Luz mala, the evil light
Written by Keiton Dressler
Written by Keiton Dressler
The Luz Mala, translated to, "Evil Light" was a known myth in Argentine and Uruguayan history as a floating ball of light that leads people to objects that emit poisonous gas.
That is one of the more common summaries of the Luz Mala, but legends do differ. For example, sometimes the Luz Mala can be classified as souls in purgatory, souls who haven't received a baptism, souls who have escaped celestial prison, and Satan himself. It is also said the Luz Mala appears in the driest times of the year to either direct people to poisonous objects, shine its lethal light on people, or just vanish. There is also the account that it may lead people to buried treasure for those lucky enough if the Luz mala appears as a bright sparkling light near a hill.
It was a monster known in parts of the United Kingdom through names like, Jack-O-Lantern, Friar's Lantern, and Hinkypunk. It appeared over swamps, marshes or bogs, and was known to lead travelers astray for looking like a lantern.
Treasure Lights! These weren't so much monsters but entities known in Latin America for leading children to parts of the woods that housed gold or artifacts, or hovering over spots where gold or artifacts are buried.