Nightmare Fuel Around the World: What “Boogeyman” Looks Like in Different Countries

Delve into the haunting realm of boogeyman-type creatures from around the world in this spine-tingling exploration of childhood nightmare fuels…

Many cultures have their own versions of terrifying figures that are used to scare children into behaving or staying away from danger. Some of the most well-known ones are the Boogeyman, Krampus, and El Coco, but there are many more around the world of course – in fact almost all countries seem to have one.

Just in time for the spooky season, TheToyZone has created a map of these legendary scary characters worldwide. Their named their collection after the UK’s Boogeyman, a figure that often serves to teach children lessons for disobeying their parents, with consequences ranging from mild punishments to more menacing threats of harm or abduction.

The Boogeyman is a generic term for a shadowy creature that lurks in the dark. It has no fixed appearance and can take different forms depending on the child’s imagination. The Boogeyman is popular in English-speaking countries, but it’s not the only creature that parents use to scare their children into good behavior worldwide. While it has variations in other regions, such as Germany, France, and India (with their versions named the Krampus, Hans Trapp, and the Bhoot respectively), there are many other monsters globally that have different names, appearances, and methods of terrorizing naughty kids.

Europe

Boogeyman-like creatures can be found in various cultures globally, but the original Boogeyman emerged in Britain as the Bogeyman in the 15th century or even earlier (the name comes from the Middle English word “bogge”, meaning “something frightening”).

Monstrous law enforcement figures have a lineage in mainland Europe, where several eastern nations have their versions of the witch Baba Yaga. In Liechtenstein, a local legend tells the story of the Guschg Herdsmen’s Doll, originally created to keep shepherds company but later turning sentient, seeking vengeance after years of mistreatment.

And then there is El Coco, a shapeshifting monster that originated in Portugal, but spread to Latin America and other Spanish-speaking countries. El Hombre Del Saco in Spain is an old man who eats the children that he collects in his sack, with variations also existing across different Latin countries.

But of course, these are just some of the more well-known examples.

North America

While the Boogeyman is America’s most renowned version of the global boogeymen, locally, there’s the Jersey Devil. Born as the thirteenth child of an 18th-century New Jersey mother, the Jersey Devil is described by official state sources as having a horse’s head, long hooved legs, short front legs, and bat’s wings. Witnesses are often too terrified to provide detailed accounts.

Known as Bonhomme Sept Heures to the Quebecois, which translates to the less ominous “Seven O’Clock Man,” this bedtime enforcer might have a devilish touch, but what’s truly unsettling is his unassuming appearance – he’s just a man with a sack and a fine timepiece. He doesn’t need extravagance; his sack sends a clear message when children try to stay up past seven.

In Mexico and some other Spanish-speaking countries, you (alright, your kids – alright, their kids) have “La Llorona,” a weeping woman said to roam the streets at night, mourning the loss of her children, whom she drowned. Often depicted as a ghostly figure dressed in white, her story is used to warn children about the consequences of disobedience and wandering alone at night. The legend of La Llorona has been the subject of various books, movies, and adaptations.

South America

Often, a regional boogeyman is influenced by the distinctive features of its native landscape. In Ecuador, Kuartam is a treefrog residing in the Amazon, and he deals with bullies by morphing into a tiger and devouring them. His story serves as a dual lesson, cautioning children to show respect for the rainforest and its treasures and discouraging them from teasing others.

Despite its name, the Jumbee, a close relative of the Haitian zombie, is more focused on death and chaos rather than the festivities of dancing and drumming. This sinister entity lurks in the mist, haunting Guyana and Venezuela, where it targets mischievous children.

Cuca is a character from Brazilian folklore, who is related to the Spanish Coco and is often depicted as a crocodile-like witch who kidnaps and eats disobedient children. She is usually portrayed as a fearsome and cunning creature, who can shapeshift and use magic to achieve her goals.

And there is Pishtaco, a mythical creature from Peru that kills people and steals their body fat. Ouch, you’ve read that right. According to legend, pishtacos are often white men with knives who prey on unsuspecting natives, especially travelers or drunkards. Some people believe that pishtacos use the fat for various purposes, such as oiling church bells or weapons, or for cosmetics. Pishtacos are feared by many indigenous people in the Andes region.

Africa

Did you know that West Africa has its own Nessie? It’s called Ninki Nanka, and children from Senegal to The Gambia fear this 50-meter-long winged serpent, as its mere gaze is deadly. With its feathered crest and glistening scales, Ninki Nanka is an intriguing bog creature, although some liken it to a hippo, which is both less captivating and less terrifying. Carrying a mirror is essential as it’s the only way to defeat this beast by showing it its own reflection.

Whistling demons are a common superstition in Nigeria, where many people believe that whistling at night can attract evil spirits, snakes, or occult members crawling into bed with you, or even end you up at some other place. This belief is based on traditional folklore that has been passed down from generations. Different tribes have their own versions of this legend, but the general idea is that whistling is a way of communicating with the spirit world, and doing so at night can be dangerous or disrespectful.

The Lamias of Lybia are enchanting creatures with the upper bodies of beautiful women and the lower bodies of serpents. They were sometimes seen as sorceresses and other times as malevolent monsters. While they cannot speak, their melodious whistling lured travelers in the desert, only for them to become prey.

Middle East & Central Asia

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The Nasnās is a creature with a single eye, one cheek, one hand, one leg, half a torso, and half a heart. It’s believed to be the offspring of a human and a djinn, occasionally featuring a sheep’s tail and bat-like wings. Despite their unique physicality, Nasnās are agile hoppers. They scare the children of Yemen and neighboring regions, symbolizing the importance of completing tasks and the consequences of defying divine will or engaging in bestiality.

The Turkish Karankoncolos is a malevolent goblin bound by a strict schedule. This furry, small humanoid only surfaces during the winter solstice, spending the rest of the year underground with its kin, attempting to undermine the ‘world tree’ to bring about the world’s collapse. Those born during this period are at risk of transforming into one during a future solstice. Placing a colander on your doorstep at night can distract the Karankoncolos, as it becomes captivated, wasting time counting the holes before retreating at daybreak.

Dojairah and Umna al Ghola are two names for a mythical creature that is used to scare children in Saudi Arabia. According to some sources, the creature is a female monster who preys on disobedient or wandering children. She is also known as “Our mother the Monster” or “The Mother of Ghouls”. Some stories say that she has a sack or a basket (rings a bell?) to carry away the children she captures. She may also have claws, teeth, or horns. She is often invoked by parents or elders to make children behave well or stay at home.

The Rest of Asia and Oceania

The Bunyip originates from Australian Aboriginal folklore and is a swamp-dwelling creature with a round head and long neck, often resembling animals like an ox, hippopotamus, or manatee. Descriptions of the Bunyip vary widely, leading some scholars to consider it a catch-all term for various regional monsters. The Bunyip is associated with warning children about dangerous waters, as it is rumored to deter intruders through methods such as hypnosis, a paralyzing roar, or even deadly embraces.

The motif of a woman losing her torso but keeping her internal organs externally is prevalent in East and Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, this entity, known as the Ahp, is a floating head with intestines. The Ahp has a taste for blood and human flesh, and if she feasts on a fresh placenta, it brings misfortune to the baby and its family. Some believe she can pass on her curse, freeing herself for reincarnation, by deceiving another woman into consuming her bodily fluids. Wait, what? Well, yes…

But not all mythical creatures listed here have ill intentions toward children – or anybody else for that matter. Indonesia’s Wewe Gombel, for example, is notably benevolent. This female ghost takes mistreated children away from their parents and shelters them in her nest until their parents mend their ways, ensuring the children’s well-being.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8