Will-o’-the-Wisps / Corpse Lights
Little balls of fire that are known by many names, will-o’-the-wisps have been sighted all over the world. They usually appear in swamps, bogs and forests and usually appear as bluish flames, blue or yellow globes, or as candle lights that float and bob mysteriously through the countryside at night.
There are many stories about the origins of will-o’-the-wisps. The most popular being that the lights are the souls of sinners who have been doomed to remain on earth forever. According to English and Irish folklore they are caused by mischievous fairies, usually a Púca . In German folklore they are a forest spirit or wandering souls that are accompanying an invisible funeral procession. In Swedish folklore they are the souls of unbaptized children who try to lead travelers to water in hopes of receiving baptism. According to the Native Americans they are fire demons, and in Africa it is believed that they are caused by witches.
Will-o’-the-wisps are usually either death omens or they are playing tricks on the living. As death omens they are usually called corpse lights and anyone who sees them is doomed to die. Will-o’-the-Wisps can also be playful and enjoy leading travelers off their path until they become lost. There are also mixed beliefs that they will either lead you to hidden treasure or they are leading you away in an attempt to stop you finding hidden treasure.
The easiest way to escape will-o’-the-wisps is simply not to follow them. Other methods include turning your hat or coat inside out, which confuses them, or you can stick a knife into the ground blade end up. Will-o’-the-wisps who are lost souls will see the knife and become preoccupied with trying to kill themselves, which of course will not work because they are already dead.
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