The Wendigo (also known as Windigo, Weendigo, Windago, Windiga, Witiko, Wihtikow, and numerous other alias variants including "Manaha") is a mythical monster from varied Native American cultures known for inhabiting Canada.
Biography[]
Stories of the Wendigo hail from cold, snowy regions with unusually harsh weather conditions. In such places, desperation could drive locals to cannibalism, and hence the Wendigo was associated with the barbarous practice.
It is often said that a Wendigo was created when a human engaged in cannibalism. This could result in an insatiable craving for human flesh that would erode one's humanity, until the cannibal devolved into an eternally hungry beast that only vaguely resembled the human it once was. No uniform description of the creature's appearance is ever given, though a common depiction, introduced by one Blackwood in the eighteenth century, is of a heavily emaciated human figure with its flesh decomposed and smelling of the grave; this version of the Wendigo was simply an emaciated human, who has been driven to insanity by the possessing spirit. Other versions included a deer-headed decomposing humanoid most likely deriving from the close relatives of Wendigo, the Skinwalkers; or a large hairy humanoid with a heart of ice, most likely confused from legends of the Yeti; the concept of the Wendigo was likely formed as a warning against cannibalism. Currently, Native Americans see any capitalist force as a "Wendigo" due to the destructive powers of such businesses which tend to have little respect for their land.
Fame[]
The Wendigo has become a popular monster in fiction and somewhat of a staple in horror/fantasy, like Sleepy Hollow and Supernatural, although depictions vary drastically from story to story (though the idea of a large, hairy humanoid is still fairly common) — although the Wendigo itself is almost entirely mythological science has named a cultural phenomena the "Wendigo Psychosis".
Controversy[]
Much like Skin-Walkers the Wendigo has become a controversial figure in recent times due to people becoming more aware of native beliefs, one of which holds that the Wendigo is not to be spoken of (native belief stating talking of the creature causes bad luck and may even summon it, making it a cultural taboo); this is coupled with widely inaccurate depictions of the monster in popular culture, with numerous groups and individuals seeking to reclaim the Wendigo and other indigenous creatures and remove the "Hollywood" additions to the myth (such as the deer-features, which are not present in the native folklore).
Wendigo Psychosis[]
This is a rare condition in which individuals start to crave human flesh even when other food is in supply. Interactions with people suffering from this condition may have contributed to the legend of the Wendigo. This mental illness is very similar to Cabin Fever and Isolationism, and sufferers often describe being influenced by an external malevolent force.
However recent research has cast doubt on Wendigo Psychosis being a factual disorder and thus the term is falling out of use, though is still a common fictional trope.
Other Media[]
Stephen King[]
- Main article: Wendigo (Stephen King)
Charmed[]
- Main article: Ashley Fallon
Wendigo[]
- Main article: Wendigo (Wendigo)
Lost Tapes[]
- Main article: Wendigo (Lost Tapes)
Supernatural[]
- Main article: Wendigo (Supernatural)
Until Dawn[]
- Main article: Wendigo (Until Dawn)
Do Blink[]
- Main article: Wendigo (Do Blink)
Fallout 76[]
Wendigos in Fallout 76 are cannibalistic humans that have been mutated by nuclear radiation into horrifying beasts some can even mutated into the tall three headed colossus.
Antlers[]
- Main article: Wendigo (Antlers)
Gallery[]
Images[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- There are two depictions of the Wendigo. The traditional depiction of the Wendigo as a thin humanoid, and the modern depiction of the Wendigo as a deer hybrid, which began with the 2001 film of the same name.
- The Wendigo photos used by the Villains wiki have been created by MatthewStarbuck and RandAlThor05.
- The modern depiction of the Wendigo most likely originates from the 2001 movie Wendigo.
- The SCP-323 anomaly seems to come from the Wendigo.
External Links[]
- Wendigo on the Wikipedia
- Wendigo on the Creepypasta Wiki
- Wendigo on the Monster Wiki
- Wendigo on the Cryptid Wiki
- Wendigo on the Know Your Meme
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