Digest

This episode of Lore Legends delves into the intriguing world of death omens, exploring how these phenomena have been interpreted across cultures and time. The episode begins with the tale of a Welsh farmer who witnesses a funeral procession for his own wife, a phenomenon known as the tally or phantom funeral. This spectral procession is believed to be a warning of impending death, with some believing the witness is seeing their own funeral. The episode then shifts to Scotland, where the Bodok glass, a spirit in grey plaid, is said to appear three times before a person's death. The episode recounts the story of Archibald William Montgomery, the 13th Earl of Eglinton, who died after seeing the Bodok glass for the third time. The episode then explores the legend of the belled buzzard, a creature said to be a harbinger of death, destruction, and even the end of the world. The episode examines various accounts of the belled buzzard, including its association with cholera outbreaks and its role as an executioner in a North Carolina murder trial. The episode concludes with the story of Nanny Ruth Lowe, a young girl who died at the age of seven and left behind a feather crown, a symbol of ascension to heaven in Appalachian folklore. The episode highlights how these death omens, despite their often unsettling nature, provide a way for people to make sense of the unknown and find solace in the face of mortality.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces Lore Legends, a subset of Lore episodes that explore strange tales, even if they can't always be proven by history books. The episode begins with a story about a woman who narrowly avoids a plane crash after her mother warns her not to get on the flight, a story that inspired the film Final Destination.

00:02:17

Phantom Funerals

This Chapter explores the phenomenon of phantom funerals, spectral processions of ghosts that are believed to be a warning of impending death. The episode recounts a Welsh legend about a farmer who witnesses a funeral procession for his own wife, and the story of a group of children in Georgia who see a phantom funeral for a young girl who dies the next day.

00:06:42

The Bodok Glass

This Chapter delves into the legend of the Bodok glass, a spirit in grey plaid who is said to appear three times before a person's death. The episode recounts the story of Archibald William Montgomery, the 13th Earl of Eglinton, who died after seeing the Bodok glass for the third time.

00:10:53

The Belled Buzzard

This Chapter explores the legend of the belled buzzard, a creature said to be a harbinger of death, destruction, and even the end of the world. The episode examines various accounts of the belled buzzard, including its association with cholera outbreaks and its role as an executioner in a North Carolina murder trial.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are some examples of death omens discussed in the episode?

  The episode explores several examples of death omens, including phantom funerals, the Bodok glass, and the belled buzzard. Phantom funerals are spectral processions of ghosts that are believed to be a warning of impending death. The Bodok glass is a spirit in grey plaid who is said to appear three times before a person's death. The belled buzzard is a creature said to be a harbinger of death, destruction, and even the end of the world.

• What is the significance of the feather crown in the episode?

  The feather crown is a symbol in Appalachian folklore, and is often associated with the belief that they can predict death or ascension to heaven. In the episode, the feather crown is found in the pillow of a young girl who died at the age of seven, and is seen as a sign that she has ascended to heaven.

• How do these death omens reflect cultural beliefs about death and the afterlife?

  These death omens reflect the human desire to make sense of the unknown and find solace in the face of mortality. They provide a way for people to connect with the spiritual world and to find meaning in the face of death. They also reflect the belief that the dead can communicate with the living, and that there is a life after death.

Show Notes