. Finding such a seed is therefore an almost impossible undertaking, but those who succeed may gain both the power to disappear from sight and access to the enchanted treasures marked by the eternal flames.

Sources

“Will-o’-the-wisp.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 10, 2026. Section: “Americas.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will-o%27-the-wisp#Americas

Igebo

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Igebo, Oni-bi
Category: Flame

The Myth

Igebo is a mysterious supernatural fire from Japanese folklore, known as a regional name for the oni-bi, or will-o’-the-wisp. It is associated with Watarai District in Mie Prefecture, where the name refers to the strange, ghostly lights that appear in the darkness. Like other will-o’-the-wisps in Japanese tradition, Igebo belongs to the folklore of unexplained flames that seem to emerge from the night.

The name Igebo was recorded by folklorist Kunio Yanagita in his work Yōkai Dangi (Discussions on Yōkai), among a collection of yōkai names. Yanagita noted that he had not heard the name used anywhere else, making its origin difficult to determine. The precise meaning of the name and the particular stories once associated with Igebo therefore remain uncertain.

Sources

“イゲボ (Igebo).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). August 11, 2019. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1074589206.html

Yōchin

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Eternal Sinking
Category: Flame

The Myth

Yōchin, meaning “Eternal Sinking,” represents a terrifying fate from which there is no escape. It is depicted as a place of endless descent into swirling flames, where the souls of sinners fall helplessly toward the deepest reaches of hell. Once a soul enters this dreadful realm, it cannot return to the world above.

In Buddhist-inspired depictions of the journey toward paradise, Yōchin appears as a square on a board game illustrating the fate of the dead. The square shows a soul plunging into a fiery abyss, representing Avīci Hell, the realm of unending torment. Unlike other spaces on the board, which allow the soul to progress toward salvation, Yōchin marks an irreversible fall into damnation. It is the ultimate dead end, where the journey ends in eternal suffering.

Sources

“妖鎮 (Yōchin).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1079630670.html

Cherruve

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Tradition: Mapuche Mythology, Argentine Mythology, Chilean Mythology
Alternative Names: Cherruve, Cherufe
Category: Flame

The Myth

The Cherruve is a fearsome supernatural being associated with comets, meteors, volcanoes, and destructive fire. It is often described as a blazing comet streaking across the night sky, but it can also appear as a gigantic serpent with a human head and molten lava dripping from its mouth. In some regions, it takes the form of a seven-headed dragon, a fiery-eyed giant, or even a two-legged goat with burning eyes. Cherruves dwell underground and within volcanoes, emerging into the sky like flaming celestial bodies.

The appearance of a Cherruve is considered an omen of disaster, foretelling epidemics, the death of great leaders, and other misfortunes. Their movements beneath the earth cause earthquakes, while their fiery vomit becomes lava flowing down volcanic slopes. They are said to create thunder by tossing human heads through the air. Some particularly monstrous Cherruves demand the sacrifice of Mapuche maidens and threaten to withhold the flow of rivers when their demands are refused. Their forms can also include meteorites and strangely shaped volcanic rocks, which sorcerers collect and use as supernatural weapons against their enemies. These enchanted stones can be commanded to spread disease, drain blood, and bring death before returning to their masters.

Despite their destructive nature, Cherruves are also capable of love, jealousy, and grief. One Cherruve married a Cloud, and together they had a beautiful daughter named Snow, whose body was pale and delicate. The Cherruve jealously guarded his wife, but his enemy Wind abducted her, and whenever Wind carried Cloud over the volcano, her tears fell as rain while the Cherruve’s despair erupted in devastating volcanic outbursts. He became equally protective of Snow, forbidding her from leaving the mountain during daylight. Yet Snow longed to see the world beyond her home. One day, she escaped and marvelled at the sunlight, birdsong, and the colours of the world, growing happier even as her strength faded. When Wind carried her mother away once more, Snow collapsed from exhaustion. The Sun, moved by love for the beautiful girl, descended to kiss her. When her father finally found her, Snow had vanished, leaving behind only a puddle of crystalline water.

Sources

“Cherruve.” A Book of Creatures. January 22, 2016. https://abookofcreatures.com/2016/01/22/cherruve/