Ghost Riders in the Sky is the American name for the wild hunt myth (not counting the Yule specific legends) the core of this localized legend spawns from Texas where a cattle driver by the name of Sawyer caused a Stampede after a homestead was built in his path killing the occupants but also sending many of his men, horses, and hundreds of his own cattle over a cliff, he forced his grief stricken men to continue the cattle drive but never worked again dissapearing into alcoholism. Later the next cattle drive suffered the same fate and the legends of a haunted mesa with longhorns and damned cowboys joined the great hunt across the sky. This legend inspired Burl Ives song "Ghost Riders in the Sky" that was later popularized by Johnny Cash, "The Man in Black" a legend in his own right.
The Big White Wolf is a mythical beast, guardian, and possible deity of the Dacians (modern day Romanians consider these part of their ancestry). Legend says he was once a white haired yet young follower of the chief god Zamolxis, who endlessly travelled aiding the people and animals alike, he was noticed by Zamolxis who changed him into the Big White Wolf who led the leaderless packs of wolves forth to defend Dacia. The priest was eventually given the option of remaining a wolf or a man and chose the former. However in order to placate Rome when they invaded the Dacian's turned on the wolves hoping to give them the white wolves head. But Zamolxis and the wolf retreated to the mountain with tears in their hearts. But they are remembered in the Dacian Draco a wolf serpent who led the people into batlle in the romanian Legends of werewolves that came from the big white wolf, and in the waking hearts of their people.
The Goddess in "The Ode to Joy": the ode to joy is a poem by Friedrich Schiller that was also used by Beetohven in his 9th symphony. In both the emphasis on the exuberance, merriment, and union of Joy is exemplified especially in the symphony where it is sung with a feeling of pure joy among all our people. However while the end of the poem mentions a "a creator" a father above the stars. The rest of the poem speaks of a feminine figure seen in Greek myth. While it is not 100% explicit, the member of the Charities ( Graces) Euphrosyne (merriment or joy) is heavily implied. With Joy personified as a beautiful woman gifting joy and mentions of Elysium the poem references this benevolent goddess in every way but directly. The Ode could even be considered far more a hymn to her and her gifts than the Abrahamic god. Perhaps the tacked on end is indicative of a desire to avoid cries of blasphemy. Either way a wonderful piece of music will always remind me of a wonderful goddess from beside the southern sea.
The 15,000 year old horned god: in a cave in France in an area filled with depictions of animals lies the cave painting known as "The Sorcerer" an antlered half man half beast. The painting is said to be older than 13,000 BC predating mamy customs. The horned god is one of the oldest types of archetypes our people filled the communion of man and beast meeting in the middle Pan, Faunus, Sylvanus, Krampus, Veles, Akerbeltz, Cernunnos, Ewicher Yeager, etc. While the sorcerer may also depict a shaman, who do people think he is embodying?
Iku-Turso: The Eternal Tursas, Tursas, etc is a sea monster and ancient deity of the Finns. He is a chimeric sea monster who dwells the ocean depths and swamps of Finland. Often referred to as the thousand headed, thousands horned, or bearded one. His form varies from a Bearded seal, a sort of Cthulu like winged octopus, or a sort of mammalian sea serpent with Moose antlers. His name means the Eternal Tursas which may mean either the eternal walrus or eternal octopi or something similar. He is the father of Vainamoinen the Eternal sage by Ilmatar, and the literal father of diseases by Loviatar. He is responsible for the invention of arrows both literal and metaphorical ones, as well as the planter of a giant Oak that is eventually felled when it blocks out both the sun (Paiva) and moon (Kuu). Through his invention of arrows he becomes a war god as well as a god of disease and malevolence in certain ways. When Louhi the witch of North sicced Iku-Turso on Vainamoinen, Lemminkainen, and llmarinen to retrieve the mystical Sampo from them Vainamoinen used song magic to send Iku-Turso to the bottom of the sea and be forced to haunt there forever. A popular Finnish symbol the Heart of Tursas is tied into him and has two main types a version of 4 arrows pointing outwards though another more popular version reduces it to squares.
Erlkönig, also known as the Erlking or Alder King. Is a king of the elves and spirit of the black forest. His daughters are often said to lure men similar to a siren and he himself takes the starring role in a poem by Goethe. He is described as beautiful and bewitching and attempts to spirit away and in some cases kill children. In the famous ballad by Goethe and the song that eventually accompanied it, a father is riding home with his ailing son who claims they are being pursued by beautiful and tantalizing spirits (The Erlking and his children). The father continues to try to calm his son while he rides home before he admits or at least pretends to be able to see them. By the time he has arrived home his son has died. The Erlking's name translates directly to Elf King and his name Alder King seems to have been a deliberate attempt to tie him to a forest demon. Which only grows when he is associated with Der Grossman AKA the Tall man. A boogeyman like faerie who steals children and has often been credited as the origin of or the older name of the modern Slenderman creepy pasta. He is also sometimes tied in with the wild hunt and is often depicted with hunting dogs. His status as both as high ranking fae and his boogeyman status could indicate a christianized version of spirits. Or just as likely he is an example of a figure who works for his own ends as not all spirits and creatures are an ally.