In the popular imagination, October 31st is linked to a series of myths and legends, featuring monsters and spirits of various kinds. Every corner of the planet, every region of the globe, has its own culture with its own folk tales, sometimes dating back to the dawn of time, featuring evil creatures, demons, and frightening characters.
The symbol of this holiday, made famous by the Irish legend of “Jack-o'-Lantern”, is the carved pumpkinAccording to legend, a blacksmith named Jack was rejected at the point of death by both Hell and Heaven, due to the many sins he had committed in life. The devil, enraged by the blacksmith, hurled a burning ember at him, which Jack placed inside a carved pumpkin he carried with him. From that moment, Jack's soul began to wander relentlessly.
But as mentioned above, in every corner of the world there is a scary legend to tell, and Molise is certainly no exception.
So let's see some of these folkloristic legends of our region!
The Malombra terror of the night
The legend of Malombra, or Mal'umbra, is widespread in Molise and some neighboring regions. According to popular legend, this monster usually sits on the chests of unfortunate souls at night, preventing them from breathing and moving. But of course, there's always a way to ward off unwanted spirits. In the case of Malombra, all you have to do is place a broom behind the door, and the demon must count every thread before being allowed to enter. By then, the sun will have risen, and the demon will lose all power.
Want to feel even more safe from this monster? Then place a pair of scissors under your mattress. If the demon manages to attack you, you can cut off its hands and return to your well-deserved rest!
Paolaccio and the devil's fish
We move to the Termoli coast to tell the legend of Paolaccio, an old vagabond without friends or family. One night, while sleeping in a field, Paolaccio was awakened by the devil himself. In exchange for his soul, the devil would make him rich.
Dissatisfied with his life, the old vagabond agreed, and the devil promised to let him catch pink fish, which swallowed all the treasures from the sunken ships.
Paolaccio went to the rocks with a net and began fishing, reciting a strange prayer. Enormous, pink fish began to enter his net, and by cutting open their bellies, Paolaccio found treasures of all kinds: gold coins, precious rubies, and emeralds.
Having become wealthy and surrounded himself with all sorts of riches and false friendships, Paolaccio soon had to face the promise he had made to the Devil: his soul, in exchange for infinite wealth, but with little time to enjoy its benefits.
One day, a man dressed only in rags appeared at his palace. It was Satan, come to claim Paolaccio's soul. At that moment, a roar shook the earth, and Paolaccio's body fell to the ground, dead, and his soul was swallowed by the Demon.
One of the region's most fascinating legends. According to some fishermen, pink fish really do exist, but no one ever dares to catch them.
The Fairy's Canton
Don't be fooled by the name, which at first glance might seem like the prelude to a less than frightening story. This legend tells of a young woman so beautiful that the inhabitants of the fiefdom called her the fairy.
Promised in marriage to a young man of the place, at the time the law of ius primae noctis.
The girl was therefore forced to spend her wedding night with the noble administrator of the fiefdom. Refusing to spend the night in the castle chambers with the nobleman, the young woman ran away, throwing herself from the highest point of the castle's canton.
According to legend, the girl's ghost still haunts Castropignano Castle, in the province of Campobasso, screaming her husband's name on full moon nights.
Stories and legends passed down from generation to generation, set in fantastical places to explore. But beware, the next ghost might be just around the corner!
