Ghost Stories: The Wilde Hunt

While it may not be a ghost story per say, it is something of haunting legend.  The Wilde Hunt has it’s place in historical folklore, from the Nordic tribes, the Prussian tribes, Celts, and even First Nation people in North America.  A modern day aspect of the Wilde Hunt is depicted in the song, famously sung by Johnny Cash, Ghost Riders in the Sky, and covered by numerous artists including Brooks and Dunn, Spiderbait, The Blues Brothers and more.  Here’s Spiderbait’s version, along with some scenes from the Ghost Rider movie, that can be said is inspired by the Wilde Hunt.

The Wilde Hunt has a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages.  The hunt was called many names by different cultures including Woden’s Hunt, Cain’s Hunt, The Devil’s Dandy Dogs, Herod’s Hunt and in North American Native lore Ghost Riders.  In each case, the description is similar; huntsmen riding on horseback in the sky with hunting dogs as they chase down their prey.  Often the legend was used to describe thunderstorms.

The hunters themselves may be the dead or fairies, while the lead huntsman may be some unidentified lost soul, a deity or spirit of either gender, or even a well known figure such as Dietrich of Berne, the Danish king Valdermar  Atterdag, Woden or Arawn.

It has been variously referred to as Wilde Jagd (German: “wild chase”) or Wildes Heer (German: “wild host”), Herlaþing (Old English: “Herla’s assembly”), Mesnée d’Hellequin (Old North French: “household of Hellequin“), Cŵn Annwn (Welsh: “hounds ofAnnwn”), and Åsgårdreia (Norwegian: “ride of Asgard”).

Often it was believed that to witness the hunt was an omen of some coming catastrophe such as famine or war, while at best the death of the one who witnessed it.  Others believed that the spirit of those sleeping would be drawn in to join the cavalcade.

The origin of the story can be placed with the Germanic nations, and to some degree, Nordic tribes.  The Norse god Odin in his many forms, astride his eight-legged steed Sleipnir, came to be associated with the Wild Hunt in Scandinavia because of his aspect of berserking. Odin acquired the aspect of the Wild Huntsman, along with Frigg. The passage of this hunt was also referred to as Odin’s Hunt. People who saw the passing hunt and mocked it were cursed and would mysteriously vanish along with the host; those that joined in sincerity were rewarded with gold. In the wake of the passing storm (which the Hunt was often identified with), a black dog would be found upon a neighboring hearth. To remove it, it would need to be exorcised similar to the custom for removing changelings. However, if it could not be removed by trickery, it must be kept for a whole year and carefully tended.

According to much research, the object of the hunt varied, from a phantom boar to a wild horse to white-breasted maidens that could only be taken once every seven years, and even wood nymphs or Moss Maidens.  Often, the Moss Maidens represented the drying leaves that fell from trees as the wind picked them up and carried them off, which made sense as the Wild Hunt was associated with the harsh winds of autumn and winter.

The wild hunt has been known so well all over the world it has been seen in popular culture of the 20th Century, most notably in the above mentioned song, Ghost Riders in the Sky.  As well, it can be said to be a direct influence on the character of Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider comics from Marvel Comics.  Other novels have used references which point to the wild hunt, either directly or indirectly.  Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings has an aspect of the Wild Hunt with the Dead Men of Dunharrow.  Jim Butcher’s Dresdenverse explores the Wild Hunt as Harry Dresden searches for an infamous necromancer’s book that is said to summon the Wild Hunt.  Heck, even I added my own twist to the Wild Hunt, as the elven gunslingers Shani Wennemein and Pania Alow faced the huntsman together with Martin Derringer in the Adventures of Black Mask & Pale Rider.

To be certain, the Wild Hunt is a long held folklore that will be seen and heard for many years and generations to come.