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What is the Witching Hour?

Posted by Thrillvania in Haunted House Stories on March 8th, 2014
Tags: The Witching Hour

Ever wonder why ghosts and spirits, demons and other assorted visitors from the other side are always more active at night? Are witches really more powerful after the sun goes down? Are all the beings on the other side nocturnal or do they just prefer the cover of darkness while they’re committing their evil deeds?

In early times, according to Catholic tradition, the Witching Hour was thought to be 3 am, a mockery of The Holy Trinity. Wicca tradition also holds the hour of 3 am because of it’s relationship to The Threefold Law : That which you send out into the Universe will be returned to you threefold.

In modern times the Witching Hour is simply the middle of the night. It varies from season to season but generally occurs around 2 or 3 am. It’s at this time that the veil between this world and the spirit world is at its thinnest and all sorts of entities – both good and evil – are able to pass through from side to side.

Your brain also acts as a defensive veil that impedes contact from the Other Side. It’s much easier to explain away unexplainable events while the sun’s shining but, in the middle of the night when it’s dark and you’re tired it’s easier for you to believe there’s someone sitting on the end of your bed… watching and waiting for you to wake up.

Is There Really a Bates Motel?

Home to 13 rooms and the infamous shower stall where Marion Crane meets her untimely demise at the hands of Norman Bates, the Bates Motel, center stage for Alfred Hitchock’s classic “Psycho,” sits quietly at the side of the road, tattered and run-down, patiently waiting for the next guest to check in. But is it real or merely the figment of a horror writer’s imagination?

The screenplay for the movie “Psycho” was based on the 1959 novel of the same name, written by Robert Bloch and loosely inspired by Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein. Rumor has it that Bloch stayed at the real Bates Motel sometime during the 1950’s, prior to writing his book, and he used it as the model for the motel in his novel.

The motel was originally a barracks for officers at Farragut Naval Training Station during World War II. After the war, it was sold and moved 30 miles south to its current location in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Eventually it was purchased by a man named Randy Bates, hence the name – The Bates Motel.

While there’s no haunted mansion on a hill above the real Bates Motel and Norman and his mother certainly never ruled the roost, it does have a few ghosts of its own who seem to be permanent residents.

Guests frequently report cold spots and strange noises, especially in rooms 1 and 3. Lights flicker off and on, ashtrays fall of the tables, guests’ personal items are moved about the room and guests get the sensation that someone is watching them.

Check in at your own risk and beware the shower!

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Party Game: Tempt Your Fate

Posted by Thrillvania in Haunted House Stories on November 22nd, 2013

Sometimes, terrible things can happen when you tempt Fate. Just watch any horror movie and you’ll see some idiot go down into the basement without a flashlight or wander off the trail on the camping trip and what happens? They end up DEAD! ..sigh.. Sometimes Fate can be so cruel… But what’s a party without a little risk? It’s time your guests tempted their Fate.

What You’ll Need

Balloons

Paper

Pen

Small prizes for Good Fates

Bad Fates

Inside some of the balloons place a small prize or a ribbon or piece of paper that indicates they’ve won a prize, and then either blow up the balloon or fill it with helium, depending on how you want to work them into your party décor.

Do the same with the other balloons but fill them with “Bad Fates.” The “Bad Fates” can be anything, depending on what’s appropriate for your guests. Have them drink a foul-tasting cocktail or eat a serving of “brains” or dip their hand into a cauldron of “worms and eyeballs.” If it’s an adult party your “Fates” can be more risky… or risque.

Make It Mandatory or Let Your Guests Decide Their Fate

If you’re looking for a party game that involves all your guests, then gather everyone around and make them choose a balloon, one at a time, while everyone else looks on. Watch the suspense build as one guest wins a prize and the next has to face their Fate.

Every party has at least one guest who arrives late. Make every guest who doesn’t arrive on time Tempt their Fate. Or, make it mandatory for every guest who wears a goofy sweater, or comes in all “Twilight” glittery or wearing funny hat…you get the picture.

Or, let your guests decide their own Fate. Fill the balloons with helium and use them as part of your decoration. Tell everybody what the balloons are for and eventually, some brave soul will pop the first balloon. After that, as the party goes on, more and more will step up to see what Fate has in store for them.