Three Urban Legends About Footprints In The Snow

Footsteps in the snow aren't usually something people pay too much attention to. But, three legends each signify different meanings for these simple markings in the snow. Each is a bit scarier than the last.

Let's take a look at these three spooky legends that involve that fluffy white stuff.

The Snow Legends

Let's start with the least menacing one.

The Soul Legend

The first is an old legend saying that if you see footsteps in the snow by a grave, it means someone's soul has moved on, which is a reassuring and not-so-spooky legend. It is nice to know a loved one has moved on.

The Peeping Tom

There is also the urban legend of the footprints in the snow on someone's back yard which supposedly symbolized a peeping Tom which isn't nearly as pleasant as the footsteps by the grave one.

It is still very creepy to think about since people are scary...

The Devil's Footprints

This legend came to the Midwest in the 1900s but it originated in England in 1855.

The Devil's Footprints was a phenomenon that occurred in February 1855 around the Exe Estuary in East and South Devon, England. After a heavy snowfall, trails of hoof-like marks appeared overnight in the snow covering a total distance of some 40 to 100 miles

After a heavy snowfall, a series of hoof-like marks appeared in the snow. These footprints, most of which measured about four inches long, and three inches across. Families still tell kids that the Devil is looking for them when they are bad and that the footprints can be seen after snow first falls. This is extremely creepy to think about, I'm glad this isn't a scare tactic my parents used on me.

The main theory of what could have caused the markings is from Author Geoffrey who suggested that "an experimental balloon" was released by mistake. Supposedly the balloon dragged shackles along the snow that created the hoof-like tracks.

Another theory of "jumping mice." It could make sense as the rodents would most likely have to hop to make it through the snow.

These are the theories, but I wouldn't be completely convinced of their legitimacy if I experienced this sight firsthand. Sure it's a goofy legend, but no one still knows what caused those prints to this day. Were They rally "tracks to hell?"

Have you heard of these legends before? Do you believe in them? Let us know on our app today.

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