ghostlore

Ghostlore refers to the body of folklore that concerns ghosts and spirits. It includes haunting narratives, revenants, afterlife beliefs, and rituals for protection, appeasement, or guidance. While ghost stories appear in literature and media, ghostlore emphasizes traditional belief and communal practice transmitted orally or through custom. In scholarly usage, the term distinguishes enduring folk beliefs from fictional or sensational depictions.

Across cultures, ghostlore exhibits wide variation in motifs and cosmologies. Common themes include restless or seeking spirits; ancestor or familial guardianship; place-bound hauntings in homes, churches, or ruins; and moral storytelling about the consequences of wrongdoing. Regions differ in emphasis—European revenants, East Asian ancestor veneration, and Indigenous or Caribbean traditions—yet all use ghosts to reflect social norms, memory, and collective identity.

Scholars study ghostlore through fieldwork, oral histories, and analysis of ritual practices, while distinguishing folklore from modern hoaxes. They consider social function—how ghostlore mediates mourning, enforces norms, or anchors place-making and tourism—and examine performative aspects such as storytelling, séances, and ghost tours.

In contemporary times, the internet and media have expanded ghostlore with urban legends, creepypasta, and online communities. This raises questions about credibility, authorship, and ethics, while also highlighting ghostlore’s role in cultural memory and entertainment. The field sits at the intersection of folklore, anthropology, and cultural studies.