Ancient Egyptians

Throughout ancient Egyptian history, ghosts were an important part of Egyptian spirituality. Ancient Egyptians believed that the border between the living and the dead was permeable. They also believed that souls could be kept forever. They also believed that demons lived at the threshold between the worlds. Depending on the time and place, demons were either benevolent or malevolent.

The oldest image of a ghost in history can be found on a Sumerian clay tablet dating back to 1500 BCE. It supposedly depicts a human-headed bird, Ba. It was believed that Ba would fly during the day and return to its tomb at night.

Throughout Egyptian history, the concept of an afterlife called the Field of Reeds has continued to weave its way through Egypt’s history. It is a concept that mirrors the judgment of Osiris.

Chinese

Throughout history, ghosts have played a wide variety of roles in society. They serve as cultural metaphors, storytelling devices, and figures in religious beliefs. They continue to be depicted in modern literature and movies. By comparing ghost stories from different cultures, we can learn more about their common values.

There are many different kinds of ghosts in Chinese folklore. Some are friendly and some are vengeful. Ghosts are thought to be the spirit form of a dead person. They often prey on morally weak people. They will harm the living if provoked. They have been incorporated into Chinese culture from ideas from Buddhism, Taoism, and Hindu beliefs.

Chinese ghosts can be categorized by the type of loss they have experienced. Ghosts of losses can be either friendly or vengeful. Ghosts of losses often live on food and sacrificial offerings. They are especially covetous.

Tibetans

During the waning days of the Qing Dynasty, a ritual called Da Gui was performed in the hope of ridding the world of evil spirits. It is a tradition that originated in Tibet and is still practiced annually from the 29th day of the first month to the first day of the second month.

It is the largest and most complex ritual performed at the Tibetan Buddhist Lama temple. The ritual is a rite of passage for new monks. This ritual is also said to purify the air of negativity. It is a well-attended event.

There are several other rituals and ceremonies that are performed during the course of the year. Some of the more notable ones include a ritual called the “Beating Ghost” Ceremony. This ceremony is designed to expel evil spirits from the monastery.

Europeans

Across Europe, there are haunted happenings and eerie experiences. From the spooky old abandoned building in Belgium to the ancient fortress of Bock in Luxembourg, there is a lot to fear in Europe.

Although folklorists have largely continued the traditional classification of ghost stories, they have also begun to explore their psychological roots. In the last fifteen years, ghosts have become a central focus of systematic studies. Traditionally, they have been studied only in a narrow, early modern sense. However, literary scholars have used the concept of the spectral to deconstruct early modern genres. In this article, I argue for a transnational analysis of European beliefs about apparitions, including the ghost. Specifically, I examine the role of the ghost in modern understandings of witchcraft and demonology.

Other cultures

Across the globe, different cultures have their own legends and beliefs about ghosts and spirits. They vary in the types of spirits they believe to be present, as well as their names. These spirits can be human, animal, or nature-based, and may or may not interact with the physical world. However, they point toward the possibility of a larger universe. They can also animate the dead, bringing them back to life. They may appear to sensitives, who may be able to see or feel them.

Many cultures believe that animals and nature spirits are protective of their species or their natural formations. They can be manipulated to allow hunting of prey animals, or can be persuaded to protect an area from a disaster. However, these spirits are not usually able to communicate with humans, and are often seen as mindless robots.

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Keep in mind that the following are just some of the haunted places to visit in Germany. Many others exist and further research may be necessary. You need to think about what type of haunting you like to see.

Berlin’s Citadel

This is a home for a truly classic love story that turned spooky. Anna Sydow, the former lover of the fifteenth century ruler Joachim the Second, ended up being locked inside the castle as it was a prison. Joachim wanted his soon to take care of Anna but that did not happen as she ended up behind bars. Since her death, it is said that she is roaming the citadel’s walls, not being able to leave or get closure.

Osnabruck Ancient Stone Structure

Close to Osnabruck you can visit a stone structure that is ancient and that is believed to have been included in a graveyard and a part of a pagan temple. The haunting history started as the structure became a site to a priests bloody massacre during Charlemagne times as he tried to convert the entire country towards Christianity. During the really short and the long yearly days there are screams that are heard and various haunting reports that appear.

Freihung

Freihurg is known among ghost hunters from all around the world due to the roaming spirits of one woman that is said to have died a death that was not natural during middle ages. Various reports see her drifting mining tunnels utilized by a bed and breakfast in the past and legend says that residents were so scared that they actually destroyed tunnels. Unfortunately, this actually pushed the lady towards the surface, now often appearing in the rearview mirrors of cars as vehicles pass by.

Bitburg Middle School

The Bitburg Middle School has been known as a haunted location and inexplicable activities have been reported for years now. There are lights that constantly flash on and off during the night, screams are heard from the inside and one window is seen moving without any human intervention. The main reason why the school is believed to be haunted is that it was an airbase that was constructed over an office that was used by Nazis.

Kirchlengern Forest

A small part of the Kirchlengern Forest surprised locals and even the police. There are so many mysterious happenings that were reported and that have been tracked ever since the twentieth century. All people that walk through the area say that they feel unsettled and believe that they are watched. To make matters even more sinister, animals are often reported to disappear from the close-by town and blood is found all around the woodland area.

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Liberace’s Mansion

Located at 4982 Shirley, this is a location that is tied to Liberace, a unique resident performer that was highly eccentric. There is a marble sunken tub present, spiral staircase, a Sistine Chapel mural replica, crystal chandeliers and so on. Ever since the performer’s death, the mansion went through the hands of many different owners. It did end up with visible signs of neglect. At the moment it is remodeled but various reports highlight the fact that the pianist’s ghost can still be seen at night.

Little Choo Choo Daycare

At 3335 Wynn Road you can find this interesting location. The story says that there was a teacher that was employed at this center. He killed himself and there was also a child that died on a toy train tracks in the center. The daycare was eventually closed and various business headquarters were housed there till the incidents. Different sightings were reported. This includes a boy that digs into the ground and women that were trespassing and then simply disappearing.

Redd Foxx’s House

Travelling to 5460 Eastern Avenue gets you to the former resident of comedian Redd Foxx. The property was seized in the year 1989 by the IRS. He died a little bit later and the house was actually bought an Elvis impersonator, a huge fan of Redd Foxx. Te problem was that there was a ghost present and the impersonator did not really like that.

Reports highlight light switches that would turn off and on alone. Sliding doors would close and open without human intervention. Such events eventually made the impersonator sell the property. We now still have ghostly antics reports. Everything still happens even if the doors were replaced.

Flamingo Hotel And Casino

This is the location were one of the most notorious of Las Vegas’ mobsters had his residence. The name of that individual was Bugsy Siegel. He invested 6 million dollars in the hotel and casino. Even the janitors were wearing tuxedos. As he did become attached to the property both financially and mentally, it should come as no surprise to hear about sightings of his ghost, even after the casino was demolished. There are 2 locations that are connected with the ghost stories: the gardens that housed Bugsy’s apartment and the hotel’s Presidential Suite.

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Gettysburg Battlefield – Pennsylvania

The battle of Gettysburg is a huge part of US history. More than 10,000 people died there. Nowadays, the battlefield is seen as a national site that is important for its historical value. However, tourists that visit do often report ghostly encounters. What is chilling is that most people think that they ended up meeting some re-enactors of the Civil War but when the report took place there were no groups in the park.

Bell Witch Cave – Tennessee

Many are surprised to find haunted locations in Tennessee but this one is actually known all around the world by paranormal aficionados. The haunting history here is connected with Bell Witch, a neighbour of Kate Batts and Jon Bell. Te story goes that she was feeling cheated because of a land deal and vowed to come back and haunting John Bell while she was on her deathbed. If there are descendents of John Bell that still are alive, they are cursed too.

Stanley Hotel – Colorado

The Shining, Stephen King’s masterpiece, was written while he stood at this hotel. During Ghost Hunters’ investigations of the hotel, evidence was caught of paranormal activity. Also, many guests and staff report that children apparitions are common and objects are regularly moving around. If you want to spend the night at a haunted hotel, choose this one.

Waverly Hills Sanatorium – Kentucky

You surely expected at least one sanatorium on this list, right? Waverly Hills is renowned for encounters with ghostly nurses, disembodied voices that are found in the hospital and shadowed people. Orb photos are normally going to appear when you tour Waverly Hills and the atmosphere is definitely chilling.

Eastern State Penitentiary – Pennsylvania

Since a sanatorium was present, a penitentiary is also common, no? This particular one is not like the others that claim to be haunted. This one has so much information written and published about it. It was highlighted in various documentaries that appeared on TV. The popularity is quite high for people that want to visit haunted places. If you cannot visit, there is a virtual reality tour that is present on the internet.

Saint Augustine Lighthouse – Florida

This is a lighthouse and a museum at the same time. It is a great spot for those looking for a haunting experience because of different reasons. For tens of years there were ghost stories that appear in connection to the lighthouse. When the site was constructed, 3 girls died as they were playing with one of the rails and the cart ended up drowning them. Ever since that moment, many visitors hear females crying and asking for help. Footsteps and highly mysterious lights often appear.

Remember the fact that these are just some of the many interesting options that are available at the moment for those looking for paranormal activity in the USA.

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Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Parsippany

This building opened its doors in 1876 and was known as the New Jersey Lunatic Asylum. The building is 675,000 square feet and rests on more than 1,000 acres of ground. The asylum was built to house a few hundred patients, but eventually became home to over 7,000. One of its most famous patients was Woody Guthrie, who stayed year during the 1950s when he was afflicted by Huntington’s disease. Today, this magnificent building, built in the French Renaissance style, remains unused and uninhabited except by the ghosts and spirits that once walked its grounds!

Pine Barrens

This is a beautiful area is also mysterious and spooky as it filled with dark woods, endless trails that lead o nowhere, and overwhelming silence that has given rise to stories about goblins, ghosts and devils. People who have lost their way in the Pine Barrens have reported losing their cell phone coverage or their batteries mysteriously drained out. Those who have camped in the Barrens at night, reported hearing strange noises which resembled trucks rumbling, except there are no trucks in the woods!

The Devil’s Tree in Bernards

According to local legend, a famer murdered his wife and children and then went on to hang himself from a tree. According to local stories, whoever attempts to chop down this tree meets his or her untimely end. It seems that many have tried to do so but the tree mysteriously recovers without any axe marks.

Ginny’s Gin House in Pleasant

Today it is a restaurant, but in the past Ginny’s Gin House was a stagecoach shop, brothel and hotel that is filled with ghosts and phantoms. Many have reported faucets running on their own and toilets flushing. Sometimes even the vacuum turns on by itself! Apparently, the ghosts here are domestically inclined!

Red Mill in Clinton

This 175-year old mill was used for basket-making, wheat and grist. There are many reports of various ethereal phenomena such as a gong going off or an old typewriter click clacking away when it is actually put away in storage! In the 90s, a séance was conducted at the site. The medium in the séance reported seeing a child who was injured at the mill.

House in South Branch

This is a 3-storey Victorian home with many strange occurrences. According to historical records, a family was once murdered next door and the house was later torn down. Since then, many unusual events have been reported in and around the house such as the vacuum cleaner turning on and pushing itself, door handles rattling by themselves, curtains moving back forth when no one is actually in the home and the furniture moving by itself.

Planning a vacation to New Jersey? Visit one of its famous haunted locations!

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Top 3 Haunted Places In England

1. Borley Rectory, Essex

Borley Rectory was a massive Victorian mansion located in Borley, Essex that was destroyed by fire in 1939. Locals reported the place is haunted by the ghost of a nun, a phantom carriage and two headless horsemen. Other paranormal incidents like bell ringing and footsteps were also mentioned by people who live in the area.

2. Berry Pomeroy Castle, Devon

At a first glance, Berry Pomeroy Castle is a picturesque and beautiful castle, but in Britain this place is considered the most haunted and sinister castle. The place is visited by two female ghosts – the White Lady and the Blue Lady. They haunt different parts of the castle, the Blue Lady prefers the tower, while the White Lady prefers the dungeons.

3. Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire

The history of this inn holds many sinister secrets like suicide, child sacrifice and black magic. With a history like this, there is no wonder the inn is considered one of the most haunted places in the UK.

Top 3 Haunted Places In The Republic Of Ireland

1. Malahide Castle, Dublin, Ireland

The 800 year old castle is filled with spirits and ghosts. At least 5 ghosts are known to live in the rooms of this majestic place. Each ghost has a tragic story and people believe that their tragedies made them haunt the castle to finally find their peace.

2. Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin

Dublin is home to the largest unoccupied prison. Visitors can get an idea of what the prisoners had to endure during their sentences served in Kilmainham Gaol. People reported unseen forces that push people over, footsteps, lights turning on, voices, other unexpected noises and the horrible feeling of being watched.

3. Leap Castle, Roscrea, Co. Offaly

Leap Castle is not only the most haunted castle in the Republic of Ireland, it is also one of the most haunted castles in the world. The long and bloody history of the place left a trail on the castle’s reputation and the numerous ghosts that live in the castle scare tourists from all over the world.

Top 3 Haunted Places In Scotland

1. Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin

Rosslyn Chapel is a 500 year old chapel that has a lot of spirits and ghosts inhabitants. There are also many rumors about the chapel that will scare even the most brave hearts.

2. Niddry Street Vaults, Edinburgh

Niddry Street Volts appeared in the television show, Most Haunted, and it is a very well known tourist attraction that lies in darkness because lightbulbs exploded for no apparent reason and people decided to stop replacing them. Courageous visitors use torches and candles to walk around the street vaults. The candle light adds even more anxiety to those who visit the place.

3. Stirling Castle, Stirling

Scotland is a place with many historical castles and most of them are haunted by spirits and ghosts. Stirling Castle does not change the pattern and it is home to the ghost of Mary, Queen of Scots, one of the most controversial monarchs in Europe, and other ghosts that were close to the monarchy in their lifetime.

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