Once Upon A Wisp

A look at will‑o’‑the‑wisps and the magic behind Whistle Wisp

On especially dark evenings some people swear they see a light off in the distance though no people or buildings are nearby. It flickers low to the ground, usually a ghostly blue. If you stare at it long enough it will seem to fade in and out a bit, there but shadowy. What they see may well be a will‑o’‑the‑wisp.

Stories of will‑o’‑the‑wisps stretch back centuries in various folktales and legends. They can go by many names*. For example, in the United Kingdom they can also be called friar's lantern or hinkypunk (we think this is a particular good one!). Regardless of their name, a will‑o’‑the‑wisp doesn’t chase you. It simply glows and waits. Some wisps were playful, but others liked a little too much mischief and would lead travelers astray on their journey.

In every tale, regardless of where it is from, the wisp asks the same question: Will you follow?

And while Whistle Wisp definitely wants you to follow him, he is a bit different from your typical wisp. Instead of being mischievous he becomes our curious guide who came to inhabit a steam whistle and board an enchanted train (which he named Little Brass!). He takes us on adventures to new places and new ideas. We’ll get to his origin story in an upcoming post!

Over time, science offered its own explanation for the lights people saw in the swamps and marshlands. Decaying plant matter releases gases like methane which can ignite and glow under the right conditions. Wetlands are the perfect stage for this eerie chemistry.

Whether legend or scientific curiosity, the glow of the wisp reminds us why we look into the dark at all: not to get lost, but to wonder.

*Fun fact: our very own jack-o'-lanterns we carve on Halloween are derived from will-the-wisp legends, in particular the Irish legend of Stingy Jack among others.

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