Haunted Realm Paranormal Investigators

Ignis Fatuus

Ignis Fatuus are spectral lights that show themselves as blueish or yellow flames or candle lights out in the countryside at night. Ignis Fatuus translates to “foolish fire”. It is widely considered very foolish to follow these lights as they are thought to be omens of death, as they often play tricks on persons travelling alone at night as they lure them away from their path and then they lose their way. Ignis Fatuus have been reported in folklore all over the world, they are also known as corpse candles or jack-o-lanterns and many more names. There are various legends throughout history to explain the lights they are believed to be the ghosts of spirit souls who are not at rest either because they were sinners on earth or they had some wrong done to them in life that wasn’t corrected. There are several other explanations throughout the world including:

• In Germany the lights are said to accompany a funeral.
• In Sweden the light is supposed to be the spirit of an un-baptized soul that is leading travellers to water hoping to be baptized.
• In Africa they are known as witch lights and are supposed to be sent by witches to scare people who have done wrong.
• The natural explanation for these lights include: electric vibrations, magnetic vibrations, marsh gas and unknown energy emitting from the earth itself.