Hoodman

Origins of the Urban Hoodman Legend - It's a fictional construct for the story, but it has some basis in history. Hooded spirits in literature go as far back as the 3rd Century BC. The Hooded Spirits or Genii Cucullati are figures found in religious sculpture across the Romano-Celtic region from Britain to Pannonia, depicted as "cloaked scurrying figures". They are found with a particular concentration in the Rhineland (Hutton). In Britain they tend to be found in a triple deity form, which seems to be specific to the British representations. The hooded cape was especially associated with Gauls or Celts during the Roman period. The character of Hoodman was also inspired by the recurring fairy tale of The Sandman, which took various forms in literature and later popular culture. The Sandman is a traditional character in many children's stories and books. In Scandinavian folklore, he is said to sprinkle sand or dust on or into the eyes of children at night to bring on sleep and dreams.