Mythology

Zbiglenyata

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Tradition: Ukrainian Mythology
Alternative Names: Zvihlenik, Zykhlenik, Zvylenik, Zbihlenyaty
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Zbiglenyata are the restless spirits of children who died without being baptized. According to Hutsul mythology, these children are buried in a special place in the cemetery reserved for the unbaptized. Their souls remain in this state until they reach the age of seven, when they risk becoming evil spirits known as zkhlenik or zvihlenik. They are sometimes heard crying in lonely places, asking passersby for a baptismal cloth and a cross.

As the seventh year approaches, a zbiglenyata may cry out, begging someone who believes in God to give it a cross. If a person who hears the spirit knows the correct baptismal formula and throws away a small piece of wood from their shirt, the child can be freed from its fate. Instead of becoming an evil spirit, its soul becomes an angel, who then serves as the guardian angel of the person who saved it.

Hutsul traditions also describe a ritual intended to prevent a dead, unbaptized child from becoming an evil spirit. A priest blesses water in twelve vessels, with a small cake and a candle placed beside each one on the church altar. The blessed water is then dedicated to the child’s soul and poured over its coffin or grave. Through this ritual, the child becomes an angel as though it had received baptism in life.

Sources

“Zbiglenyata.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). https://www.bestiary.us/zbiglenyata

Houwvrouw

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Tradition: Dutch Mythology, Belgian Mythology
Alternative Names: Meltevrouw, Barende Vrouw, Varende Vrouw, Dolvrouw, Bontevrouw, Windsbruid, Winddrolle
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Houwvrouw is a mysterious female wind spirit said to appear on hot summer days above the Afferdsche heath in Limburg. She can be seen in the shimmering waves of heated air, twisting and spinning as she travels through the sky. As she moves, she carries away everything light enough to be swept up by the wind. After her journey, she rests in an underground dwelling belonging to Aart with the Grey Beard, king of the gnomes, and Wieland the Smith, king of the little elves.

In Belgian Limburg, the Houwvrouw is described as a powerful storm wind that uproots and overturns sheaves of grain, carrying them several metres into the air. Her appearance may take the form of a sudden downpour, a whirlwind, or a swirling gust of wind that sweeps across the land. Farmers fear the destruction she can cause as she tears through fields and scatters their harvest.

The names Houwvrouw and Meltevrouw both mean “marrying woman.” One explanation suggests that people may have interpreted the wind as a sign of a marriage between heaven and earth, as it rises into the sky before descending again. In this way, the Houwvrouw embodies the mysterious and destructive power of the wind, appearing as a supernatural woman whose passage can transform a peaceful summer landscape into a swirling storm.

Sources

Van der Veen, Abe. “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/

Bornes

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Tradition: Dutch Mythology
Alternative Names: The Bornes, Bornius Ghost
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Bornes is an evil spirit from Zeeland, said to be the wandering soul of a cruel steward belonging to the Bornius family. After death, his restless spirit continued to roam the countryside around Hulst, bringing an ominous presence to the area. He was sometimes associated with the water, where his malevolent nature made him a feared supernatural being.

Bornes is accompanied by a black dog with flaming eyes, a terrifying companion that follows him as he wanders through the darkness. The sight of the ghost and his fiery-eyed hound was a dreadful omen, warning those who encountered them of the spirit’s sinister nature.

Once every hundred years, Bornes reveals his most terrifying form as he races through the night in a blazing carriage. Surrounded by fire, he rushes across the landscape in a supernatural frenzy, bringing terror to anyone unfortunate enough to witness his passage.

Sources

Van der Veen, Abe. “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/

Yuki-Onna

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Snow Woman, Yuki-onna
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Yuki-Onna, the Snow Woman, is a supernatural female being who appears on snowy nights, particularly in regions where heavy snowfall blankets the mountains and countryside. She is believed to be either a spirit of the snow itself or the ghost of a woman who lost her life in a blizzard. In traditional depictions, she appears as a woman dressed in a white kimono, with a ghostly lower body and sometimes hairy hands visible beneath her sleeves.

The Snow Woman appears in many regional legends, and her visits are sometimes associated with particular nights of the year. In parts of Iwate Prefecture, she is said to appear on the night of the Little New Year or during a full moon, sometimes accompanied by numerous children. In parts of Aomori Prefecture, she appears on New Year’s Day and returns on a particular day later in the year. Encounters with her are dangerous: in Iwate and Miyagi, she is believed to drain the life force from those who meet her, while in Niigata she freezes people to death or abducts children and takes their livers.

Other traditions describe stranger encounters. In Tottori Prefecture, the Snow Woman carries a white paper streamer and cries, “Give it ice, give it hot water.” When water is poured over her, she swells in size, but when hot water is poured on her, she disappears. In some regions, she is associated with the Ubume, a spirit connected with childbirth and children. The Snow Women of Tsugaru and Akita are said to approach people while pleading, “Please hold my baby.”

Across these legends, Yuki-Onna is a mysterious and dangerous presence of the winter landscape. Sometimes she appears as a beautiful woman in white, while in other tales she is a frightening spirit capable of draining vitality, killing travelers, or stealing children. Her appearance and behavior vary from region to region, making her one of Japan’s most recognizable supernatural beings.

Sources

“雪女 (Yuki-Onna).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010653475.html

Bingui

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Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: Sick Ghost, Illness Ghost
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Bingui, the Sick Ghost, is a supernatural being associated with illness, ghostly patients, and encounters between the living and the dead. Tales about Bingui describe ghosts who suffer from ailments and seek medical treatment from human physicians. In some stories, a person renowned for his medical skill receives unexpected visitors at night, when ghosts arrive asking him to cure their illnesses. After receiving treatment, the spirits may feel deeply grateful for the physician’s kindness.

Other versions tell of physicians who treat ghosts but suffer misfortune as a result. One tale describes a person who is led by the ghosts of patients he had killed through mistaken treatment to the underworld, where he is beaten as punishment. These stories portray encounters with sick ghosts as dangerous, especially when a healer’s actions have caused suffering among the dead.

Stories of groups of sick ghosts seeking treatment also appear in Chinese supernatural literature. In these accounts, the boundary between medicine, death, and the underworld becomes blurred, as the living may be summoned to treat the dead or face consequences for their dealings with spirits.

Sources

“病鬼 (Bìngguǐ).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 15, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%97%85%E9%AC%BC

Baijia Ni

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Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: Heavenly Ghost, Aoshani
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Baijia Ni, also known as the Heavenly Ghost or Aoshani, is a malevolent spirit in Lisu mythology that brings illness and suffering to the living. It can cause severe headaches, deafness, coughing, and other diseases. In the most serious cases, its influence can lead to death. It belongs to a wider group of supernatural beings known as Ni, the spirits feared by the Lisu people.

To appease Baijia Ni, people perform a sacrificial ritual involving the killing of a cow. A chicken must also be offered, with a rooster required when the sacrificed cow is a bull. The ritual includes specific plants and materials, such as poplar, pine, cypress, wild bamboo, and golden bamboo. These offerings are intended to address the spirit and protect people from the illnesses and misfortune it can bring.

Sources

“白加尼 (Báijiāní).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 15, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%99%BD%E5%8A%A0%E5%B0%BC

Datou Gui

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Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: 大头鬼, Big-Headed Ghost
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Datou Gui is a strange ghost from Chinese mythology, distinguished by its enormous head, which is far larger than an ordinary human head. It is often said to appear beside roads, where it shuffles along slowly because its oversized head is too heavy for it to move quickly. Its appearance varies between stories, but it is commonly portrayed as a human-like figure with a disproportionately large head, sometimes so enormous that it resembles a large jar or vessel.

Chinese tales describe Datou Gui in several unusual encounters. One legend tells of the scholar Fang Xiaoru frightening away a Big-Headed Ghost while reading late at night. Another story describes the official Yu Qian playing a trick on one. Other accounts portray ghosts whose heads are many times larger than their bodies, with faces as wide as windows or heads so enormous that they cannot fit through ordinary doorways.

Despite its frightening appearance, Datou Gui is not always portrayed as an omen of misfortune. In one account, encountering a Big-Headed Ghost is considered a sign that an imperial examination official will soon be promoted. These stories present the creature as an uncanny apparition whose immense head makes it both ridiculous and unsettling.

Sources

“大头鬼 (Dàtóuguǐ).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 15, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E5%A4%B4%E9%AC%BC

Chai Gui

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Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: 蠆鬼, Venom Ghost
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Chai Gui is a terrifying ghost described in the Chinese supernatural tale The Scorpion Merchant. It appears in human form, with yellow hair and an ugly, demonic face. Its name refers to venomous creatures such as snakes and scorpions, reflecting its sinister nature.

The legend tells of a merchant from the south who travelled from place to place selling scorpions every year. One year, when the merchant returned, he became strangely uneasy and sought refuge in a shop. Hoping to hide from whatever was troubling him, he climbed into a large vat and concealed himself inside. Shortly afterward, a frightening figure with yellow hair and a face like an evil spirit entered the shop, searching for the scorpion merchant.

Unable to find his intended victim, the yellow-haired figure eventually left. The shopkeeper then opened the vat to release the merchant, but the man had vanished. Inside, there was nothing but bloody water. The merchant had apparently been killed by the mysterious ghost, leaving behind no trace of his body. The story presents Chai Gui as a terrifying supernatural pursuer whose victims may disappear in a gruesome and inexplicable manner.

Sources

“蠆鬼.” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 15, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A0%86%E9%AC%BC

Headless Ghost Priest

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Tradition: Swedish Mythology
Alternative Names: The Headless Priest of Hanger
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Headless Ghost Priest appears during a phantom Christmas Mass at the church of Hanger in Sweden. He stands at the altar wearing full priestly vestments, but his head is entirely missing. The congregation gathered around him consists of headless specters, the spirits of the dead who return to worship during the night.

One Christmas night, a woman from the homestead of Vaderas rode to Hanger for Mass. After crossing a bridge where two witch trolls were washing, she reached the brightly illuminated church and entered, believing the Christmas service had begun. She sat in her usual place without immediately noticing anything unusual. Around her, the headless dead filled the pews, while the headless priest performed the service at the altar.

A mysterious voice warned the woman that she would have been killed had the speaker not been her godfather at her baptism. It urged her to flee before it was too late. Realizing that she had entered a gathering of the dead, the terrified woman rushed out of the church. In the churchyard, the specters seized her white woollen mantle, but she threw it off and escaped. By morning, fragments of her mantle had been found on every grave, revealing that the dead had torn it apart.

The Headless Ghost Priest belongs to the terrifying phantom service of the dead, a supernatural gathering that the living must never disturb. Those who encounter the ghostly congregation risk terrible consequences for trespassing upon the world of the dead.

Sources

Stroebe, Clara, ed. The Swedish Fairy Book. Translated by Frederick H. Martens, illustrated by George W. Hood. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1921. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37193

Yuletide Specters

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Tradition: Swedish Mythology
Alternative Names: The Phantom Christmas Mass, The Service of the Dead
Category: Ghost

The Myth

At a homestead called Vaderas in Sweden, two women once agreed to ride together to Christmas night Mass. Since clocks were not available in those days, they decided that whichever woman woke at the right time would call for the other. Around midnight, one woman thought she heard her neighbor calling from outside her window, announcing that she was setting out. She hurriedly dressed, took a piece of bread shaped like a cross, and rode off to catch up with her companion. However, she could not find her anywhere along the road.

As she crossed a bridge over a stream flowing into Lake Vidostern, she encountered two witch trolls standing there and washing. One called to the other to hurry and tear the rider’s head from her shoulders. The second troll replied that she could not harm the woman because she carried a piece of cross-shaped bread in her pocket. Protected by the holy symbol, the woman continued her journey and eventually reached the church at Hanger alone.

The church blazed with lights, and the woman believed the Christmas service was already underway. She entered and sat in her usual place, but only then began to notice that something was terribly wrong. The congregation consisted entirely of headless figures, and the priest at the altar wore his full vestments but had no head. A voice warned her that she would have been killed had the speaker not stood as her godfather at her baptism. It urged her to flee immediately before it was too late.

The woman rushed out into the churchyard, where a crowd of specters surrounded her. They seized her broad white woollen mantle, but she threw it off and escaped to a nearby poorhouse, where she awakened the inhabitants. She remained there until the early Mass at four o’clock. When daylight arrived, people discovered that a small piece of her mantle lay on every grave in the churchyard, revealing that the dead had torn it apart.

A similar encounter befell a man and his wife who lived at a hut called Ingas, below Mosled. They arrived at Hanger believing that the service had begun, but found the church locked and barred. The phantom Mass was nearing its end, and they had disturbed the gathering of the dead. When the living congregation assembled for the actual service, pieces of grave earth were found scattered across the places where the specters had recently worshipped. The man and his wife subsequently fell gravely ill, punished, it was believed, for disturbing the dead during their Christmas service.

Sources

Stroebe, Clara, ed. The Swedish Fairy Book. Translated by Frederick H. Martens, illustrated by George W. Hood. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1921. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37193