In American folklore
In southern Texas, stories of a figure known as "El Muerto" have circulated since the mid-1800s. El Muerto is said to dangle his head from his saddle, and his horse is variably said to produce lightning from its hooves as they strike the ground.[14] It has been speculated that this particular iteration of the headless […]
In English folklore
Dartmoor, an area in England's ceremonial county Devon, is said to be haunted by a headless rider.[12] In Arthurian legend, a figure known as the Green Knight appeared before Arthur's court and challenged one man to come forward and strike him with his axe, warning them that he will strike them the same blow in […]
In German folklore
In Germany, headless-horseman stories come mostly from the Rhineland. Rather than using decapitation, the headless horsemen killed their victims simply by touching them. They were revenants who had to wander the earth until they had atoned for their sins, sometimes by doing a good deed for a stranger, but instead of showing their gratitude by […]
In Welsh folklore
A number of stories of headless horsemen and women are also found in Welsh folklore. The "Fenyw heb un pen" (English: The headless woman) who rides a "Ceffyl heb un pen" (English: horse without a head). Bryn Hall in Llanymawddwy is said to have been haunted by a headless horseman which only came to an […]
In Scottish folklore
The most prominent Scottish tale of the headless horseman concerns a man named Ewen decapitated in a clan battle at Glen Cainnir on the Isle of Mull. The battle denied him any chance to be a chieftain, and both he and his horse are headless in accounts of his haunting of the area.[6] Among the […]
In Irish folklore
The dullahan or dulachán ("dark man") is a headless, demonic fairy, usually riding a horse and carrying his head under his arm.[2] Some versions of the story claim the dullahan is the spirit of Crom Dubh, a Celtic god worshipped in Ireland until the arrival of Christian missionaries in the 6th century.[3] He wields a […]
The Headless Horseman
The Headless Horseman is an archetype of mythical figure that has appeared in folklore around Europe since the Middle Ages.[1] The figures are traditionally depicted as riders on horseback who are missing their heads. These myths have since inspired a number of stories and characters in culture around the world, including "The Legend of Sleepy […]