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Hidebehind
The Hidebehind is a creature from Lumberjack Folklore. It is incredibly dangerous and is often responsible for men disappearing in the woods. It will follow behind a person, and no matter how quickly they turn around, it will immediately hide behind something. At the right moment it will ambush them and drag them away. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Matthews, John, and Matthews, Caitlin. The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A-Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic. United Kingdom, Harper Element, 2009.
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Hi-Hi-Aka-La-La-Hai
Hi-Hi-Aka-La-La-Hai was a strong and handsome man who tried to court the Hawaiian goddess Poliahu. She agreed to give him an answer if he scaled a cliff at night and reached the top before dawn. He failed this task, so she transformed him into the first Hau Tree. This tree grew large before it was uprooted and relocated by a strong windstorm. It grew even larger there, until it was broken into five pieces by a flash flood. These pieces spread throughout the island and formed the large amounts of these trees present today. The lines on the leaf of this tree represent this mountain, and the five main rivers…
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Hellidad
The Hellidad is a creature from Lumberjack Folklore. They resemble crosses between ostriches and zebras. They are known to lick bald people’s heads while they sleep. They are recounted in stories of Pecos Bill. Citations: Bowman, James Cloyd. Pecos Bill: The Greatest Cowboy of All Time. United States, Albert Whitman, 2017. Fantasy: Shapes of Things Unknown. United States, Scott, Foresman, 1974.
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Hedammu
Hedammu was a giant sea serpent from Mesopotamian myth. It was thought to remain in deep waters and could drag down entire ships and consume its crew. It would attack ships non-stop as it was constantly hungry. Hedammu was thought to be the child of a man named Kumarbi and a daughter of the sea god. It was also seen as a challenger to the storm gods. To deal with the Hedammu, the gods sent Ishtar to seduce it. 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. Wandering Myths: Transcultural Uses of…
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Hayopan
The Hyaopan is a form of Aswang from the Philippines. Hayopan are known to settle in swampy areas and keep crocodiles as familiars. It is often interpreted as having no distinction from other Aswang other than them not actively hunting and instead using crocodiles to find prey. These crocodiles hunt and kill, and then bring the best pieces of meat back to their master. 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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Hauhau
The Hauhau are strange creatures from Tsimshian myth. They resemble bear cubs or puppies, and dogs can be transformed into Hauhau on command. They are monstrous and powerful with a loud roar and the ability to kill many mountain sheep at once. Txamsem, the Raven, created a pair of these creatures for when he retired into the mountains, and they bring him meat every day. Citations: Barbeau, Marius, and Beynon, William. Tsimshian Narratives: Tricksters, shamans, and heroes. Canada, Directorate, Canadian Museum of Civilization, 1987. Boas, Franz, and Tate, Henry W.. Tsimshian Mythology. United States, U.S. Bureau of American ethnology, 1916. Gill, Sam D., and Sullivan, Irene F.. Dictionary of Native…
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Haugbui
The Haugbui is an undead creature from Scandinavian mythology. Its name means “mound dweller.” They are thought to be corpses who rise from the dead and collect treasure. When angered, Haugbui bring disease and misfortune that lasts through generations. They are believed to use a specific form of black magic called Trollskap. They can be appeased if offered the first bit of milk from a cow who just birthed a calf, or the first glass of ale brewed in a household. In desperate times, people would sacrifice cows to this creature. In other situations, they can be killed with fire or a large group of armed warriors. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan.…
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Hati
Hati is a giant wolf from Norse mythology. His name means “hatred” and he chases the moon trying to devour it. He is a son of Fenrir and is paired with his brother Sköll. The giantess Iarnsaxa feeds him the marrow from adulterers and murderers. Eclipses are caused when he or his brother nearly succeed, and people would make loud noise to scare them off. It is thought that at Ragnarok both will succeed and devour the celestial bodies, setting off three years of winter. Citations: Dougherty, Martin J.. Norse Myths: Viking Legends of Heroes and Gods. United Kingdom, Amber Books Ltd, 2016. Guerber, Hélène Adeline. Myths of the Norsemen:…
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Hantu
Hantu is a term used when referring to creatures from Malaysian myths. Hantu is often translated as “ghost” “demon” or “spirit.” They live in a place called Pulau Hantu, roughly meaning “ghost island.” They can generally be split into three classifications these being minor, medium, and greater. They’re nocturnal spirits and typically represent smaller dangers, preying on mankind. It’s believed there is a Hantu for every evil. They can bring disease, and insanity, and may possess people or herald Iblis. They are often invisible and can only be heard rather than seen. Each Hantu has specific strengths and weaknesses, and what these are can vary from town to town or…
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Hans Trapp
Hans Trapp is a mythical figure from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France. He is related to the figures Knecht Ruprecht and Père Fouettard. He was also associated with a historical figure known as Hans Von Trotha, who was a knight and nobleman from the 1400s. He had a dispute with an abbot from a Benedictine monastery. He made a dam to deprive the town of Weissenburg of water and then broke it to flood the area. For this crime and others, he was summoned by Pope Alexander VI. He refused to appear and insulted the pope, resulting in his excommunication. Because of this, he was sometimes referred to as the…
