England
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Gremlin
The Gremlin is a common mythical creature from more modern folklore, originally British. Stories of this came about in the mid-twentieth century during times of war. and were blamed for causing machine failures. They’re known for mischief, troublemaking, and sabotaging things, especially aircraft. While they could be kind in some circumstances they are far more likely to cause problems. They’re thought to be similar in size and stature to an imp. They are thought to be anywhere from one to seven feet tall, often having grey skin or being covered in fur. Sometimes Gremlins are thought to be invisible. Citations: American Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales [3 Volumes]: An Encyclopedia…
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Felixstowe Fire Demon
The Felixstowe Fire Demon is an alien sighted by Michael Johnson. He was riding in a car with Geoffrey Maskey and Mavis Fordyce. The car stopped on Walton Avenue in Felixstowe Essex at 10:30 at night. Johnson randomly left the car without a word and walked into the woods. Minutes later a high-pitched humming noise was heard. Maskey looked out the car window to find the source and saw a brightly glowing orange oval shaped object. The UFO was 6 feet long and 100 feet off the ground. The object quickly disappeared into the trees, but the sound could still be heard. Johnson soon emerged from the woods gripping his…
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Bugbear
The Bugbear is a form of creature from English Folklore. They’re malevolent creatures often used as bogeyman figures. They frequently take the form of bears or other large beasts and eat bad children. Bugbear is also often a word used to refer to a scarecrow. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2013. Rose, Carol. Giants Monsters and Dragons: An Encyclopedia Of Folklore Legend And Myth. United Kingdom, WW Norton, 2001.
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Bucca
Bucca is a sea monster from England. It was once believed to be a god of the sea, but is now known as a lesser mythical creature. It is thought to resemble a dark brown conger eel with hair made from tangled seaweed, and it is thought that it can change form or become invisible. If sacrifices of fish and bread are given to Bucca, then it leads fishermen to fish and pushes their boats away from rocks. If any fish are caught with the assistance of Bucca though, one must be thrown back as thanks. It is thought to be more aggressive near the Orkney Islands where it was…
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Boggart/Boggleman
The Boggarts are invisible creatures from English folklore. They like to wait for quiet moments to make loud noises and scare people and sometimes move things like a poltergeist. Sometimes they’re corporeal enough to physically attack people, and occasionally they’ve been known to possess domesticated animals and make them violent. They can be sent away with exorcism or burning sage. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.
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Bogey/Bogie/Bogey-Beast
The Bogey is a creature from British folklore. They’re described as large black creatures with vague appearances like dust or smoke that have been known to take the form of dogs. It’s often thought that looking through the keyhole of a wooden door would allow you to see their dull eyes. They move at night and often travel in packs. They enjoy startling people as much as possible before killing them, and especially like scaring people to death. They may cause food to rot, water to become poisoned, or cause crops and livestock to become diseased. They have been known to cause disruptions by moving objects and may rest in…
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Blue-Cap/Blue-Bonnet
The Blue-Cap is a form of Fae from English myth. They are thought to live in mines and often work alongside human miners. They’re thought to be strong and industrious with a deep understanding of rocks and ore, and the supernatural ability to control these things. While not mining, they resemble blue and white balls of light that are cold to the touch. Some believe they have troll-like forms and scoop rocks and ore from mine walls. If a Blue-Cap assisted in a mine, they had to be given exact payment for that day’s work. If left unpaid or underpaid, they would leave the mine forever. If they were overpaid,…
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Bloody Bones/Old Bloody Bones
Bloody Bones is a bogeyman figure from England and the United States. It’s described as being incredibly ugly with blood and bone visible, and sometimes even looks like a dancing headless skeleton. He was often seen as a companion to Rawhead, or one part of the same being. He is also sometimes related to a figure named High Walker, who could raise the bones of the dead. Rawhead and Bloody Bones defied him and ended up causing his death. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology. United States,…
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Blood Dogs/Scots Hounds
The Blood Dogs are mythical creatures from Scotland and Northern England. They have grey bodies, and red eyes, and leave no mark on the ground to indicate their presence. Their baying is thought to sound like the wind. They’re believed to haunt battlefields and lick up the blood of fallen soldiers, digging through the dirt for soaked-up blood and unburied corpses. In Scotland, they only feed on the blood of English people and are thought to be the ghosts of the hunting dogs belonging to Bonny Prince Charlie. They form out of morning mist, the day after a large battle. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural…
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Black Shuck
The Black Shcuk is a supernatural creature from the folklore of England. They are often sighted in Anglia, Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk, and sightings continue to this day. They are most active on stormy nights and just before bad weather. They may be named after the war dog of Thor and Odin named Shukir, but the name could also come from the word “shucky” which means hairy or shaggy. They have several different descriptions often having glowing red saucer-sized eyes, but sometimes only a singular eye. Sometimes they’re the size of a horse, other times the size of a large dog, and occasionally they have no head. They rarely pose…
