Monsters of Legend: Cryptids as modern myths

A Halloween Dive into Cryptids and Modern Myths

Now that Halloween is here there’s definitely something almost electric in the air—a shared feeling that the world around us is teetering on the edge of the known and unknown. That feeling? It’s the essence of Halloween, a holiday rooted in ancient myth and mystery, and it connects with us in deep, instinctual ways.

Let’s rewind a bit. Before candy and costumes became part of Halloween, the festival was known as Samhain(pronounced “sow-in”), a celebration by the ancient Celts that marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. But it was more than that—Samhain was a time when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest. In those moments, people believed they could encounter spirits, both familiar and strange. This festival wasn’t just about honoring ancestors; it was also about embracing the unknown, the things that lurk just outside our perception.

Halloween today still holds onto this mythical spark, a time when we’re a bit more open to the idea of what might be out there, on the edges of our understanding. This brings us to the cryptids—those strange creatures that defy explanation and haunt our imaginations. They’re like modern-day myths, each with its own eerie story and mystery, making them the perfect companions for Halloween night.

Cryptids and the Unknown: Mothman, Bigfoot, and More

Halloween is a night of mystery, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by diving into the lore of cryptids—creatures that are, in their own way, living myths. These cryptids are symbols of the unknown and serve as reminders of the mysteries that lie beyond our world. Each one is a little spooky, a little strange, and incredibly fascinating.

Mothman: A Mysterious Messenger 

Let’s start with Mothman, perhaps one of the most iconic cryptids, who swooped into legend in the 1960s in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. When residents began reporting sightings of a large, winged creature with glowing red eyes. Rather Mothman appeared it seemed to carry a message—an enigmatic warning that something significant was coming. Many believe Mothman appeared as a signal of the Silver Bridge collapse, a tragic event that took 46 lives shortly after his sightings. Since then it has become more than just a harbinger of doom—this winged figure from West Virginia lore embodies the mystery of the unknown. It has become an icon of intrigue, symbolizing our fascination with the unseen forces that might shape our lives.

This folklore about Mothman taps into something ancient. Cultures around the world have legends of creatures who can foresee or even cause disaster. Mothman’s eerie reputation reminds us of Halloween’s core: the fear of the unknown, the sense that something might be lurking just out of sight, watching. The presence of Mothman in our modern mythos is proof of our deep-rooted fascination—and fear—of what we can’t see or fully understand.

Bigfoot: Guardian of the Wild

Next, we have Bigfoot, probably the most famous cryptid of all time. Bigfoot’s legend spans centuries, with Indigenous North American cultures having legends of a “wild man” or “forest giant,” beings who protect the wilderness. To many, Bigfoot is less a threat than a protector of untamed nature, a symbol of the mysterious beauty of the wild places we haven’t yet tamed. But it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that Bigfoot captured popular culture, and since then, sightings have continued to trickle in from the vast wilderness across North America.

Bigfoot embodies something primal—the unknown wilderness itself. He’s a creature of the wild, representing our fascination with what lies hidden in the depths of nature. And in a way, Bigfoot isn’t just a monster; he’s a symbol of freedom, of untamed places where the rules of society don’t apply. Bigfoot’s story encourages us to confront the mysteries of the natural world—a theme that Halloween embraces fully, inviting us to imagine creatures in the woods and shadows where mystery still thrives.

Chupacabra: The Enigmatic Night Wanderer

If there’s one cryptid with a reputation that chills the spine, it’s the Chupacabra. First reported in Puerto Rico in the 1990s, Chupacabra’s name translates to “goat-sucker” in Spanish. Descriptions vary, but it’s often seen as a spiky, vampiric creature, preying on livestock under the cover of night. The Chupacabra has a reputation for being a mysterious nocturnal figure rather than a straightforward menace. In many ways, it’s a symbol of how folklore evolves, blending vampire myths and local fears into a new creature of the night.

This creature of the night is more than simply a predator, the Chupacabra represents a bridge to ancient folklore—echoing tales of nocturnal beings, spirits, and creatures that roam under the moon’s watch (like that of the vampire). This enigmatic creature taps into our shared ancestral memories of things that lurk in the dark, reminding us that there’s beauty in the night, a quiet sense of wonder in what only comes alive under starlight.

The Chupacabra’s tale serves as a reminder of Halloween’s darker side, where the things that go bump in the night make us question our safety. But at the same time, it’s a part of the thrill—a tale of danger and survival that calls back to ancient fears, fitting perfectly into the Halloween spirit.

Jersey Devil: A Historic Legend of the Pines

Another creature woven into American folklore is the Jersey Devil, a cryptid said to haunt the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. With origins tracing back to the colonial era, the creature’s legend begins with the story of Mother Leeds, who is said to have given birth to her 13th child only to have it transform into a monstrous being with wings, hooves, and a dragon-like appearance. Born from a curse, the Jersey Devil’s legend captures the wild and unknown aspect of American history, where settlers faced unfamiliar lands and strange phenomena.

On Halloween, we’re reminded of creatures like the Jersey Devil, beings that are both a part of nature and apart from it. It is symbolic reminder of human stories woven into nature. It represents the spirit of the land, a mix of history, mystery, and myth passed down through generations. They exist on the boundaries of our reality, a fitting match for a holiday that celebrates the strange and supernatural.

Fresno Nightcrawler: Whimsical and Eerie

Unlike most cryptids, the Fresno Nightcrawler isn’t terrifying—if anything, it’s a little bit funny. They first appeared on a grainy video in Fresno, California, walking slowly through the night on what appeared to be two long, thin legs. The Nightcrawler is an oddity, whimsical in its own way and quite unlike other cryptids. It’s almost as if it walked out of a dream or a surrealist painting with its simple, ghostly shape resembling a pair of walking pants. Its gait is gentle and otherworldly, giving it an air of curiosity rather than menace.

This little creature fits into Halloween’s surreal side. Not all “monsters” have to be scary. Some can be strange and curious, challenging our idea of what a monster even is. The Nightcrawler serves as a reminder that the unknown doesn’t have to be fearsome; sometimes, it can be gentle, strange, and even a bit funny. This little walker of the night reminds us that mystery doesn’t always mean danger—sometimes it’s an invitation to embrace the odd and the wonderful. The Nightcrawler reminds us to embrace the quirky, the unexpected, and the magical.

The Halloween Connection: Why Cryptids Fit the Season

So, why do cryptids feel like such a natural part of Halloween? Because Halloween is a celebration of the unknown, a holiday when we let our guard down and allow ourselves to believe—if only for a night—in the strange and supernatural. Just as Samhain was a time when people embraced the possibility of spirits crossing into our world, Halloween is a night when we open ourselves to mysteries.

Cryptids are perfect for this season because they exist in that same “in-between” space. They’re not ghosts, but they’re not fully “real” either. They blur the lines between myth and reality, symbolizing our deep-rooted need to explain the unexplainable.

Cryptids as Modern Mythology

In a way, cryptids are the modern-day equivalent of the ghosts and ghouls that people once feared during Halloween. We tell stories about them, not just to scare ourselves, but to tap into a universal curiosity about what might lie beyond. The tales of Bigfoot or Mothman are echoes of humanity’s old desire to know the unknowable.

Halloween becomes the ideal time to embrace these modern myths, to indulge in the “what ifs” and celebrate our collective imagination. It’s not about proving whether Bigfoot exists or doesn’t; it’s about acknowledging that we’re drawn to these stories because they remind us that there’s more to life than what we see.

Celebrating the Unknown This Halloween

This Halloween, let’s celebrate the mystery of cryptids. Embrace the spooky, the strange, and the misunderstood. Each creature—whether it’s Mothman’s haunting gaze or Bigfoot’s elusive tracks—reminds us that the world is full of stories waiting to be told, mysteries that may never be solved. And isn’t that a bit like our own creative journeys? We don’t need all the answers to be inspired. Sometimes, the unknown is what drives us to create, to imagine, and to explore.

At EmelouTuesday, we’re all about embracing the quirks, the things that make us different. Just like cryptids, each of us has a little mystery, a bit of the “unknown” that makes us unique. This Halloween, let’s be inspired by these creatures—not all monsters are scary, after all. Some are just misunderstood, and some, like the Nightcrawler, are downright whimsical.

So, share your favorite cryptid stories, embrace your inner “monster,” and maybe even dress up as your favorite cryptidthis Halloween! Because if there’s one thing Halloween teaches us, it’s that the world is wide and weird, and there’s always room for a little more magic.