13th Congress of the International Society for Folk Narrative Research

Presentation Abstracts

MORAVEC, Mark

Strange Illuminations: 'Min Min Lights' - Australian 'Ghost Light' narratives

History is littered with reports of strange lights in the sky. One type of mystery light is internationally known as the ‘ghost light’ or ‘spook light’: a small, close to ground-level ball of light said to haunt a particular locality.

In Australia, such strange illuminations are commonly known as ‘Min Min Lights’, referring to a locality in the Boulia district of western Queensland, where such lights have been repeatedly sighted. Early white settlers knew it as the ‘will-o’-the wisp’ and the ‘jack-o’-lantern’. Indigenous inhabitants called it the ‘Dead Men’s Camp-Fire’ or the ‘Debil-Debil’.

Min Min light narratives are examined with regard to motifs; the interpretations and beliefs engendered by the accounts; and the social context of a regional lore now utilised in tourism promotion.

Whilst they are arguably contemporary supernatural legends, Min Min Light narratives stand at the intersection of many dimensions. There are both historical and contemporary accounts. There are accounts from indigenous inhabitants, colonists and post-colonial settlers. They are recalled memories, whose texts may subtly change over time and presentation context. They are individual memorates that slot into and reinforce the pre-existing regional community lore. Min Min Lights have been variously interpreted as natural phenomena, ghosts or UFOs.

An ambiguous enigma standing at the fringe of human experience and the fringe of social acceptability, the Min Min Light is a folk phenomenon with supernatural overtones. Min Min Light narratives help to illuminate our understanding of the origin, transmission and utilisation of narrative folklore.