Tales of the Will-o’-the-Wisp

By Isabella Pena

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   Estimated to be originally found in European folklore, will-o’-the-wisps have different origins depending on who you ask, each with their own slightly different names and stories. In Ancient Rome, they were called ignis fatuus (foolish flame in latin), usually seen by travellers around bogs or marshy locations. In the UK, they are sometimes referred to as hinkypunks, a one-legged wispy figure that leads travellers towards treasure or danger. In Slavic folklore, they were believed to be the spirits of unbaptized children that reached a premature death, trapped in purgatory. In more Nordic countries like Finland, the ghostly apparitions mark a treasure located deep in the earth (whether ground or water), and the hidden goods can only be taken in the presence of fire: autumn is said to be the best time to search for the lights. To the Welsh, the light is a “fairy fire” held by a pwca: a short and fiendish fairy that mischievously leads lone travellers off unsure paths during the night. Eventually, the pwca extinguishes their fire and leaves the traveler stranded. In Guernsey, the light is believed to be a lost soul which has two remedies to help it when confronted with a spectre: to turn one’s hat or coat inside out, or stick a knife in the ground, blade up. 

   Because of its wide range and unknown origins, it also has many lesser nicknames and titles in other countries as well. This extensive list includes: jack-o’-lantern, hob lantern, hobby lantern, hob-and-lanthorn, lambent light, pixy-light, ghost candle, corpse candles, friar’s lantern, luces del dinero, luces del tesoro, ghost orbs, fifollet, faeu boulanger, Spunkie, boi-tatá, m'boiguaçu, luz mala, la bolefuego, Candileja, soucouyant, chir batti, aleya, chir batti, kollivey pey, kuliyande choote, bramrachokh, aarnivalkea, hitodama, feu follet, Irrwisch, fuoco fatuo, bung fai phaya nak, أبو فانوس (abu fanous), Paulding light, spooklight, St. Louis light, 도깨비 불 (dokkebi bul), and 粦 (lín), among many many other names unlisted here.

   Although it is known for sure, no matter what continent you are in…if you are alone and traveling in an unfamiliar environment, beware of ghostly lights. Because you may never return home again.