Will o' the wisp Facts for Kids

Will o' the wisp could look like this.

A will-o'-the-wisp is a mysterious, glowing light. People often see it at night, especially in wet, marshy places like swamps or bogs. It's also called ignis fatuus, which means "foolish fire" in Latin.

Will-o'-the-wisps usually look like a glowing ball or a small flame. They are different from UFOs or other ghost lights because they stay close to the ground. UFOs are usually seen high in the sky.

Many old stories say these lights flicker like a lamp. They seem to move away if you try to get closer. This can trick travelers into leaving safe paths. Will-o'-the-wisps are a common folk belief in English folklore and many parts of European folklore. Some people believed they were made by fairies or spirits. Others thought they were the souls or spirits of the dead.

Scientists have tried to find a natural reason for these lights. One idea is that they are a gas like methane rising from the ground and burning. Another idea is that they are electric events, similar to ball lightning. Sometimes, animals or fungus can make light. This is called bioluminescence or foxfire. For example, some owls have bright stomachs. Also, a gas called diphosphine (P₂H₄) can form in marshes. This gas catches fire easily in the air, causing a flickering glow.

There are many old and new stories about will-o'-the-wisps from all over the world. These lights have different names in different cultures. Some English names include jack-o'-lantern, hinkypunk, and hobby lantern.