The Bogs, swamps, and marshes of Europe and America are said to be haunted by dancing will-o’-the-wisps (ignis fatuus or ‘foolish fire’) that lure unwary travelers off the path and to their doom. Some believe these glowing orbs are faeries carrying lanterns, lost souls or elementals and others see them as omens of disaster.
Created by burning marsh gases, this phosphorescent phenomenon is also known as a hinkypunk, a friar’s lantern, and a Jack-o’-lantern. Whistling is said to attract the ghost lights, but to escape the draw of the will-o’-the wisp, a needle must be placed in the ground, trapping the orb in the eye of the needle.
Will-o’-the-wisps have been said to appear at the location of a tragedy about to take place, and sometimes they might indicate where thieves, fairies, and pirates have buried treasure. Not all will-o’-the-wisps are malevolent and dangerous, there are some travelers who claim to have been lead travelers back to safety by these mischievous orbs.
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