Every place has its history and culture, as well its fair share of folk tales. There are thousands of mythical creatures, from Japanese yokai to Greek Mythology’s Cereberus. We’ve talked about the old folk tale of Stingy Jack and the infamous legend of vampires. Still, there are dozens upon dozens more terrifying beasts created by the human imagination over the centuries. There’s more than one can share in one article, but here are five spooky creatures from cultures all over the world. 

1. Chupacabra (Puerto Rico)

Chupacabra is a famous mythical creature originating from Latin America in 1995 and supposedly sucked the blood of farm stock animals, like goats and birds. There were many reports of its appearance, from a kangaroo-like figure with blood-red eyes to the most common description: a hairless, canine-looking creature that walks on all fours. It’s thought that most of these sightings were dogs or coyotes with a disease called mange, which causes them to lose all their hair. 

1. Chimera (Greece)

Chimera originated in Greek Mythology, a female monster with the head and body, a goat’s head on its back, and on its tail, the head of a snake. According to the stories, the illusion breathed fire and caused mass destruction until Bellerophon was slain. Today, the word chimera means a fusion of different animal genes. 

1. Banshee (Ireland)

Banshees originate from Irish legend, often called ‘the bearer of bad news.’ Banshees are famous for their screaming wail, and the Irish believed it to be an omen of death, signaling that a family member would die in the night. Supposedly, despite her terrifying appearance, her intentions are good, trying to provide a warning. 

1. Rokurokubi (Japan)

The Rokurokubi is probably one of the most grotesque-looking creatures on this list, though it takes on the appearance of an ordinary woman during the daylight hours. However, during the night, while their bodies sleep, the neck stretches, and the head wanders, doing things as harmless as scaring people or drinking lamp oil to attacking small animals and drinking human blood. Unlike most of the creatures on this list, the Rokurokubi is human, cursed by a misdeed, and terrifyingly enough, usually unaware of what is happening during the dark hours. You could be a Rokurokubi and never know.

1. Wendigo (Native Americans)

The very last on our list comes from Native American culture, specifically the Algonquin tribe. The Wendigo is said to have once been a lost hunter, so starving in the middle of winter that he was driven to cannibalism. Once having done that, he was driven mad, turning into a terrible beast, going off in search of more human flesh. Descriptions of appearances vary, but he is generally described as 15 feet tall and abnormally thin, in line with the legend that he is always starving until he consumes another human. Many unsolved disappearances were blamed on the Wendigo in the colder areas of the U.S. and Canada. 

Bob has a message for all of you!

Go to the place 

where a play comes to life

Start left of the first center row

Count two times five

When you get to the row,

Count chairs right, twenty-three

If you’ve counted correctly

Guess who you’ll find? Me!

 -Bob the Ghost