Spookernatural

Have you been good this year or will your name appear on Santa’s naughty list? If it’s the latter and you live in Iceland there might be harsher consequences than finding a lump of coal in your stocking on Christmas morning. This week, Nate and Leigh talk about Icelandic folklore surrounding the festive period. The episode includes a cannibalistic ogress that’s on her third husband, and a bunch of mischievous lads that might leave you a gift or a gag, depending on your behaviour.

Would these creepy tales keep you in line as a child? Let us know what you think by getting in touch with the show and leaving us a review wherever you listen to us!

Sources:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-thirteen-yule-lads-icelands-own-mischievous-santa-clauses-180948162/

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/568050/gryla-christmas-troll-iceland

https://www.google.com/amp/s/guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/regina/gryla-and-leppaludi-the-parents-of-the-icelandic-yule-lads/amp

https://adventures.is/blog/the-icelandic-yule-lads/

https://youtu.be/PQNet3oRm4Q

Voodoo, hoo dis? This week, Nate and Leigh discuss the voodoo that developed in Haiti between the 16th and 19th centuries. They talk about the common misconceptions the West has about this particular religious practice and how it was made out to be sinister by white people that didn’t understand what they were seeing (try not to be too shocked at this).

Get in touch with us and let us know what you think of this week’s episode.

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vodou

https://www.learnreligions.com/vodou-an-introduction-for-beginners-95712

https://www.google.com/amp/s/glitternight.com/2014/08/13/the-top-eleven-deities-in-voodoo-mythology/amp/

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a34115081/hoodoo-vs-voodoo-facts-history/

https://www.voodoobeginner.com/chapters/the-dark-side-of-voodoo/

In this month’s movie club, Leigh and Nate look at how Netflix’s ‘Veronica’ measures up against the true story of Estefanía Gutiérrez Lázaro, a teenager who died in Madrid in very suspicious circumstances. Listen as Leigh explains how this is still considered one of the most infamous cases of paranormal activity in Spain, enjoying the same kind of notoriety attached to the Amityville murders and the Enfield hauntings.

Get in touch and let us know which is scarier: the movie or the true story. Was Estefanía killed by a sinister supernatural entity or was she the victim of a human killer?

Sources:

https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/veronica-scariest-horror-film-ever-2252230

https://auralcrave.com/en/2019/10/27/the-vallecas-case-the-true-story-behind-veronica-movie/ 

Double, double, toil and trouble; this week’s episode will make you chuckle (hopefully). Leigh and Nate are talking about the reasons you could be labelled a witch in the 18th Century, including having red hair and having too many children. They discuss what was involved in witchcraft trials in the UK and how those who were convicted were executed. This week’s story is about using a spell to get revenge and it not turning out exactly as expected.

Do you believe witches walk among us in the 21st Century? Do you practice witchcraft? Get in touch with the show and tell us your thoughts.

Sources:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/87880/5-british-witch-trials#:~:text=Witch%20trials%20were%20being%20carried%20out%20all%20across,last%20in%20England%20to%20lead%20to%20an%20execution.

https://www.salemtarot.com/archive/seminar.html

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/55276/17-signs-youd-qualify-witch-1692

http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/witchcraft.html#:~:text=Throughout%20Europe%20in%20the%2016th%20and%2017th%20centuries%2C,time%2C%20especially%20in%20Germany%20%2C%20France%20and%20Scotland.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, are they spooky or just banal? This week, Nate and Leigh discuss this staple of horror films and delve into why they are used to scare people. They talk about urban legends and even try one to see if anything happens. Leigh’s spooky tale uses a famous mirror-inhabiting ghoul to try and scare you silly.

As always, we’d love to hear your spooky mirror stories. Get in touch with us and let us know if an urban legend has worked for you.

References:

Story 1 ‘Bloody Mary’, based on u/Panda_Roo42’s comment on:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ghoststories/comments/iggkz3/has_anyone_ever_performed_the_bloody_mary_ritual/

Welcome to Spookernatural’s inaugural Movie Club! Nate takes the reins this week and describes the real-life story of Annabelle, a doll so evil that it has to be imprisoned in the Warrens’ occult museum and regularly blessed by a priest. The hosts discuss the differences between the real life story and the movie adaptation, as well as which doll is scarier.

Get in touch with the show to tell us what you think of Annabelle - is she really as evil as we’ve been led to believe?

References:

https://tonyspera.com/

https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/annabelle/

https://www.nhregister.com/lifestyle/article/Real-Annabelle-story-shared-by-Lorraine-11382545.php

https://allthatsinteresting.com/annabelle-doll

This week, Nate and Leigh go through the basics of Demonology. They delve into the history of demons and the religious background, as well as having an argument of who went into the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus or Moses. Listen and find out why Leigh hasn’t been able to sleep or the last week while finding material for her spooky tale.

As always, get in touch with the show and share your demonic experiences!

This week, Nate and Leigh bring you Hauntings 101. They discuss the difference between residual and intelligent hauntings, as well as their own ghostly encounters, and whether they are skeptics or true believers. You will also hear two tales based on real-life experiences that Leigh has twisted into terrifying stories that will keep you up at night.

Get in touch with the show to share your own stories!

Resources:

Story 1 ‘The Shadow Mother’, based on https://www.reddit.com/r/Ghoststories/comments/ihaivf/shadows_of_a_mother_and_her_child/

Story 2 - ‘We’ve Finally Sold It’, based on https://www.reddit.com/r/Ghoststories/comments/ikdir0/you_just_dont_know_the_relief/