Ghosts: Legends of the Spirits That Haunt the Living

What Are Ghosts?

A ghost sometimes appears at the moment of a person’s death. If someone is murdered or experiences a violent or tragic death, their spirit may return to earth seeking vengeance. For instance, if a person has been beheaded, their ghost often carries their severed head while wandering.

Signs of a Ghost

In the presence of a ghost, people feel an icy chill. Ghosts can appear and vanish at will, haunting a place for centuries, and may pass through walls or closed doors.

Famous Haunted Places

• Arundel Castle, England: Legend says a white owl appears whenever a member of the family is about to die.
• London House: The ghost of a madman is said to haunt the top floor; anyone spending the night there either dies or goes insane.
• Tower of London: One of the most haunted buildings in England, it housed many prisoners including Margaret Pole, executed in 1541 at the age of 71.
• Windsor Castle: The royal family reportedly encounters many spirits, including Elizabeth I and her mother Anne Boleyn, executed at 29 by Henry VIII.
• White House and Ford Theatre, USA: The ghost of Abraham Lincoln is said to appear at both locations.
• Château de Blois, France: The ghost of a former count engages in a supernatural duel that has lasted since the 16th century.