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Scarecrows—just straw and cloth, right? Or something much older, stranger, and darker?
In this episode of Let’s Talk Spooky, we wander the fields to uncover the chilling history and folklore of scarecrows. From the tragic tale of Albert Engel in Wisconsin, to Celtic effigies carved from turnips, to Japan’s kakashi festivals and the uncanny scarecrow village of Nagoro, these figures have always been more than just guardians of the harvest. They’ve been seen as protectors, omens, and even restless watchers that blur the line between the living and the supernatural.
So grab your lantern, keep to the path, and join me as we explore why these silent sentinels continue to haunt our stories and our nightmares.
Folklore & History
- Davidson, H.R. Ellis. Gods and Myths of Northern Europe. Thames & Hudson, 1964. (Celtic and Norse agricultural ritual context)
- Simpson, Jacqueline, and Steve Roud. A Dictionary of English Folklore. Oxford University Press, 2000. (Folklore of scarecrows, omens, and field guardians)
- Frazer, James. The Golden Bough. (Chapters on agricultural rites and effigy traditions)
Historical & Cultural Accounts
- The story of Albert Engel (Wisconsin, 1916) is referenced in regional folklore and newspaper reports.
- Japanese scarecrow traditions and Kakashi Matsuri festivals (Shirakawa-go, Nagoro, etc.) — documented in travel and cultural sources.
- Nagoro Scarecrow Village: coverage in BBC Travel (2015), National Geographic (2017), and various interviews with Ayano Tsukimi.
- Police identify woman who was killed — Chillicothe Gazette (Oct 14, 2015)
chillicothegazette.com
Woman’s Dead Body Mistaken for Halloween Decorations — Time Magazine
time.com
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