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Hokhokw/Hoxhogwaxtewae/Hoxhok-of-the-Sky/Huxwhukw:
The Hokhokw is a mythical figure from Kwakiutl myth. It’s described as a monstrous bird with a long beak that serves as an attendant to the monster Bakbakwakanooksiewae. Its beak has a square tip to break open human skulls and consume their brains. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Werness, Hope B.. The Continuum Encyclopedia of Native Art: Worldview, Symbolism, and Culture in Africa, Oceania, and Native North America. United Kingdom, Continuum, 2000.
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Hinge-tailed Bingbuffer
The Hinge-Tailed Bingebuffer is a potentially extinct creature from lumberjack folklore. It’s thought one of the last was killed in 1881 or 1882. They resemble huge hippopotami with long, flat tapering tails that can reach forty feet in length. They have short legs which makes moving their heavy bodies slow and difficult. They have a large pouch under their jaws that can hold an entire bushel. They often fill this pouch with small stones when hunting. The tail of this creature is hinged, and it can use this tail to launch the stones they store. This attack has incredible power and accuracy, allowing it to hit targets even hundreds of…
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Hai-Uri
The Hai-Uri are mythical creatures from the Khoikhoi people of Southwest Africa. Half of their bodies are visible in our world, while the other half is only visible in the spirit world. This causes them to appear as people split in half vertically. It’s believed they can run as fast as a gazelle and leap over large bushes and trees. They hunt down people and club them with their fists or jump on them until they die. They’re thought to consume the flesh, bones, and blood of their victims. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United…
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Hwa Yih
Hwa Yih is one of the Lwan from Chinese myth. These birds resemble large, graceful pheasants, which have different names based on their changing colors. This form is the white version, and goes alongside the Fung, Yin Chu, To Fu, and Yu Siang. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Hanehwa
The Hanehwa are mythical creatures from the myths of the Seneca. They are human skin removed in a whole piece. Sorcerers use them as guardians because they do not sleep and shout three times to warn of an approaching stranger. Citations: Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. N.p., U.S. Government Printing Office, 1918. Sullivan, Irene F., and Gill, Sam D.. Dictionary of Native American Mythology. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 1994.
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Hōsōgami
The Hosōgami is a form of Yokai or Kami from Japanese myth. He was considered the god of smallpox and he was offered food in exchange for protection. The color red was often used to ward off Hosōgami, so patients were given red caps, socks, and sheets. People would also consume a dish called Sekihan made from red beans and rice. Rituals involving the Hosōgami would involve Gohei staff decorated with red strips of paper and some districts made straw dolls with sekihan balls and Waraji straw sandals and put them into the road, to give the Hosōgami an easy trip home. Small coins may be added to make the…
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Zduhać/Aloviti/Vjedogonja/Wind Chasers/Cloud Chaser/Hail Defender/Fairy Man/Dragon Man
The Zduhać are mythical figures from Slavic myth. They are described as people capable of protecting people, homes, and entire villages from rain and hail. They are often thought of as mythical creatures, like dragons or fairies, but in human form. Sometimes they were seen as prophets and connected to angels and saints. They are generally seen as heroic figures that look entirely human, though often melancholic, thoughtful, strong, resourceful, and resilient. A Zduhać could be detected from birth if they were born with the caul still on their head, and they would also often have an affinity to crows. Some believed however that a Zduhać could only be born…
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Troll/Hill Men/Hill-People/Jutul/Orcs/Rise/Trolds/Trows/Trulli
Trolls are creatures from Scandinavian folklore. Some count them as one of four kinds of fae seen as enemies to mankind. They are larger than humans, initially by a major degree but over time the difference was lessened, though they are always significantly stronger than humans. They are thought to be cannibalistic creatures that eat humans. They have hunched backs, long crooked noses, grey clothes, and red hats. They can become invisible through the use of their magic hats and are thought to be capable of giving immense strength to someone, see the future, and shapeshift into any form. In ballads they are said to have a king, but this…
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Teke Teke/Shaka Shaka/ Pata Pata/ Kata Kata/Koto Koto/ Hijikake Babā
The Teke Teke is a form of ghost from Japanese urban legends. The name is an onomatopoeia meant to reference the sound of them dragging themselves with their hands. They are almost always women and look like people cut in half at the waist. Despite the fact that they crawl, they are thought to be capable of keeping up with cars when in pursuit, sometimes reaching 150km per hour. They commonly carry scythes or sickles. Teke Teke can be found in urban areas, commonly along dark roads. Getting attacked by a Teke Teke is horrific, but stories are often unclear about the specifics of these attacks. Commonly victims are cut…
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Huspalim
The Huspalim is strange creature from Ethiopian folklore. They resembled giant marmots. Sightings of them were recorded by Europeans during medieval times. They had huge round heads, tiny round ears, monkey-like faces, round paws, and bald red spotted skin. They were supposedly kept in cages on the island of Zacotera, where they could serve as good food but only if the meat was beaten thoroughly. Citations: Rose, Carol. Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth. United Kingdom, Norton, 2001.
