The bogeyman, or bogey, as he is also known, is a mythical monster whose impact can be traced around the world. Like the mythological character Volva, one of the earliest references to this legendary creature was found in the 1500s, although it is suspected that the bogeyman has existed for much longer than this.
It is believed that the coco was originally a reference to mischievous creatures called hobgoblins. In much of Europe, goblins are actually very friendly or limit themselves to harmless pranks, but there are stories of goblins that were much more vicious in nature. These creatures were said to torment humans, sometimes to the point of scaring a person to death.
Regardless of how the bogeyman came to be, it exists as one of the most well-known and feared creatures of all time. There are hundreds of names for the bogeyman around the world, each with its own interesting twist. Because the bogeyman has such a global impact, it is difficult to determine which country told the first stories about this monster. One thing is certain: the bogeyman loves to lurk in the shadows of the night, and his main victims are disobedient children who do not listen to their parents.
Physical Description
Descriptions of the bogeyman vary from country to country, although there are some similarities. Most bogeymen are some kind of spirit or entity that terrorizes naughty children at night. The bogeyman could strike for many reasons, from anger toward children who leave things dirty to hunger from children who stay up after bedtime.
Many bogeymen are said to have long nails or claws that they use to scratch against windowpanes in the middle of the night. There are also stories of bogeymen with terrifying eyes that chase children who venture outside after dark. Some bogeymen are said to have horns or look very animal-like, while others are said to be evil humanoids or witches.
In the United Kingdom, it is believed that the bogeyman may have originally been a description of a “buggies man” as a creature. “Buggies men” were responsible for collecting the dead, especially when the Black Death was ravaging Europe. Due to their contact with the dead, they were often very sick themselves and had skeletal figures with sunken eyes.
Other bogeymen are said to have no appearance, no figure, or the ability to change shape. They can appear as a tree branch scratching at your window, or simply present themselves as a terrifying shadow lurking under the bed.
Perhaps one of the most interesting characteristics of the boogeyman is his ability to exist in the folklore of hundreds of countries with very few physical similarities. The boogeyman’s ability to blend in and adapt to many cultures leads many to think of him as a type of spirit.
Personality
The boogeyman, though mysterious, is best understood through his motivations. He is primarily obsessed with children, though there are myths in some countries that suggest the boogeyman will seek out anyone who is guilty of doing evil. Regardless of the age group a particular boogeyman belongs to, it seems to be a common theme that the boogeyman will not attack those who are considered “good.”
There are many variations as to why the bogeyman preys on his victims. Most versions of the bogeyman will come after children if they have been naughty and disobeyed their parents in some way. These brats have a wide range of punishments to choose from. Some bogeymen only give children scary reminders such as scratching their windowpanes at night, appearing as a shadow lurking in their bedroom, or chasing them when they have wandered away from home in the middle of the night.
Other bogeymen are more sinister, making it even more important for children to heed their parents’ instructions. These ghosts have a taste for naughty children and often sneak into their bedrooms to take them away in the night. These children are often never found and are said to be eaten by the bogeyman.
There is also a strange category of ghosts that do not chase children simply for being naughty. These ghosts often serve as a strange kind of protector, although they tend to have frightening appearances. There are also brats who do not discriminate based on the age of their target. They simply attack the guilty.
In the Semarang area of central Java, there is a bogeyman who strikes fear into the hearts of children and parents alike: the Wewe Gombel. This strange bogeyman is said to be a spirit seeking revenge and acceptance. Although the spirit of Wewe Gombel is evil by nature, it does not harm children. Instead, he kidnaps children who are being neglected or abused and hides them from their parents until he feels that the parents have learned their lesson.
Although he takes revenge on their parents, the children also fear him because of his strange habits. It is said that any unfortunate child who is kidnapped by Wewe Gombel is forced to eat feces until he is allowed to return home.
Legend
El Coco (also known as the Coco Man) is known for instilling fear in the hearts of many Hispanic and Latino children. This strange beast is not known to have a specific appearance, but is thought to be a shape-shifter that is ‘terrible to look at’. In some regions, El Coco is believed to have the power to transform himself into whatever a child fears most.
El Coco climbs onto the roofs of children who disobey their parents and waits until they fall asleep. That’s when El Coco sneaks into the naughty child’s room and kidnaps them for his next meal.
Babaroga
Babaroga is a Croatian coco with a deep hunger for disobedient children. This coco is said to be an ugly old woman with horns on her head. She stalks her prey at night and takes them back to her dark lair where she devours them.
Babaroga is believed to carry a bag that she uses to carry children to her lair (which is often a cave). Sometimes she preys on children who are out too late at night, while other times she is said to come down through cracks in the ceiling to grab her prey.
Tata Duende
Tata Duende comes from Latin America and is most prominent in Mayan and mestizo folklore. This bogeyman has backward feet and is missing his thumbs, which gives him a strange fixation on human thumbs, especially those of human children.
Tata Duende (which roughly translates to Grandfather Goblin) is said to be the protector of the jungle. However, he can also be very mischievous at times. If Tata Duende finds a naughty child, he will lure them into the jungle and try to bite their thumbs.
The Namahage
The Namahage is a Japanese demon that feeds on disobedient, lazy, or crybaby children. The Namahage is known to steal crops and disobedient children during the New Year. They are known to roam the streets of the city at night and shout, “Are there any babies crying?”
L’uomo Nero
L’uomo Nero is typically portrayed as a man dressed in black who chases disobedient children in the Eastern Mediterranean area. It is often said that the bogeyman also wears a hood or hat that hides his face. L’uomo Nero comes to kidnap children who disobey their parents, although unlike other bogeymen, he does not eat them. Instead, he takes them to a scary place to live with him for a year.
Oude Rode Ogen
Oude Rode Ogen (also known as ‘Old Red Eyes’) is believed to be a shape-shifting cannibal who feeds on small children. It is believed that the form this beast was most likely to appear in was that of a black dog with red eyes.
The Night Witch
The Night Witch is an evil spirit believed to cause sleep paralysis and nightmares. This spirit is an old woman who feeds on the fear and nightmares of her victims. She sits on her victims’ chests while they sleep, causing them to have difficulty sleeping and enter a state of disturbed sleep.
The Jumbie
The Jumbie is an evil human spirit that returns to haunt the living in Caribbean folklore. Although similar to ghosts, Jumbies differ in that they cast a dark black shadow rather than appearing as a faint figure. These spirits are malevolent and will attack anyone.
Explanation of the coconut myth
Although there are some who believe that coconut myths are inspired by real creatures, most people believe that the coconut is nothing more than a story told by parents who wanted to scare their children into behaving.
