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Halloween Stories: The Apples for Allantide in Cornwall

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The first day of winter is called Kalan Gwav in Cornish and their version of Halloween. The celebration is called Allantide and the main focus is the big Allan Apple and trying to predict the future. 

Allantide, known as “Kalan Gwav” in Cornish, is the traditional Cornish celebration of Halloween, which marks the end of summer and the beginning of winter. Cornwall is one of the Celtic nations in South West England from the Atlantic Ocean to Devon and the English Channel.

Taking place on October 31, it shares similarities with Samhain and other Celtic festivals like the Welsh Calan Gaeaf or the Hop-tu-Naa on the Isle of Man of it being a beginning of winter festival. But one thing that differs is how much they focus on the dead, the spooky, the otherworld and ghosts. Allantide is much more harvest focused than what we think of Halloween today, although it has some of the same games and customs as its more spooky counterparts. 

Read Also: Halloween Traditions Across the World

The Christian name, Allantide or Feast of St Allan comes from the bishop of Quimper in modern day France, in the sixth century, if he ever existed at all. He is venerated in Brittany and his name lives on in this holiday, although for obscure reasons. This has also made the celebration very christian as an important part of the festival is ringing the church bells. 

Apple Harvest for Allantide: The apples are said to have been brought to the British Isles by the Romans, and soon, celts cultivated them on their own. Traditionally they have been seen as a sign of love and fertility as well as symbols for the gods and goddesses of the otherworld.

The Allan Apples From Harvest

A notable feature of Allantide is the gifting of large, bright apples called “Allan apples,” which symbolize good luck for the coming winter. In this sense, this version of “Halloween”, as it were, is a much brighter version with focus on apples, harvests and predicting the future. Other Halloween versions have often had a more supernatural and spooky atmosphere with ghosts, witches and monsters coming at night. 

In the days leading up to Allantide, Allan Markets were held to buy the big apples. These apples were often used in games of divination, predicting future romances or fortunes. Women would place the apples under their pillows in hopes of dreaming of their future husband. 

Snap Apple: A cross with four candles were put on and Allan apples would hang down was a game they played. The goal was to catch the apples in your mouth. The hot wax from the candles was penalty when it fell down on you.

Bonfires and Jack-o-lanterns

In the past, families would light bonfires, gather together, and use various forms of divination to foresee the winter ahead. The most popular future was of course to do with your love life. If you threw walnuts into the fire you could predict how faithful your partner was. 

Stories told during these gatherings often involved ancestors and spirits, emphasizing the thinning of the veil between worlds. As with the other Celtic celebration, this was the time the dead and passed loved ones were closest to the living. 

Melting of metal was also a way to predict the future. They melted it down to a liquid before throwing it in cold water and reading the shape of it, showing future partners or the future husband’s job. 

There were also jack-o-lanterns made, but of the local turnip growing there. Although if it had the same spooky connotation 

The End of Allantide Festivities

Today, Allantide has largely merged with modern Halloween celebrations, and the traditional Allan markets are gone. But traces of its ancient customs remain alive in Cornwall, where the gifting of the apples is still a central thing to the celebration and bonfires are lit to create community.

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References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allantide

Alain of Quimper – Wikipedia

Allantide | Cornwall For Ever! 

Allantide Cornwall 2023 

Halloween in Cornwall: Allantide and Allan Apples | The Regency Redingote 

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The Haunting Veronica Jaja Urban Legend From Spain

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The urban legend of Veronica Jaja is almost like the Spanish version of Bloody Mary. Say her name three times into the mirror and you will get a visit from the spirit behind the mirror. But why would you risk it as she is mostly there to take your life?

Veronica Jaja…
…Veronica Jaja
Veronica Jaja!

Say this name three times in a dark mirror and see what happens. Perhaps you will fall victim to the urban legend that claims to get the one that plays, dead. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

This urban legend of Veronica Jaja seems to have come up pre internet in the early 20th century shares a lot in common with the Bloody Mary game and legend and is one of the Ghost in the Mirror games that is a legend about a ghost trapped inside of a mirror that can be summoned by uttering its name out loud a number of times.

According to the legend she is summoned after speaking her name 3 times into a mirror. Veronica Jaja will then appear and take your life. She comes as a dark figure and immediately starts to strangle those who summoned her, and she wont stop until she has killed them. 

Those who do survive this ordeal though are said to be haunted by nightmares for their entire life. 

According to the legend, there are plenty that summoned Veronica Jaja for fun, only for it to be the last thing they did. It is said that more than one have been found dead in their bedroom without sign of struggle. 

The Girl who Played with the Occult

But who is this Veronica that is summoned through the mirror? There are variant legends. One of them is that Veronica was a young girl herself that god mixed up in the supernatural. She was a teenage girl that played around with something she shouldn’t have, most often it is said that was a ouija board. 

Through her careless game with the occult she managed to invoke some evil spirits and the next day she was found dead. Because of her lack of respect she became trapped between the world of the living and dead and became the very thing she tried to play around with. 

The Girl with the Beautiful Hair

Another version was that she was a vain girl with wonderful hair she brushed a hundred times every day. All she cared about was her hair, and she loved to stare at it in her mirror.

One day a man hid in her closet to play a prank on the girl with the beautiful hair. When she sat in front of her mirror and brushed her hair, he came out and held her mouth with a handkerchief so she wouldn’t scream. Then he cut off all of her precious hair. 

She was too distraught to look at herself in the mirror without her hair after the attack. Because of her trauma she killed herself. In this version she can be summoned by looking in the mirror while brushing your hair 100 times as you summon her spirit by calling out her name three times. 

Connected with a real case?

The many variations of the Veronica Jaja game can remind a lot of what happened to the real Estefanía Gutiérrez Lázaro. She was a teenage girl that was found dead in her home without an explanation in 1991 in Madrid, before the growth of the urban legend of Veronica Jaja throughout the 90s. 

According to her parents they blamed it on her fondness of the occult and it was said that she had played the ouija board game not long before her death as a way to contact her friend’s boyfriend that had died in a motorbike accident. 

Seeing that many variations of the urban legend started to circulate in the late 90s, it is highly likely that these two things are connected. It was made into a movie based on her death and strange circumstances around it named: Veronica. 

Veronica Jaja the Witch

There is however, a long history concerning these so-called ghosts in the mirror, and there are those stories that predate the death of Estefanía Gutierrez Lázaro in the 1990s and we did have several stories about the ghost in the mirrors long before the 90s as well. 

In this version her origin is much more vague and a lot older. She is sometimes called a daughter of Satan or a witch that was burned at the stakes centuries ago. 

Some variations of the legend centers around a young woman named Veronica Jaja from northern Spain, who was accused of practicing dark magic and witchcraft and burnt to death for her crimes.

During the Spanish Inquisition, thousands of men and women were accused of practicing witchcraft and sorcery, like in the case of the Basque Witch Trials or the Witches of Zugarramurdi case that happened in Northern Spain. The fear of the supernatural and the unknown led to mass hysteria, with innocent individuals being persecuted and executed.

The witch trials served as a backdrop for the creation of many urban legends, including the Veronica Jaja legend. The tales of witches and their alleged powers became ingrained in the collective consciousness of the Spanish people, giving rise to stories that would be passed down through generations.

Popular Variations and Retellings of the Veronica Jaja Urban Legend

Over the years, the Veronica Jaja urban legend has evolved and taken on various forms. Different versions of the story have emerged, each with its own unique twists and turns. One popular variation of the legend tells that if you say her name 5 times it will make her more powerful and make her appearance more likely to happen. 

There are also those that swear to say her name backwards or in reverse order will also help those that desperately need her. 

Similar Urban Legends from Around the World

While the Veronica Jaja urban legend may be unique to Spain, similar tales can be found in different cultures around the world.

The closest one is probably the Bloody Mary legend, and this too seems to have roots to much older history, tracing back to Tudor times in Britain with the Mary Queen of Scots who were known to have burnt countless people on the stakes to earn her name. But also with this legend, there are now so many variants that sometimes even cross over with each other and it is difficult to claim what came first

In Japan, there is the legend of Hanako-san, a ghostly figure who haunts the school bathrooms. Like Veronica Jaja, Hanako-san is said to appear when summoned, bringing fear and unease to those who dare to invoke her name.

The Ghost in the Mirrors

As we come to the end of our exploration of the Veronica Jaja urban legend, one thing becomes clear – the enduring allure of urban legends. These tales of mystery and intrigue have captivated our imaginations for centuries, allowing us to escape into a world of the unknown. The Veronica Jaja legend, with its dark origins and chilling retellings, continues to fascinate and intrigue, reminding us of the power of storytelling and the human fascination with the supernatural.

So, the next time you find yourself in front of a mirror, take a moment to ponder the mysteries that lie beneath its surface. Who knows what secrets and legends may be waiting to be discovered?

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References:

https://www.lasprovincias.es/sociedad/leyenda-bloody-mary-veronica-espejo-20211025212425-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lasprovincias.es%2Fsociedad%2Fleyenda-bloody-mary-veronica-espejo-20211025212425-nt.html

Verónica (leyenda urbana) – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

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The Man in Carrer Josep Torres No. 20 that Made a Pact with the Devil

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To end his financial problems, Agustin Atzerias made a pact with the devil. To honor this pact, he adorned his house on Carrer Josep Torres No. 20 with demonic ornaments on the building. 

The history of Carrer Josep Torres No. 20 dates back to the late 19th century when it was constructed by an industrialist named Agustin Atzerias that was about to do some strange things. Atzerias, a man known for his wealth and extravagant lifestyle, faced financial difficulties in 1892 that sent him and his lifestyle crashing down. Legend has it that desperate to regain his fortune, he made a deal with the devil himself.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

According to the rumors, Atzerias sold his soul to the devil himself in exchange for money and riches to get back on his feet. Miraculously, he won the lottery shortly after making this pact and used the newfound wealth to complete the construction of Carrer Josep Torres No. 20.

The Demonic House: The House in Barcelona looks pretty normal from a distance, but if you look closer, you will see that the entire house is decorated in honor of the devil. // Source: Enric/Wikimedia

However, it is said that Atzerias’ success came at a great cost, as the house became a hub of paranormal activity and is to this day a haunted house filled with demonic powers.

The Barcelona Demon House quickly gained a reputation for its eerie occurrences that seemed to concentrate around this address. Locals reported hearing unexplained voices, footsteps echoing through the halls, and witnessing objects moving on their own. Many believe that the demonic ornaments adorning the facade of the house are a testament to the dark forces that reside within.

A Pact with the Devil: Allegedly the house is decorated this way because the owner made a pact with the devil in exchange for money. //Source: Enric/Wikimedia

The Mystery of the Demon House

One cannot help but be intrigued by the peculiar architecture and design of Carrer Josep Torres No. 20. The most striking feature of the house is the row of demon heads adorning its facade. These grotesque sculptures, with their twisted expressions and menacing features, have become an iconic symbol of the Barcelona Demon House.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

The origins of these demonic ornaments are shrouded in mystery. Some speculate that Atzerias, in his desperation to regain his fortune, invoked the help of dark forces and dedicated the house to the devil. Others believe that the demon heads were merely a reflection of Atzerias’ eccentric personality and fascination with the occult.

The Enduring Allure of Carrer Josep Torres No. 20

Despite the passage of time, the Barcelona Demon House continues to captivate the imaginations of those who dare to explore its dark corners. Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, Carrer Josep Torres No. 20 offers a glimpse into a world beyond our own. It serves as a reminder that there are still mysteries left to be unraveled and secrets waiting to be discovered.

The House with the Demonic Art: if you take a stroll down Carrer Josep Torres No. 20 and look up, you can see that the house is decorated with pictures and ornament of the devil. Exactly why, we will never know, but people have claimed that there is a demonic force that haunts the building now. //Source: Enric/Wikimedia

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Top Haunted and Mysterious Places in Spain | Scariest Places in Spain to Visit

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Blood-thirsty Witches of The National Highway 66 in India

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According to local legend, the entire stretch of the National Highway 66, formerly known as NH17 in India, is haunted. Travelers are warned about not carrying meat with them, as it is said to attract blood thirsty witches.

The National Highway 66

Travelers beware: NH17, the Mumbai-Goa highway, is more than just a scenic route; it is a stretch of road cloaked in dark legends and eerie encounters. This notorious highway stretching for 1640 kilometers from Mumbai along the coast through five states to Goa. Today it is under the name, 

The National Highway 66 as it is called today is cutting through the lush landscapes of western India and if we are to believe the legends, the highway is whispered to be haunted by a coven of witches with an insatiable hunger for meat. 

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from India

As the sun sets and the tropical darkness envelops the road, these spectral entities are said to emerge, prowling the The National Highway 66 in search of their next prey. 

Flesh Praying Witches

So where does this peculiar legend come from? It is not often you hear about witches accumulating around the highways, although, India seems to have plenty of roads thought to be haunted. What type of witches they are not often specified. Are they spirits, are they even human?

Local lore advises against carrying non-vegetarian food items while traveling along NH17, particularly after midnight. The presence of meat is believed to draw the witches, triggering a series of terrifying events. Witnesses have recounted how their vehicles, otherwise in perfect working order, have inexplicably stalled or veered out of control as they passed through the most haunted stretches of the highway.

The Legend of the Couple on the Road

The most relayed legend is about a couple that was driving to Goa after midnight, when something went wrong. Their headlights started acting up, flickering and the car gave some strange sounds as it was something wrong with it. 

They pulled to the side and went out of the car to check. When they exited the car, the doors locked automatically behind them, and although they tried their best, they were unable to get back in. 

Black smoke started to seep out from the car and the doors unlocked themselves. When they checked the car, all their food was gone. That is when the woman screamed and when the man went to check on her, she had scratches on her face. 

Quickly they jumped in the car and sped away. First after they got to their destination and told about what happened, they understood what had happened. They had been carrying meat, something that would attract the witches. 

The National Highway 66 and the Haunting

But exactly where does this happen, because after all, it is a very long stretch of road through five states. The story about the witches is especially said to happen around Kashedi Ghat, a mountain pass along The National Highway 66 near Poladpur with a deadly dangerous curve, perhaps the worst one in Maharashtra, the neighboring state to Goa. 

Read also: Check out more stories from Haunted Roads around the world

This particular piece of stretch is every driver’s nightmare with its twists and bends. Many stories about people seeing apparitions on The National Highway 66 as well as thinking that they have fallen into a loop where they cross the same place again and again are many. Even the the road traffic police have reported about the strange things that are said to happen on this road. 

These stories have been told for decades by now, and it seems like some of the locals still think it is best to just take their precaution as the witches is seemingly going no where. Travelers, take heed: if you must journey down this path, leave your meat behind, lest you become the next victim of the witches’ nocturnal hunt.

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References:

Most Haunted: Find Flesh Eating Witches on National Highway 17 in Goa

National Highway 66 (India) – Wikipedia 

Kashedi Ghat – Wikipedia

Kashedi Ghat, one of the most haunted stretches of Mumbai-Goa highway | Times of India Travel 

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Corney: The Dublin Ghost with a Sense of Humor

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A fine house in Dublin was for a time haunted by a notorious prankster that called himself Corney. And although the family tried more than one way to rid themselves of the ghost, he refused to leave and kept pestering the family until they left. 

Dublin, a city steeped in history and folklore, has its own fair share of spectral tales and paranormal phenomena. Among these eerie stories, the intriguing tale of Corney stands out as a remarkable account of a mischievous and talkative ghost with a sense of humor. 

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

In the heart of Dublin city, a well-to-do family once moved into a splendid residence, hoping to create a warm and inviting home. The exact address is unknown today, but it is believed the building was around Stephen’s Green. Little did they know that their new abode came with an unexpected tenant—the spectral presence known as Corney.

The Cane’s Mysterious Disappearance

Life in their new home took an eerie turn when the father of the family sprained his leg at work, requiring a cane to move around. One night, as the family lay peacefully asleep and a distinctive thumping noise reverberated through the darkness and woke them up. The source of this eerie sound was none other than the father’s cane, which had mysteriously vanished from the foot of their bed.

The family members embarked on a midnight quest to retrieve the missing cane. To their astonishment, they were greeted by an unexpected and booming voice emanating from the cellar. It was a voice that introduced itself as Corney, though he often denied that as his true name. It was said that the voice sounded like it was speaking through an empty barrel. This initial encounter marked the beginning of Corney’s strange presence in their lives.

Corney’s Mischief and Pranks

Corney soon proved himself to be a playful and mischievous specter. He delighted in creating chaos within the household. Crockery went missing, cutlery disappeared, and household members complained of mysterious pinches they suffered when there was no one there. 

Even vegetables brought as gifts from relatives’ farms were hung up around the kitchen like bizarre decorations. One cupboard in the kitchen was off-limits to anyone else but Corney, who adamantly refused to allow anything to be stored there and threw everything out when they tried to put something in it.

Corney’s Antics Escalate

Corney had a distinct aversion to confinement. He wielded an uncanny ability to manipulate locks and keys, leaving a trail of bent and twisted mechanisms throughout the house. He had an uncanny knack for interrupting conversations in the kitchen, save for those held by those who held no fear of him. 

Haunted House: Corney was the family’s personal poltergeist, and took over the house and drove them out in the end.

As Corney’s presence in the house grew stronger, his antics took a more sinister turn. Household members struggled to keep servants, as the relentless mutterings, interruptions, and malicious practical jokes became increasingly unbearable. Those who had once slept in the kitchen on fold-out beds requested to move to the attic, hoping to escape Corney’s torment.

A Nightmarish All Hallows Eve

On All Hallows Eve, Corney made a chilling announcement that visitors would be arriving. That very night, the house echoed with the voices of five or six distinct entities. The next morning, the water in the house had turned as black as ink, and the pantry revealed bread and butter streaked with the sooty imprints of ghostly fingers. Guests claimed that sheets had been mysteriously pulled from their beds, and one young man reported a terrifying vision of a naked old man with peculiar features.

When the family tried to get a priest to expel him from the house though, Corney was silent the whole time. But after the priest left, he would return and continue his usual haunting antics. He only jumped out from the cupboard as he shouted “Haha, here I am, I am not confined to only one place in the house.”

Corney’s Departure

The beleaguered family decided it was time to move, but selling their lease proved challenging. Corney’s loquacious nature ensured that prospective buyers never made it past the kitchen and he scared them away. Desperate, the family sought to reach an agreement with Corney. It appeared that the entity had a soft spot for the lady of the house, who eventually persuaded Corney to settle down.

Eventually Corney said they would be alright as he was seeing a lady wearing black that would come to the house and buy it. And what he said happened. 

Corney’s Legacy

The whereabouts of Corney’s spectral presence today remain unknown, as even the exact address of the house has been lost to time. Nevertheless, the tale of Corney serves as a reminder that the supernatural can be as talkative as it is mysterious. 

So, should you ever come across a Dublin property with an uncanny history and an invitingly low price, remember to inspect the coal cellar carefully—lest you find yourself engaged in spirited conversations with the ghostly tenant, Corney!

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References:

The Ghost Below | Emerald Isle Irish and Celtic myths, fairy tales and legends 

Corney The Dublin Poltergeist – Ghost Stories From Ireland – Irish Folklore 

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The Poltergeist in Carrer Francisco Giner No. 43

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An entire building experienced what they thought to be the works of a poltergeist in 1935 in Carrer Francisco Giner No. 43 in Barcelona. For an entire week they endured the hauntings that no one, not even the authorities could explain. 

Have you ever heard about a house that is so haunted that it scares the living daylights out of the people who live there?  The houses were believed to be haunted by a ghost, or even possibly possessed by a poltergeist, which was seen and felt by many, even the police.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

One of the most famous haunted house stories in Barcelona, Spain was from 1935 when the residents of the building at No. 43 at Carrer Francisco Giner in Barcelona experienced what they thought had to be of the paranormal sorts. 

The building is in a classical Barcelona neighborhood with its narrow alleyways, red toned stone buildings and plants hanging out from the windows and small balconies. But one night the building reached headlines in all of Spain when something unexplainable happened. 

Many of those living in the building claimed they experienced what they thought was the works of a poltergeist-like thing that scared the residents with banging noises on the walls of the building. The furniture was reportedly flying in the air that lasted for days. It has since been known as the first documented poltergeist phenomenon in Catalonia. 

The Night a Poltergeist Came to the Building

On February 10th that year the Montroig i Mondoza family was sleeping soundly when they were awakened by loud bangs against the walls. The oldest son got out of bed to see what was happening. Suddenly the drawers of the cabinets started opening by themselves, flinging themselves violently to the floor. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

Soon the whole neighborhood on Carrer Francisco Giner woke up to the loud banging noise and the entire building were suddenly witnesses to the strange happenings. They were frightened and called after help from the guards and the night watchman went out in search for the origin of the noise. He couldn’t find anything.

Suddenly the noises stopped and the neighbors went back to bed, confused but tired enough to fall peacefully asleep again, thinking that it was a one time thing they never had to go through again. 

A Series of Hauntings

But the next day it happened again and morning came. When people came back from work it was still going on. 

Mr. Montroig filed a complaint to the police when he came home from work, but when the police came to investigate the matter, they still couldn’t find the reason or the source of the noise. 

Police Investigation: The people in the building reported the strange things going on to the police, and they came to investigate. They soon had to give up as they never found the culprit, or the root of the matter.

The next evening the noise had disappeared and everyone thought that the sounds were over. But then it started again the following night, and according to the residents, and especially the Montroig family, it only got worse.
Inside of their apartment a chair started to levitate in the room. A lamp kept spinning and cutlery floated in the air while the hands of the clock sped up, going crazy.

Some residents of No.43 even claimed to have seen white shadows gliding in the corridors of the building and the temperature suddenly dropped. Not only this, but a violent hailstorm showered the building and the courtyard. 

The people living in the building at Carrer Francisco Giner couldn’t take the haunting any longer and fled the place. Both the police as well as the press came and witnessed what happened as the paranormal activity continued for a week. 

There really is no absolute resolution to this case. The entire Montroig family decided to leave the building and moved away. So did a lot of the other tenants living there. But not much has happened on this quiet street since. 

What Really Happened in Carrer Francisco Giner?

What happened that week no one really knows though and the speculations continue to this day. There is speculation that it was caused because of the teenage son in the Montroig family.  Joan Monroig was ill at the time, and some speculated that this was what attracted the poltergeist to the apartment building. 

What we do know is that spiritualism was a really popular topic at this time, and the people experiencing these strange things quickly concluded for themselves and to the press that it was indeed what was happening. Although we have to give them credit that something really did happen that week the entire building was kept awake by a potential poltergeist.

The police concluded with nothing. Many things that happened could in fact have been recreated by a living human being, like the flying chairs. But what they never managed to answer was the vibrating that seemed to run through the entire building seen by the windows. Even today, the case remains unsolved. 

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References:

Poltergeist al barri de Gràcia de Barcelona
El primer caso «Polstergeist» documentado en Barcelona
13 Barcelona Haunted Houses & Places that will creep you out
Haunted and Mysterious Places in Barcelona | 19 Local Legends

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The Curious Mystery of the Enniscorthy Poltergeist

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At the dawn of the 1900s, a group of lodgers experienced something so disturbing that they believed it had to be paranormal. Even when journalists came to investigate what could be behind the Enniscorthy Poltergeist, no answer was found. 

In the Irish town of Enniscorthy in County Wexford, an eerie disturbance rocked the peaceful existence of the Redmond family back in the summer of 1910. Their idyllic life was shattered when they inadvertently welcomed an uninvited guest—one of a spectral nature. This unsettling presence would go on to perplex residents, baffle investigators, and etch its name into the annals of Irish ghost stories—the Enniscorthy Poltergeist.

The Redmond Residence

The Redmonds, a respectable family residing on No. 16 on Court Street in Enniscorthy, lived a comfortable life at the dawn of the 20th century on what is known as the Sunny South East. To supplement their income, the couple opened their doors to lodgers, renting out rooms. Little did they know that their decision to offer shelter would thrust them into a world of unexplainable phenomena.

In the fateful month of July 1910, the Redmonds rented a room above their kitchen to three tradesmen working in the vicinity. Among these lodgers was John Randall, a carpenter. 

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

One night as the clock ticked towards the witching hour on the 7th of July, John Randall was abruptly awakened by a bizarre occurrence. In an instant, his bed clothes were yanked away from him. Believing his roommates were playing a prank, he called out to them, demanding an end to their mischief.

To his bewilderment, the two other lodgers denied any involvement in the eerie incident. Alarmed and curious, they decided to investigate the inexplicable event by lighting a match. Their blankets lay in a haphazard heap near the window. Bewildered and unable to discern a logical explanation, they gathered their bedding and returned to their uneasy slumber.

Soon after, an ominous tapping sound echoed through the room, steadily intensifying in tempo. Then, in a heart-stopping moment, the bed on which the two remaining lodgers lay began to slide ominously across the floor. Fear gripped their hearts as they frantically lit a lamp, searching for any sign of rationality behind the unexplainable happenings. 

The frightened lodgers sought solace in their landlord, Mr. Redmond as they each thought it was one of the others that were messing with them. In a bid to quell their mounting terror, the landlord instructed them to return the bed to its original position. John Randall, plagued by fear, adamantly refused to sleep alone and joined his companions in the larger bed.

The large bed they shared defied reason as it moved once again, this time to the center of the room. The three men remained awake, unable to close their eyes for the rest of the night. 

Throughout the night and the nights to come, the eerie sounds of footsteps echoed through the house, ensuring that sleep remained an elusive prospect.

The Intriguing Paranormal Investigation

The next night there was also little sleep to get. Monday the 11th of July, the bed started moving again, with all three lying on it. There was a chair in the middle of the room that started rocking and one of the lodgers claimed he was lifted from the bed by hands he couldn’t see. 

News of these events quickly reached the local press, and reporters from the Guardian newspaper decided to investigate the claims of the Enniscorthy Poltergeist when one of the lodgers couldn’t even stay the remaining time he had originally intended and left the house. 

With the permission of the Redmonds, reporters named Murphy and Devereux ventured into the unsettling realm of the Enniscorthy Poltergeist.

Enniscorthy Poltergeist: The media caught the story and started their own investigation into the claims. They didn’t find any source or reason for it. Neither paranormal, and no earthly explanation.

They sat between the two beds with a full view of the room. Around midnight, they started to hear the rapping sound the lodgeres had complained of. Devereux mentioned it sounded like the sound of rats chewing on wood. 

In a horrifying twist, John Randall became the victim of the spectral presence. He was wrapped in his own sheets and dragged from his bed, an event witnessed by the bewildered reporters. As they watched in awe, they realized that this inexplicable force defied the laws of the natural world.

The Enniscorthy Poltergeist

To this day, the Enniscorthy Poltergeist remains an unsolved enigma. Despite numerous investigations and the scrutiny of skeptics, no plausible explanation has emerged to elucidate the supernatural occurrences that plagued the Redmond residence in 1910. 

Randall spent three weeks with the horror, and lost almost a stone in weight after the torturing nights. In the end, the lodgers couldn’t take it and returned back home after they were dragged off the bed themselves. 

The memory of the Enniscorthy Poltergeist still lingers and is one of Ireland’s most curious incidents with a poltergeist like activity, a reminder that the world is replete with mysteries that defy explanation.

What happened is uncertain even to this day. Could it have been some sort of rodent like a rat that they suspected? Perhaps it was the Redmonds wanting to get rid of the lodgers? Perhaps something darker and more sinister?The lodgers claimed the bed was so heavy that it took two to move it when no one was sleeping on it. When the reporters inspected it after staying the night, they found no wires or strings attached that could account for moving it either. 

Perhaps we will never find out the truth behind the mystery of the Enniscorthy Poltergeist. When asked now, the residents say there is no longer any poltergeist activity to complain about in the house on No. 16 of the street. 

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References:

Poltergeist made headlines one hundred years ago | Independent.ie 

Enniscorthy, Ireland’s Most Chilling Poltergeist Tale | Spooky Isles 

The Spirit of Enniscorthy | Irish ghost stories from the Emerald Isle An Irish (true) story: the Enniscorthy poltergeist – RANDOM Times •

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The Haunted La Casa de las Siete Chimeneas

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The house of the seven chimneys, or La Casa de las Siete Chimeneas is one of the most famous haunted houses in Madrid. It is believed to be haunted by a woman that can be seen just floating above the seven chimneys of the estate. 

Have you ever heard the eerie stories of an old haunted house in Spain? For centuries, locals have been telling tales of dark secrets and spectral figures within its walls. It’s no surprise that this mysterious building has become a popular destination for those looking for a thrilling adventure. In this article, we will explore this legendary haunted house and uncover its hidden mysteries.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

The House of the Seven Chimneys, La Casa de las Siete Chimeneas is a building where the Spanish Ministry of Culture is based in Madrid at Plaza del Rey today in Madrid. The name comes from the actual seven chimneys built into the house as well as what they represent according to the legends: The Seven Deadly Sins. 

Who lived in the House of the Seven Chimneys?

It is one of the oldest manors in Madrid and many have lived inside of the walls. There are also several conflicting legends about for whom it was built. 

La Casa de las Siete Chimeneas: The house of the Seven Chimneys in Madrid, Spain has long thought to be haunted by a mysterious woman floating just above the chimneys. //Source: Luis García/wikimedia

One of them claims the house was built by Felipe II for his illegitimate daughter in the 1570s or 80s. Today it is almost in the heart of the city, but back then it was a country house in the outskirts of Madrid surrounded by orchards and gardens, far away from the bustling city life. It was also a perfect place to hide away people. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

It is said that the daughter went crazy being locked up inside of the house and died. Why she died is unspecified, but it is believed that she is now haunting the house. 

The Women in the Chimneys

One of the ghosts also said to haunt the place is a woman that can be seen floating above the seven chimneys. Could it be the ghost of the illegitimate daughter that he supposedly isolated in this house? Or could it perhaps be one of his mistresses?

It is thought that she is the ghost of Elena who was the mistress of King Filipe II. In some versions she was the daughter of one of his knights, perhaps she was both. In this version Elena was actually married to Captain Zapata from the royal army and it was their marital home. He was a man who fell in love with her when he saw her, but had to go fight in the battle of San Quintin straight after the wedding.

He was killed in the battle of Flanders only a couple of weeks after their wedding and it is said that Elena died of grief straight after. In some versions she took her own life in one of the rooms in the house.

The Mistress Murdered by The King

But some claim that this version of her story is wrong and she didn’t die of a broken heart, or by her own hand, but was murdered by the king to hide her secrets. What secrets? Well as her mistress, she knew too much and perhaps a child was proof of infidelity that the King didn’t want left alive. 

It was said she was stabbed and her body hid away. King Felipe opened an investigation that pointed to her father that he was the killer. He ended up committing suicide by hanging himself from the beams in the house. 

Because according to some of the legends inside of the house, it is said she gave birth to a daughter born after she married the captain, but rumors circulated that the daughter actually was the child of the king and he had to stop the rumors. 

The Haunting of Elena

There are many supposed sightings of these ghosts, and most of them come from the bedroom that were thought to have been Elena’s. She is seen appearing in the room before she suddenly vanishes, just like her dead body did according to the stories. 

It was said that a print of Elena’s hand would touch the window at night and a female apparition walked around the house and lit up a torch on the roof between the seven chimneys. It is said that these apparitions continued for many nights 

The Skeletons are Found

At the end of the 19th century they did some renovation to make the building become the headquarters of the Banco de Castilla around 1881. 

During the renovations they found the bones of a woman in the basement together with several coins from the 16th century, the time she was supposed to have lived. This is perhaps when the legends of the unfortunate mistress really took off.  

Many believe today that this is the bones of Elena and that she was murdered to silence her about her affair with the king and the child people believed to be his. 

Other Ghost Legends from the House

The ghost of an illegitimate daughter or a mistress are not the only ghosts that are thought to haunt these halls, or perhaps even the roof. 

There are also said to be the ghost of a butler wandering the house near the entrance door. It is thought he was one of those that died during the Esquilache riot that happened inside of the manor house. 

There is also a creepy legend about a young woman that lived during the time of Felipe II. She died on her wedding night with an old Indian landowner according to legend. It looks like she also had some unfinished business with her king as she was supposedly found with a dagger in her chest in the basement with money from the king scattered around her. 

The Truth of the House of the Seven Chimneys

The truth is that we don’t really know who the woman found in the basement with the bag of coins from this time was. She will remain nameless, her ghost wandering on top of the roof among the seven chimneys

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References:

Veranos de hasta 0 grados en Griegos, el segundo pueblo más alto de España
Casa de las Siete Chimeneas
Casa SIETE CHIMENEAS y la leyenda de su fantasma | Viajar a Madrid
4 sitios de España en los que pasar una noche de miedo | Placeres
Visiting Spain’s Most Haunted Locations | Right Casa Estates

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The Witching Behind the Production of Practical Magic

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The cult classic Practical Magic is a movie about witches, spells and curses. But did you know that a witch actually cursed the film production when they worked on it? And did you know there is going to be a sequel about the family of witches?

The 1998 cult classic Practical Magic is not just a beloved witchy film—it also has an eerily enchanting history behind its production. Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, the film tells the story of two witch sisters navigating love, loss, and a family curse. With an all-star cast, including Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest, Practical Magic was filmed at the height of late 90s nostalgia for magical and supernatural tales. 

Read Also: Check out all haunted stories from the USA.

One of the most memorable scenes in the film features the characters enjoying “Midnight Margaritas,” a spontaneous, tequila-fueled bonding session. Behind the scenes, the cast really did get tipsy on the cheap tequila Nicole Kidman had brought on set, leading to authentic moments of tipsy joy that made it into the final cut.

Midnight Margaritas: The booze in the Margarita was real tequila. Were the curses in the movie real as well? If we are to believe the stories, the witch consultant really did leave a curse on the whole movie.

In addition to boozy fun, Practical Magic became an unexpected sisterhood for the actresses. Though the film was directed by Griffin Dunne, a man, the female cast formed a powerful, almost mystical bond. As Kidman recalled, they synced their menstrual cycles during a full moon while filming, teasing Dunne that they might soon “turn on him.”

Musically, the film drew on the talents of self-proclaimed witch and Fleetwood Mac legend, Stevie Nicks. Nicks not only contributed her song “If You Ever Did Believe” to the film but also re-recorded her classic “Crystal,” both featuring Sheryl Crow. 

Yet, what many don’t know is that the film’s making was just as otherworldly as its plot.

Was Practical Magic a Haunted Set?

Behind the camera Practical Magic was plagued by darker forces as well as in front of it is we are to believe the rumors. 

Stories about supernatural occurrences circulated during filming from both cast and crew. Cast members reported eerie noises, especially during the climactic coven scene at the film’s end, raising suspicions that the fictional witchcraft may have stirred something real.

Read Also: Check out The Haunting of Fernhills Royal Palace Hotel in India’s Hills where another movie production encountered the supernatural.

As the director said: “It’s something I will talk about now, but at the time I would sort of deny it. I didn’t want the vibe. As the line from the movie that Aidan has [goes], “I didn’t want to give the curse any strength.” Not that I believed in it. But if you believe in it, you’re giving it strength.”

So was the movie set really haunted, or was it simply the witchy vibe of the set something to the atmosphere. The scariest thing by far was when the witch consultant they had hired cursed the entire movie, as well as the director when they didn’t give into her demands. 

The Exorcism Scene: The scene where the witches gathered for a huge spell was thought to bring with it a strange atmosphere people borderline chucked up to a paranormal one.

The Witch Consultant’s Curse

Originally brought on to help ensure the accuracy of the film’s portrayal of magic, things took a sinister turn with the witch consultant they had hired. They had hired the witch through a friend of the director put them in touch with. The friend has never stopped apologizing for the introduction because of how badly it ended, according to the director. 

Read More: Check out all stories concerning Witches

The witch was, according to the director, paid very handsomely by Warner Brothers for her consulting on spells and such. The director thought it would be fun to bring her out to Los Angeles where they were filming a lot of the movie. They wanted to put her in a nice hotel as he wanted her to meet Bullock and Kidman, who were dying to meet her. 

The Owen Sisters: Nichole Kidman and Sandra Bullock played the sisters in the movie. In the plot, the sisters are cursed as well, and any man who loves them or they love will die.

This all greatly backfired though as the witch got offended. She said to the producer in a phone call: “I’m going to put a curse on you. I’m putting a curse on this movie, and I’m putting a curse on Griffin.” 

She wanted three gross points of the profit the movie would make as well as the right to publish a Practical Magic cookbook. She also left an ominous voicemail as well to Griffith: “There is a land of curses!” and started to speak in tongue on a voicemail before threatening to sue Warner Bros as well.

Griffith brought the recording to the legal department and played the curse for them. Only halfway through they stopped the tape and wrote her a check. 

A New Age Exorcism for a New Age Movie

The threat of the curse rattled the crew, especially when tragedy struck: a crew member’s father died suddenly. Though he was elderly and already ill, many on set believed it was the witch’s doing. In response, Griffin Dunne arranged a New Age exorcism to cleanse the set. 

“It was a very simple, New Agey ceremony that was about as silly as the idea that someone would curse you over the phone,” he told Vulture when he talked about the whole ordeal. “It was mostly chants and smoke and shit like that. “I just did it to cover my bases.”

Though he admitted it was “silly,” the ritual provided some comfort, and filming continued without further incident. The incident did however inspire the creator of the movie to write one of Aidens lines: “Curses only have power when you believe them.” 

Critic Reviews and the Supernatural Vibe

Despite the fun behind-the-scenes stories, Practical Magic wasn’t initially well-received. Critics like Roger Ebert and Entertainment Weekly panned the film, calling it “muddled” and “cursed,” as if the alleged witch’s hex truly took hold of the production and made it to as badly as it did on the box office. In fact, it was the last feature film the director did for ages, and he said it certainly didn’t help his career. 

However, over the years, the film gained a cult following, embraced for its charming mix of romance, sisterhood, and spooky magic. Today the movie is considered a classis by many, a thing put on every fall to get you in the spooky October mood. 

As if continuing the magic of the original, in 2024, news broke that both Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman would return for a much-anticipated sequel. The announcement reignited fan excitement and speculation that the witchy energy from the first film might soon stir again. But the question is: how would a sequel fare if there truly is something like a curse put on the production?

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References:

Practical Magic (1998) – Trivia – IMDb

Practical Magic – Wikipedia

How ‘Practical Magic’ Pissed Off a Real-Life Witch | Vanity Fair 

Prepare a Midnight Margarita and Enjoy These 25 Secrets About Practical Magic

Cool, Shocking Facts You Never Knew About Practical Magic – Business Insider

Practical Magic Got Cursed by an Actual Witch. Is That Why It Bombed? 

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The Satanic Haunted House of Cortijo Jurado

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A string of mysterious murders of young women made the suspicion land on the people residing in the House of Cortijo Jurado. It is now believed to be haunted as it was a place for gruesome satanic rituals. 

In the Campanillas neighborhood in the outskirts of Malaga there is an old mansion from the 19th century that used to belong to the wealthy Heradia family from La Rioja. They built the house with 365 windows, one for each day.  

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

In later years the mansion has been called Casa Encantada (House of the Enchanted), but it is more sinister than fairy tale-like and mostly known as a satanic murder house for those interested in the paranormal. 

The Missing Women Victims of Satanic Rituals

This bourgeois 19th century English Gothic styled mansion was the location of suspected kidnappings of the local girls. In the span of over 30 years from 1890 to 1920 at least 5 young girls went missing in the area, and some of them showed up dead near a river close to the house covered in strange wounds. People thought that the wounds had to be from the satanic ritual and torture the girls went through in their final moments.  

The Unsolved Murders: There was a string of mysterious murders that happened to the women in the nearby villages. The mansion was soon tied to the crimes and people started to speculate about satanic rituals going on inside of the house. // Source: Tyk/ wikimedia

Rumours spread that those in the mansion together with the other rich families in the area had something to do with the disappeared and dead girls and that there were tunnels built under the house and chambers underneath it used for torture. Legend has it that the missing women were used for satanic rituals. 

Whether it is true or not that the family in the mansion had anything to do with it, it is actually true that many young girls disappeared in this period, they could never prove anything. Although local lore claims that the rich family used their wealth to escape justice. 

The Ghosts of Cortijo Jurado

After this, many claim to have heard strange noises coming from the Cortijo Jurado and seeing ghostly figures in the darkened windows of the first floors and in the courtyard. It was believed to be the ghosts of the missing girls and that they are still calling for help and trying to prove and show what really happened to them.  

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

In the basement there is according to the legends the torture instruments used on the girls who are allegedly buried under the house. 

They have actually found the hidden tunnels, although they are now blocked off. The testimony we have of this comes from Manuel Martin who did a dare in front of his friends to go into the tunnels in 1942 the workers of the property had found. 

He came back out white as a sheet and told about the torture machines and bones he had seen. The man kept to his words for years according to both his neighbors as well as those that have done research on it. Who really knows where they lead?

Prison During the Spanish Civil War

The house was also used as a hospital as well as a prison during the civil war were torture and executions were also a part of the every day occurrences in the building, further staining the walls with death and blood. 

The urban explorers that uncovered the hidden tunnels underneath the house then uncovered what looked like a torture room as well. Perhaps it even predated the war one may wonder. 

Plans of Renovations

The house is today abandoned and mostly in ruins, although not completely forgotten. In 2000 they tried to make a movie with the haunted mansion as a location and a backdrop, but because of weird accidents and failure of the battery and electric equipment that bothered the production, they had to give up and the movie was never completed. 

Abandoned Building: There is a long time since anyone lived in the mansion. There have been several attempts of fix the place up and turn it into a resort, although it still hasn’t happened. //Source: Nicky69es/wikimedia

In 2004 they approved plans to renovate the place into a 4 star hotel, but the plans fell through in 2015 as the economic crisis hit. 

Today you can spot the haunted mansion on the nearby motorway,  a dark spot on Costa del Sol’s bright days. 

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References:

Cortijo Jurado, haunted house in Malaga with mystery and disappearances
Cortijo Jurado – Wikipedia
The 5 most Haunted Places in Spain
The 10 most famous haunted houses in Spain — idealista
Ten paranormal places that you can actually visit in Spain