U

  • Ghosts,  Scandinavia,  U

    Utburd/Utböling/Utkasting

    The Utburd is a form of ghost from Scandinavian mythology. They’re thought to be the ghosts of children left outside to die due to exposure. Sometimes the children are left out because they are deemed weak and deformed. Sometimes they’re viewed as identical to the Myling. They’re malicious creatures that seek vengeance. To stop a Utburd, their body must be found and properly buried on Holy ground and they could be stopped if you burn the remains. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Spirits and Ghosts in World Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Kvideland, Reimund, and Sehmsdorf, Henning K.. Scandinavian Folk Belief and Legend. United States, University of Minnesota…

  • Giants,  Romania,  Russia,  U

    Urias

    The Urias were a race of giants and were considered the first to inhabit the earth in Romania and Russia. They lived in peace with humans at first but eventually began to cause war and destruction. They were often connected to Nephilim. They were killed by the biblical flood. Urias burial mounds contain riches. These graves can be found on Christmas Eve, Easter, or Saint Georges Day, at which time a magic fire burns above them. Citations: McElroy, D.R.. Superstitions: A Handbook of Folklore, Myths, and Legends from Around the World. United States, Book Sales, 2020. World Mythology Lite. N.P., Frederick Holiday.

  • Alaska,  Cryptids,  Hairy Hominids,  U

    Urayuli

    The Urayuli is a cryptid from Southwest Alaska near Lake Iliamna. Its name means “hairy man.” They’re hairy hominids with long reddish-brown shaggy hair, glowing eyes, no neck, and long arms reaching to their ankles. They stand 6-10 feet tall, weigh 750 pounds, and have ape-like facial features. They are thought to eat fish, frogs, and even dogs. They are often blamed for trashing camps and stealing food but are generally peaceful. They make high pitched cries sounding like a loon. They’re thought to take children and turn them into Urayuli, but not hurt them. Citations: Cabre, Mel, and Mart, T. S.. The Legend of Bigfoot: Leaving His Mark on…

  • Russia,  U,  Undead,  Vampires,  Witches

    Upyr

    The Upyr is a Russian vampire that rises from the dead. They hunt down entire families starting with the children and working up to the adults. They come from the corpse of a witch or from someone who committed suicide. They can also be created if a person or animal walks over the grave of someone recently deceased, causing them to drain their life force to reanimate themselves. 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.

  • Poland,  U,  Undead,  Vampires

    Upier/Upierczi(pl)

    Upierczi are undead vampires from Poland. They build nests in crypts or some other secure location. They rarely use their own graves for their nests and instead nest far from their own burial locations. They hunt from noon to midnight. They fill their nests with blood when they come back and sleep in them. They use their forked tongues to attack instead of fangs. They are constantly hungry and drain their victims entirely. They are the risen corpse of someone born without teeth or with a caul. In life they are agitated, hyperactive, and have an intense flushed face. They are completely evil after death. They can be prevented from becoming…

  • Japan,  Sea Monster,  U,  Yokai

    Umibozu

    The Umibozu is a Japanese Yōkai whose true form is unknown. They appear human in shape with inky black skin, large round eyes and bald heads. They are only seen from the shoulders up probably because they are just that big. They are easily the size of a ship if not much larger. They appear on calm nights and cause bad weather and rocky seas to pop up suddenly and without warning. Some say they are somewhat ghostly. They are sometimes believed to be the souls of drowned priests that were thrown overboard. It was thought they would demand a barrel so they could scoop water into a ship to…

  • Philippines,  U

    Ukoy

    The Ukoy are from Filipino mythology. They have human upper bodies with arms and legs replaced by eight to fifty octopus tentacles. They are incredibly strong and can swim as fast as a dolphin. They will kill any humans that approach their underwater cave homes, though they are not actively hostile. They are strong underwater but weak on land. 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.

  • Inuit,  U,  W

    Uentshukumishiteu/Wentshukumishiteu

    The Uentshukumishiteu is a form of water monster from Inuit mythology. They live in icy waters and can appear out of nowhere to kill and eat humans. They can travel underground and through rocks. They feed on human flesh and protect young animals from hunters, especially guarding otters. They are thought to have a home under Manitutshu, the spirit mountain. 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. Mythologies. N.p., PediaPress.

  • G,  Lake Monsters,  T,  Tasmania,  U

    Good Hoop/Tasmanian Bunyip/Universal Eye

    Good Hoop is an alternate name for the Bunyip, commonly from Tasmania. They often have serpentine forms and may have small or non-visible ears, a sheepdog head, small wing-like fins, shaggy black hair, and/or crooked feet. They measure between 1.2 and 1.35 meters in length and are thought to move 50 km per hour. One was sighted in Lake Tiberias in 1952. It was first viewed in shallow water and quickly disappeared into deep water. Citations: Bayley, Harold. The lost language of symbolism; an inquiry into the origin of certain letters, words, names, fairy-tales, folklore, and mythologies. London, Williams and Norgate, 1912. Hargreaves, Joyce, and Hargreaves, Beryl Joyce. Hargreaves New…

  • Denmark,  F,  H,  Trolls,  U

    Foddenskkmaend/Holder-Folk/Hollow-Men/Underground-People

    The Foddenskkmaend are trolls of the Faroe Islands. They are believed to kidnap humans and take them to their underground lairs. Citations: Conway, D.J.. Ancient Art of Faery Magick. United States, Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed, 2005. 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, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2013. Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Giants and Humanoids in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Keightley, Thomas. The Fairy Mythology: Illustrative of the Romance and Superstition of Various Countries. United Kingdom, H.G. Bohn, 1850.