The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MALIGNANT WIND

IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, IN MY PARENTS HOME VILLAGE, THERE WAS A CROSS-
ROADS WITH A SIGNPOST THAT GAVE DIRECTIONS TO LARGE NEIGHBORING
TOWNS. PEOPLE WOULD NEVER GO THERE AROUND SUNSET OR DURING THE
NIGHT BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS A TERRIFIC WIND THAT WOULD
BUFFET YOU, TEAR YOUR CLOTHES, KNOCK YOU DOWN, GIVE YOU BRUISES,
ETC. ONE EVENING THE VILLAGE PRIEST WAS RETURNING FROM VISITING
A SICK PERSON OUT IN THE FOREST AND APPROACHED THE CROSSROADS JUST
AFTER SUNSET. WHEN HE REACHED THEM, A HUGE WIND THREW HIM DOWN,
AND PHYSICALLY INJURED HIM. THE PRIEST ONLY SURVIVED BY CRAWLING
TO THE SIGNPOST AND HANGING ON. THE PEOPLE FOUND HIM BADLY INJURED
THE NEXT MORNING, STILL CLINGING TO THE POST. AFTER HE RECOVERED
HE WENT TO THE CROSSROADS NEAR SUNSET WITH SOME OF THE VILLAGERS.
THEY HAD A LARGE WOODEN CRUCIFIX THAT THEY SET UP NEXT TO THE SIGN-
POST. THE PRIEST WAS BLESSING THE CRUCIFIX AND THE ROADWAYS WHEN
THE STRONG WIND CAME UP AND TRIED TO TEAR THE CRUCIFIX DOWN AND
HURT THE PEOPLE. BUT AS IT STARTED SHAKING THE CRUCIFIX IT SUDDENLY
DIED OUT. NO ONE WAS EVER BOTHERED AGAIN.

Where learned: OHIO ; HUNGARY ; AUSTRIA ; CLEVELAND

Date learned: 09-10-1972