What are some scary German folklore stories?

Sure. The story of the Golem is quite scary. In German - Jewish folklore, the Golem was a creature made of clay brought to life by magic. It was created to protect the Jews in the ghetto. However, it grew out of control and started causing chaos. It was very strong and could not be easily stopped, which made it a terrifying force.

The Grimm Brothers, who are famous for their fairy tales, also have some elements that can be considered a bit scary in their stories for kids. Tales like 'Hansel and Gretel' where the children are lured into a witch's house by the promise of food. The idea of a witch planning to eat the kids is quite a scary concept. And their detailed descriptions of the forest, which is often a place of danger in their stories, add to the scariness.

One well - known folklore scary story is the 'Bloody Mary'. Legend has it that if you stand in a dark bathroom, light some candles, and say 'Bloody Mary' three times while looking into the mirror, a vengeful spirit will appear. Another is the 'Chupacabra' from Latin American folklore. It's a creature said to attack and drain the blood of livestock. And then there's the 'Headless Horseman' which is a famous American folklore story, often associated with the Sleepy Hollow area, where a headless figure on horseback rides around at night, causing fear among the local people.

The story of 'The Robber Bridegroom' is also quite frightening. A young maiden is betrothed to a man who is actually a robber. She discovers his true nature when she visits his house and sees the remains of his previous victims. It's a story full of suspense and horror elements typical of German folklore.

German scary stories often have a strong sense of the supernatural. There are many tales about ghosts, spirits like the Erlking, and otherworldly creatures such as the Golem. Another characteristic is that they are often set in gloomy or mysterious places like deep forests or old castles. For example, stories set in the Black Forest are common. Also, they usually carry a moral lesson, like the story of Frau Holle where good deeds are rewarded and bad deeds punished.

There is a story set in an old, spooky German castle. Legend has it that a nobleman once lived there who was very cruel. He tortured his servants and prisoners. People say that at night, you can still hear the screams of the victims. The cold corridors and dark dungeons seem to hold the memories of the horror that once took place there.

The Scottish Kelpie is another spooky folklore story. Kelpies are shape - shifting water spirits that usually take the form of a horse. They lurk in lochs and rivers. If a person gets too close and tries to ride the Kelpie, thinking it's a normal horse, the Kelpie will drag them into the water and drown them. It was a story told to keep children away from dangerous water bodies.

One is the story of the Kuchisake - Onna. She is a female spirit with a slit mouth. Legend has it that she would ask people if they thought she was pretty. If you said no, she would kill you; if you said yes, she would slit your mouth like hers. Another is the Teke Teke. It's about a girl who was cut in half on the railway tracks. She now haunts railways, making a 'teke teke' sound as she drags her upper half along.

The 'La Llorona' is a well - known old scary folklore story. It tells of a woman who drowned her children in a fit of rage and now wanders near bodies of water, weeping and looking for her lost children. At night, if you hear a woman crying near a river or lake, it could be La Llorona. 'The Mothman' is another one. It was sighted in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. This large, winged humanoid figure was associated with a series of strange events and disasters in the area. It has since become a famous part of American folklore.

Nature also plays a big role. German ghost stories might feature haunted forests, rivers, or mountains. The Lorelei on the Rhine is a good example. The natural setting adds to the mystery and scariness. The stories are also deeply rooted in German folklore and history, so they might carry cultural elements that are unique to Germany.