The Winds Wave at the Will-o'-the-Wisp Quiz

Answer: Jack-o'-Lanterns

There are a few explanations of the origin of the jack-o'-lantern. One popular one says that Jack was a wicked soul who upon dying managed to trick the devil a number of times into letting him live longer and not go to hell. Despite his cleverness, Jack had not lived well enough to gain entry into heaven when he eventually did die, and the devil denied him a place in hell too. Jack was given an inextinguishable light that he put into a hollowed out turnip, and was doomed to wander lonely areas at night for the rest of eternity, with only his ghoulish lantern to guide him.

Answer: Boitata (also known as "mboi tata" or "mboa tata")

Originally a Tuti legend that has become part of Brazilian folklore, the story of the Boitata is that of a fiery serpent who terrorizes animals and unfortunate humans at night. The light necessary for any will-o'-the-wisp tale are the snake's burning eyes. According to the folk tale, the snake is blind during the day, but able to see everything at night. Boitata was supposedly a normal serpent that had survived a great flood.

When it went out to hunt at night, it would eat only the eyes of any animal or person that it came across, because that was the most delectable part.

This diet made Boitata's own eyes grow brighter and redder, absorbing the light from the eyes of its victims, as the serpent grew bigger and bigger, and hungrier and hungrier.

Answer: Candileja (or the evil old woman)

This Colombian folk figure was a grandmother who did not teach her grandchildren how to behave. You would think that their parents would be held accountable, and not their poor granny, but in this tale, the children run amok and become criminals. Because of this, upon her death, the grandmother became the Candileja, and was forced to wander the earth at night with only the light of a candle to guide her, never entering into eternal rest.

Answer: Min-Min Lights

According to Australian folktales, the Mim-Min lights are tiny orbs that seem to float above the ground. They seem to target foreigners, and their sightings have become more common with the influx of Europeans, Asians and Americans to their shores. Interestingly enough, the Min-Min don't like to be shot at, and they disappear when a traveler tries to defend himself with gunfire.

The Min-Min always reappear, however, and often lead confused wanderers to get lost, and some never find their way back.

Answer: Spunkie

Versions differ as to whether this figure is real or a ghost, but more often than not, the boy and his light disappear, leaving the hapless soul who has paid for a guide to his own devices to find his way. Some of these tales also blame Spunkies for leading boats to crash on rocky shores.

Answer: Irrbloss and Myling

This belief combines two separate elements of Swedish folklore. Irbloss is an eerie light that leads people astray combined with the tormented souls of dead children, Myling. The religious element appears to be an attempt at providing protection from becoming this type of a spirit.

Answer: Aarnivalkea

The Finnish have a more fun explanation of the will-o'-the-wisp, and those who see the Arnivalkea are encouraged to follow them to their point of origin, where there is said to be the spot where a fairy or sprite has buried its gold. Some tales caution that it is dangerous to follow too closely, and that the treasure seeker might lose his mind, so do so at your own risk!

Answer: Feu-Follet

The feu-follet are souls sent back to earth to repay their wrongs by helping others and thereby earn entry into heaven. They are not happy with this destiny, however, and often take revenge on humanity, doing mischief or worse. They often use their lights to trap people in the swamps ("marsh fire" is the translation of "feu-follet" in French).

Answer: Hitodama

These balls of light appear to float disembodied near cemeteries or other lonely spots. The word "Hitodama" means human soul as a ball of energy. Though the tales focus on graveyards, they are reported all across Japan in a variety of places, with no simple explanation for the phenomenon.

Answer: Ignus fatus (marsh methane)

Scientists from different countries have claimed that the accumulation of methane in marshy areas could combust and create the orbs of light that many call will-o'-the-wisp". Naysayers ask why these lights often disappear when approached or shot at, and one hypothesis is that the movement of air near the ignus fatus could cause it to wane, much like when a breeze puts out the flame on a gas stove.

Another scientific explanation of some of these phenomena is the presence of bioluminescent algae and bacteria concentrated in the water.