“FELL??? The noose wasn’t even supposed to TIGHTEN! Unbelievable!”
Look at the first three letters of the first word in each of the above three paragraphs (minus the third one, in which I had to set the scene). Hol-zap-fel. I have no idea why or what this says about me as a person, but that is most striking point that immediately leapt out at me as I read this story. I suppose the mere fact that a kid actually died in this manner is so patently ridiculous that I just subconsciously completely glossed over it and started focusing on the guy with the ironically apropos last name.
A final Halloween urban legend that has been making the rounds for many years is the haunted house walk-through that has never been successfully completed by anyone because it is just too terrifying. According to the story, brave souls are awarded a dollar amount for each floor completed, or a full refund upon exiting with their lives. This mythical haunted house has been said to exist in multiples states all across the US, and various versions of the story are now in circulation. The truth of the matter is that there is no such haunted house. This story is merely a gimmick, but for whatever reason it continues to be perpetuated by thrill-seekers and Halloween junkies.
So there you have it. Perhaps you were familiar with these stories already, or maybe you learned about them for the first time as you read this piece. Either way, hopefully now you are a little more knowledgeable about some of these Halloween stories. I want to give credit to Snopes.com, a masterful resource for all things urban legend. This Halloween, stay safe, dress creatively, and impress your friends with your newfound inside knowledge about some common Halloween lore!
Article comments
1 - Nick
I love urban legends. Great article.
2 - Meredith Morse
I literally just snorted a spoonful of Blue Bell Ice Cream out of my nose in a fit of insatiable giggling when I read the part about Holzapfel. Were you aware that this feat is physically plausible? Seriously..
3 - Caitlin Schudalla
I also love urban legends...especially when they turn out to be true-ish. Clever observation with the last name - I don't think I would've gone beyond noting it's weird.
Did you find any stories about corpses being hidden in the box springs of hotel beds? They weren't discovered till guests complained about a bad smell. True story.
4 - Courtney Murphy
Interesting article, for certain. I enjoyed the Hol-zap-fel.
5 - frannie
There's a pretty good piece on Halloween urban legends specific to Beverly Hills; not necessarily scary, but interesting.
6 - Kerri
I had heard the second story, except in that version a man hung from his balcony for weeks, so hours is slightly less disturbing. As for the first story, a friend of mine was recently frisked by the police because he was filming a movie for class that featured fake blood and a gun. People do scare easy!