By Natalie Pearce
Ufology and the paranormal often feature tales of lights in some way, shape or form. From discernible lights in the sky such as Space X satellites, aeroplanes or meteor showers to the more unexplained. Reports of strange lights are seen all around the globe, in the day, in the night and in many different shapes, colours and sizes.
One such phenomenon known as Feu Follet is just one name for unexplained light orbs in a specific geographical location. What makes these cases interesting is that despite having different names all over the world, the orbs of light show similar characteristics. Could it be they are all the same thing?
Feu Follet (pronounced fo- fol- ay) simply means crazy fire. In the mid 1700’s Acadians exiled by British command from northern colonies began to settle in Louisiana, becoming known as ‘Cajuns’.
Tales have been told throughout the generations about strange lights or glowing orbs seen over the horizon in the area. They were named “swamp fairies” by locals or Feu Follet. The lights often flicker and range in size but most are reportedly the size of a cherry.
Speculation grew over what these lights could be. Many said it was the spirits of loved ones saying goodbye and it was seen to bring good fortune if you saw them. Others believe that they are a dangerous sign, attracting children to follow them to the swamps leading to them getting lost and drowning. Parents told children never to follow the orbs if they appeared to them, telling them that it was a demon of death.
Louisiana itself has lots of marsh land covering many hectares. Science tells us that it isn’t uncommon for such marsh to give off gasses that can produce phosphorescent light. This is produced due to the decomposition of dead animals and combustion of gasses. So maybe this is what people have been seeing?
Perhaps not as many people have also witnessed these same lights in other places in the state. Multiple sightings have been noted in Lake Charles which has the oldest cemetery in the state. Flickering orbs are seen on and around gravestones regularly.
More recently, a large group of friends were on the countryside near Gonzales, Louisiana. Several multi-coloured balls of light were seen by all of the party, seemingly dancing around in the distance above a road. The lights got bigger and brighter and even chased the group as they retreated in terror.
Many of you will remember the classic Willo the Wisp from TV in our youth (voiced by Kenneth Graham). This fictional character was based on the stories of Feu Follet. The term “hobby lanterns” were found in 19th century texts in relation to orbs of light which were thought to elemental spirits. There is also records of them being noticed in graveyards being given the name “ghost candles”.
In ‘A Dictionary of Fairies’ by Briggs, in Shropshire there is a tale of ‘Will Smith’. Will was a wicked blacksmith who, when standing at heaven’s gate, was given a chance of redemption by St Peter. Not able to change his wicked ways, he was doomed to wander the earth. However, the Devil gave him a single burning coal which was to lure people to him for him to do them harm. In Irish folklore, there is a similar story of ‘Stingy Jack’ who tricked the Devil. He was then denied entry to hell and granted an ember from the fires of hell in order for him to navigate his way through the twilight world as a lost soul.
Similar tales have emerged all over the world in countries such as China, Mexico, Bangladesh and Finland.
You can also see references to Feu Follet in literature such as in;
The Lord of the Rings- J R R Tolkien (1937)
Describes lights in the marshes outside Mordor. Gollum tells Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee to “not follow the lights”, stating if they do they will “keep the dead company and have little candles of their own”.
Dracula – Bram Stoker (1897)
Mentions lights that masquerade as people and that wherever the lights go, you may find buried treasure.
The Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1795)
Wills-o-the-wisp appears in the text and are described as lights that consume gold
Harry Potter – JK Rowling (1997)
The character the Hinkypunk is a one legged creature made of smoke. It carries a lantern and misleads travellers.
Paradise Lost – John Milton (1608)
Mentions the light orb being that of the devil, leading Eve astray
“[As] a flame,
Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends,
Hovering and blazing with delusive light,
Misleads the amazed night-wanderer from his way
To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool;
There swallowed up and lost, from succour far.“
Whatever these anomalous lights are, they are not simply appearing in just one location. They appear to have been around for centuries, mainly linked to negative energy. I am sure many are simply fire flies or luminescent gasses or foliage but would this account for all the reported cases, even those not close to marsh land? Probably not.
