http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/norms-devil/ for Bigfoot, Loch Ness, and More Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:02:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/norms-devil/#comment-2017 Mnynames Thu, 13 Apr 2006 03:20:26 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/norms-devil/#comment-2017 I agree. Say what you will about the following professions, but the fact is that doctors, lawyers, judges, and police officers have all seen something remarkable lurking about the Pine Barrens for quite some time, and they continue up until the present day. I agree. Say what you will about the following professions, but the fact is that doctors, lawyers, judges, and police officers have all seen something remarkable lurking about the Pine Barrens for quite some time, and they continue up until the present day.

]]> http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/norms-devil/#comment-2016 prioris Wed, 12 Apr 2006 16:47:49 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/norms-devil/#comment-2016 it all comes down to the credibility of the witnesses and not what just some carnival guy says. it all comes down to the credibility of the witnesses and not what just some carnival guy says.

]]> http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/norms-devil/#comment-2015 Mnynames Tue, 11 Apr 2006 00:38:10 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/norms-devil/#comment-2015 Although, from a folkloric standpoint, it is interesting to note that the parents of the Jersey Devil (According to the original legend, anyway) DID actually exist. For those of you unaware of the legend, the story goes (And there are a hundred variants) that in 1735 Deborah Leeds found herself pregnant again after already producing 12 children. Disgusted, she cursed her 13th child, which was subsequently born a devil and soon escaped into the wild. A Deborah Leeds, the mother of 12 children, is recorded as having been married to Japhett Leeds in Leeds Point, New Jersey (Traditional birthplace of the Jersey Devil) at that time. I believe that either he or she was originally from Burlington, which may account for the strength of the legend around those parts as well. Speaking of hoaxes, there are those who suggest that the story was originally started in order to impune either Deborah and Japhett in the community, or perhaps Japhett's father, who was the Chief Surveyor of the colony of New Jersey and a prominant citizen. It has also been proposed that the legend is the survival and reinterpretation of the Lenni Lenape Indian figure known as Meesinghawlikun, the Keeper of Game. Also known as Mesingwe, he was a giant, hairy, man-beast (Sasquatch anyone?) who both protected wild game and herded them to the natives so that they could be killed and eaten. He was considered second only to the Great Spirit in importance, and is symbolized by a mask painted half black and half red, like a yin-yang (Found on the flag of the Delaware tribe, the modern Lenape, today). An annual spring festival of the Lenape featured Mesingwe impersonators dressed in bear skins going door to door frightening small children into being good and only being pacified by gifts of tobacco (Santa Claus likely got his start as a similar Finnish entity). Growing up in New Jersey, I can assure you that the Jersey Devil is used in a similar manner in order to keep children in line. Most kids had the boogy man, but we had something far scarier- the Jersey Devil! Although, from a folkloric standpoint, it is interesting to note that the parents of the Jersey Devil (According to the original legend, anyway) DID actually exist. For those of you unaware of the legend, the story goes (And there are a hundred variants) that in 1735 Deborah Leeds found herself pregnant again after already producing 12 children. Disgusted, she cursed her 13th child, which was subsequently born a devil and soon escaped into the wild. A Deborah Leeds, the mother of 12 children, is recorded as having been married to Japhett Leeds in Leeds Point, New Jersey (Traditional birthplace of the Jersey Devil) at that time. I believe that either he or she was originally from Burlington, which may account for the strength of the legend around those parts as well.
Speaking of hoaxes, there are those who suggest that the story was originally started in order to impune either Deborah and Japhett in the community, or perhaps Japhett’s father, who was the Chief Surveyor of the colony of New Jersey and a prominant citizen.
It has also been proposed that the legend is the survival and reinterpretation of the Lenni Lenape Indian figure known as Meesinghawlikun, the Keeper of Game. Also known as Mesingwe, he was a giant, hairy, man-beast (Sasquatch anyone?) who both protected wild game and herded them to the natives so that they could be killed and eaten. He was considered second only to the Great Spirit in importance, and is symbolized by a mask painted half black and half red, like a yin-yang (Found on the flag of the Delaware tribe, the modern Lenape, today). An annual spring festival of the Lenape featured Mesingwe impersonators dressed in bear skins going door to door frightening small children into being good and only being pacified by gifts of tobacco (Santa Claus likely got his start as a similar Finnish entity). Growing up in New Jersey, I can assure you that the Jersey Devil is used in a similar manner in order to keep children in line. Most kids had the boogy man, but we had something far scarier- the Jersey Devil!

]]> http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/norms-devil/#comment-2014 questionreality Tue, 11 Apr 2006 00:28:56 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/norms-devil/#comment-2014 Interesting! I had never heard/read of that little stunt. Interesting! I had never heard/read of that little stunt.

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