One Hundred Mythical Creatures in Haiku

Day C - Oni

2010-03-10T18:12:00.002Z

Japanese ogre,

Kanabō-swinging demon,

Brute strong beyond strong.

The captivating ogre or troll creature of Japan, Oni refers to a wide range of demonic humanoids in the region's cultural legend. Monstrous beings of a variety of types and individual odd traits (see the demon hag-woman Onibaba, for example) Oni are most often depicted as having huge fangs, a pair of horns and red or blue skin. A destructive and dangerous bunch, the demons typically wear a tiger-skin loin cloth and wield a distinctive iron club (the kanabō) to emphasise their might and ferocious nature. Said to torment sinners in Hell, the Oni's reputation for fearsome strength is such that its image is used to ward off bad luck and malign spirits. Nasty but lovable, nevertheless, the mythical Far Eastern entity with the lethal iron weapon has permeated pop culture and appears all over art through the ages. The Oni has even made its mark on the Japanese language: idioms like 'Oni with an iron club' ("oni-ni-kanabō"), for instance, refer to invincibility or something that is 'strong beyond strong'. A perilous demonic powerhouse swinging an impressive iron club: kudos to all the Oni of Japan. By demons, be driven...

And that's one hundred mythical creatures, one hundred screwy haiku verses and one hundred silly supernatural sketches. Whoa. It's been beautifully beastly. To the majestic mythical entities of the supernatural realms: I salute you!

Day XCIX - Sha

2010-03-09T16:00:00.000Z

Egyptian canid,

Square-eared symbol of Set,

Tail like a fork.

Understood to be a wild dog or jackal-like creature, the Sha is an auspicious entity of ancient Egyptian mythology associated with Set (god of darkness, chaos and the desert). Calling the North African Saharan home, the Sha is said to be black or red and has a slender body like a greyhound, a pair of perpetually stiff rectangular ears and a firm tail that's forked at the end. As a divine representation of Set's power, the creature can be found in hieroglyphs and archaeological remains lasting from antiquity and was adopted as an icon of several emperors and cults of the desert god. Sadly, in periods when Set was unpopular the Sha's standing likewise suffers, so depictions of the angular dog dies cease after the Third Intermediate Period. Linked with stories of the mysterious Salawa ("scary wolf") dog-beast that allegedly stalks the Egyptian desert, the wonderfully-named Sha is intriguing as a legendary animal purely for its idiosyncratic ever-erect ears and triton tail. For those features alone, the ancient Egyptian desert dog of divine significance deserves some veneration.

Day XCVIII - Minotaur

2010-03-08T19:08:00.001Z

Tragic Cretan bull,

Labyrinth of King Minos,

Falls to Theseus.

One of the most infamous supernatural entities in Greek mythology, the mighty Minotaur of Crete is a compelling creature of depth and pathos. Described as a brutal hulking human with the head of a bull, the horned hybrid was condemned to a solitary life in the labyrinth below King Minos' palace at Knossos according to ancient legend. The story goes that Poseidon decided to punish the Cretan king after Minos failed to sacrifice his beloved white bull in honour of the sea god and so struck his Pasiphaë with odd bestial desire. Falling in love with the bull and consequently making love to it (assisted by a bull disguise crafted by the legendary inventor Daedalus) she ended up pregnant and gave birth to a monstrous half-human, half-bull hybrid named Asterion. Wider society would come to know the creature as the Minotaur and his shamed royal stepfather imprisoned the ugly, violent being to the subterranean maze. Sacrificial victims paid as tribute by other city-states were sent down to the labyrinth for the vicious captive to devour until Theseus of Athens arrived intent on bringing its demise. With his cunning, encouragement from Minos' daughter Ariadne and a ball of thread to guide him back out of the maze, Theseus took his sword to the bull and cut its sad life short. An iconic creature in art across the ages, the poor Minotaur strikes me as one of the most tragic of all mythical beasts that deserves at least some love just for its distinctive appearance and tremendous lack of luck. Here's to the unfortunate Asterion: the mighty Minotaur of the labyrinth.

Day XCVII - Wyvern

2010-03-07T13:20:00.001Z

Aggressive icon,

Medieval winged evil,

Dreadful Dragonet.

A distinct creature amongst the dragons of European legendary tradition, the Wyvern is a reptilian monster sometimes referred to as a 'Dragonet' due to the sense that they look like adolescent dragons. Identified by the beakish jaw, a pair of expansive wings and the fact that they only have a set of hind-legs (their wings act as forelimbs) Wyverns are cited as being very individual entities and are prominent in medieval bestiaries, heraldry and iconography. Said to be smaller but more actively aggressive than the average dragon, Wyverns can also be picked out thanks to their sharp, pointed tail (possibly poisonous) and their angular heads. Considered to inhabit cavern lairs just like conventional dragons, another distinctive feature of Wyvern nature is their lack of acute intelligence and thus it's believed that their treasure hoards are most likely to be filled with worthless junk rather than real valuables. Popular in the mythology of medieval Europe, the soaring serpentines were looked to as a symbol of strength, alchemical dabbling or as allegorical icons of Satan and the spread of pestilence. Altogether, Wyverns fly high as fantastic, enthralling mythical beings.

Day XCVI - Harionago

2010-03-06T13:55:00.001Z

She of Shikoku,

Itching to unleash barbed braids,

Hook-hair horror.

Another scary, hairy female figure from Japanese folklore, Harionago literally translates as "barbed woman" and terrifies the island of Shikoku. Legend has it that the beautiful lady (also known as Harionna) wanders the roads of the Ehime prefecture region actively looking for victims, preferably younger men. The Harionago's outstanding attribute is her sharp barbed hook hair which she lets down and unleashes on the victims she encounters. The ghoulish terror allegedly laughs at those she comes across and should they laugh back, she sets her sentient hair on them and ensnares them for their audacity. She's an excellent and imaginative Japanese folklore entity, and so I'd say we should salute the Harionago, her striking looks and lethal locks.

Day XCV - Wakwak

2010-03-05T16:23:00.002Z

Noises in the night,

Terrible ripping talons,

Tears out human hearts.

A winged terror from Filipino folklore, the Wakwak is a vampiric bird-bat type beast that poses a great threat to its human prey. Named after the flapping sound it makes as it flies through the night, it is said that the louder it is, the further it is away. That, I suppose, ultimately means that you're safe if you can hear it (and in tremendous danger if you can't) thus, if you don't hear it you're in tremendous danger). If that wasn't disturbing enough, the Wakwak is reckoned to have exceptionally sharp wings and vicious long talons or claws that it uses to slash and mutilate those it attacks. The Manananggal is a similar bat-being in the mythology of the Philippines, distinguished by its ability to split its body in half (which the Wakwak cannot do). The dreadful night monster is associated with unklu (Filipino vampires) and witches and altogether comes across as an excellent vampire-entity with all its heart-devouring viciousness and confusing sound effects trickery.

Day XCIV - Behemoth

2010-03-04T18:22:00.001Z

Immense animal,

Great grazing beast of scripture,

Largest in the land.

So humongous that its name now generically refers to anything very large and powerful, the Behemoth is the land-based equivalent of the Leviathan. Just like the very big fish, the Behemoth makes his mark on the Book of Job and symbolically stands as the largest animal of the earth in Judeo-Christian scripture. Beyond the consensus on its colossal size and tremendous strength, descriptions of the beast's appearance vary with some identifying the Behemoth as an oxen-type creature, some a warthog-like-being or others more along the lines of a hippopotamus or elephant. Envisaged as a insurmountable grazing herbivore that can only be killed by God, eschatological traditions suggest that the Behemoth's meat will be served to the righteous at the great banquet of the Apocalypse. Basically, the creature is the most immense and enormous hulking being that could inhabit dry land in Jewish and Christian thought. Regardless of its nature or what it looks like, here's to the biggest beast in the Bible.

Day XCIII - Geryon

2010-03-03T18:34:00.002Z

Three-bodied giant,

Visited by Heracles,

Hero claims cattle.

Another great figure from Greek mythology, Geryon is the three-bodied giant believed to live on the isle of Erytheia beyond the Hesperides to the west of the world's end (ancient Greek thought figured the edge of existence was whatever lay beyond the Mediterranean Sea). Reckoned to be a ferocious giant with brutal, warrior inclinations, the most outstanding thing about the figure is that he's seen as a 'three-in-one' beast. Geryon is described as being triple-bodied with three heads and torsos joined together which all ultimately adds up to something spectacularly terrifying. Depictions don't always agree on exact numbers of heads, legs and arms, however, and sometimes the giant is given wings. Despite all the ferocity, Geryon has a herd of magnificent red cattle that he cares for with the aid of Eurytion the human hersdman and Orthrus the two-headed watchdog (and brother of Cerberus). Heracles, despatched to claim the cattle, sails in a golden cup to the Hesperides and clubs the giant's companions to death before grappling with Geryon himself. The triple-titan meets his demise when the demigod knocks off one of his helmets and pierces the forehead with a hydra-venom-laced arrow. Legend then has it that Heracles brings the special bovine back to King Eurystheus having successfully completed task ten (after he gets sidetracked when Hera sends gadflies to bother the cattle and causes them to scatter across the continent. It takes the hero a year to gather them together again). It's a pretty sorry end for such a striking, imaginatively-inspiring beast. To the great giant cowherd of Greek mythology, I'd say a bit of empathy and awed respect for his outstanding anatomy is due.

Day XCII - Vampire

2010-03-02T13:06:00.001Z

Cadaverous fiend,

Ubiquitous bloodsucker,

Unholy icon.

Probably the most popular of all mythical monsters in the present day, everyone knows of (and either loves or fears) vampires. Most often configured as 'living dead' beings that feed off the blood of humans, Vampirism is usually the result of improper burial or an unholy death which consequently links the creature to religious superstition, disease and decay. Vampires may be able to shapeshift, are often imagined as being fanged and cadaverous figures who keep to the dark; in the whole mass of divergent mythologies, protective methods include religious paraphernalia, garlic, holy water and mirrors. Every region and culture has their own vampire-type entity operating as a bloodsucking horror though the archetype has been mainly drawn from European traditions - particularly Slavic - with the rest fleshed out by literature (especially Bram Stoker's Dracula) and classic horror flicks. Ultimately, the Vampire is many different things to many different people and, thus, is probably the finest folklore figure in that it serves as an embodiment of all death and fear according to the individual's own psychological profile. Whatever the tradition and whatever your idealised Vampire is (mine is Murnau's Nosferatu) make sure you don't invite one in and ensure that you appreciate the awesome monsters well out of biting distance.

Day XCI - Nix

2010-03-01T17:48:00.000Z

Long, wet lustrous hair,

Spirit of northern waters,

Sound of sweet music.

A wonderful water spirit, the Nix goes by many names and is present across a range of northern European folk traditions, generally understood to be a mermaid or merman-like entity. Believed to have shapeshifting ability, artworks most often depict the Nix in human form and identify it as an enchanting creature that lures people to the shore through the power of music. The violin is the water-sprite's instrument of choice and in some folk traditions it's terribly effective in mesmerising passers-by and leading them to a drowning death. Saying the creature's name aloud can protect against its malevolent influence, though that'd assume you knew whether it was called Nix, Nixie, neck, näck, nøkk, nøkken, Grim, Fosse-grim or Strömkarl. Whatever label it goes by, the supernatural figure of northern European legend has also been perceived as a beautiful, harmless entity at one with nature who may even pass on its artistic abilities to others if it feels generous. All give a round of applause to the Nix making sweet sounds and capturing imaginations across Scandinavian, British and German mythology.

Day XC - Tengu

2010-02-28T13:26:00.000Z

Bird-man with big beak,

Ascetic flying demon,

Spirit sticks nose in.

A symbolic creature of great significance in Japanese culture, the Tengu is a tremendously weird avian entity. Commonly considered to be an amalgamation of human and bird, the creature has been configured by Buddhist and Shinto traditions as both a disruptive evil demonic entities and good kami spirits respectively. Over the ages the Tengu's features have become increasingly anthropomorphised and in contrast to the ancient image of a dog-like crow, the creature is now most well-known for its huge nose. According to tradition, this immense snout is a powerful icon warning against arrogance and ill-use of knowledge and the Tengu takes out its wrath on samurai and monks whose behaviour does not become their vocation. Linked to martial arts, the Shugendō sect (hence the distinctive cap and robes in artwork), the ascetic avian's famous form can be found across folk tales and popular culture all over the place. Making mischief and greatly popular in public imagery, the Tengu deserves praise for its awe-inspiring potent protuberance. Have due respect for the vigilant spirit of Japan's skies: the disciplinarian mythic mountain spirit with the massive nose.

Day LXXXIX - Manticore

2010-02-27T13:38:00.001Z

Tail of shooting spikes,

Lethal lion-hybrid strikes,

Brass tones of terror.

An incredible man-eating hybrid, the Manticore is a terrifying creature that has spread dread through a range of different mythical traditions. Like a masculine-version of the sphinx, the creature is commonly a composite of human head, a red lion body and a lethal tail of spiny poisonous spikes that it shoots to kill or paralyse its prey. The mythical beast - also understood to have a brilliant booming voice like a brass section - has its origins in ancient Persian legend and was believed to lurk in the far away lands of India. Tales of the Manticore spread to the leading intellectual arenas of Mediterranean antiquity and the creature consequently enjoyed a prominent resurgence in medieval European bestiaries. Despite its human traits and tuneful trumpet tones, the creature is a carnivorous horror desperate to rip flesh, sink its multiple rows of sharp teeth into meat and swallow victims whole. Flinging deadly arrows, the hybrid form of the Manticore is something to fear and, quite frankly, flee from without so much as a second thought.

Day LXXXVIII - Trauco

2010-02-26T13:17:00.001Z

Stumpy seducer,

Small but sexually potent,

Women can't resist.

A curious little creature small in stature but sinister in nature, the Trauco is a South American dwarf said to dwell in the forests of Chile and the sleeping dreams of the region's younger women. The Chilota folklore figure is often depicted as a diminutive little fellow in a suit and hat of natural fibres with footless stump legs. The Trauco is often believed to carry a powerful stick or stone-headed hatchet which he bashes trees with to emphasise his sexual potency. Oddly enough, the mythical being's allure is overwhelming and he's irresistible to women who will subsequently be charmed by his magical magnetism. Such is the pull of the peculiar forest goblin that single women who fall pregnant with no clear father are excused as victims of the Trauco. The deadly gaze of the Chilean goblin is also alleged to be able to kill a man which makes the little fellow lethal regardless of gender. Beware the hatchet-bearing stumpy humanoid in the forests of South America: the Trauco brings trouble.

Day LXXXVII - Lóng

2010-02-25T13:26:00.000Z

Enter the dragon,

China's supreme scaly one,

Power and prestige.

The mighty reptilian form of the dragon reigns supreme over Far Eastern culture and the most influential tradition in the imagery and dispersed mythology is probably that of China. Commonly conceptualised as a wingless, great scaled serpentine creature with four legs, the Chinese dragon (or "Lóng" as it is known in the local tongue) is venerated as an icon with connotations of power, strength and good fortune. Historically, the Lóng is linked to the prestige of the Emperor (a dragon with 5-claws symbolises the Imperial ruler), the water element and Han Chinese cultural identity and such is its celestial and social significance that disfiguring a depiction of a dragon is taboo. This all makes a welcome change from Western folklore traditions of evil dragons that must be slayed; the prominence of the Lóng in art, folk tales and popular culture across Asia attests to a wide appreciation of what are awesome supernatural entities. As the most potent and alluring of all dragons, the great Lóng of China commands a colossal amount of respect and should be celebrated (rather than brutally slain).

Day LXXXVI - Domovoi

2010-02-24T14:17:00.001Z

Hairy housekeeper,

Upset by untidiness,

Sulks beneath the stove.

A diligent domestic spirit from Slavic folklore, the Domovoi is revered as a superb household creature that is undoubtedly handy to have around. Eastern European legend has it that every house has one of the hairy little domesticated beings living under the stove or threshold protecting the family and maintaining a peaceful, orderly abode. In terms of appearance, Domoviye are commonly characterised as having grey beards, little horns and a tail and may even look like their owner who they'll dutifully serve and possibly even act as an oracle for. The furry housekeeper will do the chores and generally be a friendly family member as long as its owners show it affection, don't deliberately make a dirty mess and give it gifts (milk, biscuits or salted bread are popular presents). They'll also unleash their malicious streak on neighbouring households and harass the horses, cause disorder and break things if they're in a bad mood. It pays to appease and appreciate the hairy household spirit of Russian mythology so it doesn't start playing poltergeist tricks. Altogether, I'd say that the Domovoi is a sweet and charming supernatural entity, and no home should be without one.

Day LXXXV - Pamola

2010-02-23T15:31:00.000Z

Wings of cold weather,

Natives fear the antlers,

Sacred mountain moose.

Identified as the protector and guardian spirit of Mount Katahdin in what is now the state of Maine, the Pamola is characterised as having the head of a moose, the body of a human and the talons and wings of an eagle. A spectacular bird creature from Native American tradition, tribes such as the Abenaki and Penobscot respect Pamola as a thunder god who brings cold weather and comes down hard on the humans it resents. Terrified of the antler-toting spirit, climbing the great mountain was considered taboo in native culture and to dissuade intruders the flying moose clouds obscures the peaks with lightning storms and clouds. Even though hikers appear to ignore the spirit, you'd be hard-pressed to consider a winged moose weather lord anything but compelling and worthy of kudos. The powerful Pamola of American folklore deserves praise and veneration indeed.

Day LXXXIV - Mami Wata

2010-02-22T14:16:00.001Z

Beautiful spirit,

Much-worshipped water woman,

African mermaid.

Venerated water spirits across a range of African diaspora cultures, Mami Wata is a feminine supreme mermaid figure revered around the globe. Sometimes a pantheon of deities and sometimes a sole entity with a different name depending on region and tradition, the overall understanding is that the creature is an auspicious being of great spiritual power associated with water, healing and love. Often represented as a beautiful, long-haired woman with the tail of a fish and naked human torso, Mami Wata's body is also adorned by a great serpent and jewels (she's also linked to wealth and good fortune). She's a captivating creature, whether she's understood along usual mermaid lines (dangerous seductive sexual creatures capturing young men in the spirit realm until they promise to be faithful and avoid eating fish) or as sacred nature deities of prosperity, voodoo ritual and priestess devotion. Drawing upon ancient maternal traditions and enchanting people across Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas, Mami Wata deserves our awe and appreciation. Much love to the great mermaid.

Day LXXXIII - Simurgh

2010-02-21T13:04:00.001Z

Extravagant wings,

Eminent shah of the sky,

Persian purity.

A marvellous flying hybrid of Persian mythology, the Simurgh is a griffin-like great bird said to have dog features (sometimes a human face) and lavish, extravagant feathers similar to a peacock. An icon across a range of Middle Eastern cultures - from ancient Iran through the medieval Byzantine empire and beyond - the fabulous wings of the Simurgh have adorned a wide array of artworks across the ages and is reckoned to live 1,700 years before burning up to be born again, phoenix-style. With immense wisdom as befits its old age, the creature is symbolic of purity, healing and fertility and is frequently figured as a helpful, benevolent bird in folk tales. Hailed as the almighty venerable ruler over all avian creatures and intercessor between earth and the heavens, the spectacular plumage of the Simurgh is a bonus that makes the being even more imaginatively-inspiring. Flying high on beautiful wings, here's to the majestic dog-bird of Persian legend.

Day LXXXII - Nuppeppo

2010-02-20T19:17:00.002Z

Odious yōkai,

Lumpy blob of flabby flesh,

Malodorous mass.

An extremely unusual and pretty unnerving yōkai from Japanese folklore, the Nuppeppo is a, basically, a supernatural blob of flesh. Most commonly characterised as being a genderless lump of flab no taller than a metre-and-a-half in height, a face and features such as fingers and toes may also be attributed as anatomical features amindst the folds of skin. Legend has it that the mythical "Blobby" is a passive, benign being who harmlessly wanders around deserted graveyards, temples and villages. What is truly offensive though is the smell of the Nuppeppo: said to be body odour worse than the stench of rotting flesh (some believe that the Nuppeppo is decaying flesh). Despite its odious nature, eternal youth allegedly awaits those who eat the skin of the lumpy spook and, altogether, it's hard not to find the 'the Blob' of Japanese legend just a little appealing. It's a moving mass of flesh! Brilliant!

Day LXXXI - Centaur

2010-02-19T16:40:00.002Z

Savage hooves gallop,

Engaged in war with Lapiths,

Equestrian man.

With the torso of a human being emerging out of the body of a horse, the Centaurs are supreme hybrid creatures of Greek mythology whose equestrian forms live long in cultural memory. Lusty, violent and easily influenced by wine, the creatures are generally characterised as a brutal and unruly race of beings with the exception of the wise Cheiron (master medicine expert and tutor to many a Greek hero who gave up immortality so he could become the Sagittarius constellation) and Pholus (friend of Heracles who accidentally kills himself with one of the legend's poison arrows). Out of the many myths in which the Centaurs make an appearance, the most significant episode is their clash with the Lapiths which comes when the horse-human hybrids violently gatecrash King Pirithous' wedding and attempt to abduct the female guests. With the help of Theseus, the Lapith people inflict huge losses on the Centaurs and scatter them across the lands in a battle which symbolises the triumph of civilisation over barbarism. Despite the defeat and condemnation as 'uncivilised', the presence of Centaurs in art across the ages - beyond their Greek origins - attests to the fact that these are awesome mythical entities that deserve our respect and appreciation. The half-man-half-horse is magnificent.

Day LXXX - Yeti

2010-02-18T13:56:00.001Z

Legendary snowman,

Mystery of the mountains,

Great Himalayan.

The infamous Abominable Snowman of Asia, the mighty Yeti is reckoned to be a giant ape-man lurking in the Himalayas. Well-known the globe over thanks to its popularity in pop-culture and numerous sightings and cryptozoological expeditions, the Yeti is also known as Mi-Go and Meh-Teh in Tibetan and Ban-manche in Nepalese (amongst many other names). Various accounts (and after reading and weeping through Tintin in Tibet, no one is telling me that the Yeti isn't out there) have the creature as a woolly great primate or bear-type being with thick white or dark fur. The mysterious, gargantuan thing in the world's highest mountains continues to captivate imaginations and its awesomeness can't be denied. All hail the Yeti!

Day LXXIX - Abatwa

2010-02-17T16:40:00.001Z

Zulu warrior,

Nomad mounted on an ant,

Careful where you step.

An incredible element of Zulu mythology, Abatwa are pretty much shy tiny humans said to be so small they can hide in anthills or behind blades of grass. South African legend has it that the little beings are hunter nomads that ride ants to get about or indeed get away from being seen. So sensitive is the Abatwa about its diminutive height that it can only tolerate being spotted by magicians, pregnant women or children under the age of four. If you spy one and you don't meet those criteria then you'll have to convince the Abatwa that you saw it from a long way away in order to as not to offend it (and consequently feel the points of poison arrows). Stepping on the creatures is also a death sentence so altogether it makes sense to be aware of the awesome pygmy people of South Africa. All hail the Abatwa as they ride astride their ant-mounts!

Day LXXVIII - Nure-onna

2010-02-16T13:04:00.001Z

Beautiful serpent,

Seeking shoreside solitude,

Woman washes hair.

Believed to have the head of an attractive human woman and the lengthy body of a snake, the Nure-onna is an amphibious supernatural entity from Japanese legend. Characterised as being up to an incredible 300 metres long with fangs and fingers in some tales, the most outstanding features of the serpent lady are her lizard tongue and her hair. For the Nure-onna, it's all about her shiny luscious locks and the creature allegedly spends its time looking for peaceful places on the shore where she can wash her hair without any interruption. Those who do disturb her may find themselves having their blood sucked by the reptilian tongue, sometimes having been prevented from escaping if they accepted a baby-like bundle from the great snake (the bundle gets heavier as soon as the victim takes it in their arms). Either way, you're best off leaving the Nure-onna alone in peace and quiet to get on with their haircare. Kudos to what is possibly the most private and perfectionist of all Japan's paranormal beings.

Day LXXVII - Kobold

2010-02-15T16:20:00.003Z

German household sprite,

Small domestic folk figure,

Dressed in peasant garb.

A legendary little race of beings with many local variations and divergent traditions, Kobolds are German fun folklore beings whose mythical roots date back to the Middle Ages. Usually configured as monstrous dog-troll terrors in Dungeons & Dragons realms, the traditional Kobold of legend is said to be a humanoid figures no taller than a few feet high. What they look like depends on where they dwell: there are hunched-up mine Kobolds, sailor-suit-wearing and pipe-smoking ship Kobolds and - most prominent - household Kobolds. The domesticated little spirits are understood to do chores or make mischief depending on how they're treated and characteristically wear peasant clothing. Popular fairyfolk that they are, stories of Kobolds include the Heinzelmännchen of Köln (they used to do all the work in the town) and the Hödekin of Hildeheim (felt-hat wearing friend of the local bishop). In a way it's a shame their reputation has been uglified by role-playing in recent years, and the Mainzelmännchen who appear in the ZDF TV channel idents are much closer in spirit to the old-fashioned folklore figuration of the imagination-capturing Kobold. The tiny people of German legend deserve our tribute and praise.

Day LXXVI - Nian

2010-02-14T13:38:00.001Z

Firecrackers flash,

Dancing for Chinese New Year,

Beast flees from the noise.

A popular figure from Chinese folklore, legend has it that the Nian comes from under the sea or mountains to attack the villages and prey on people. Humans need not fear though, for the creature - given different characteristics depending on region and local tradition - is an easily-scared entity that will never return to bother the area again once it's been frightened. Allegedly afraid of the colour red and loud noises, the Nian can be driven away by cacophonous celebrations, firework displays and dance processions: all of which take place on Chinese New Year. Thus, New Year celebrations the world over feature a lion dance around a symbolic representation of the Nian to scare the monster away and mark 'the passing of the beast'. Even though it only takes some rhythmic kung-fu acrobatics, a few red banners and the banging of drums to send it scarpering, for its role in Chinese New Year tradition the fantastical Nian deserves tribute. Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Day LXXV - Chimera

2010-02-13T14:40:00.000Z

Three mouths breathe fire,

Beast battles Bellerophon,

Hybrid monster slain.

Legendary composite creature of Greek mythology, the Chimera (or Chimaera) is said to be a feminine fire-breathing monster of many heads whose infamy is such that her name now refers to anything of many amalgamated parts or a 'wild fancy' in popular lexicon. Said to have three faces, whoever encounters the ominous Chimera comes up against a lion at the front, a goat in the middle and a snake at the tail-end, altogether making it a terrifying beast and another terrible offspring of Echidna and Typhon. It's the great Greek hero Bellerophon who travels to the perpetual fires of Lycia, Asia Minor to obliterate the monster: according to the myth he avoids the flaming breath of the Chimera by flying high on the back of the winged horse Pegasus. Crafty Bellerophon defeats the dread creature by sticking a block of lead on the point of his spear which he rams into the mouth (which mouth we're not sure) whereupon it melts under molten flame and suffocates the great Chimera. It's a tragic but fittingly gruesome finale for a monster that epitomises the ancient Greek idea of combining a number of amazing animals together into one awesome supernatural package. I salute this scary entity: the great goat-lion-serpent deserves much praise.

Day LXXIV - Curupira

2010-02-12T13:32:00.001Z

Flame-haired little boy,

Toothsome Amazonian,

Wrongfoots forest foes.

A funny forest guardian figure of South American folklore, the Curupira is said to inhabit the form of a flame-haired little boy with green teeth and backwards feet. The funny fella has his roots in the mythology of the Tupi tribe and protects the Amazon rainforest from the damage and destruction brought upon it by humanity. The Curupira tolerates hunting for food but can't stand those that do it for pleasure and so acts to punish them for their disrespect of nature. Its backwards feet leave confusing tracks which cause vicious people to get forever lost in the forest and the supernatural being is also said to leave traps to capture cruel humans. Altogether, the Curupira is an appealing eco-warrior fairy-type being with a firm place in Brazilian folklore, and I'd say that the fiery-headed, backfooting fellow of the rainforest deserves high praise indeed. Kudos to the Curupira!

Day LXXIII - Leviathan

2010-02-11T13:08:00.001Z

Hellish sea monster,

Its breath boils the ocean,

Biblical titan.

The biggest fish in the Bible, Leviathan is the legendary sea monster of Judeo-Christian scripture whose name now conjures up images of colossal underwater abominations in popular culture. Believed to be like a great whale or sea serpent, the creature is also understood to have particular precious scaled skin and hot breath (it may in fact breathe fire) that makes the sea boil and sends smoke from its nostrils. The Leviathan exerts its presence most prominently in the Book of Job and tales of the being tell of how it operates as a prince of Satan guarding the gates of Hell, how it will be defeated by the Archangel Gabriel and how its skin will be used as a tent to host the return of the Messiah. Beyond religious imagery and allegory, the Leviathan has captured the imagination of pop culture inspiring literature (such as Moby Dick) a fair amount of heavy metal songs. The monstrous seabeast of Biblical scripture rules supreme on the waves: all hail the Leviathan.

Day LXXII - Bunyip

2010-02-10T16:14:00.001Z

Dark furry flippers,

Australian enigma,

Creature in the creek.

A mysterious creature with roots in Aboriginal mythology, the Bunyip is believed to dwell in the waterholes, swamps, rivers and billabongs of the Australian wilderness. In terms of its features, the large aquatic beast has been given many different descriptions, commonly characterised as having dark fur and flippers. Other accounts state the Bunyip has a dog-like head, great tusks and a tail similar to a horse's, though there is no consensus which thus increases the mystique. With its fearsome howl and ferocious appearance Australians fear the furry predator hiding in the creeks of the outback though have adopted it as a national icon over the ages. Finding popularity in Aboriginal folklore, cryptozoological circles and beyond, the Bunyip is an intriguing, enigmatic entity, whatever it looks like.

Day LXXI - Asasabonsam

2010-02-09T14:39:00.001Z

Hanging on leg hooks,

Vampiric fangs of metal,

African iron.

The vampire of West African legend, the Asasabonsam (or Asanbosam) is a dangerous beast hanging in the trees ready to prey on unsuspecting passers-by. Believed to have iron teeth and iron hooks for legs, the Ashanti people fear attacks from the evil predator who will dangle down and do away with them by eating them alive. The Asasabonsam allegedly aims its razor-sharp features on human thumbs first though doesn't appear to be fussy and will also stick its hooks and fangs into animals to satisfy the bloodthirst. In a way, the creature is an African mix of Count Dracula and Jaws from the James Bond movies with metal peg-legs and powerful acrobatic capabilities; all of which makes it pretty cool in my book. Respect is definitely due to the metal-edged tree-vampire terrorising West Africa.

Day LXX - Bai Ze

2010-02-08T14:26:00.001Z

Nine knowing eyeballs,

Erudite beast of Asia,

Oriental sage.

A fantastic creature from Far Eastern mythology, the Bai Ze is a bovine or lion-like beast that captures the imagination. Its Chinese name translates as 'white marsh' (its Japanese name is Hakutaku) and the being is renowned for its intelligence and ability to understand human speech. The Bai Ze is believed to have a human face, 9 eyes and 6 horns arranged around its body (3 eyes and two horns on its head an sides respectively) and legend has it that the sentient being passed on knowledge of supernatural animals (all 11, 520 of them) to the Yellow Emperor Huang-di to write up in a tome called Bai Ze Tu. Other tales have the nine-eyed sage predicting the onset of plague and thus the Bai Ze is looked to as a spirit of herbal medicine who can protect against disease as well as disseminate wisdom. Because of its incredible appearance and immense intellect, the many-eyed, multi-horned magnificent Bai Ze deserves appreciation.

Day LXIX - Satyr

2010-02-07T13:45:00.000Z

Greek comic relief,

Well-endowed woodland figure,

Phallic hedonist.

Great figures of fun from Greek mythology, Satyrs are sexually-active beings of the mountains and woodlands. Later legend conflates them with Roman fauns, but the original Satyr is generally understood to be a diminutive, well-built bearded folk with a horse's tail rather than the legs of a goat. The creature's most outstanding anatomical feature, however, is its huge ever-erect penis and - as befits such a well-endowed character - Satyrs are renowned for their sex-drive and love of chasing nymphs around the countryside. Associated with the god Dionysus, they are similarly said to enjoy wine, music, dancing and other assorted forms of enthusiastic revelry, thus they find themselves repeatedly represented in art. Aside from flashing their phalluses all over ancient pottery and artefacts, the wild woodland beings were a significant part of classical drama providing comedy amidst all the Greek tragedy with their obscene antics and irreverent asides. Able to raise a smile at any time, the Satyrs are magnificent supernatural specimens who should be hailed for their good-humour and hedonistic spirit.

Day LXVIII - Kushtaka

2010-02-06T13:13:00.001Z

Shapeshifting mammal,

Alaska's icy waters,

Otter by the shore.

Believed to be swimming about in the cold waters around Southeastern Alaska, the Kushtaka is a shapeshifting creature from the mythology of the indigenous Tlingit and Tsimshian tribes. Unsurprisingly considering its name means 'land otter man', the Kushtaka is a shapeshifter that can switch between human and otter forms and may be helpful or deadly for the humans who encounter it depending on the tale. With its ability to transform people into Kushtaka (and thus have a body that can survive the cold), it's claimed that the creatures come to the aid of distressed sailors, stopping them from freezing to death by distracting them with visions of their loved ones. Alternatively, the supernatural otters may perform their metamorphic methods out of malice and are looked to as lethal critters that can lead humans to their doom. Legend has it that tricksy Kushtaka imitates the cries and screams of women or children to lure victims - chiefly small children - to the shore where it either turns them into an otter or rips them to shreds. The native folklore figure of Alaska is thus a dangerous proposition, but you can allegedly protect yourself from it with fire, copper and urine. Here's to the incredible otter-man of Alaska.

Day LXVII - Carcolh

2010-02-05T13:00:00.000Z

Man-eating mollusc,

Slimy tentacles and shell,

Monstrous escargot.

A French folklore entity that sounds bloody disgusting, Carcolh or Lou Carcolh is claimed to be a mammoth serpent-like mollusc. Legend has it that the creature has a long body, carries a huge shell on its back and has a great many hairy tentacles around its mouth which it uses to grab prey. A subterranean beast, the Carcolh sends its creepy tentacles out of its slimy underground lair to drag victims from the surface down to be swallowed whole. It's basically a giant man-eating snail and its renown is such in the local mythology of Aquitane that the village of Hastingues is nicknamed 'lou Carcolh' in the giganto-gastropod's honour (it sits atop a round hill that looks like a large snail shell). It's like the French culinary tradition of escargot reversed, given grotesque tentacles and made colossal. Beware the creepy Carcolh and watch for wriggling appendages rising from the earth next time you're in South France.

Day LXVI - Pazuzu

2010-02-04T14:03:00.000Z

Great evil spirit,

King demon spreads pestilence,

Dread wings of despair.

Well-known in pop culture thanks to his appearance in The Exorcist, Pazuzu is Babylonian mythology's dark wind demon plaguing the people of Ancient Mesopotamia. Bringer of storms, drought, famine and locusts, the sinister spirit spreads havoc and provokes feelings of horror whenever he makes his presence felt. Such is Pazuzu's reputation, he's looked to as a guardian to protect against other wicked spirits (he's so evil, even the most malevolent demons flee in fear) and, thus, has found himself immortalised in statues and amulets. The demonic king is often described as having a pair of wings, eagle's talons as feet, the head of a dog or lion, a scorpion tail and a serpentine penis. It's an icon of pure evil, awe-inspiring in its appearance and downright frightening to think about, especially if it's conflated with disease and the influence of the Devil. The wind demon of Babylon is bad news, but a brilliant mythical creature, nevertheless.

Day LXV - Moko Jumbie

2010-02-03T13:32:00.001Z

Long-legged dancer,

Migrated from Africa,

Towering spirit.

Jumbies are ghosts or spirits of old West African mythology that - having been exported to the Caribbean - enjoy infamy in the West Indies. Just like the generic term 'ghost', 'jumbie' or 'jumbee' covers a whole range of different supernatural forms across disparate cultures, overall all being dead and generally malevolent. The subject of many superstitions and stories, Jumbies are believed to possess people at ceremonies with much dancing, drum-banging and tributary offerings of rum. The Moko Jumbie is a particularly popular type of phantom in Caribbean culture that inspires carnival parades and keeps the African roots alive to the present day. Legend tells of the gigantic African deity Moko who was able to foresee danger and scares away evil spirits from the village it guards. To represent the massive Moko's migration across the Atlantic Ocean, carnival revellers walk on stilts and bring some high-rise colour and spectacle to celebrations. Jumbies are fun and the dancing stilted spectres with West African mythological roots are outstanding as cool figures in the Caribbean phantom pantheon. All dance along with the jumbies and look up and pay tribute to watchful Moko Jumbie towering above.

Day LXIV - Golem

2010-02-02T13:55:00.000Z

Animated clay,

Brought to life by a rabbi,

Defender of Jews.

The Frankenstein's Monster of Jewish folklore, a Golem is a slab of inanimate matter - either rock, mud or clay - brought to life through the mystical manipulation of a wise rabbi. Great hulking beings of huge strength, Golems are crafted to protect the Jewish communities of Europe from anti-Semitic attacks or perform tasks for their master creator. Once they've moulded the humanoid form, the rabbi usually animates the Golem by performing a magic ritual, drawing on God's sacred name or inscribing the word "אתם" ("emet", 'truth') on the creature's forehead. By erasing the "א" the Hebrew word for 'dead' is spelled out and the creation is promptly deactivated and rendered as lifeless matter once more. Despite being heroic defenders of persecuted Jews, Golems are at a disadvantage in that they generally lack intelligence, are unable to speak and have a tendency to turn recklessly violent. The legendary folklore figure has inspired many stories across the ages and the most well-known tale revolves around the Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezazel and his raising of a Golem in 16th-century Prague. This narrative served as the basis for the brilliant 1920 movie Der Golem which ranks as absolute stone-cold classic of German Expressionist cinema. An icon of Judaism and imagination-captivating homunculus hero, quite frankly, I think the Golem rocks.

Day LXIII - Şüräle

2010-02-01T16:36:00.002Z

Long-fingered demon,

Hides in forest shrubbery,

Brings death by tickling.

With a horn sticking out of its forehead and an excellent accented name, the Şüräle (said like "sure, I lay") is a striking forest monster from Tatar mythology. Understood to be have a woolly or furry body and exceptionally long fingers, legend has it that the folklore figure lurks in the trees waiting for lost wanderers to pass its way. Having successfully grabbed its victim or lured them into a thicket, the Şüräle then proceeds to tickle the poor person to death. It probably isn't funny perishing at the fingertips of the furry monster, but it goes down as a popular beast that's drawn upon in Tatar cautionary tales time and time again. The first Tatar ballet was about a Şüräle and the most popular poem written by Ğabdulla Tuqay (dubbed the 'Father of Tatar literature') has the forest demon getting his digits trapped in a tree having been tricked by a young man. Altogether, it's an entity of immense importance in ethnic tradition and Asiatic culture altogether, coming across as a creature that captures the imagination. Even though it wouldn't do to play the tickling game with the woolly demon of the woods, you can't deny that the unicorn horn, double-whammy of umlauts and eccentric killing method makes the Şüräle an appealing mythical beastie.

Day LXII - Toyol

2010-01-31T14:19:00.000Z

Infantile spirit,

Ghastly foetus steals stuff,

Black magic baby.

A really upsetting and unnerving entity of Malay mythology, a Toyol is a child spirit invoked by a bomoh (witchdoctor shaman figure) for people to use to steal the valuables of others. If it wasn't bad enough that the babies are sold by the bomoh to irresponsible people with evil intentions, the fact that the Toyol is actually a dead foetus makes this supernatural scenario ten times more disturbing. Commonly characterised as having a big head, little hands and legs and grey skin, the little ghosts are allegedly stored in jars or urns in dark places until they are required. The price of profiteering from owning a pet thief is the consequent need to care for the creature as you would a toddler, with the additional requirement of feeding it a few drops of blood every day. Once you invoke a Toyol you're stuck with it for life and, consequently, your descendants are doomed to inherit it and deal with the negative aspects of its infantile nature. Aside from the problems of toddler temperament, their childlike simplicity can act as an obstacle to effective thieving; being easily distracted by small objects like marbles, the Toyol may end playing instead of pinching things. They can also be warded off by well-placed strands of garlic, mirrors and needles (seeing as they're afraid of sharp things and their reflections) so by hiding money behind said objects, you're less likely to end up a victim of creepy dead baby crime. I urge sympathy for this sad little figure from Southeast Asian folklore. There's something tragic and touching about the idea of an unborn baby being brought to life by black magic for the sole purpose of doing evil for selfish humans. For shame, spare a thought for that child.

Day LXI - Hippocamp

2010-01-30T15:47:00.003Z

Astounding seahorse,

Noble steed of Poseidon,

Rides on ocean spray.

Supernatural seahorse supreme, the Hippocamp (or Hippocampus) is the sea god Poseidon's majestic stead in Greek mythology. With equestrian front parts and fishy tail and fins below, legend has the aquatic horse drawing Poseidon's sea chariot across the waves or frolicking in the foam with his Olympian master. The fantastic creature makes many prominent appearances in the archaeological evidence of the ancient Mediterranean: the divine fish horse adorned the tile mosaics of many Roman baths and Hippocampi can be found as spectacular fountain sculptures (such as Roma's Trevi Fountain), Etruscan pottery decorations and a in whole array of other Classical artworks. The Hippocamp is marvellous so all hail to the awe-inspiring stallion whose bronze hooves pound the waves and pull Neptune across his watery domain.

Day LX - Taniwha

2010-01-29T14:23:00.000Z

Water predator,

Respected by the Māori,

Tapu guardian.

A significant creature in Māori mythology, the Taniwha is a tremendous predatory monster that inspires awe in the minds of tribal New Zealanders. Believed to dwell in the water of deep pools or the wide ocean, descriptions of the beast vary though tend to suggest it is the size of a whale or large shark. Whether they look like sharks, lizards, octopuses or floating logs (they are often said to be shapeshifters) their reputation is such that the Māori respect the various kinds of Taniwha and use the creature's name as a term to mean 'chief'. Though they can be dangerous beings that bring deadly currents and kidnap women, Taniwha are looked to as tribal guardians that can provide protection against enemies and serve the interests of the tribe that exalts them. The creatures of the deep are also vigilant keepers of tapu (what is taboo and sacrosanct) and ensure that those who violate what is sacred or overstep restrictions are punished. Reverence of the Taniwha remains to the present day (they even manage to stop roadworks and development taking place) and you wouldn't want to undermine the great ocean monster of the Māori mythology. Respect is due.

Day LIX - Sirrush

2010-01-28T12:57:00.000Z

Scaly composite,

Babylonian icon,

Serpent of splendour.

An incredible composite creature from Mesopotamian mythology, the Sirrush is a dragon-like being of Ancient Babylon. A scaly reptile with crested horned head, a forked tongue, lion fore-claws and eagle-esque talons as its hind legs is a fantastical being is pretty prominent in Middle Eastern iconography and artwork. Gracing King Nebuchadnezzer II's great Ishtar Gate, the Babylonian beast also goes by the musical name Mushhushshu which makes the awe-inspiring hybrid even more exciting. The fact that its name literally means "Splendour Serpent" says it all, and the weird and wonderful reptilian revered in Ancient Assyria is an appealing and unique mythical monster that captures the imagination for sure.

Day LVIII - Jötunn

2010-01-27T14:54:00.001Z

Giants of the earth,

Destructive forces of the Norse,

Clashing with the gods.

A colossal part of Norse mythology, Jötunn (Old Norse: Jötnar) are the great race of giants who cast pretty big shadows over Scandinavian legend. Displaying different characteristics depending on the individual Jötunn (Thrivaldi had nine heads), the beings are said to have immense strength, tremendous size and are often understood to have hideous features. Prophesied to be leading protagonists in the Ragnarök battle (lots of gods will die and the world will begin anew) their destructive tendencies frequently lead to conflict with the gods of Asgard and the humans of Midgard whom they attack from their home land of Jötunheimr. If they're not fighting the gods then they are consorting with them and producing offspring so unbelievably epic that only Norse mythology can contain them. Such is their high standing in Scandinavia's spiritual legend that the Jotunheimen mountain range of Norway is named after the giants' home of the Nine Worlds and they loom large as spectacular folk beings that capture the imagination. Here's to the powerful titans wreaking havoc through Viking mythical history.

Day LVII - Chonchon

2010-01-26T16:46:00.006Z

Head of ill omen,

Under the kalku's power,

Huge flapping ears,

A fearsome entity flapping though the skies in Mapuche mythology, the Chonchon is pretty much a human head with feathers and talons. Known for its distinctive "tue tue tue" cry, the most outstanding aspects of the Chonchon are its immense ears which operate as wings and carry the creature through the air on moonless nights. The big-eared beastie is viewed as a creature of bad luck in Chilean and Argentinean folklore and is frequently associated with wicked sorcery. A Chonchon comes into being when an evil kalku (shaman) applies magic cream to the throat of the poor victim at which point the head detaches and the person is transformed into the sorcerer's servant. Taking flight, the Chonchon then does the kalku's bidding, taking its talons to do despicable deeds and also possibly suck the blood of sleepers. Listen out for "tue tue tue" and look out for a pair of enormous ear-wings lest you end up assailed by the unnerving airborne head of South American legend: the dark magic version of Dumbo.

Day LVI - Kappa

2010-01-25T17:25:00.001Z

Mischievous pondlife,

Imp concerned with etiquette,

Sprightly lilypad.

Nothing to do with sportswear, the Kappa is a troublesome water sprite said to dwell in ponds and rivers according to Japanese folklore. An amphibious humanoid, the creature is said to have webbed fingers, scaly skin and a thick shell and is commonly depicted wearing a lilypad on top of its head. A menace swimming in Japan's waterways, Kappas delight in all kinds of mischief from looking up women's kimonos, breaking wind and kidnapping children (possibly to eat them). Should humans wish to protect themselves from the frog-like pest they can scare them off with fire, give them gifts to appease them (a kappamaki cucumber sushi roll is their favourite) or take advantage of their obsession with politeness and protocol. If you bow to a Kappa they'll feel compelled to return the gesture at which point you can either escape or enslave the Kappa. If it spills the water in its lilypad it will be unable to move until its refilled with the liquid of its home river and the creature will gratefully help and serve whoever does it that favour. A iconic entity in Japanese culture, the Kappa ultimately comes across as a cool gill-man figure as long as it's not eating children or being too badly behaved. The cheeky water sprites are wonderful beings, indeed.

Day LV - Serpopard

2010-01-24T13:26:00.001Z

Head lifted up high,

Ancient Egyptian feline,

Incredible neck.

As the name suggests, the Serpopard is a cross between a leopard and a snake, altogether a great beast with feline features and an exceptionally long neck like that of a serpent (but where does a serpent's neck end and its body begin?). Emerging out of ancient Egyptian mythology, the Serpopard is highly significant as a decorative motif appearing on archaeological artefacts, most prominently on several cosmetic palettes dated as being from the Pre-Dynastic period (that's over 5000 years old). A bit of an enigma in that we don't know what the Egyptians called it or why it's so strongly associated with make-up, the Serpopard is an intriguing, ultra-imaginative entity and comes across altogether as a pretty cool cat. I like the idea of stretchy-necked forms stalking the desert, so all credit to this incredible hybrid animal of Egyptian antiquity.

Day LIV - Menehune

2010-01-23T15:15:00.001Z

Handy Hawaiian,

Long hair covers naked form,

Crafty little folk.

In Hawaiian mythology Menehune are said to be long-haired little naked people no bigger than two-feet tall. Popular icons believed to inhabit the forests and valleys of the isles, legend has it that the Menehune race were the first inhabitants of Hawaii before the place was populated by Polynesian settlers. The humans found temples, houses and other craftworks when they arrived which attests to the diminutive ones' expertise in building and devotion to getting big projects done. Though they're fickle tricksters and can be malicious, the Menehune are most commonly viewed as benevolent banana-eating helpers who enjoy singing, dancing, diving off cliffs into the surf and shooting magic arrows of love to brighten the bad attitude of angry people. With their craft skills and hard-work ethic, the miniature heroes stand tall as proud symbol of Hawaii and are consequently all over the area's confectionary industry, bottled mineral water, advertising and souvenir trade. Hawaii's very own fun fairy folk, I'd say the hairy naked folk found in the Pacific Ocean deserve an enthusiastic aloha.

Day LIII - Makara

2010-01-22T13:18:00.000Z

Fishy elephant,

Aquatic mount of deities,

Hindu love symbol.

A symbol of fertility and water (the source of all life), the Makara is a marvellous creature in Hindu mythology understood to be an aquatic hybrid. Said to have a fish's body and the head of either a dolphin, a crocodile or an elephant, the Makara serves as the mount of such gods as Ganga (divine personification of the River Ganges) and Varuna (highly-powerful and prominent deity of Sky, Waters, the Celestial Ocean, the Underworld and Law) acting as their vahana (symbolic associative animal). All-in-all, the creature acts as a powerful emblem in Asian religion adorning Hindu sites and occasionally appearing in Buddhist imagery. As far as fertility icons go, an inspirational elephant with a fishy tail is unique and has a certain appeal; as does the idea that the love-dispensing deities of India ride the waves on the back of the marvellous aqueous entity. Here's to the Makara, the majestic manifestation of life, water and love in Hindu folklore.

Day LII - Fachen

2010-01-21T13:34:00.001Z

Odd Highland horror,

Vicious Celtic feathered fiend,

Only single parts.

A fearsome oddity of Celtic folklore, the Fachen (a.k.a. Peg Leg Jack) is all about the power of one having - for the most part - only single body parts. The scary cyclopean with a dark feathered mane is reckoned to dwell in the Scottish Highlands, hopping about on its single-toed leg waiting to mutilate and devour those who pass its way. It may handle a club or chain in the arm-like appendage that emerges from its furry torso and has enough strength and violent motivation to destroy an entire orchard in one night. The Fachen is so horrifying those who see it are likely to have a heart attack before they've even had chance to flee from its great gaping mouth. Surreal and truly one of a kind, salute the singular supernatural terror of Celtic mythology.

Day LI - Qiqirn

2010-01-20T16:06:00.001Z

The Inuit flee,

Convulsion-causing terror,

Naked dog spirit.

A ferocious canine spirit of the frozen north, the Qiqirn comes from Inuit mythology and is described as a large, hairless dog. With only its mouth, ears, tail-tip and feet covered in fur, the creature is said to be frightening yet foolish, which possibly explains why it runs away from the other animals it's already succeeded in scaring off. Humans can get rid of the Qiqirn by shouting its name but if they do get too close they're liable to suffer a seizure. Causing fits in the frosty backwoods of North America, the bizarre bald beastie (possibly sporting a bristling mutt-moustache) strikes me as a fantastic folklore entity. Call out its name and give the quirky terror due credit.

Day L - Gorgon

2010-01-19T15:52:00.002Z

Serpentine tresses,

Stone-cold petrifying stare,

Sisters induce dread.

Undoubtedly amongst the greatest monsters of Greek mythology, the three Gorgon sisters (Stheno, Euryale and Medusa) go down in legend as loathsome snake-haired women whose eyes turn unfortunate others to stone. Described as having fanged teeth, tusks, bronze hands and golden wings, the gruesome beasts' reptile-features are infamous and have appeared in pop culture all over the place (from schlocky Hammer horror, Harryhausen stop-motion film and heavy metal music, for a start). Functioning as the fearsome nemeses of Perseus in myth, the hero enlists the help of the Olympian gods in order to achieve his objective of bringing back a Gorgon head (they provide Hermes' winged sandals, Hades' Cap of Darkness conferring invisibility, an ultra-sharp sickle and a shiny shield). Stheno and Euryale are immortal, but Medusa is not: ergo, Perseus targets her, only looks at her reflection in his shield as he approaches then decapitates her with the sickle. Fleeing the distraught sisters (who can't apprehend him as he's wearing the Cap of Darkness), the hero proceeds to use the snake-adorned head to turn various other enemies to stone. From the severed neck of Medusa springs the winged horse Pegasus (Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon) which gives even more reason to regard the reptilians as amongst the most brilliant and imaginative of mythical beasts. Back in antiquity the Gorgon was employed as an apotropaic icon on amulets and architecture to protect against evil, but their grim presence pervades the ages. Gloriously ghastly, all hail to the hybrid horrors with the hissing hairdos.

Day XLIX - Saci

2010-01-18T11:39:00.000Z

Tricksy monopod,

Smoker with magic red cap,

Dust devil dancer.

A popular prankster from Brazilian folklore, the Saci is understood to be a youthful little one-legged imp with magic powers. Said to be a Mulatto boy with holes in his palms, the Saci smokes a pipe and is identified by the magic red cap that enables him to turn invisible. The nimble, naughty little bugger often appears in the middle of a dust devil and delights in playing tricks, juggling objects through his holey hands and generally just making mischief and mayhem. The creature can be controlled should you successfully trap him or nab his hat, though whether the wish-granting power the cap confers is worth the smell of sweat or farts is debatable. You can also thwart the Saci by crossing a stream or leaving a knotted rope that the creature will feel compelled to untie, or alternatively by appeasing him with a gift of tobacco. The diminutive fellow flying into view in a gust of dust has gone down as an iconic entity in Brazilian culture, coming to find himself as a popular cartoon and children's book character, a football mascot and the basis on which to build a national alternative to Halloween. What's more, the Saci Pererê cocktail cures the common cold. Even though he's a badly-behaved, stinky little bastard, you can't help but give credit to the one in the special red cap for his marvellous abilities and irrepressible energy. You can't begrudge the Saci - one-legged Brazilian wonder that he is - too much.

Day XLVIII - Gashadokuro

2010-01-17T14:13:00.002Z

Japanese bones stir,

Ringing warns of giant's rise,

Skeletal spectre.

Shaking its bones and sending chills down the spine of all who encounter its enormous form, the Gashadokuro is a giant skeleton of Japanese mythology. Gathered together from the bones of those who've starved to death, the morbid manifestation is said to be fifteen times taller than a regular human and intends to bite the head off all those in its path. Such a fate can be avoided if you quickly flee upon hearing the ringing in your ears that precedes the appearance of a Gashadokuru. Despite its fearsome nature, the skeletal spirit is a popular mythical figure, showing up across pop culture - most prominently in video games - and providing the subject matter for a particularly awesome ukiyo-e print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. A true titan of Japanese folklore, the Gashadokuru stands up as glorious ghastly entity. It's a 90-foot skeleton: enough said.

Day XLVII - Impundulu

2010-01-16T15:01:00.001Z

Witchdoctor's servant,

Winged one strikes with great power,

African lightning.

Emitting electrical energy and casting its colossal wings over southern Africa folklore, the Impundulu is a cracking creature identified as the 'lightning bird' in a number of tribal traditions. Said to be the size of a human, the supernatural bird fires lightning from its wings and talons and is born from eggs buried in storm-struck ground. The animal's fat is reckoned to be useful as incendiary fuel or homeopathic medicine and an extract of the Impundulu's flesh may also act as an effective aid in the apprehension of thieves. Despite all that the Impundulu is most commonly viewed as a vicious creature commanded by witchdoctors to attack enemies and wreak devastation. For members of tribes such as the Zulu and the Xhosa, then, the Lightning Bird is an ominous entity under the control of a sinister shaman. I'm just enthused by the idea of thundering wings scorching the skies; all look upward and salute the awe-inspiring Impundulu!

Day XLVI - Leprechaun

2010-01-15T12:14:00.001Z

Mischievous littl'uns,

Icon of Emerald Isle,

Dapper fairy folk.

Much-loved little fellows who stand as a supreme symbol of Irishness, Leprechauns are commonly characterised as being around three feet tall and wear dandy green or red clothes. The fairy folk are native to Ireland and have found themselves the victims of the tourism industry and twee stereotyping, but the magic little buggers have their origins way back in the Middle Ages (as shall be revealed by the new National Leprechaun Museum set to open this year) and there are variations on the nature of Leprechauns depending on region and storyteller. Leprechauns are said to enjoy making shoes (dapper, smart gentlemen they are, sartorial concerns are crucial), playing practical jokes and making mischief. All in all, whether they are solitary Emerald Isle spirits or über-Irish icons associated with rainbow ends and pots of gold, Leprechauns are awesome. All praise the perky little people of the Emerald Isle!

Day XLV - Penanggalan

2010-01-14T15:08:00.002Z

Demonic woman,

Disembodied female head,

Entrails go flying.

Vampiric, vicious and visceral in the extreme, the Penanggalan is a petrifying low-flying night terror from Malay folklore. By day, for all intents and purposes, the Penanggalan is a regular woman (most usually a beautiful midwife who's made a pact with the Devil) but when darkness comes the creature detaches its head from the body and flies out looking to feed on human flesh and blood. Dangling its entrails through the air to either drop venomous blood on its victims or strangle them, the malicious demon midwife is said to favour pregnant women and newborn babies as its victims. Women going into labour should keep sharp objects close by (thorny leaves or a Malaysian machete will do) and be wary of the stink of vinegar. When the Penanggalan has done its night's flying, it returns to home to dip its entrails in a vat of vinegar (hence the smell) for easy shrinkage back into the host body. Quite frankly, the idea of a floating femme fatale flinging its guts about is, I think, fantastic. Kudos to the gory Penanggalan: the demonic, disembodied head and icky organ-dangling abomination upsetting Malaysian mothers-to-be.

Day XLIV - Huay Chivo

2010-01-13T14:21:00.001Z

Preying on livestock,

Witch-goat of the Yucatán,

Evil Mayan beast.

A supernatural shapeshifting terror native to the Yucatán peninsula in Central America, Huay Chivo is a half-man, half-beast from Mayan mythology. Associated with evil sorcery, the malevolent 'witch-goat' (for that is what 'Huay Chivo' translates as) makes mischief, attacks local livestock and has the power to take the form of a goat, deer or dog to kill its prey. No doubt, the idea that there's a despicable Mayan man-beast magus cavorting around the rainforest, dabbling in dark arts and ripping cattle to shreds is exciting to me. I say hail to Huay Chivo: the mythological Mesoamerican man-goat running amok as the supernatural scourge of the Yucatán.

Day XLIII - Teakettler

2010-01-12T15:48:00.005Z

Little woodland dog,
Lumberjacks hear it whistle,
Prompted to brew up.

A 'fearsome critter' of American folklore, the Teakettler is a quirky canine creature described as having the ears of a cat, stubby little legs and a desire to only to walk backwards. Hiding around the lumber yards of the Great Lakes, the forest dog is shy but is famous for the noise it makes, producing steam from its mouth as it mimics the sound of kettle boiling. If the Lumberjacks of Minnesota and Wisconsin hear a kettle whistling and haven't called a tea break, then they can be sure that the varmint is close by. A kooky steam-blowing, back-tracking little critter, raise your mugs and toast the great American Teakettler.

Day XLII - Graiai

2010-01-11T13:31:00.003Z

Three wretched sisters,

Crones share single eye and tooth,

Snatched by Perseus.

Supernaturally old, grey and grim from the day of their birth, the Graiai (or Graeae) are the dreaded three ugly sisters of Greek mythology who make their appearance in the legend of Perseus. Toothless and blind, the Graiai (named Deino, Enyo and Pemphredo - 'Dread', 'Horror' and 'Alarm' respectively) share a single eyeball and a single tooth that they pass between themselves. In the myth, Perseus passes by the cave of the crones and forces them to reveal the whereabouts of Medusa and the Gorgons by snatching the eye and the tooth, holding the helpless old hags to ransom. The three have no choice but to give up their sister Gorgons (it's a pretty ugly family. When beastly primordial sea gods mate, expect a spawn of monstrous offspring) thus suffering more misery and woe. Forever old, decrepit and disabled, the Graiai are a tragic trio that - even though they are the original, archetypal three witches - deserve some sympathy. At least Perseus gave them their eye and tooth back...

Day XLI - Pi Xiu

2010-01-10T14:07:00.001Z

Wings of good fortune,

Auspicious Chinese lion,

Gold doesn't escape.

A creature of considerable significance in Chinese mythology and Feng Shui tradition, the Pi Xiu or Pi Yao is the lucky winged lion associated with prosperity. With an appetite for gold and silver, the hybrid entity - most often depicted with a single horn - is iconically represented in pendants and statues in the hope that he'll bring good fortune and success. Legend has it that the Jade Emperor punished the Pi Xiu by sealing up its anus and so consequently the full-bodied creature can't expel the great amounts of gold it gobbles. Aside from constipation and a craving for wealth, the Pi Xiu is also characterised as the most powerful icon in Feng Shui practice and is effective in warding off evil spirits and demons (as attested to by the fact that Ancient Chinese emperors looked to the Pi Xiu to guard their tombs). Bringing wealth wherever it goes, it's no surprise that the Chinese guardian lion with the unicorn horn and wings continues to be popular.

Day XL - Dwarf

2010-01-09T13:10:00.001Z

Short master craftsman,

Working away in the dark,

Bearded folk below.

Much-loved as a diminutive figure found across fantasy fiction and disparate strains of folklore, the brilliant bearded form of the Dwarf first comes to us in the Dvergar of Norse mythology. From there, the nature spirits have gone on to command the spotlight across a multitude of European legendary traditions, role-playing games, literature and all other Dungeons Dragons-themed distractions. Characterised by their short height and hairiness, they are associated with death, darkness and the earth (which is understandable seeing as they spend all their time underground) and are respected as expert craftsmen, skilled in magic and metallurgy. Whether they be Viking spirits, "Heigh-Ho" Disney characters or the Tolkienesque types hiding away in the mountains of Middle Earth, it's impossible not to love the miniature heroes. Dwarves (or Dwarfs) deserve a tremendous amount of respect just for being hairy hard-working little men whose all-round excellence has excited the collective imagination of so many cultures. Give a little love to the Dvergar and remember: "never toss a Dwarf..."

Day XXXIX - Mucalinda

2010-01-08T13:32:00.000Z

Beneath the snake's hood,

Sheltered from the epic storm,

Buddha meditates.

In Buddhist legend, the Mucalinda makes its appearance in the story of Prince Siddhartha's Enlightenment, providing protection for the Buddha from a seven-day rainstorm. The great serpent king - often represented as having seven heads - is said to have risen up from the Earth and shielded the meditating Buddha from the elements by wrapping his coils around the revered figure's form, using its immense hood to provide shelter from the storm. Because of such benevolent actions beneath the Bodhi tree, the supreme nāgā (snake-being) has been venerated and appreciated across a wide range of art and sculptural works across Asia. Massive respect is due for the hooded hero that is the Mucalinda, ensuring that really bad weather doesn't obscure the path to nirvana.

Day XXXVIII - Ninki Nanka

2010-01-07T12:42:00.002Z

Enormous reptile,

Lurks in West Africa's swamps,

Takes cocky children.

A fearsome creature from African folklore, the Ninki Nanka is described as a dangerous great reptile that lives in swamps. There are discrepancies in accounts of the dragon-like monster - as gleaned by high-profile cryptozoology expeditions - though generally it's reckoned to have a crest atop its head and a long scaly body. Legend has it that arrogant, overconfident children that disobey their parents will be claimed by the Ninki Nanka when they pass by the swamp (nothing like a swamp monster to bring smug kids down a peg or two and make a moral point). As speculation around the legendary sea serpent sighted around Gambia carries on, the Ninki Nanka continues to resonate as a reptilian marvel in African mythology.

Day XXXVII - Tarasque

2010-01-06T14:33:00.002Z

Spiny-shelled monster,

Spreads fear through Southern France,

Tamed by Saint Martha.

A French legendary creature that calls to mind über-baddie Bowser from Super Mario video games, the Tarasque is a truly awesome hybrid monster. With six legs, a spiny turtle shell, a tail topped with a scorpion stinger and a lion's head, the fearsome beast is alleged to have terrified the Nerluc area of France until it was tamed by the prayer and charming power of Saint Martha sometime around 50 AD. The locals easily overcame their nemesis as it stopped resisting their attacks but, now being good Christian converts, regretted their actions afterwards. Thus, they renamed their town Tarascon and continue to hold an annual festival in honour of the slain beast. The legend has led to a multitude of brilliant carnival models and some aesthetically-pleasing sculptures and artworks. An inspirational entity from the South of France, it's only right that the spectacular spiky-shelled monster be saluted.

Day XXXVI - Kumiho

2010-01-05T11:56:00.001Z

Korean wedding,

Shapeshifting feminine fox,

Bride has nine tails.

An evil shapeshifting entity actively looking to seduce young men, the Kumiho is the fox femme fatale of Korean mythology. Believed to have nine tails and blessed with supernatural, form-changing abilities having reached the age of 1000, the country's folk stories suggest the creatures to be wicked and cruel, retaining their fox-nature no matter how convincing their disguise. All in all, the Kumiho represents the threat of female sexuality so the tales tell of fox-women tearing apart the patriarchal order and preying on men. Having ensnared them by taking on a beautiful appearance, they proceed to drain their victims of yang masculine energy or alternatively eat their hearts or liver. A supernatural feminist hero or honeymoon horror waiting to happen, the grooms-to-be of Asia would do ensure that they are not engaged to a tricksy nine-tailed terror. The ultimate foxy-lady in Far Eastern folklore, respect is due for the devious Kumiho.

Day XXXV - Tilberi

2010-01-04T13:21:00.001Z

Magical milk thief,

Suckler nourished by mother,

Hangs from thigh nipple.

A weird and wonderful entity from the Icelandic school of witchcraft, the Tilberi is a worm-like creature used by women who wish to steal milk from their neighbours' animals. With two-heads it's believed to be able to lie across the back of a sheep and suck both its teets simultaneously, but what's most fascinating about the magic milk thief is the ritual required to summon one up. Only women can create a Tilberi and to do so they have to take a human rib from a graveyard on Whitsunday, wrap it up in grey wool and keep it in their cleavage. Having spat communion wine on the woolly bundle on the following three Sundays, the thing comes to life ready to do the bidding of its owner as long as she nourishes it through a nipple carved into her thigh. The Snakkur ('Suckler') then pinches the wool or milk and rolls back home where it's believed to talk to its "mamma", who can proceed to make butter from the stolen liquid the servant regurgitates into the churner. If keeping the creature hanging from your thigh becomes too much bother, the woman only has to send the creature to collect sheepdroppings from the mountains. Ever-keen to impress the host mother whose nipple sustains it, the twin-mouthed little terror keeps on swallowing sheep excrement until it explodes. The obscure magical being bothering the flocks of Iceland, formed through bizarre feminine magic methodology, is, quite frankly, brilliant.

Day XXXIV - Mbói Tu'ĩ

2010-01-03T14:39:00.000Z

Squawking scaled one,

Parrot eye instils fear,

Serpent protects swamp.

Bizarrely accented and blessed with the head of a parrot, the Mbói Tu'ĩ is a monster serpent of Guaraní mythology. Said to have a terrifying squawk, forked tongue and a bad luck-bringing stare that strikes fear into the heart of all who meet its gaze, the creature is considered to be the protector of wetlands and aquatic creatures. The 'parrot-snake' patrols the swamps of South America, watching over the amphibians and environment it loves so much, ever-ready to scare off intruders: an astounding hybrid of bird and reptile resolved to defend Mother Nature. Please, acknowledge the meaning behind its stare and show your appreciation for the majestic and marvellous parrot-headed Mbói Tu'ĩ.

Day XXXIII - Cerberus

2010-01-02T11:36:00.000Z

Three-headed canine,

Guard of Hades' Underworld,

Escape unlikely.

The famous multi-headed dog of Greek mythology, Cerberus (or Kerberos in the original Greek) is the pet of Hades and fearsome fanged guardian of the Underworld who prevents the dead who've crossed the River Styx from ever leaving. Descriptions of the monster vary depending on the source: sometimes cited as having two heads and sometimes as many as 50, though three is the most common, magic number. Cerberus is also said to have a tail of snakes and aside from being an iconic ancient Greek beastie in art through the ages, the big dog has the honour of being the last of Heracles' twelve labours. On the condition that he can overcome the colossal canine without weapons (which he does) Hades allows the hero to borrow Cerberus to show to taskmaster King Eurystheus who subsequently hides in a jar and accepts that Heracles has achieved the obligation. Dante's Inferno has the hound watching over the glutinous in the Third Circle of Hell and I'd say -
because three heads are better than one - Cerberus stands proud as the greatest guard dog ever.

Day XXXII - Mi'raj

2010-01-01T11:48:00.000Z

Two-eared terror,

Killer rabbit of Islam,

Black horn skewers prey.

Emerging from Middle Eastern mythology with yellow fur and a sharp, black horn on its forehead, Al-Mi'raj is the killer rabbit of Islamic scripture. Believed to live on an island in the Indian Ocean, the creature is a rabid carnivore that can eat animals way larger than itself and petrifies the local populace with its protruding horn. Only calling up a witch to work her magic will save the locals and their livestock from the threat of Mi'raj, though whether the existence of the bloodthirsty bunny is a con conceived by the witches is a common point of conjecture. The all-consuming, unicorn rabbit of Islamic poetry that strikes fear wherever it points its horn, then: a truly eccentric two-eared terror.

Day XXXI - Werewolf

2009-12-31T14:57:00.000Z

Light of the full moon,

Furry metamorphosis,

Lycanthrope rampage.

With its claws covering a whole variety of disparate cultural traditions the world over, the werewolf is the überpopular shapeshifter that powers its way to the top of the supernatural beastie pile, ravaging the rest with its sharp teeth and superhuman strength. All over assorted artforms and popular culture (my own personal favourite werewolf flick probably being Universal's classic The Wolf Man) the lycanthrope myth alters according to time period, place and tradition but is always about the transformation from human to furry, primal, bloodthirsty wolf. With the Greek myth of Lycaon (cruel king serves Zeus a slaughtered child for dinner and gets turned into a wolf as punishment) and the prevalence of werewolves across the continent's communities, the creature of the popular imagination is pretty much European. Regardless of how someone comes to be a werewolf (getting scratched, Satanic ritual, sleeping under a full moon or wearing a wolfskin), whether the metamorphosis is voluntary or what the cure is (wolfsbane, silver bullets or holy water) werewolves are awesome and function as fantastic empathetic figures that embody all the pain of male adolescence and the primal urge to, you know, be bloody savage. Howl at the Moon!

Day XXX - Harpy

2009-12-30T14:45:00.002Z

Snatching winged monster,

Terrifying female form,

Torments Phineus.

Foul flying beasts with the heads and breasts of a human female, the Harpies are the horrible bird-hybrids of Greek mythology whose name still resonates today as an an insult thrown at irksome women. The ugly avians make their appearance in the tragic tale of the Thracian king Phineus who had the gift of prophecy but was blinded by the Olympian gods for revealing too much. As further punishment, the poor man was condemned to suffer at the talons of the Harpies on an island with a lavish buffet he'd never get to enjoy. At every attempt to eat his winged tormenters swooped down either snatched the food from his hands or defecated all over it. As the story goes, the long-suffering seer only found some relief upon the arrival of Jason and his Argonauts (passing by on the quest for the Golden Fleece) who helped scatter and did some deals with the right Gods to get the flying menace to leave off. The episode was reimagined in glorious Harryhausen stop-motion for the Jason and the Argonauts movie, and altogether the Harpies go down in history as some of the most intriguing beasties of Greek mythology. The Harpies torture the suicides of Dante's Inferno, exist in outstanding artefacts of the ancient age and will forever come flapping back into consciousness every time an irritating old woman nags you or flings excrement on your dinner.

Day XXIX - Karakasa

2009-12-29T11:55:00.002Z

Centenarian,

Long-tongued umbrella spirit,

Possessed parasol.

Described as having a long protruding tongue, one eye and one leg wearing an elevated geta clog, the Karakasa is probably the kookiest supernatural artefact of the Tsukumogami spirit class in Japanese folklore. Legend has it that certain objects come to life upon reaching the age of 100; the Karakasa is thus an antique umbrella over a hundred years old that has become animate upon reaching its century. Also known as kasa-obake, a leering, hopping brolly probably isn't helpful in a rainstorm but its eccentric brilliance would no doubt bring some fantasy excitement to the most depressing of drizzly days. A bizarre monster in the parasol for sure, every cloud really does have a silver lining if it encourages the spooky Japanese umbrella spirit to come out and make an appearance.

Day XXVIII - Vodyanoi

2009-12-28T12:31:00.002Z

Scaly grandfather,

Algae hangs from his beard,

Spirit of water.

A mucky water-spirit of Slavic mythology, the Vodyanoi is a merman-like creature with webbed fingers, black scaly skin and a fish tail. Found floating on half-sunken logs and described as a naked old man with a bedraggled green beard, the Vodyanoi is respected in Eastern Europe as a supernatural 'grandfather' who should be appeased lest he get angry and start smashing up water mills or start drowning things. In Czech and Slovak tradition - where the figure is known as Vodník - fishermen drop tobacco as tribute in hope of getting a good catch and not being grabbed and enslaved as underwater servants. The grubby geriatric gill-man of Eastern European legend strikes me as being pretty groovy in all his web-fingered, watery glory.

Day XVII - Yara-Ma-Yha-Who

2009-12-27T11:45:00.002Z

Red-skinned bloodsucker,

Swallows Aboriginals,

Victims left shrunken.

Preying on the indigenous peoples of Australia, the Yara-Ma-Yha-Who has an excellent name but a sinister nature existing as an obnoxious parasitical pest in Aboriginal folklore. Described as being a diminutive figure with a huge toothless mouth and red skin, the creature is believed to drain the blood of its victims using the suckers on its arms. Having weakened the unfortunate passer-by, the Yara-Ma-Ya-Who then proceeds to swallow them, take a rest and then regurgiatate them later. All those subjected to this unusual ordeal end up with skin that is slightly 'more red', shrivelled and smaller than their original size. Basically, the Yara-Ma-Yha-Who is a badly-behaved, bizarre monster lurking in the Australian bush waiting to suck and shrink you; a red peril that treats its victims rudely and reduces them to ridicule.

Day XXVI - Djinn

2009-12-26T11:10:00.002Z

Arabic demon,

Smoke spirit of the aether,

Hiding in a lamp.

The supreme supernatural being of Middle Eastern mythical tradition, a Djinn, Jinn, Jinni or Genie is a spiritual entity operating on another realm of existence to humans. Air spirits of 'smokeless fire', there's a wide array of definitions as to what a Djinn is; unsurprising considering that they've made grand appearances in everything from Islamic scripture to Arabian nights tales, Disney movies to Christmas pantomimes. The ethereal creatures are commonly understood to conceal themselves in the shadows or in objects like oil lamps and - depending on their personality, mood and motivation - may be looked to for assistance or magical aid. It may be a devoted servant; it may be a despicable demon; it may actually be a small child sent to save Sindbad the Sailor's skin again. Regardless, the Djinn is a paranormal overlord of immense versatility emanating out of Arabic legend.

Day XXV - Faun

2009-12-25T12:12:00.001Z

Horny hedonist,

Panpipes and wine aplenty,

Hailing to Bacchus.

Romping through the woods in a wild frenzy, Fauns are the fun half-goat-half-human creatures of Roman mythology associated with drinking, dancing, music and all other assorted forms of free merriment. With the horns and hind-quarters of a goat, the Fauns are the panpipe-blowing followers of Bacchus (the androgynous good-time god of wine, theatre and mad carefree abandon) and are pretty appropriate figures for December 25th: also the Roman winter solstice feast day of Brumalia dedicated to the free-loving deity. Inspiring art through the ages and making appearances all over the place - from Narnia books to Guillermo del Toro movies - Fauns are associated with outdoor orgies, sexual liberation and, in general, all-out ecstasy and excess. The pre-eminent party animals are righteous mythical creatures for a Merry Winter Celebration Day, so to the randy goat revellers of the forest: cheers!

Day XXIV - Krampus

2009-12-24T11:28:00.001Z

Furry Yule figure,

Punishes naughty children,

Cruelty at Christmas.

Making his appearance in December, Krampus is the frightening figure of Central European folklore believed to be a member of St. Nicholas' seasonal entourage. Unlike good old St. Nick, the horned beast likes to roam the streets with his rusty chains and bells rattling, eager to unnerve people during the festive period, punishing naughty children instead of giving out presents. The Anti-Santa is believed to beat wicked whippersnappers with a birch rod and in extreme cases is understood to dump sinner kids in a basket to be despatched to Hell. Basically, he's the biggest bah humbug of the mythological world: so mean and nasty that not even the Nazis could supplant his dread-grip on Austria in the 1930s. Alpine communities continue to hold winter festivals and hunts in honour of Krampus: way more appealing as a Yuletide icon than that red-suited, obese dude with a white beard.

Day XXIII - Cherufe

2009-12-23T10:48:00.000Z

Seismic destruction,

Sacrifice to the magma,

Volcano monster.

According to Mapuche mythology, lurking in the lava pools of Chilean volcanoes there's a volatile, violent monster that enjoys causing eruptions, earthquakes and other geological disasters. The Cherufe is said to be a great humanoid figure of molten rock whose wrath can only be appeased by the provision of human victims as blood sacrifice. Unsurprisingly, the Cherufe prefers female virgins and allegedly gets a kick out of consuming the poor offered individual's best bits before igniting their head and flinging it out of the volcano's mouth. A macabre menace in the magma, sometimes the creature is considered as a dragon-like reptilian beast and a surge of seismic activity in South America will most likely raise suspicions that a Cherufe is throwing a tantrum and baying for blood.

Day XXII - Sphinx

2009-12-22T10:52:00.000Z

Composite creature,

Poses perplexing riddle,

Death to the clueless.

A hybrid oddity from ancient Egyptian and Greek mythology, the Sphinx is a tricksy figure most often represented in stone form, crafted to guard temples. Usually (though not exclusively) described as having the head and breasts of a human woman, the wings of an eagle, the body of a lion and a snakish tail, the Sphinx enjoys asking passers-by riddles and killing them when they can't answer. Whether the Sphinx strangles or devours the simple soul who can't solve whatever conundrum is cast their way depends on the story, but in the tragic legend of Oedipus it's the beast herself who ends up the loser. Oedipus solved the riddle, saved the city of Thebes from the monster's brainscrambling and barbarism and consequently the Sphinx is reckoned to have either eaten herself or thrown herself off a cliff. It's not all bad though, as the composite creature lasts through the ags as a bizarre cross-cultural symbol powerfully recreated in statue-form (most iconically to guard the Pyramids of Giza); Oedipus only ended up with an incestuous psychological complex named after him.

Day XXI - Banshee

2009-12-21T18:42:00.000Z

Ominous wailing,

Female spirit foretells doom,
Irih mourning call.

A sign of death in Irish mythology and folklore, the Banshee is a female spirit that wails or cries to warn of tragedy to come. Celtic tradition has the weeping ghostly woman - either beautiful or an ugly hag depending on the tale - giving ill omens and portents to noble families through the form of melancholy singing or sad low-howling. Should a human see the spirit of misfortune or hear her caterwauling outside their house, they know that the end is nigh. The mortality forecaster for noble Celtic families is said to live in fairy-mounds and may also be able to take on animal-form and appear as a weasel or crow. Regardless, the sorrowful sound of the Banshee is bad news.

Day XX - Mapinguari

2009-12-20T11:47:00.000Z

Amazon jungle,

Sloth-like carnivore lurking,

Biting belly mouth.

Hanging around the Amazon rainforest causing considerable dread for the tribes and other animals that live there, the Mapinguari is a South American mythical creature claimed to be like a large sloth with red fur. Though descriptions of it vary across different accounts, it's generally agreed that the giant animal has a gaping toothy hole in the middle of its body and extra bad breath to go with its second mouth. It may be slow and scared of water, but it's a stealthy cold-blooded predator, impervious to bullets and arrows and better to avoid considering its nasty odour and extra teeth. Ornithologists and scientists reckon legend may have come from memory of possibly-extinct giant sloths and the people of South America still fear being swallowed up by the belly of the 'Fetid Beast'.

Day XIX - Rukh

2009-12-19T12:07:00.001Z

Rocks fall from the sky,

Awesome wings bear bad tidings,

Sindbad sunk again.

A spectacular avian giant from Arabian Nights tradition, the Rukh or Roc is understood as being an enormous eagle-like beastie powerful enough to pick up animals as large as elephants and carry them off into the air (to eat later). Over the ages, various travellers and storytellers - including Marco Polo - have given accounts of the great bird and the Rukh makes its mark in the Sindbad stories as it appears on voyages two and five. On his first encounter, Sindbad is only saved from certain death in the diamond-studded death valley of giant snakes when he hitches a lift from an oblivious Rukh, so the second encounter between sailor and supreme bird sort of balances things out. When Sindbad's crew crack open the egg of a baby Rukh on voyage five, the livid mother Rukh swoops down, bombards their escaping boat with boulders and sinks them for their destructive cruelty. The immense bird of prey was made even more impressive in the Seven Voyages of Sinbad movie as Ray Harryhausen imagined it with two heads. Quite simply, the Rukh rocks.

Day XVIII - Uktena

2009-12-18T11:08:00.000Z

The Cherokee flee,

Blazing Ulun'suti gem,

Horney serpent strikes.

Going by different names depending on tribe, the Uktena is the dazzling-yet-deadly great snake that comes out of the horned serpent mythology of Native American folklore. According to Cherokee legend, the monster snake lurks in the mountains and isolated lakes and is characterised by its spotted scales, foul breath and distinct pair of horns. What really makes the invulnerable Uktena special, though, is the diamond-like gem that decorates its forehead which it uses to daze its prey. This diamond, the Ulun'suti, is prized by the native peoples as a most auspicious artefact believed to bring powers of prophecy and success in hunting, love and rainmaking. You have to face a beast that's reckoned as being an angry, almost-invincible opponent, but should you get your hands on the Ulun'suti, you'll be the worshipped as a human wonder and inspire awe. To get ahead in Cherokee society, grab the snake by the horns.

Day XVII - Shōjō

2009-12-17T17:34:00.003Z

Japanese redhead,

Alcoholic sea spirit,

Abundant sake.

A Japanese sea-spirit with a never-ending supply of sake, the Shōjō is described as being like a benevolent, drink-bringing orangutan-man with red-face and red hair. Found in the folk-tale of White Sake (moral: the pure of heart will get healing beverages when they are ill whereas the malicious will end up with disgusting poison), the creature's name is popularly used to refer to happy heavy-drinkers, hell-raisers and all sorts of things of a red hue in Japanese culture. The Shōjō is also a common character type in the mask and makeup theatre of noh and kabuki, and is probably the kind of spirit that you'd want to see at the beach party. Kampai!

Day XVI - Cikavac

2009-12-16T11:21:00.000Z

Wings to wish upon,

Born of special ritual,

Egg under armpit.

An avian oddity from Eastern Europe, the Cikavac is a bit like the stork, except it's more likely to bring you milk and honey than babies of questionable origin. The interesting thing about the Serbian mythical bird is the special magic method through which is raised to do whatever its owner wishes. According to legend, a woman had to take the egg of a black hen and carry it under her armpit for 40 days during which time she avoided cutting her nails, washing her face, praying and confession. 40 dirty days later and you have the ability to talk to animals and a supernatural servant to do your bidding, willing to use its long beak to steal milk from the udders of your neighbour's cattle. The magnificent magical service of the Cikavac: sure to deliver the goods...

Day XV - Hydra

2009-12-15T10:54:00.001Z

Reptilian foe,

Head count keeps on increasing,

New necks grow afresh.

An astounding monster of ever-multiplying evil, the Hydra is the Greek mythological beastie that offers brilliant entertainment value in that it can carry on spawning new heads. A giant water-based serpentine horror of the Underworld with poisonous breath and venomous blood, the many-headed Hydra has the handy ability to grow two fresh heads in place of every one decapitated. As his second task of the twelve, Heracles was sent to grapple with the Hydra of Lerna but could only effectively kill it with help from his nephew Iolaus, who scorched the neck stumps to prevent regrowth every time a Hydra skull was whacked away by the strongman's club. As befits a creature that keeps coming back for more, the Hydra is an icon for the ages represented numerous times in art and pottery, also cinematically appearing in Disney-form and in Harryhausen stop-motion form in Jason and the Argonauts. Hail Hydra!

Day XIV - Bishop-Fish

2009-12-14T10:08:00.001Z

Preacher from the deep,

Religious fish gives blessing,

The sign of the cross.

Holy mackerel! Actually it's more of a 'mermonk', and the Bishop-Fish goes down in Christian legend as a funny creature of faith. Ocean-going, scaly but yet strangely Episcopal in appearance, the fish is said to have been captured several times in the 16th century, though it stubbornly refuses to eat on land and longs to get back into the water. The most famous tale is of the Bishop-Fish brought to the King of Poland who - unsurprisingly considering he's being gifted a talking, pious marine miracle as a present - wants to keep it. The fish pleaded with the Catholic bishops of the court, however, and they let the theological finned-one go free, with Bishop-Fish blessing them with the sign of the cross before he vanishes. From Holy See to sea, through the waves of temptation the Bishop-Fish obstinately swims...

Day XIII - Churel

2009-12-13T12:24:00.002Z

Poor impure woman,

Scary hair and backwards feet,

Ghost stuck in squalor.

Unlucky is the impoverished Indian woman who dies during a period of 'ritual impurity'. Hindu mythology has it that low-caste females unfortunate enough to pass away whilst giving birth or going through 'that time of the month' become Churel: saggy-breasted, bedraggled ghosts with backwards feet and no mouth. Doomed to hang around graveyards or squalid places until a successful exorcism is performed, Churel are also said to seek to capture young men, possibly to suck their blood. They've been condemned to a really crummy afterlife because of poor time-keeping, poverty and the simple fact that they are women. Surely death should not be so discriminatory.

Day XII - Tokoloshe

2009-12-12T12:14:00.001Z

Pebble is eaten,

Invisibility comes,

Sleepers tormented.

Though descriptions of the creature differ depending on region, the Tokoloshe is a tricksy gremlin-type entity that exists in African folklore and terrifies the continent's children. A figure inspiring superstitious anxiety, people raise their beds off the ground with bricks to make sure that the little bugger doesn't bite off people's toes or do other despicable things when they're sleeping. The general consensus is that it's a small black dwarf with a head like a teddy-bear, albeit one with a big boney ridge on its head. It's also said that only children can see the Tokoloshe, though lack of visibility may be also be due to the fact that they turn invisible once they swallow a pebble. Ultimately, its a nasty little nightmare bogey-beast, so sweep the pebbles off the garden path and don't sleep on the floor.

Day XI - Cyclops

2009-12-11T11:35:00.002Z

Man-eating giant,

Ocular disadvantage,

Odysseus wins.

A powerful primordial race of one-eyed giants, the Cyclopes are - depending on tradition - either gifted great masons who forged Zeus' thunderbolts, simple shepherds or brutal beasts with a taste for man-flesh. The most famous Cyclops is Polyphemos from the Odyssey who trapped the hero and a bunch of his companions in his cave and started eating them up one by one. Cunning Odysseus, however, conspires to get the big'un drunk and rams a burning stake into the Cyclops' single eye. Odysseus has also convinced the brute that he's called "Nobody", so that when blinded Polyphemos howls out in agony and causes the other Cyclopes to ask "who has hurt you?" his pained replies of "Nobody" receive only ridicule; Odysseus and the remaining survivors escape in the meantime disguised as sheep. Such is the sorrow of the mono-browed monster, but it's not all bad for the lovably humble hulk: Ray Harryhausen's Cyclops from The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad has gone down in stop-motion movie legend and the lone eyeball icon even inspired a form of architecture favoured by the ancient Mycenaeans and H.P. Lovecraft stories.

Day X - Kraken

2009-12-10T09:36:00.001Z

Thrashing tentacles,

Waves of devastation foam,

Sea monster rises.

Regardless of how you pronounce it, there is possibly no monster as mind-blowingly awesome as the colossal cephalod that lurks under the ocean: the Kraken. The great ominous creature reckoned as being like a humungo-squid or octopus has made waves across various cultures and types of media - a poem by Tennyson, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and as Harryhausen creation in Clash of the Titans , for example - but the basis of the legend is probably Norse. Big flip-off, furious squid monster that stirs in the depths and strikes fear into the heart of every sailor: the cephalopod reigns supreme.

Day IX - Barbegazi

2009-12-09T10:51:00.000Z

Alpine Switzerland,

Looking for avalanches,

Furry feet ride them.

Scamping about the Alps, the Barbegazi is a Swiss folklore figure that sort of comes like a cross between a dwarf and the yeti. Its name roughly translates as 'Frozen Beard' and the white fuzzy ones are said to whizz about the mountains, hooting happily as they surf avalanches for fun using their supersized feet as skis. They hide away but are friendly to human folk, act to save trapped climbers and are also believed to occasionally help shepherds herd lost sheep. The Barbegazi is a winter hero, so hip hip yodelayeehoo to the big-hearted, little big-footer.

Day VIII - Bakechochin

2009-12-08T10:55:00.001Z

Lighting the lantern,

Haunting horrors come to life,

There's a ghost inside.

A pretty, traditional Japanese lantern ends up possessed by the ghost of someone who died with hate in their heart. Thus, we have the bakechochin which translates as 'haunted lantern' and attacks anyone who attempts to light it up. They're said to have scary wild eyes and long tongues and I love the idea of ghosts hiding in the ornate, attractive lanterns of the Far East. Hokusai's The Ghost of Oiwa is one representation of the ethereal light fixtures making their presence felt in art; I personally would be thrilled to have a possessed chōchin by my bedside...

Day VII - Moyang Melur

2009-12-07T10:41:00.001Z

Tiger man descends,

To shape up society,

His bag is the Law.

According to Malay mythology, the narky half-man half-tiger spirit Moyang Melur would sit back on his moonbase and laugh at humanity, probably whilst shouting "I am the Law!" His bag held all the proper rules of society and, having handed them to people only to see them get broken and abused, the stripy-faced spirit probably felt smug. The story goes, however, that he leaned too far off the edge of the Moon and fell to Earth, getting a hunter named Moyang Kapir to help him climb back home. As repayment, tiger-features decided to eat the human, but Moyang Kapir stole the bag of law and made his escape down a rope where he disseminated decent order to humankind. As our civilisation crumbles around us, could it be that we need a tigerheaded deity with a bag of tricks to save us from further societal breakdown?

Day VI - Karkadann

2009-12-06T12:26:00.001Z

Lord of the desert,

Has a decorated horn,

Antisocial beast.

Reigning over the plains and desert lands of the Middle East, North Africa and India and looking totally ridiculous at the same time is the fearsome Karkadann. Translated from Persian as 'Lord of the Desert', it's described as a tetchy rhino-like beast who terrifies any intruders on its territory by charging at them with its massive horn, which is engraved with the likeness of a human head. Myths tell of them using the horn to hoist elephants and being an all-round brutal horror, but all it takes is the call of a ring dove to calm them. The Karkadann: scourge of the desert plains and priceless object of fantasy for antique dealers.

Day V - Xiuhcoatl

2009-12-05T12:21:00.002Z

Aztec emperors,

Hold the fiery serpent,

Weapon of the sun.

Brandished by fire god Xiuhtecuhtli to do wicked things like scorch his sister, the unpronounceable but pretty-darn cool Xiuhcoatl was a fire serpent of great significance to Aztec mythology. An incendiary snake said to be the animal spirit of the fire deity, the Xiuhcoatl was also wielded by the sun god Tonatiuh to flame his opponents. Prominent in Aztec art and architecture, Xiuhcoatl's image was replicated on the royal diadem so the emperors could hold up the reptile and claim "yeah! I am the mighty hot powerful overlord!" Had the Aztecs unleashed smouldering serpents on the Conquistadores, their empire would still be standing strong in Central America...

Day IV - Stymphalian Bird

2009-12-04T11:26:00.003Z

Heracles scatters,

The avian bronze nuisance,

Labour six complete.

The Stymphalian Birds were large flying creatures with beaks of bronze and metal-tipped feathers that could they could fire at enemies. They are also said to have toxic dung, may have been man-eaters depending on who you believe and the myth goes that they irritated the locals around Lake Stymphalia on the Peloponnese peninsula following a mass migration. Heracles was summoned, for his sixth labour out of the twelve, got rid of them by scaring them out of the trees with the noise of a bronze rattle (probably shooting them down with bow and arrow before the winged ones had chance to launch their lethal feathers at him). This isn't really fair seeing as the Stymphalian may not actully have been vicious beasties but actually harmless refugees who only came to the woods around Stymphalia because they'd fled from some wolves. It's also sad that whereas Heracles is hailed as a legendary cultural hero, the closest we get to a cultural depiction of the metallic avians is probably the irritating mecha-owl Bubo in Clash of the Titans. The day will come for the bronze ones, and retribution will arrive on beating metal wings...

Day III - Tanuki

2009-12-03T17:11:00.000Z

Racoon dog smiles,

Gets drunk and causes mischief,

Giant testicles.

Tanuki are the lovable racoon-dogs of Japanese folklore renowned as figures of great fun. Aside from their shapeshifting abilities and love of good times and sake, tanuki are most famous for having hilariously huge testicles. The ace anime film Pom Poko is all about a community of tanuki who band together and use magic to try and save their forest from destruction at the hands of humanity; it's probably one of the best Studio Ghibli movies (even if the English dub does call them 'racoons' and cuts out all references to the testicles. Boo). The lucky, plucky and oh-so-adorable tanuki - you know you want to adopt one...

Day II - Trunko

2009-12-02T16:43:00.000Z

Up out of the sea,

Defeating the killer whale,

Furry trunk lashes.

Legend in South Africa speaks of a giant fish with snow-white fur like a polar bear, the trunk of an elephant and the tail of a lobster. Sighted off the country's coast in 1924, so the story goes, Trunko allegedly beat off two killer whales which makes it not only ultra weird but ultra-impressive. Hail to the huge hybrid fish with the elephantine features!

Day I - Jimmy Squarefoot

2009-12-01T21:54:00.003Z

Hog-headed rambler,

Tusks held high and standing tall,

Feet look like boxes.

Day one, and the supernatural being to start things off is giant phantom pig-head (literally, I bet he's a nice fella really) Jimmy Squarefoot. Authoritative sources state that he's a peaceful wanderer who - depending on who you believe - may have ended up as a ghostly half-man-half-boar after being ridden by an angry stone-chucking giant or was himself the nasty stone-thrower who got his kicks lobbing rocks at his wife. Either way, Jimmy Squarefoot has the honour of being the first to be honoured in scribble and screwy haiku...