S P O K Y Vol. 120, No. 20 Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2019 Halloween Edition Design by Utku Ozdemir PAGE 2 | OCT. 31-NOV. 3, 2019 HALLOWEEN EDITION THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Paranormal tales around the world By Grace Vocalina and so she has to roam the Earth with a thirst for blood. With the THE DAILY COLLEGIAN now looking for her kids.” classic creatures of werewolves Foneseca has heard this story or vampires, variations of the two The concept of a ghost since she was a little girl, and have been a part of other cultures has frightened humanity for growing up near a body of water keeping the youth in line. centuries. When the first ghost — a site of the most Llorana’s With origins in Puerto Rico, stories were written in Roman sightings — did not make it easy the story of the Chupacabra has times, the evolution of paranor- when being out late with her scared children to behave for mal life has encompassed the friends when she was younger. years in Latin American coun- globe. The origins of this story are tries. Personally, Foneseca has Originally recorded in Eu- uncertain, yet show signs of hav- fond memories of being scared by rope, ghost stories and paranor- ing pre-Hispanic roots. The story the bloodthirsty beast when she mal sightings have gone well of La Llorana is to be one of 10 was younger. beyond the continent. Haunt- omens foretelling the Conquest of “I think the direct translation ings are typically associated Mexico and linked to Aztec god- of its name is, ‘Goat Sucker,’ or with tragic events that happen desses. The legend of the story is someone who eats goats,” she in certain areas of the world — when one is near a body of water said. “It is this creature that is battle sites to wars, deaths and and hears a weeping woman, she kind of like a dog but more raven- burials. may be around. Even if that per- ous, larger, huge teeth and can The Daily Collegian reached son is not her kid, she is known walk on two feet. Collegian creative out to several culturally-based for taking their lives as she did to Like Big Foot or the Lochness organizations who told of child- her children. Monster, there are some images and spirits and not worshipping scary creatures, the stories hold hood tales of paranormal “She will drown you,” Foneseca of the creature of people who God.” meaning beyond the blood and activity. said. “She snatches children and claim to have found or captured The performance of witchcraft gore. These stories can teach checks if it is her kid and if not she it. is something that some people people lessons in a way that is not Don’t get on her bad side will drown you. Every time I was “I was not told about it [by my partake in but is considered to be typically expected. According to History.com, a around a body of water at night parents] but it was more common highly illegal. Whether witches or “As I am older, I can under- ghost is defined as someone when it was dark, I would be so knowledge as a kid, like, ‘Oh my the magic of witches are real or stand the reasoning behind whose soul is separated from scared that I would hear a woman god, the Chupacabra is going to not, what witchcraft can do is far [La Llorona],” Fonesca said. their body, and still lives on af- crying asking for her kids.” eat me,’” Foneseca said. beyond just simplistic items or “When you are a kid and you are ter the body is dead. Because of In Carribean culture, a similar On the other side of the Atlantic tasks. around a body of water, you could fear for the after-life, multiple tale exists of a woman who still ocean, in Malaysia, a female vam- “I believe these witches are drown. societies believe that a funeral is a lurks upon the islands looking for pire lures men as she continues real because it used to be that in Fonesca reasoned that ritual of making sure that a the ruin of youth. La Keisha Wade to want to ruin the lives of men order to be pretty, or be rich, you communities probably feared person’s soul does not wander has never seen any paranormal who caused her death. had to use witchcraft,” Sinitur children drowning and thus cre- or “haunt” the living people on sightings herself but mentioned The President of Penn State’s said. “A woman can ask a witch to ated a story to keep them safe. Earth. how she would behave better Malaysian Students Club, make herself prettier, and it can Cultural ghost stories can In Hispanic culture, the spirit when someone mentioned this Hannany Sitinur, has grown up happen very quickly.” also make people feel connected of a woman has lingered around chained spirit. listening to stories of this vam- But asking favors of witches to their history even if they are innocence for centuries. La “In the Virgin Islands, we have pire who seeks vengeance on can come with consequences. personally disconnected from Llorona — also known as the a ghost story about Cowfoot humanity. “When I was a kid, I was told their heritage. Weeping Woman — tells of the woman.” Wade (junior-early child- “One of the most famous that if you practice witchcraft, “I feel, like, with any culture own woman’s loss, and is the hood education) said via email. ghosts in Malaysia is named you will die in torture,” Sinitur it’s important to have a story that driving force for her continuous According to Wade, this “crazy Pontianak,” Sitinur (junior-aero- said. connects you with your relatives haunting to this day. voodoo lady” from St. Thomas space engineering) said. “It’s like a Sinitur has never performed or your culture,” Foneseca said. “The story is about a wom- worked in a meat factory, where female vampire, and in order to witchcraft, yet she knows people “I was born and raised in Mexico, an who is really young and her foot got caught in one of the become a Pontianak, a woman that have done it. and I still enjoy staying connected beautiful,” Evelyn Foneseca said. machines. A new “foot” was sewn must either be killed in child- “When I was a kid, I noticed to my culture, and these stories “She ends up getting married back on, but the twist? It was a birth or be murdered while preg- an older man who would shake are a part of that.” to this man, and they are pretty cow’s foot. nant. She’ll then rise up and seek a lot,” Sinitur said. “Before he In Mexican culture, death is great and have kids.” She died soon after, supposedly revenge on the men who were died, the other older people celebrated as can be seen during But the story of a beautiful in the factory. responsible for her death.” would say that his ancestors had Día de Los Muertos — the day woman turns dark when her “She is said to drag around summoned a spirit to take care of of the dead. Though deceased husband leaves her for a young- chains and grab bad and way- Put a spell on you the family.” family and friends are not physi- er woman. In a fit of rage, the ward children,” Wade said. “Our In Malaysia, the beliefs of Islam She said she has also seen it for cally seen, they remain a part of woman takes her children parents would tell us this tale are taken very seriously amongst herself. the family. to a body of water and drowns so that we would be good. Once, its followers. Islam is one of the “One of my closest friends was “In Mexican culture, we cel- them. when I was younger, people said most heavily-practiced religions bewitched,” she added. “She was ebrate people who have crossed “She murdered her kids, and they saw her around the elemen- in the country and failing to abide walking in an ordinary mall one over and gone to the afterlife,” so when she died, in order to go tary schools searching for all the by its rules can have serious day, and she suddenly got dazed Foneseca said. “It’s important to into the afterlife, they ask her bad children to take back with consequences. and confused by a woman who acknowledge those who we have for the souls of her kids,” Fone- her.” “In the Islamic belief, there was saying things to her. That lost, but we also feel like they are seca (sophomore-telecommuni- are other spirits, like witches, woman was a witch.” still with us and can be a part of cations) said. “She said she did AhoooOOOooooo for example,” Sinitur said. “It is our daily lives.” not know where their souls are A Halloween celebration ultimately prohibited to believe Rooted in history because she drowned them. She would not be fit without tales in witches because it is like Although these stories fea- To email reporter: [email protected]. is denied entry to the afterlife, of monsters with scary fangs you’re worshipping those witches ture gruesome plotlines and Follow her on Twitter at: @gracevoc. Haunted grounds By Sarah Pellis street to the grave of her husband George FOR THE COLLEGIAN Atherton, Penn State’s seventh university president . While many students just got over the Many claim Atherton’s grave, located on fright of midterms, Penn State’s campus Pollock Road, is also haunted by President stays “spooky” yearlong, with many build- Atherton himself.