Let's talk about Halloween legends and a point at the end....

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Belle of the Ranch 7 min 1 speaker 7 chapters transcribed 1 month ago

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What Halloween legends will we explore in this episode?

Belle of the Ranch 0:01

Well, howdy there internet people it spell again. What we're going to do today is go over some traditional Halloween myths. Creatures and legends and explain the science behind them. We'll also toss in some other stuff that isn't exactly Halloween related. But the legends come up during the spooky season, just to round things out. Today, you'll learn the most common modern belief about where some of your favorite stories, characters, and legends come from. It's worth saying up front that some of these have multiple scientific explanations, as well as the more traditional beliefs. We'll start with some of the classics. Let's talk about the werewolves. Throughout the years, there have been numerous explanations for this belief.

Belle of the Ranch 0:58

Most center around trying to create an explanation that matches the scary behavior associated with werewolves. I'm not really sure that's necessary, said

How does the episode explain the science behind werewolf legends?

Belle of the Ranch 1:10

The reality is that at the times the legends originated, anything different was scary. The most likely explanation is probably just hypertrachosis. Which is sometimes called werewolf syndrome. It can be present at birth or it can be acquired later in life. It causes large amounts of hair growth. It's the same syndrome responsible for bearded ladies at the circus. Interestingly, in some cases, like that of Julia Pastrana. It's accompanied by large facial features and irregular teeth. The mummy, or more specifically, the curse of the mummy. Many researchers who worked on Egyptian tombs became sick with a pneumonia like illness and then died. This was obviously the curse of the pharaoh. It certainly wasn't Aspergillus Flavus, a fungus that if inhaled can cause invasive aspergillosis in the lungs.

Why do people believe in the curse of the Egyptian mummy?

Belle of the Ranch 2:14

In an interesting twist, this was actually noticed because of a tomb in Poland, not Egypt being opened. Pazuzu of Exorcist Fame. Pazuzu was a Mesopotopian demon deity who controlled the southwest wind. Which was the bringer of destruction and disease. Pazuzu had a companion deity named Lamashtu. Lamashtu, well, she would really go after children, even those in the womb, and would cause harm to mothers and expectant mothers. If only there was some kind of scientific explanation for bad air. Mala area. Ancient Mesopotamia had a problem with mosquitoes, but Mala area malaria. Which is particularly dangerous for children and expectant mothers. You see where this is going.

What medical conditions are linked to modern vampire myths?

Belle of the Ranch 3:13

As a side note, in other parts of the world at various times, there was the theory of miasma. Which was that bad air often coming from swamps were causing diseases, like malaria. Vampires have had modern explanations offered of perfyria, rabies, and tuberculosis. Prophyria causes sensitivity to sunlight. Gum shrinkage revealing teeth and reddish urine. What would they drink to cause that? Rabies can cause biting, hydrophobia, silly holy water, and aggression. Tuberculosis can cause pale skin, wasting, blood at the lips, and contagion. So that's how they get turned. Willow the wisps Those ghostly spirits in those deep dark places. They're sometimes described as orbs of light, and they exist by different names all over the world.

How are willow‑wisp lights explained by methane and fire?

Belle of the Ranch 4:16

But they always seem to exist in methane rich swamps. The methane igniting is the most widely agreed upon explanation. The Night Hag She was an evil one, but She would come in while you were asleep and sit on your chest while you were sleeping. Sometimes you'd wake up and be unable to move. Terrifying. Yeah, it's sleep paralysis. Fun fact. In Scandinavian folklore, this was done by a creature called a mare. Yeah, a nightmare. Saint Anthony's Fire and Mass Possessions by Demons.

What is the Night Hag and why is it actually sleep paralysis?

Belle of the Ranch 4:56

Yeah. That was ergot poisoning. What about being elf shot? This is attributed to Anglo Saxon medical text, and basically it was when elves shot you or an animal with invisible arrows. In some cases, witches flick the arrows with their thumbs. The elf's arrow would cause sudden sharp pains in the body. Today, it would probably be diagnosed as rheumatism or arthritis. Dogman of Michigan These are werewolf like creatures that have the head of a dog, but the torso of a man, and stands on two legs.