coollegg... hard... need draw... cyute... -- Spooky lights flying around, attracting people's attention and getting them lost is among the most prevalent stories in the world. Assembled for Halloween is a few of them, far, far from all of them though. Generally thee lights are seen as either a supernatural being or the reincarnated soul of someone. Each of these beings and their origins will be discussed below:
The Will O' The Wisp is arguably the most popular (and cute), being found far and wide across the world. As such they are also the simplest and most easily recognizable, simply seen as a small flame in the darkness while their body is obscured. These babies come from the souls of those who died lost and alone, with their soul going to whatever Afterlife happens to suit them, and the rush of emotions (fear, anxiety, etc.) that clouded their soul as they died pool together to form a wisp. Because of this, wisps are not all that bright, wandering the paths they died on for eternity. One thing to remember about beings like them is that, even if they used to be apart of someone, every thing which made that person that person has passed on, leaving only a tiny ball of flame on legs. As is the case with all of these beings, their un-burning flames possess a charm about them which makes people feel lost and alone, causing them to follow the wisps around. Due to their simply natures, it's probably the wisps themselves don't actually know what they're doing is harmful.
Related to them is the Hinkypunk, a type of fairy from the moors of England and its colonies which hops about on one leg, with one arm. Like their little relatives they are descended from little boys and girls who died lost and alone, but are more defined and personable than the wisps. The reason for this is unknown, possibly having to relate to fairies. Some may be surprised to know that the line between the dead and the fey is so thin, but, both being spirits connected to a faraway Otherworld, they tend to get mixed up with one another, with spirits often turning into different fairies as their attitudes suit them.
Fairies in particular are caught up with leading people away with charming lights, as seen in the fairy fire (here held by a Welsh pwca), the hobby lantern (brandished by a hobgoblin), and the pixy light (held by a Cornish colt-pixy). All of these would be more accurately described as a pastime or prank than a true species, as many different types of beings partake in this. One of which being the Spunkie, where a fairy takes the form of a linkboy to lure people, where they make merry by leading people and ships astray.
Two other ghosts turned fey are the Lantern Men of Scandinavia and England and Jack of the Lantern. Lantern Men are among the more malicious spirits, a goblinish old man who wanders the bogs hoping for reprieve from his undead life, but just as likely to drag someone under the murky water. Similarly, Stingy Jack is forced to wander the world forever, stuck between the Land of the Living and the Otherworld. Unlike the Lantern Man Jack is a singular entity, one who carries a turnip lantern for safety from the many other spirits around at night. Of course not all ghosts transform into inhuman beings, some, like the Friar's Lantern, Aleya, and Hitodama live their lives as usual, but give off a ghostly flame due to some past event. Aleya are Bengali spirits, recognizable by their souls flickering in the sky above their ghosts (here shown as a boal fish). Hitodama are not even necessarily ghosts, simply the soul going out for a night's drive.
Brujas are a reincarnated spirit, though specifically one of a witch's, who flies around at night overlooking buried treasure, like the lambent light of Northern Europe. Unlike the brujas though, lambent lights are not related to the dead or the fairies, they are simply a supernatural phenomena. Lambent lights are linked to both buried treasure and the homes of other beings, like the vaettir, draugr, and the firedrake. Related to the German house drak, the firedrake is a wild being, one who sleeps in its hole during the night and searches for prey and wealth during the night. Lambent light sometimes reveals their homes, as well as their fiery scales, which they cloak themselves in to signal to other drakes their territory. When entering their home, firedrakes will resort to all sorts of tricks and illusions to keep intruders out, even placing curses, such as being unable to dig buried treasure while laughing, or speaking. Firedrakes are also said to sometimes result from the spiritual residue of greedy souls after death.
Luz mala, or evil lights, are another abiotic light, from Northern Argentina and Uruguay. These malicious fires are said to cause burns if touched.
The boi-tatá of Brazil is neither a ghost nor a fairy, but a native spirit descended from a cave anaconda who, after a great flood, ate all the eyes of the corpses left over, gaining a fiery gaze. Unfortunately this gaze leaves them blind during the day, but at night they race across the forest looking for food with their all-seeing eyes.
Finally, the ignis fatuus, or fool's fire. These creatures (related to the stray sod) are aptly named, as they are created by fairies as a means of home security, causing people to become lost. Some folk try and follow them, thinking them to be lambent lights and therefore indicators of treasure. Once morning comes, they find themselves with nothing but a hole and a rather shiny insect.
