Werewolves, zombies, ghosts… these creatures symbolize the fright associated with Halloween, and their presence in stories is no coincidence. Many monsters originate from medieval fears, while others are exaggerated representations of real phenomena in nature.
11 Terrifying Halloween Monsters
1. Jack-o’-Lanterns
Hollowed-out pumpkins with candles are believed to ward off evil spirits during the Celtic New Year’s Eve.
Hollowed-out pumpkins, carved to resemble terrifying faces, are the most famous symbol of Halloween. According to historians, the practice of gutting pumpkins and lighting candles inside them originated from Celtic traditions brought to America by Irish immigrants. Back in their homeland, they used turnips, a more common food source, but the climate in America was more suitable for pumpkins. The glowing, scary faces of the pumpkins served to ward off evil spirits roaming the streets on October 31st, the Celtic New Year’s Eve.
2. Bats
With near-zero eyesight, hanging upside down in trees, and inspiring masked warriors, why have bats become associated with Halloween? This flying mammal can “thank” vampires for that.
Similar to the legends of Dracula, a few species of bats can suck the blood of animals, and occasionally, vampire bats even attack humans. Using their sharp teeth, they bite into the neck or hands of unsuspecting sleeping victims.
3. Bat-headed Gargoyle Monsters
These stone monster statues appear on churches worldwide, but not just to scare away evil spirits as many believe. They have been integrated into Gothic-style stone structures since the 13th century as water spouts for church roofs. The wide-open mouths with terrifying teeth of the gargoyles actually serve as outlets for water to spray out.
4. Witches
Forget about the pointed black hats and equally sharp noses when envisioning a witch. These two common symbols have only emerged relatively recently compared to the long and tragic history of witches worldwide. In the past, witches were believed to possess magical powers and connect with the natural world. However, like many ancient beliefs, they were deemed demonic by the Christian Church and hunted throughout medieval Europe and in America from the 17th century onwards.
5. Zombies
Zombies.
Zombies aren’t exclusively a human phenomenon. In 1940, Russian scientists released a video showing that dog heads, after being severed, could remain alive for several hours due to artificial blood circulation.
However, zombies reign supreme in horror films. In movies, they are depicted as walking corpses revived by magic or some kind of virus/chemical. In reality, the zombie culture originated from the voodoo beliefs of Haiti, which hold that humans can fall into a state of mindlessness akin to the walking dead in films (except for the cannibalism). A botanist even discovered a herb in Haiti that could induce this zombie state.
6. Ghosts
Becoming a ghost is not simple. First, a person must die (the more tragic the circumstances, the higher the chance of becoming a vengeful spirit), and then their soul must wander around to haunt houses or seek out loved ones. This is the narrative in films and Halloween legends. From a scientific perspective, many paranormal psychologists argue that energy (including bodily energy) can never be lost. It only transforms into another form after a person dies, which is the essence of the soul.
7. Werewolves
Transforming and losing control on full moon nights, werewolves are cursed beings found in the legends of nearly every culture since ancient Egypt. Like witches, they were hunted throughout the Middle Ages and were often blamed for inexplicable murders. Today, many individuals still suffer from a condition known as hypertrichosis, colloquially referred to as “werewolf syndrome.”
8. Vampires
These blood-sucking monsters have been present in folklore for thousands of years, although the versions involving “sleeping in coffins, fangs that suck blood” only appeared after the 18th century in Western Europe. Before that, it was believed that children who died immediately after birth, or those who met untimely deaths, would rise from the grave to “terrorize the living.” In other words, vampires are immortal beings that need to suck human blood to maintain their immortality.
Recently, archaeologists discovered the remains of a woman buried in a plague victim’s grave from the 16th century in Italy. This individual had a large brick stuffed in her mouth (as a form of corpse cursing) – a burial ritual that scientists believe was specifically for vampires.
9. Demons
In ancient times, anything humans could not explain was often attributed to gods or demonic forces. These malicious spirits are collectively known as “Demons.” In the context of evil, a Demon can either be an evil ghost or a fallen angel cast down to hell.
The hallmark of a Demon is supreme power akin to that of gods, a cruel disposition, and the ability to control human death. They only appear once a year, on Halloween.
10. Scarecrows
Scarecrows are a familiar sight for medieval farmers. They are typically made by bundling straw into a human shape on a wooden post, dressing them in old clothes, and using a pumpkin for a head to scare away birds from the fields during harvest time.
However, in the dark, these scarecrows with pumpkin heads resemble tall ghosts, arms outstretched to frighten those nearby. This is why scarecrows have inadvertently become a source of fear for children on Halloween night.
11. Gargoyles
Gargoyles are winged beasts associated with legends passed down during Halloween since medieval times. According to this legend, Gargoyles are malevolent monsters that spread disaster among the innocent. After being slain by knights, their heads could still spew fire and were hung outside churches to scare away evil spirits.
