The Wild Hunt — When Medieval Europe Believed the Dead Rode the Sky

In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, host Amy explores the terrifying folklore of the Wild Hunt — a ghostly procession of dead riders believed to race across the winter sky during late February. Across England, Germany, Scandinavia, and France, February 20 was feared as a night when the boundary between the living and the dead weakened, and spectral hunters led by gods and spirits tore through the air with horns, hooves, and howling winds. Drawing from medieval folklore, regional legends, and historical accounts of strange winter storms, this episode reveals why people believed the Wild Hunt stole livestock, marked homes for misfortune, and carried away those unlucky enough to witness it. Blending dark humor, mythology, medieval belief, and eerie calendar traditions, this episode uncovers why February 20 was treated not as a celebration — but as a night to lock doors, shutter windows, and wait for morning. If you love strange history, ancient folklore, ghost stories, medieval myths, and dark seasonal legends rooted in real belief systems, this episode belongs in your queue. New episodes drop regularly. Follow The Strange History Podcast and keep moving through the calendar — one haunted date at a time.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.

🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.