The Lowcountry is known for more than its historic buildings, scenic islands and delicious Southern cooking. The region is also home to a rich heritage of local legends. Among the strangest, and most unsettling, is the story of mysterious creatures known as boo hags – a legend passed down from generation to generation. These stories originally made their way into the Lowcountry through Gullah culture, the African American community that took shape along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. This guide looks at who the boo hags are and why they’re described as supernatural beings that come out at night to hunt sleeping people.
Who are the boo hags
According to local legend, boo hags bear some resemblance to European vampires, but rather than feeding on blood, they feed on a person’s life force, their energy. Boo hags are typically described as:
- skinless
- with eyes that glow in the dark
- hiding from people during the day, or wearing the skin of their previous victim to move unnoticed among people
They come at night, sit on a person’s chest and draw the breath out of them through their mouth. On waking, the victim feels utterly exhausted, as though they hadn’t slept at all. If the victim wakes in the middle of the night, during a boo hag’s feeding, they can see everything happening but are unable to move.
Boo hags and Gullah culture: the connection
Boo hag stories sit among the finest of the Gullah people’s rich oral tradition. For generations, these tales served not only as spooky entertainment but also as an explanation for unexplained sensations – a heavy weight on the chest during sleep, nightmares, or a sudden feeling of weakness on waking.
Today, legends like these are considered an integral part of Lowcountry folklore, where African traditions are closely woven together with European and local stories of ghosts and other mystical beings.
Boo hags and Charleston’s ghost stories
Charleston ranks among America’s best-known cities when it comes to ghost legends. For a long time, it has held its place as a popular spot for evening ghost tours.
Several key features of the city help explain why:
- its old streets
- buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries
- countless tales of strange goings-on
One of the main places where visitors hear about boo hags and other local legends is the Old City Jail. On these themed walks, guides share stories with visitors and locals alike about ghosts, local beliefs and some of the most mysterious tales from Charleston’s past.
Guides don’t just talk about the creatures themselves – they also explain how to spot them and how to protect yourself from them.
How to tell if a boo hag is nearby
Folk legend points to a number of signs said to reveal the presence of one of these creatures.
These include:
- waking up feeling exhausted almost every day, even without having done any physical work the day before
- a persistent feeling during sleep that someone is nearby, watching you
- a sudden feeling of heaviness during sleep, or being unable to move your legs, arms or head
- frequent nightmares
Nowadays, most locals – and even visitors – see these stories as simply part of the region’s folklore and cultural heritage. Even so, it’s tales like these that give the Lowcountry its own distinctive, unique atmosphere.
How to protect yourself from a boo hag, according to legend
There are said to be several ways to ward off a boo hag. One of the most common is sleeping with a window open, so the creature can’t get trapped inside the house. It’s also widely believed that boo hags fear bright light, which is why candles were once lit in bedrooms before sleep, as fire was seen as a powerful symbol of protection.
Other versions of the tale hold that boo hags fear the colour red – supposedly unable to pass anything red, whether clothing or other red objects.
It’s also said to help to leave a small pile of grains, seeds or other tiny objects by the bed: the creature will get distracted counting them and won’t have time to attack before daybreak.
The mystical side of the Lowcountry
Boo hag stories are a striking example of how local lore has been preserved and passed down through generations, offering a much deeper understanding of the region’s culture. For many travellers, it’s a chance to see Charleston from a completely different angle – going beyond the architecture, beaches and restaurants to hear intriguing, spine-chilling stories straight from the locals.
For anyone with a taste for mysterious tales and unusual places, a walk through old Charleston after dark could well turn out to be one of the most memorable experiences the Lowcountry has to offer.