As a kid, few things seem scarier than the threat of the boogeyman. The spooky myth surrounding this terrifying creature has been around for so long that many of us don’t even know anything about the boogeyman. Is it a person? A paranormal monster? What does the boogeyman do to you? It’s unclear, but for kids, the mystery surrounding the boogeyman is one of the things that makes him even more horrifying. If you’ve ever wondered about the boogeyman, you have to start by knowing where he came from.
It’s true that the boogeyman has been around for a very long time and is a type of folklore that can be found all around the world. Destination America says that one early origin can be tracked back to the word “bugbear.” This was “used to describe a goblin/scarecrow/bear mashup that hunted and ate small children.” The site also says that the boogeyman was originally used as a tool to get kids to behave properly.
Since most folk stories and fairy tales were originally created to teach children morals, this makes sense. Think about it: many have threatened the presence of the boogeyman if kids did something that would jeopardize their safety, like walking in the dark alone or going into an unfamiliar space alone.
But where did the boogeyman myth originally come from?
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It’s almost impossible to know for sure. The word “boogeyman” is thought to be derived from many words — aside from just “bugbear” — including “bogge,” a word that means “hobgoblin” in Middle English. Some say the legend originated in Scotland. There have also been references made to the boogeyman since the 1500s, although others believe it existed long before that time.
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According to Ghostly Activities, one origin story is about a priest who became corrupted and preyed on children. He would trick parents into giving them their children so he could punish them.
There isn’t even any way to know what the boogeyman is actually supposed to look like or be. There is no defined appearance or explanation of physical traits. Ghostly Activities says it can be a spirit wearing a cloak, but that it mainly varies depending on the culture and the child’s fear. House of Monsters sums it up, saying, it’s “just a formless personification of terror.”
This is one reason it’s a good way to teach kids lessons: it can be anywhere, it can do anything. He takes on your fears, and the fear surrounding him gives him power over kids. So basically, the boogeyman comes from an ancient way to keep kids well-behaved — and it’s still pretty creepy.
