There are so many taboos out there, in almost every culture. The biggest one –and most well-known- , though, is cannibalism. Such a sensitive topic it is, that people are afraid to mentally approach it.

Everyone but a certain god-forsaken creature feasting on human flesh (yum-yum!). That’s Wendigo for you. It knows not of taboos and personal space, it has no such worries, so watch it! If you ever happen to be close enough to it, you’ll provide a first-class meal for i!

But first things first…

The legend says that people who are obliged, depending on the circumstances, to feast on human flesh (not boiled or even smoked) gradually grow a liking to eat, not being able to live without it, eventually.  As a result, they slowly transform into a creature with “very long arms and legs, with sharp nails and teeth, that still has some human characteristics”

Wendigo for sure doesn’t suffer from lack of food (but I’m not sure it has it easy on finding a date, or an escort to the Ball.)

Usually, myths and legends revolving around the Wendigo, resurface from the U.S, Canada and so on and so forth. The creature is connected with stories of low temperatures and hunger that pushes you towards your death… (Extremely natural, if you consider how many people have found their death while climbing Mount Everest through the years, having nothing else to eat but their partner. Fearing the urban legend, climbers preferred to die rather than give in to cannibalism).

Anyway, it is preferable that you don’t try human flesh, keeping in mind what might happen of you!

How to know that a person close to you is turning into a Wendigo

1. He salivates whenever he gets a glimpse of your skin.
2. He sniffs you out, making those gargling sounds of a predator (not the sound of The Predator!)
3. He mentions (more than twice a day) how delicious you’d taste, if put in the oven with a handful of neatly-chopped potatoes.

How to protect yourself from a Wendigo attack
(Supposing that he hasn’t already cut you into pieces and is now smoothing the cloth around his neck while we’re at it...)

1. Burn it with fire! (No, seriously, you have to burn it in order for the spirit to leave this world for good).
2. Silver weaponry. (I know it’s so unheard of….) But you have to go for the heart, or else the spirit will get away with it and, just like Voldemort, will find a new body to possess.
3. Have a wooden spoon with you. As a key-holder, as a heartier, it matters not. Just be sure to gripe it right in the eye of a two-meter-high, toothy creature when the time is right (and possibly use this new tool as an eye-popper? And keep it as a memento, even? Although I don’t know many people who would “keep an eye”, just like that.)

If you see the Wendigo running towards you, know that you are doomed already! That thing is not only extremely tall and supernaturally strong, it’s also very fast! Just wish it a “Bonne appetite” and care not if you smell as good as you’d like. The last thing concerning a starved Wendigo is your smell…

Love, Melane…