Bogeyman Figures
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Asin
The Asin is a bogeyman figure from the Pacific Northwest Alsea people. It has some relation to the Apotamkin. It is either a demon in the form of a human woman, or the female form of a species of woodland monster. It looks like a woman covered in hair with taloned fingers and wolf teeth. She preys upon children who stray too far from their villages. It rushes in, snatches up the child, and rushes back to the woods at an incredible speed. Asin enchanted some huckleberries on a particular bush and because of this, the Alsea banned all huckleberry bushes. Her laugh echoes and signifies someone’s impending death. If…
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Apotamkin
The Apotamkin are a form of bogeyman figure from the Maliseet and Passamaquoddy people. They are humanoid with long hair and large teeth. They scare children away from the water whether it be frozen over or warm. Citations: Rose, Carol. Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth. United Kingdom, Norton, 2001. Sullivan, Irene F., and Gill, Sam D.. Dictionary of Native American Mythology. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 1994.
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Aipalookvik
Aipalookvik is from Inuit mythology. It is a Tuurngait (a being similar to a god) of the dead alongside Anguta. However, where Anguta was seen as benevolent, Aipalookvik was considered evil. He was seen as a threat to fishermen and anyone else who went out on the water. Aipalookvik would manifest as a spirit that possesses dead bodies. When it would find a victim, it would drain their body heat and drag them into the water. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2017. Brown, Nathan Robert, and Smith, Evans Lansing. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to World Mythology. United States, Alpha Books, 2008.
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El Agüelo/El Abuelo
El Agüelo is a creature whose name translates to “grandfather” in Spanish and is speculated to have some connection to words of the Pueblo Native Americans. He serves as a bogeyman figure, sometimes identical to the Cucuy, and possibly related to a similar figure named Laguna Chapió. He also serves as a prominent figure in the Los Matachines dance, along with La Abuela who serves as his female counterpart. He is most commonly from New Mexico and Colorado, more so than other parts of the Southwest. He is depicted as an intimidating old man with a scary mask on his face. Sometimes the mask is a tortilla adorned with buffalo horns…
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Abu Rigl Maslukha
Abu Rigl Masluka is from Egyptian folklore (not mythology). The name means “man with burnt skin” or “man with burnt leg.” The story goes that he was burned because he didn’t listen to his parents telling him to stay away from something hot. He serves as a bogeyman figure. He kidnaps disobedient children to cook and eat. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Giants and Humanoids in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
