The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

"SOUCOUNIANT" OR "VOLANT" ARE PEOPLE THAT TAKE OFF THEIR SKIN AND
GO SUCK ANIMALS' BLOOD. THEY HAVE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH
THEIR ARMS AND THEY CAN FLY. IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO GET BACK
INTO THEIR SKIN, YOU ADD SOME SALT, GARLIC, LEMON, ETC. TO THE
SKIN WHICH IS USUALLY LEFT IN A BIG BUCKET. ANOTHER WAY TO STOP
THEM IS TO DRAW A CROSS WITH A KNIFE, AND AT THE INTERSECTION OF
THE TWO LINES YOU STAB THE KNIFE.

Submitter comment: MOST OF THE TIMES, THE "SOUCOUNIANTS" ARE WOMEN. I REMEMBER MANY
YEARS AGO THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED THAT THEY CAUGHT ONE AND
THEY TOOK HER TO THE HOSPITAL.

Where learned: GUADELOUPE

Keyword(s): "VOLANT" MEANS SOMETHING THAT COULD FLY.

Date learned: 00-00-1967