where did monsters under the bed come from
Bogeyman
United States -- The Jersey Devil , which originated in the New Jersey Pine Barrens , is believed by many to be an old time Boogeyman created by residents to scare off travelers from coming into the area . Bloody Bones , also known as Rawhead or Tommy Rawhead , is a boogeyman of the U.S. South . Bloody Bones tales originated in Britain . The Bogeyman may be called `` Boogerman '' or `` Boogermonster '' in rural areas of the American South ( `` booger '' being the American English equivalent of the British English `` bogey '' ) , and was most often used to keep young children from playing outside past dark , or wandering off in the forest . During the Corn Festival , young Cherokee males wearing caricature masks would make fun of politicians , frighten children into being good , and moreover shake their masks at young women and chase them around . Male participants in this Booger Dance were referred to as the Booger Man . In some Midwestern states of the United States , the boogeyman scratches at the window . In the Pacific Northwest , he may manifest in `` green fog '' . In other places , he hides or appears from under the bed or in the closet and tickles children when they go to sleep at night , while in others , he is a tall figure in a black hooded cloak who puts children in a sack . It is said that a wart can be transmitted to someone by the boogeyman . The Nalusa Falaya ( long black being ) of Choctaw mythology . Cipelahq ( or Chebelakw ) is a dangerous bird spirit of Wabanaki folklore , used in stories told to scare children into obeying their parents . Chebelakw has an unearthly cry and resembles a large diving owl , with only its head and talons visible . Similar monsters called Stinkini and Big Owl were found in Seminole and Apache mythologies , respectively .
United States -- The Jersey Devil , which originated in the New Jersey Pine Barrens , is believed by many to be an old time Boogeyman created by residents to scare off travelers from coming into the area . Bloody Bones , also known as Rawhead or Tommy Rawhead , is a boogeyman of the U.S. South . Bloody Bones tales originated in Britain . The Bogeyman may be called `` Boogerman '' or `` Boogermonster '' in rural areas of the American South ( `` booger '' being the American English equivalent of the British English `` bogey '' ) , and was most often used to keep young children from playing outside past dark , or wandering off in the forest . During the Corn Festival , young Cherokee males wearing caricature masks would make fun of politicians , frighten children into being good , and moreover shake their masks at young women and chase them around . Male participants in this Booger Dance were referred to as the Booger Man . In some Midwestern states of the United States , the boogeyman scratches at the window . In the Pacific Northwest , he may manifest in `` green fog '' . In other places , he hides or appears from under the bed or in the closet and tickles children when they go to sleep at night , while in others , he is a tall figure in a black hooded cloak who puts children in a sack . It is said that a wart can be transmitted to someone by the boogeyman . The Nalusa Falaya ( long black being ) of Choctaw mythology . Cipelahq ( or Chebelakw ) is a dangerous bird spirit of Wabanaki folklore , used in stories told to scare children into obeying their parents . Chebelakw has an unearthly cry and resembles a large diving owl , with only its head and talons visible . Similar monsters called Stinkini and Big Owl were found in Seminole and Apache mythologies , respectively .