corpse candles, lights

corpse candles, lights
   One of the *omens warning of impending death was the appearance of small faint lights flitting about near the home of the person fated to die, or along the road by which the funeral will reach the churchyard; they might also be seen hovering over the place where the grave would be dug. In areas bordering on Wales, where the belief was particularly common, they were called 'corpse candles', and in Sussex 'corpse lights'; the 19th-century Sussex folklorist Charlotte Latham found the belief was widespread, but thought glow-worms might account for it (Folk-Lore Record I (1878), 49-50).

A Dictionary of English folklore. . 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Corpse road — Corpse roads provided a practical means for transporting corpses, often from remote communities, to cemeteries that had burial rights, such as parish churches and chapels of ease.[1] In Britain, such routes can also be known by a number of other… …   Wikipedia

  • Corpse Candle — (Corps Can del) Variations: Brünnlig, Buchelmännle, Corpse Sans Âme, Dichepot, Draulicht, Dröglicht, Druckfackel, Dwallicht, Dwerlicht, Earthlights, Erlwischen, FEU FOLLET ( Foolish Fire ), Flackerfür, Flämmstirn, Follet, Friar s Lantern, Fuchtel …   Encyclopedia of vampire mythology

  • Saint David — For other uses, see Saint David (disambiguation). Saint David 19th century stained glass window in Jesus College Chapel, Oxford. Bishop …   Wikipedia

  • Will-o'-the-wisp — For other uses, see Will o the wisp (disambiguation). Will o the wisp Phenomenon An 1882 oil painting of a will o the wisp by Arnold Böcklin See also …   Wikipedia

  • Christian Burial —     Christian Burial     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Christian Burial     The interment of a deceased person with ecclesiastical rites in consecrated ground. The Jews and most of the nations of antiquity buried their dead. Amongst the Greeks and… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Hanukkah — For other uses, see Hanukkah (disambiguation). Hanukkah A Hanukkiya or Hanukkah Menorah Official name Hebrew: חֲנֻכָּה or חנוכה English translation: Establishing or Dedication (of the Temple in Jerusalem) …   Wikipedia

  • ceremonial object — ▪ religion Introduction  any object used in a ritual or a religious ceremony.       Throughout the history of religions and cultures, objects used in cults, rituals, and sacred ceremonies have almost always been of both utilitarian and symbolic… …   Universalium

  • Christian burial — Ascension Parish burial ground, Cambridge, UK. A Christian burial is the burial of a deceased person with specifically Christian ecclesiastical rites; typically, in consecrated ground. Until recent times Christians generally objected to cremation …   Wikipedia

  • Wax — For other uses, see Wax (disambiguation). Cetyl palmitate, a typical wax ester …   Wikipedia

  • Haunted Mansion — For the 2003 film adaptation, see The Haunted Mansion (film). For the 2003 video game, see The Haunted Mansion (video game). For the comics, see Haunted Mansion (comics). The Haunted Mansion …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”