What’s better than a Christmas ghost story told around the fire? The Victorians had that exact tradition and it’s a shame that we don’t do that anymore. Here at Campfires and Creepy Things we’re bringing it back! Tonight we have two traditional Victorian ghost stories, so grab a hot drink, take a seat by the fire, and let the chills run down your spine.
Today’s stories are:
The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood
and
The Ghost’s Summons by Ada Buisson
Come join us around the fire as we talk about the Queen Mary, The Palatine Light, and the infamous Bermuda Triangle.
You’re familiar with certain fairy tales, but do you know where they came from? Grab a drink and settle in by the fire while you hear the horrific origins of Rumplestiltskin and a terrifyingly realistic version of Hansel and Gretel. You’ll never listen to fairy tales the same way.
You’ve heard of the Mary Celeste, but what about the Lady Lovibond? Grab a drink and settle in by the fire and hear these stories plus a mystery surrounding the Flannab Lighthouse Keepers.
Sources
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/abandoned-ship-the-mary-celeste-174488104
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mary-Celeste
https://www.nightwatchparanormal.com/lady-lovibond.html
https://allthatsinteresting.com/flannan-isle-mystery
https://blog.nrscotland.gov.uk/2023/12/12/flannan-isles-lighthouse-keepers-the-disappearance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flannan_Isles_Lighthouse
Grab a drink and settle in by the fire to hear the story of a 19th-century German woman who was harassed by a bevy of spirits and the tragic story of a Brazilian girl in the 1960s who endured the attachment of a vengeful spirit. And Claire shares personal stories from two special contributors.
Sourceshttps://ghostsghoulsandgod.co.uk/2020/05/blumhardt-and-the-exorcism-of-gottliebin-dittus-1
TheHaunting of Maria Jose Ferreira | The Scare Chamber
JaboticabalPoltergeist – OCCULT WORLD (occult-world.com)
TheJaboticabal Poltergeist (anomalien.com)
Something creepy was in my apartment and we don’t know what it was. Come along with us as we explore a few things it could have been . We’re looking at Duende, Nalusa Falaya and more that you may not have heard of.
Sources
Duende - "Mischievous Creatures Hidden In The Shadows" - Realm Whispers
El Duende: Mysterious Creature Of Spanish Folklore - Mythical Encyclopedia
Ten Native American Legendary Creatures You Need To Know - World History Encyclopedia
https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/g2i9ae/the_little-people_of_the-anishnaabe/?rdt=59426
https://fairiesofnewengland.com/2024/12/10/demonization-of-little-people-and-fairies-in-new-england-folklore/
now=1&oauth_data=eyJlbWFpbCI6ImNhbXBmaXJlc2FuZGNyZWVweXRoaW5nc0BnbWFpbC5jb20iLCJpbnN0aXR1dGlvbklkcyI6W10sInByb3ZpZGVyIjoiZ29vZ2xlIn0&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
https://allthatsinteresting.com/native-american-ghost-stories
https://www.jstor.org/stable/1184575?read-
https://gatlinburghaunts.com/the-spearfinger-legend-of-the-smoky-mountains/
https://oldworldgods.com/cherokee/spearfinger-legend
https://www.mythfolks.com/nalusa-falaya
https://factschology.com/mmm-podcast-articles/nalusa-falaya-choctaw-shadow-being#google_vignette
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2023041/episodes/16386020-watched-by-nalusa-falaya
https://sacred-texts.com/nam/cher/motc/motc120.htm
https://mythlok.com/raven-mocker/
https://demonhunterscompendium.blogspot.com/2015/12/kalona-ayelisgi-raven-mocker_15.html
Tragedies, whether they involve a single person or mass casualties, are known to leave behind restless spirits. From a ghostly soldier still guarding Fort Garland to the crew of Titanic still sending SOS messages, come with us as we explore some of the most tragic spirits.
Sources and works cited:
Curtiss, Nelda (11/01/2021), Fort Garland's Ghostly Guard Walks by Night.
Valley Courier, retrieved 7/24/2025 from
https://alamosanews.com/stories/fort-garlands-ghostly-guard-walks-by-night,9131
UFOs aren’t new. They’ve been reported for millennia, sometimes interpreted as angels or gods, sometimes friends, and sometimes invaders. In this episode, we’re looking at the origins of the modern UFO craze and the infamous Men In Black.
A couple wakes up to a horrible smell in their hotel room and find a body under the mattress. A college student wakes up to find her roommate dead and a message scrawled on the wall. The Candyman crawls through mirrors to reach his victims. You know all these urban legends. But there might be more truth to them than you realize. Then there’s the more recent Blue Whale challenge. Did dozens of adolescents and teenagers really die because of an internet challenge?
Sources
Blue Whale: What is the truth behind an online 'suicide challenge'?
In honor of Independence Day, we decided to look at a few ghosts from the American Revolution. And since freedom isn't only about our country, we included a few ghosts from the Underground Railroad. Then we'll take a look at why we love to be scared.
Sources
https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/best-ghost-stories-of-the-american-revolution/
https://archivesfoundation.org/newsletter/revolutionary-spirits/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown_(abolitionist)
https://www.lovetoknow.com/life/lifestyle/5-underground-railroad-hauntings-from-tragic-past
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPrf-gZv2b0
https://alexandriaghosts.com/george-washingtons-ghost-at-mount-vernon/
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/head-tilting-history/haunting-encounters-revolutionary-ghouls
https://ghostsofnewhaven.com/blog/ghosts-of-new-haven-blog-15-benedict-arnold-conflicted-ghost/
Psychology of Horror
How Do Horror Movies Help Cope With Anxiety
On the Psychology of Horror Movies
5 Reasons We Enjoy Being Scared/Psychology
From Aokigahara Forest to Iwo Jima and more, Japan is full of modern folklore. Take a seat by the fire and hear the stories of some of the creepiest locations in Japan. But first, Filipino folklore is a rich hybrid of traditional spirits and Catholic influences. Listen in as we find out where the Aswang come from and learn about the other creatures of the Philippines.
Sources
Aokigahara - All About Japan's "Suicide Forest" | tsunagu Japan
Haunted Places in Japan - 5 Spooky and Abandoned Locations You Shouldn't Visit (And One You Should!) | tsunagu Japanhttps://allthatsinteresting.com/aswang
https://www.aswangproject.com/
https://mythus.fandom.com/wiki/Batibat
https://sleepopolis.com/education/sleep-myth-the-batibat/
http://www.theparanormalguide.com/blog/akop
https://stoicaswang.wordpress.com/2016/01/26/werewolves-in-the-philippines/
https://lopezseum.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-soul-according-to-indigenous.html
https://www.traveloka.com/en-ph/explore/tips/philippine-mythical-creatures/63711
https://www.ranker.com/list/terrifying-phillippines-monsters/lyra-radford
https://pinoymyths.com/mambabarang-insect-wielding-witches-of-philippine-myth/Mambabarang
https://mythlok.com/mangkukulam/
https://mythlok.com/nuno-sa-punso/
https://www.aswangproject.com/devils-philippines-demonization-abandonment/#google_vignette
Cryptids exist around the world and in all different cultures. From Bigfoot to hellhounds to Bram Stoker's inspiration, cryptids have fascinated us for thousands of years. Let's take a look at some more common ones along with a few you may not be familiar with.
Sources
LDSLiving.com-https://www.camelathompson.com/blog/the-romanian-legend-of-the-strigoi
-https://medium.com/bouncin-and-behavin-blogs/the-real-tales-from-the-crypt-a9dcbba40fbb (stories)
-https://mythus.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Shuck (earliestsurviving description of hell hounds)
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellhound
- https://mythus.fandom.com/wiki/Church_grim
-https://www.isleofman.com/visitor-guide/6473/3029/the-myth-of-the-moddey-dhoo
-https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/11/06/skoffin/
True stories of people who have experienced time slips. Then, a special guest tells the story of a haunted house his family lived in for many years.
Sources
-https://www.indy100.com/science-tech/timeslips-explanation-multiverse
-https://uforeview.tripod.com/timeslips.html
-https://oxplore.org/additional-resource/1002/1014#1014
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_Van_Winkle
A special guest tells his personal story of an especially vivid dream which set off a series of deja vu moments that changed the direction of his life. Then join us for some true stories from haunted hospitals and nursing homes.
From the simple adversary in early Hebrew culture to the evil soul stealer of the middle ages to the rehabilitated Lucifer of today, Satan has always been among us. Today we'll take a look at his evolution through history and some of the many crimes committed:
In The Name of Satan.
Sources
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-Ramirez
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ramirez
https://listverse.com/2019/10/04/crimes-demonic-possession/
https://time.com/archive/6691344/the-devil-made-us-do-it/
https://www.10minutemurder.com/blog/vampires-among-us-the-ritual-murder-that-shocked-germany/
In 1930, a small Inuit village disappeared from the banks on Lake Anjikuni in northern Canada. No trace of the villagers has ever been found, and the circumstances of the disappearance are widely debated. Some suggest the village never existed to begin with.
Grab a drink and take a seat around the fire as we explore these mysteries and more.
Sources
Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/the-haunted-tale-of-kuldhara-a-mysterious-village-in-rajasthan/articleshow/106842904.cms on 3/10/15
Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/trending/the-lesser-known-story-of-kuldhara-the-ghost-village-of-india/photostory/107666267.cms?picid=107666270 on 3/10/25
Retrieved from https://rajwadadesertcamp.com/exploring-the-mysteries-of-kuldhara-village-in-jaisalmer/ on 3/10/25
Retrieved from https://discoverindiabycar.com/kuldhara-unraveling-the-mystery-of-rajasthans-haunted-village-its-untold-secrets/ on 3/15/25
Anjikuni Lake:
https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Lake_Anjikuni_Vi:llage
https://www.historicmysteries.com/unexplained-mysteries/lake-anjikuni/23871/
http://anomalyinfo.com/Stories/1930-november-lake-anjikuni-disappearances
https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4371
Original Kelleher article from 1930:
https://www.newspapers.com/image/962418726/?clipping_id=136850600&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjk2MjQxODcyNiwiaWF0IjoxNzQxNjIwNDYzLCJleHAiOjE3NDE3MDY4NjN9.FIKv7Bua1RRHprEgSXty__AhlKWRezylhU0lpHNvkIA
From childhood, most of us have the idea that genies are mostly there to grant wishes to a lucky few who rub the right bottle. The real history is much more complicated. This week we dive into the history of the lore and take a look at a few reported encounters. Join us as we discover what it actually means to meet a djinn.
Sources
WhatAre Djinn? (Powers, Tales, & Etymology)
Djinn Lore –Mystical Beings from Ancient Mythology — Lurking World
The Taleof the Ifrit, A Story Worth Reading on GatherTales
https://ashraf786.proboards.com/thread/9179/true-jinn-stories
https://thejinnarchive.home.blog/
The famous witch trials of Europe and North America had less to do with the accused witches than with misogyny and the religious culture of the day. Join us for a peek into the background of the Salem Witch trials and stick around for some charming folktales from Asia and Africa.
Sources
TheDragon After His Winter Sleep | The Chinese Fairy Book
TheLegend of the Eastern Sea Dragon King, A Story Worth Reading on GatherTalesWelcome tothe African folktales page!
Discover the Inkanyamba Snake and Its Fascinating Powers |Mythlok
The Tokoloshe — Astonishing LegendsBBC.com. Retrieved 2/16/2025 https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140925-where-do-witches-come-from History.com. Retrieved 2/16/2025 https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-witches#section_1 Ghostcitytours.com. Retrieved 2/17/2025 https://ghostcitytours.com/salem/haunted-places/witch-house/
Throughout history, and in many cultures, people believe in reincarnation. As fantastic as it may sound to some of us, we can’t help but wonder, what if. Grab a drink, have a seat by the fire, and hear about a young boy who once lived as a WW2 fighter pilot, a pair of twins whose parents believed them to be their own deceased sisters, and a girl who insists she was a Sri Lankan incense maker.
Sources
Thesouljam.com
Psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk
Www.thevintagenews.com/2022/01/27/pollock-sisters-reincarnation
Reincarnate.life/7-reincarnation-stories-that-proved-to-be-true/
Deathpoints.com/2023/04/04/past-life-as-an-incense-maker/
From haunted hotels to the cryptic Rougarou, New Orleans is a paranormal hunter’s paradise. Join us around the campfire to discover just how creepy this beautiful city can be.
Sources
HauntedBourbon Orleans Hotel | Ghosts at the Bourbon Orleans (ghostcitytours.com)
Our History -Bourbon Orleans Hotel
TheGhosts of the Haunted Lafitte Guest House (ghostcitytours.com)
AChilling Night at the Haunted Lafitte Guest House in New Orleans(the-line-up.com)
The 7Creepiest Haunted Hotels in New Orleans (matadornetwork.com)
TheGhosts of the Hotel Villa Convento | Stay in a haunted Hotel(ghostcitytours.com)
Five Ghost Stories from the Haunted Houses of New Orleans – Garden & Gun