#31DaysofMonsters DAY 12: l'uomo Nero

In Italy L’uomo nero (meaning ‘the black man’) is a daemon that can appear as black man or black ghost without legs, often used by adults for scaring their children when they don’t want to sleep. There is also a children game entitled “Avete paura dell’uomo nero?“. In different places of the country it’s known also as “Babau”. The origins of this figure is not known. According to some sources , the Babau could be a remnant of the ancient fear against the Saracens (IX -X century). In this case , the word “Babau” may derive from the Baban. An interpretation most widespread explains instead that the name “Babau” is the result of an onomatopoeia, obtained by doubling the barking of the dog or another animal.