The Happy Haradashi

 

Image by Matthew Meyer

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025, my spooky friends! Today is a day to celebrate the possibilities that another year brings, and it's my personal mission to make this year as positive and happy as possible. Therefore, we're kicking off the first blog post of 2025 with a happy lil' Japanese yokai known as the Haradashi.

Too many ghosts and other supernatural beings get a reputation for being sad and mopey, or even being terrifying or menacing to those who witness them. But, the Haradashi is the opposite. She doesn't wish to be a negative influence on the human world; rather, she just wants to bring joy to those who need it most. 

The Haradashi can take on several physical forms. She can appear as an elderly nun, or a goofy-looking female 'monster' with long, black hair. Sometimes, she's nothing more than just a headless torso. However, one thing never changes---on the Haradashi's huge belly is a large, comical face. 

Those who are sad and lonely, especially those who are at home drowning their sorrows in a bottle of saki, may be paid a visit by the cheerful yokai. If you offer a Haradashi a drink, they will happily accept, and then reward you with an elaborately hilariously belly-dance and fill you with renewed hope. If desperate enough, you don't have to wait around for the Haradashi to come to you. You may also find Haradashi at certain temples. Here, they will invite you in for shelter and a warm meal, and again cheer you up with that belly face.

I hope 2025 is a fun, positive year for you, and that you won't ever require the services of the Haradashi. But, if you find yourself feeling a little down in the dumps, I hope you remember that you are enough and that you matter. You deserve the best life has to offer...including a personal belly-dance by a headless torso. 

Sources and Further Reading:

Yokai.com: Haradashi

Happy 2023!

Who wouldn't want to spend
NYE with THIS guy?

I've always heard that how you spend your New Year's is how the rest of the year will go for you...and I hope that's true! Last night I rang in the New Year with my spooky family---the crew from Spectral Research and Investigations. We had a little end-of-the-year get together at our home base (the maybe haunted and definitely historic Museum of Radio and Technology in Huntington, WV). Unfortunately, not all our members could attend, but the evening was still filled with good food, new friends, ideas for the upcoming year, and of course a little ghost hunting. My husband and my son were able to attend, making the evening extra special.

Luke weirded out by the 
phantom sounds of an antique
crystal radio.

The paranormal fun continues today as I'll be busy reading, writing, and watching some spooky documentaries! Once again, I've decided to attempt the Ultimate Blog Challenge, which means that there will be a brand-new blog post EVERY day this month, and today will definitely be a research day. I actually did really well with this last year, completing the entire year with a whopping 108 new posts. Here's hoping I can surpass that in 2023. Here's hoping that in general, 2023 is a damn good year, for me and for all of us. 2022 was an especially difficult year for me, but despite the hard times, I am grateful for all the opportunities I was given. I spoke at several different events, attended quite a few conferences and workshops, and got to investigate lots of really interesting places. Most importantly, I met some really awesome people and got to work with some really awesome people in this field. 

The room full of military communication
equipment has always been a favorite.

Usually in these New Year's posts I like to throw in some resolutions for the year ahead, but for the most part I'll skip that. However, please keep following me and the team on social media as we do have a LOT planned for this year. There is one thing you can help us with now---we just recently hit 100 subscribers on YouTube. This year, we'd like to increase that to 300 subscribers. If you haven't yet, please go subscribe to the SRI YouTube channel, and if you can, share share share! 2023 will see a variety of different types of videos being posted, in addition to our full-length documentary-style investigation videos. And as always, feel free to shoot me over any comments, ideas or suggestions for what YOU'D like to see!

Thank you so much for sticking with me another year and your continued support of Theresa's Haunted History. I love learning new things about the paranormal field and discovering strange and fascinating pieces of local history...but what's really exciting is getting to share it with you! Have a great year and as always...

Stay spooky!

Happy New Year from Theresa's Haunted History!

 

It's finally 2022, and the last two years have been one helluva ride! This is the time of year when I'd normally make some resolutions and plans for Theresa's Haunted History, but this year, I'm just gonna invite you along on the journey to see where 2022 takes us! But, that's not to say there are NO big plans coming up. 2021 was a big year for both me personally, and my team, Spectral Research and Investigation. 

Over the past year, SRI has grown in many ways. We've got a solid group of dedicated researchers and have been lucky enough to investigate some of West Virginia's most interesting haunted locations, including The Haymond House in Sutton, The Old Hospital on College Hill in Williamson, and Deep End Antiques in Beckley. We've attended festivals and conventions, networked with other investigators, and appeared on a handful of awesome podcasts. 

We will continue on in the new year with many more exciting locations to share with you, more public appearances, and more spooky yet educational content on our various social media platforms. Speaking of spooky yet educational content...

Once again I've joined the Ultimate Blog Challenge and have committed to bringing you 31 straight days of new content here on Theresa's Haunted History blog! I've spent most of December researching and scheduling posts for January, so I think there's a good shot that I might actually complete this challenge. At the very least, I've got quite a few new haunted locations in West Virginia, especially around the Charleston area, to share with you, along with cryptids, UFO's, Spiritualism, and other random weirdness. I can't wait to see what y'all think.

I hope 2022 is your best year ever and that your New Year's is a safe and happy one. Thank you so much for supporting Theresa's Haunted History and keeping things spooky in the Tri-State. 

Goodbye, 2019....Hello 2020!

Happy New Year!  It's time to say goodbye to 2019...and hello to 2020.  This has been a crazy year. I met my husband in January and got married in March.  My mom battled (and won!) against breast cancer. My tiny boy turned DOUBLE DIGITS! I've spent many a day traveling between Hurricane and Grafton, and many a night sitting in hospital rooms. 

With all the craziness going on, this blog has suffered, and to my regular readers, I apologize.  As life is settling back into a routine, I'm ready to get back to bringing you all the coolest ghost stories, haunted locations, urban legends, and just anything and everything spooky related to West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and beyond!  To kick start a new year of new content, I'll once again be doing the Ultimate Blog Challenge.  That means there will be a new blog post every day throughout January.  I have failed miserably during the last few challenges, so I'm hoping the motivation of a new year will give me the boost I need to make it through this time. 

If you don't already, please follow me on Facebook for lots of fun and spooky articles, photos, and much more!  It's also the best place to contact me with your questions, comments, and suggestions for haunted locations. Pop on over and let me know if you have any paranormal-related New Year's resolutions, or if you have any awesome investigations, trips to haunted locations, conferences/events, books, podcasts, or anything else spooky coming up in 2020 that'd you'd like to share! You can also find me on Twitter and on Instagram. 

I hope you and yours have a safe and happy New Year, and that 2020 is a great year for you.  Thank you so much for continuing this journey with me as my blog and my involvement in the paranormal community has evolved, shifted, be put on hold, etc.!  I appreciate all the support and kind words you've shown me over the years.  In a few weeks, this blog will be celebrating its NINTH anniversary!  

BONUS

Curious as to what the Top 3 blog posts of 2019 were?  Here's what people were reading and sharing the most this year!

3. David Morgan's Vision---Early West Virginia pioneer, David Morgan, had a sickbed vision that saved the lives of his children from an Indian attack. This tale of supernatural intervention has been passed down from generation to generation, and there is even a historical marker documenting the prophetic dream.

2. Mason County's Mysterious Skeletons---A newspaper from 1821 shares the news of four giant skeletons found in a burial mound, located on a Mason County, WV farm. Folklore is full of claims that West Virginia's Adena burial mounds contain giant skeletal remains of a race of people long forgotten.

1. The Sistersville Stocking Lady---There's a tombstone in Sistersville, WV with a highly damaged carving of an angelic woman atop.  Local legend states than anyone foolish enough to touch the 'Stocking Lady' will meet a horrible fate.

Welcome to a Spooky 2019!

Another year has gone by and while we say goodbye to 2018, we're charging full steam ahead into 2019! And...

Oh. My. Gosh.  Why do I keep doing this to myself?  Once again, I have signed up to participate in the Ultimate Blog Challenge.  That means that once again, I will be pushing myself to publish a brand new blog post EVERY single day throughout the month of January.  That's starting the year off with thirty-one new blog posts! 

It's not totally out of reach, though.  Although I nearly finished last April and totally bombed out last July, I rocked the October challenge, successfully publishing a new blog every day for the entire month.  Given that my favorite holiday, Halloween, awaited me at the end of the challenge made the whole thing a little easier.  There's just a lot to write about that time of year on a blog like this one!

I'm hoping that this challenge will just as easy as October's...and just as rewarding as well.  I think it's going to be an excellent way to kick off 2019!  Like always, I have tons of plans in store for where I want to take this blog, as well as where I want to take my work in the paranormal research field.  I'm not going to bother with any New Year's Resolutions or goals this year, other than I want to push my own comfort levels and make this year better than last.  I truly want those who read and/or follow my work to walk away informed, entertained, and maybe even a little bit inspired.

But what about you?  Do you have any paranormal related goals you're hoping to accomplish this year?  Are you starting or expanding a YouTube Channel, blog or social media group?  Are you starting or joining a new investigation group?  Do you have any really cool investigations coming up this year, or any haunted places you really want to hit up?  Any awesome books on your to-be-read list that deal with the paranormal?  Let me know how you plan on making 2019 your spookiest year yet!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!