The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

TRAVELING VIGIL LIGHT OF MT. OLIVET CEMETRY.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO ONE OF THE GRAVES OF MT. OLIVET CEMETRY
WAS DUG UP AND THE BODY MOVED TO ANOTHER SPOT IN THE CEMETRY.
THE MOTHER OF THE DEAD PERSON LOOKED AND LOOKED FOR THE GRAVE
OF HER BELOVED BUT COULD NEVER FIND IT. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THE
VIGIL LIGHT WHICH THE MOTHER KEPT BURNING ON THE GRAVE NOW
ROAMS THE CEMETRY SEARCHING FOR THE GRAVE OF THE BODY THAT
WAS MOVED. MANY PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO
SEE THE LIGHT MOVING ABOUT THE CEMETRY. ONE NIGHT WHEN AT A
GIRL FRIEND'S HOUSE THE INFORMANT WAS ASKED IF SHE WANTED TO GO TO
THE CEMETRY WITH A GROUP OF GIRLS TO LOOK FOR THE LIGHT. THE GIRL
FRIEND LIVED RIGHT NEXT TO THE CEMETRY AND KNEW THE SCHEDULE OF
THE WATCHMEN WHO WORKED IN THE CEMETRY. THE GIRLS CLIMBED THE FENCE
AND AFTER THEY HAD GONE A SHORT WAY INTO THE CEMETRY, THEY SAW THE
VIGIL LIGHT NOT MANY FEET IN FRONT OF THEM, MOVING ABOUT. THEY
RAN BACK TO THE HOUSE IN FEAR.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT WAS SURPRISED THAT MY BROTHER AND I WHO LIVE IN
THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE TRAVELING
VIGIL LIGHT OF MT. OLIVET CEMETERY.

Data entry tech comment: THE WORD CEMETRY IS AS SPELLED BY THE COLLECTOR.

Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): GHOST

Date learned: 03-31-1967