"Don't let de Hag ride ya"

The legend of the Boo Hags comes from South Carolina Gullah Culture. Boo Hag legend is similar to that of the vampire. Unlike vampires, the Boo Hag does not get its strength from the victims blood but from their breath.

When a Boo Hag attacks a victim it is known as 'ridin." They positions themselves over a sleeping victim and sucks on their breath. During the attach the Boo Hag puts the victim in a dream like sleep.

Boo Hags have no skin, so they are red in appearances. In order to blend in they will steal a victims skin and wear it like clothing as long as it holds up. Before a Boo Hag attacks, it removes and hides its skin until after the feeding. Normally Boo Hags do not kill their victims they keep them alive so they can use them again and again for energy. When the victim wakes, struggles, and fights back, the Boo Hag will kill them for a new skin. After taking the victims energy the Boo Hag must flee because it must be in its skin before the sun rises or it will forever be trapped without skin.

The next morning the victim awakes very tired and short of breath. They know they have been 'ridin" by a Boo Hag. To help protect you against further attack, you can place a broom by your bed. The Boo Hag gets distracting and has to count all the straws in the broom. They run out of time to ride you before the sun comes up.

So the next time you wake up very tired and short of breath, you might want to put a broom by your bed the next morning. You have just been "ridin" by a Boo Hag.