Night hag
Night Hag
Night hag or Old Hag is a phenomenon during which a person feels a presence of a supernatural creature, which immobilizes the person as if sitting on their chest or the foot of their bed. The word "hag" derives from the Old English hægtesse, a witch-like creature that rides on people's chests during the night, a common description of sleep paralysis.
Pronunciation
Night Hag: /naɪt hæɡ/
Etymology
The term "Night Hag" comes from the Old English hægtesse, which means witch. The hægtesse was believed to be a supernatural being that torments its victims at night by sitting on their chests, often causing feelings of suffocation. This is closely related to the phenomenon of sleep paralysis.
Related Terms
- Sleep Paralysis: A state, during waking up or falling asleep, in which a person is aware but unable to move or speak. During an episode, one may hallucinate, which often results in fear. The phenomenon is often linked with the Night Hag.
- Hypnagogic Hallucinations: Hallucinations that occur between wakefulness and sleep, usually at the onset of sleep, often associated with sleep paralysis and the Night Hag phenomenon.
- Hypnopompic Hallucinations: Similar to hypnagogic hallucinations, these occur upon waking rather than at sleep onset. They are also associated with sleep paralysis and the Night Hag phenomenon.
- Incubus: In medieval European folklore, the incubus is a male demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women, often associated with the Night Hag phenomenon.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Night hag
- Wikipedia's article - Night hag
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