The clutchbone
The Clutchbone is a cryptic creature in myths that come up around the Nordic countries of Finland, Sweden, and northern England. The time period takes place from the 18th to 19th century, and the tale may vary slightly by region.
The Clutchbone is told to have a destructive nature, burning down houses, killing victims, causing disappearances of victims, and even tearing apart victims. Depicted as a very tall and bony monster, dressed in black, leather-like skin, no face, and a fiery torch concealed within a collar of either metal or rawhide. Its appearances somehow get linked to a weather phenomenon called ‘ball lightning’ or simply the ‘lightning ball’.
Now, starting off with differences for once, it was surprised to find this is the only myth thus far that does not match up to the most common theme among these myths.It does not have the setting of a forest. Rather, it appears to target civilization by burning homes and committing murders. The forest setting appears in every other myth accounted for thus far including American, Canadian, English, German, Romanian, Scottish, and modern myth.
Moving back to similarities, the tall and bony appearance correlates back to may of the other legends. Its violent nature can go back to American, Canadian, German Romanian, and English myth. It is dressed in black, a theme seen in Germany, Romania, Scotland, and modern myth. Having no face complies among German, English, Scottish, and modern myth. The mention of fire is an interesting factor, the torch on its head is unique in its own perspective, but not quite the first myth to involve fire. Romanian myth also connected their legend to fire when the Tall Man came from the fireplace and took Sorina in his ‘burning embrace’.
Back to differences, this is the only myth that factors in weather conditions, repeatedly mentioning these things called, ‘lightning balls’. The phenomenon itself is a bit mysterious and unexplained, and superstitious people like to claim the Clutchbone comes from a different dimension through these ‘lightning balls’. Or at least, that’s what stories claim.
The Clutchbone is told to have a destructive nature, burning down houses, killing victims, causing disappearances of victims, and even tearing apart victims. Depicted as a very tall and bony monster, dressed in black, leather-like skin, no face, and a fiery torch concealed within a collar of either metal or rawhide. Its appearances somehow get linked to a weather phenomenon called ‘ball lightning’ or simply the ‘lightning ball’.
Now, starting off with differences for once, it was surprised to find this is the only myth thus far that does not match up to the most common theme among these myths.It does not have the setting of a forest. Rather, it appears to target civilization by burning homes and committing murders. The forest setting appears in every other myth accounted for thus far including American, Canadian, English, German, Romanian, Scottish, and modern myth.
Moving back to similarities, the tall and bony appearance correlates back to may of the other legends. Its violent nature can go back to American, Canadian, German Romanian, and English myth. It is dressed in black, a theme seen in Germany, Romania, Scotland, and modern myth. Having no face complies among German, English, Scottish, and modern myth. The mention of fire is an interesting factor, the torch on its head is unique in its own perspective, but not quite the first myth to involve fire. Romanian myth also connected their legend to fire when the Tall Man came from the fireplace and took Sorina in his ‘burning embrace’.
Back to differences, this is the only myth that factors in weather conditions, repeatedly mentioning these things called, ‘lightning balls’. The phenomenon itself is a bit mysterious and unexplained, and superstitious people like to claim the Clutchbone comes from a different dimension through these ‘lightning balls’. Or at least, that’s what stories claim.