Halloween story seed.

[scottobear]

According to Scandinavian lore, the ghost of a dead infant was called an utburd, which meant *child carried outside*. The utburd was vengeance incarnate, and also a symbol of an old tradition: letting newly-born children die of exposure when it wasn't practical to feed them. The illustrative tale associated with this ghost (real quick) is: a fisherman and his wife must live a sickly child outside to die because of all the mouths they already have to feed. Later, it enters through their keyhole, then crawls up on the woman while she sleeps and tears out her eyes.

Other traits of the utburd; generally invisible, but can take the shapes of animals such as owls, or black dogs. It can also grow to the size of a cow or turn into a curl of wispy smoke. It could make sounds like boulders dropping. It also continued to take victims long after it exacted its revenge on the parents that killed it. Its main method of attack was to chase down lonely travelers, and then press an invisible weight down on the victim's chest, crushing him/her

Sakes... Teach me to read Norse Eddas at 2 in the morning. I'm going to have nightmares now for sure.

Comments

[moonmama.livejournal.com]

Geez, and now you've inflicted nightmares on those of us who read this and spook easily. Thanks.

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

I just don't reccomend wandering around alone, or leaving babies out in the cold, and I think we'll both be ok.

Re:

[moonmama.livejournal.com]

Sounds good. I'll hope enforcing bedtimes couldn't be considered "leaving a baby out in the cold" too. Just to be on the safe side.

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

::nodnods:: as long as you don't put them to bed on an ice floe or something, you should be golden.

Eddas

[lyssandri.livejournal.com]

Ach, the Norse Eddas have some real strange stuff, don't they? Most of the one's I've read are the stories of the Gods, but I'm starting to get into some of the other tales as well, and they can be rather interesting!

Kriselda

Re: Eddas

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Too true. There's a grand book of scandinavian mythology/ghost stories/legends that never fails to entertain and educate. (Well, books, I suppose.)

Re: Before I begin this comment, I'm pro-choice, I swear.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Actually, I did a terrible horror story about aborted fetuses already. Evil mages using the spirits of cancelled children in a cockfight sort of scenario. It was really ugly, and never finished it, because it sickened me so much.

Re: Before I begin this comment, I'm pro-choice, I swear.

[papoose.livejournal.com]

Regardless of how someone stands on the issue, it is a great seed for a horror story - like modern day wives tales or something.
*shivering*

Re: Before I begin this comment, I'm pro-choice, I swear.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

*brr* indeed.

Re: Before I begin this comment, I'm pro-choice, I swear.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

no worries! I appreciate the ideas!

weird

[burgundy.livejournal.com]

What I think is odd, from a folkloric point of view, is that these stories seem to be punishing the parents for a socially acceptable deed. There have been a lot of cultures that practice infanticide. And the reasons are understandable, even if the practice is nasty and yucky and bad (say those of us who are not starving). So does this show that they still feel really bad about what they perceive as a necessity? Certainly possible. Does it demonstrate an attitude that life is inherently violent and unfair (ie - the baby has to die, and that's unfair, and the parents had reasons for doing it, but they still die, and that's unfair, and then of course the deaths of all those other people aren't fair either)? I don't know anything about Norse culture, so I can't even begin to guess. But now I'm intrigued. I wonder if there's a difference in this regard between cultures that believe in reincarnation, and those that don't. Because if you believe in reincarnation, then you can say that exposing the baby is actually merciful, because you're giving it a chance to be born into a life where it'll be provided for. Whereas if death is final, then you have deprived the child's spirit of a chance at life. Hence vengeful baby-ghost.

Damn, this post is longer than I planned. Sorry bout that.

Re: weird

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

no problem. I enjoy your thoughts, and the quantity is always composed of quality. :) From what I understand, the theme is vengeance, and anger... revenge and justice seem to be common themes in northern lore.