A Little Old English For Some New Americans

By: Sam Little

In my readings I often come across various traditions and beliefs different cultures have towards ghosts and I am usually surprised at how silly some of them come across. While reading recentally I discovered a page of traditional beliefs the old english had toward ghosts and was amazed at how simular most of them where in relation to the belief structure we have today. I felt that these views needed to be looked at so that one might understand how ghosts were viewed back then and how they are viewed now.

1. Ghost will walk if people are not appropriatly buried.
   Obviously this statement holds some ground in today's society. It is still believed that impropor buriel or the disturbance of one's burial could result in the appearance of a ghost. In some cultures even cremation meant the return of the departed to seek a propor resting place.
2. Ghost usually appear at night, ideally at midnight. (the witching hour).
   Of course this statement holds a bit of truth as well. From many years of research I can say I honestly believe that ghost mostly appear at night, namely because many seem to be emmiting their own light that may make them harder to see in day. The thing that should catch attention here is that midnight is not regarded as the witching hour that much anymore. Now three in the morning usually stakes that title.
   
3. Ghosts may simply be people who do not know they are dead, or are reluctant to leave the world of the living.
   This statement is one that many researchers have poundered over the years, myself included. It does appear that some ghosts are completely unaware that they no longer inhabit the world of the living. This creates problems when ghosts feel they are being trespassed on by the new home owner or simular circumstances. A great deal of research leads us to feel some ghosts are completely without jknowledge of the current state they now exist in.
   
4. Ghost may wish to warn the living, to get revenge, to terrify, to punish, or to guard or reveal secrets or treasure.
   Wow, that statement is quite descriptive. We do have some reason to believe all of those statements can be true. Ghos have been known to do all of those things. There have been numerous cases to support these statements but it would be false to assume all ghosts have these objectives in mind.
5. Ghosts can appear in the shrouds in which they were buried or in the clothes they wore in life.
   Once again a statement that holds true today. We have various accounts of ghosts appearing in garments they cherished in life and in what they wore at their funeral. It is also not uncommon for a ghost to appear with the wounds that took it's life.
   
6. Ghosts may or may not speak, but if they do it is only after they have been questioned.
   Once again a 50/50 statement. Some ghosts do not speak, choosing instead to remain silent while others are the complete opposite choosing to be audible. However there are countless accounts that mention a ghost speaking without ever being spoken to itself.
7. Ghost may be semitransparent or appear substantial like a person.
   This is also a statement held in high regards today. Ghosts such as Ressurection Mary seem to be as solid and real as any human being would, while ghosts such as Willard Library's mysterious grey lady appear more transparent and misty.
8. Ghosts can float, pass through wals, cause the room temperature to drop suddenly and appear and disappear suddenly.
   This statement has some truth as well in today's belief structure. A great deal of people feel ghosts can do these things, while others feel ghosts who walk through solid matter are not ghosts in the intellegent sense but more residual.
9. Ghosts may speak in a whisper, or squeak, and gibber.
   Any researcher who has done EVP work can say this is a valid statement. Ghosts communicate in many ways and sometimes we are l;eft with noises we can't decipher while other times we have crystal clear voices.
10. Ghosts make fires burn blue and make candles flicker.
    Ghosts in todays world do not make use of this ability if they do have it. Electricity pretty much put the candles out of the light... no pun intended. This is one of those statements that really has no place in today's way of thinking but it is interesting regardless.
11. Ghosts may appear to one person or a large group and some will not see it.
    The appearance of a ghosts to a group is not uncommon but in some cases not everyone sees the entity, even if they were looking right toward it. That gives us many more thoughts but we will not tackle them here at this moment.
12. Ghosts may appear in your waking ad dream states.
    Of course this one is obviously true has anyone may dream of a ghost. Of course ghosts have been sighted by awake people for ages now.
13. Ghost may be evil spirits in disguise
    Of all the statements made in this report this one may be the one that holds the most in today's socuiety. Ghosts are often looked at as evil or in some cases demonic. This belief has not changed at all really from the old english one.

In retrospec we start to see that all in all ghosts beliefs have not really changed all that much throughout the ages. In most ways they have remained rather stationary and continue to do so regardless of advancements in technology and kniowledge. Happy Hunting.