Students from the Native American Cultural Center, Asian American Cultural Center, African American Cultural Center and La Casa Cultural gathered to share ghost stories Tuesday night.
Natasha Khazzam
Contributing reporter
Natasha Khazzam, Contributing Photographer
Students from Yale’s cultural centers embraced the Halloween spirit Tuesday, gathering at the Asian American Cultural Center to share cross-cultural ghost stories.
The event — a collaboration between AACC, the Native American Cultural Center, the African American Cultural Center and La Casa Cultural — featured five storytellers, each sharing a tale or presentation from their respective heritage. Presentations ranged from ghost stories to an exploration of themes including domestic abuse, gender roles and loss in traditional folklore.
“[Storytelling] it’s a very common part of Mexican culture and I think Latin American culture in general,” said Daisy Sanchez ’24. “I grew up hearing stories from my parents and family friends.”
Sanchez told the traditional Mexican tale “La Llorona,” which tells the story of a young woman named Maria who drowned her children in a fit of jealousy. The story, whose title translates to “the weeping woman,” remains a pervasive part of Mexican culture today, as the sound of running water is commonly associated with calls to “La Llorona.”
“My father grew up near a river, and his family would make it a point not to have children outside after sunset, especially during heavy rainy seasons,” Sanchez said. “I think there’s a very deep honest belief in Mary and her story.”
Diza Edghina Hendrawan ’25 shared the stories of five Javanese ghosts: “Babi Ngepet,” a pig demon, “Genderuwo,” a shape-shifting beast, “Banaspati,” a fire spirit, “Jerangkong,” an egg thief, and “Kisut” , a genderless specter that haunts those with ill intent.
Hendrawan even recounted a personal encounter with the supernatural while visiting her grandparents’ home in Java.
“I saw this baby’s head come out of the bath,” Hendrawan said. “It came out a little more and was on all fours. I sat for a moment, took it in and screamed.”
While the event celebrated unique aspects of different cultures, the stories shared also touched on important issues such as gender roles and domestic violence, highlighting the importance of fairy tales in the modern world.
Among the stories featured was “Nale Ba,” an Indian tale about a witch from Bengaluru who lures men from their homes at night with the intention of killing them.
Ishikaa Kothari ’25 noted the cultural importance of history, which can be perceived as more than just a form of entertainment. “Nale Ba” subverts traditional gender norms and the common discomfort women feel when they leave their homes after dark.
“It’s a change in the gender dynamic because men are the ones who are afraid to go out,” Kothari said.
Evan Farmer ’23 described the discovery of ancient mummies in the Mammoth Cave region of his native Kentucky, discussing the syncretism of West African and Native American spiritual practices in the region.
Yakeleen Almazán ’25 told the story of “La Tamalera,” a Mexican tale about a tamale vendor who kills her abusive husband and sells tamales made from his remains.
“It was eye-opening to hear the different traditions, stories and legends that have been passed down through the generations,” said participant Kaley Mafong ’26. “Many of them are applicable to modern life.”
The night of spiritual stories was one of two cross-cultural events held this October.
