Lore Lore 287: It Takes a Village
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Aug 25, 2025 Venture into dark tales of history that reveal the chilling realities behind witch trials and the breakdown of communities, spotlighting tragic figures like Janet Device and Jacob Kohler. Dive into the unsettling legacy of milk advertising, where seemingly innocent campaigns collide with horror themes. Explore the witchcraft trials in Norway and the eerie stories spun by girls claiming supernatural influences, potentially fueled by hallucinogenic fungi. Finally, uncover how folkloric creepy child figures reflect deep societal fears surrounding childhood and mortality.
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The Battle Of The Frogs
- The 1754 'Battle of the Frogs' in Wyndham, Connecticut terrified villagers who feared an attack or apocalypse.
- Morning scouts found thousands of dead bullfrogs in a dried millpond, revealing the panic's harmless cause.
Child Monsters Serve Cultural Purposes
- Cultures worldwide create child-shaped monsters to enforce safety rules and explain infant death.
- These stories both kept kids safe and helped adults process high infant mortality emotionally.
Japan's Many Child Yokai
- Japanese folklore contains many childlike yokai ranging from harmless pranksters to dangerous beings like kappa.
- The peroritaro is a child-shaped creature that eats greedy human children, illustrating extreme variants.
