We wish you a scary Halloween!

You are here: Real Ghost Stories :: Haunted Places :: Something Smelt Sweet

Real Ghost Stories

Something Smelt Sweet

 

As you can see from my stories and my comments my grandmother really meant a lot for me. Even though she has passed away for more than 10 years now, I still share my daily problems and thoughts with her in my prayers.

I remember that when I was still a small child, Avó (that's grandmother in Portuguese and I used to call her that) used to buy a big aroma candle and told me and my little baby sister short stories of whom I believe were great shamans from her tribes. Most were funny (the way she told those stories were very entertaining), a few were fearful (dead men, murdering, etc) but all of them teaches us a lesson. Avó used to blow of the candle every time she finishes a story; she told us that it is a tradition of Japanese called "hyaku monogatari", the hundred stories. That tradition is usually held in summer inside temples, adults will gather and tell each other ghost stories, they will light 100 candles and when one finishes a story, they will blow off a candle until the 100th candle is off.

Well, Avó re-arranged that and turn the tradition into away to put us (me and my sister) to sleep. We usually only listen since we do not know any stories unless we had made up one and fooled about it, but usually that makes us "hyperactive" lol. My sister does not remember my grandmother much since she was only 5 when she passed away, but she remembers that we used to listen to her stories in dark with candles lit.

My sister got promoted and we gathered some friends of her and mine to have a small party dinner. After the dinner some of our friends stayed over to chitter-chat some more. During a conversation my sister talked about the "hyaku monogatari" tradition. Some of my friends (Asian or Asian background friends, maybe it is popular there?) knew about it and insisted to start. We did not have 100 candles unfortunately (fortunately?), but we turn off the lights and lighted our 5 "flake flaming candles" (Oh yes, we bought those in a furniture shop where they sold many "unusual stuff").

My friends each had their turn each time they finished they will blow on one of our "candles" the LED will flicker but it will not turn off (I know there are "LED candles" around where you can "blow it off" like a real candle, but ours are not those). It was my sister's turn and she was telling us one of the scary stories that Avó used to tell us, it was about a dead man being invaded by an evil spirit, a great shaman will try to fight it off but the family of the dead man was not satisfied since they thought he have "killed" him. I would not write it down since it may be just a "legend" or a fictional story. When my sister finished, she blew the candle too the light flickered, but all the sudden all 5 lights dimmed.

We all became silent, but some of us broke off laughter and we all started to laugh. But during that I smelt something sweet and very calm; it kind of reminded me the aroma of lavender flowers. The moment I smell the sweet smell Avó's face was in my mind, I asked my sister if she had smelt the same smell as well, she nodded and smiled. I was not sure which aroma Avó used to use but it kind of reminded me of her. I shook it off and continued since I am confident that we are OK even if it is some kind of spirits around.

We did not count how many stories we had finished, but each of us sure had shared many scary experiences and stories, well me as usual told some of the stories I had written on this site and some stories that I remember told by Avó; no worries we did not post anything on the internet, you do not have to search it lol.

I know that in this situation it could be explained easily like the electric current weakened and other very logical reason. I had commented and asked about spirits bringing odors, I know that it could be something else since not a lot "linked" to Avó (it was not even any of her anniversaries). My sister told me later on that the moment the "candles" dimmed, she felt something warm around her shoulders; she thought it was just friends around her, but she said that the feeling lasted only a few seconds.

Well, I did not share this story just to prove that we encountered "something", it is about my sister. Well, I had wrote a few "not too scary stories", with my sister in the story most of the time. Yes, what I want to say here is that I noticed that she is starting to experience things. Maybe I am a little superstitious; I have heard that when a person starts to experience "things", it is usually a "turning point" of that person. Maybe it is a new start of something and just when I am writing this, she was promoted! Is it a coincidence or what?

I don't know how you guys will think about the situation but as a brother and I recently too was experiencing strange events with her, I do not know how else to explain the situation. Maybe you guys as readers can give me some idea?

Thanks for reading!

Love from São Paulo

E.Lynx

Hauntings with similar titles

Comments about this paranormal experience

The following comments are submitted by users of this site and are not official positions by yourghoststories.com. Please read our guidelines and the previous posts before posting. The author, roylynx, has the following expectation about your feedback: I will read the comments and participate in the discussion.

roylynx (guest)
 
7 years ago (2017-09-29)
Jubeele, How impressive! My Japanese blood inside is thanking you for keeping such tradition for us! "Us" haha, only my blood, I meant.
I really wish I know of more Japanese traditions from my grandfather, too bad we are not as close.

Smiles from São Paulo
E.Lynx
Jubeele (26 stories) (899 posts)
 
7 years ago (2017-09-29)
Roylynx, apologies for causing the confusion earlier with with the accent mark.

I'm going to tell my sisters and cousins about your grandmother's great tradition. My cousins on my mother's side get together in Singapore once every decade or so. As my maternal grandfather had two wives and thirteen children, we cousins number close to a hundred. By now, we've scattered to many parts of the world: Singapore, Malaysia, England and America etc. If our clan were to sit in the same room with all our spouses, partners and children, it would look like the UN grand assembly!

I've missed our last gathering but it will be great to swap stories from around the world among ourselves. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. 😁
roylynx (guest)
 
7 years ago (2017-09-26)
Valkricry, Ah... Sorry... I was having a bad morning lol

I said here in my story that she got promoted and so we had the party, then I should have explained that she was experiencing things before her promotion too... So that was to explain the "turning point myth". I had a little more thinking and perhaps I should not have fooled around during this "sensitive" period for my sister's sake.

Sorry for all that and thank you for the explanation.

E.Lynx
valkricry (49 stories) (3286 posts) mod
+1
7 years ago (2017-09-26)
Roy,
Red was saying that she should have said "Scent can bring back powerful memories but can also be a sign that your Avó is visiting...", however she didn't know how to get accent mark over the o, and Jubeelee was only explaining to Red how she does it.
Red's also a little confused over you mentioning your sister's promotion twice. "My sister got promoted and we gathered some friends of her and mine to have a small party dinner." Then towards the end you say," Maybe it is a new start of something and just when I am writing this, she was promoted!" Which does make it sound as if her promotion came later and not before the dinner party. She'd just like to know which it was.
roylynx (guest)
 
7 years ago (2017-09-26)
RedWolf, Sorry which part are you talking about? Maybe many readers else has the same question...

Jubeele, Sorry? I did not get it at all...

Sorry for RedWolf and Jubeele this time... Can you make your comments specific? I am kind of slow today...

E.Lynx
Jubeele (26 stories) (899 posts)
 
7 years ago (2017-09-26)
Please excuse me Roylynx. Just jumping with a suggestion to RedWolf for the accent mark: go to Windows, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Character Map. Then select the character you want, copy & paste. Alright, I shall go now <fade to black>...
RedWolf (31 stories) (1292 posts)
+2
7 years ago (2017-09-26)
roylynx

Can you clarify something for me?

First you say that you and your sister had mutual friends over for dinner to celebrate your sister getting a promotion.

Towards the end of your post you state that just as you are writing this your sister got a promotion. Please clear this up for me.

Scent can bring back powerful memories but can also be a sign that a spirit is visiting especially when touch is involved. Your avo sorry I can't get the accent mark over the v.

Red
roylynx (guest)
 
7 years ago (2017-09-25)
Myst, The candles are connected to power.
Hmm... Yes, sure it is nice to think that my grandmother is still around!
Well, she is not that kind of person who likes celebrating her own something, she likes setting up parties for me as a kid and my little baby sister when she was around, maybe that's why. Thanks!

E.Lynx
Myst (63 posts)
+2
7 years ago (2017-09-24)
Roylynx-Were the candles connected to power, or are they battery powered? Personally, I think the flickering and sweet scent were your Avo just enjoying time with you and your sister. Who needs an anniversary to drop in to say "Hi, still around, love you, bye.'?
roylynx (guest)
 
7 years ago (2017-09-24)
Jubeele, thank you for commenting! I am so happy to see that you enjoyed my story!
Thank you for sharing your experience too, I really appreciate it!

E.Lynx
Jubeele (26 stories) (899 posts)
+2
7 years ago (2017-09-24)
Hi Roylynx,

What a great tradition - the candles certainly provide an ambience. Thank you for your uplifting story. It is comforting to have such memories of your grandmother.

About the flickering effect of your candles, that may be due to an intermittent power supply at the time. Still, it may be that some aspect of your grandmother has lingered to watch over you and your sister. She has gifted you with an invaluable legacy after all - her love.

I do believe that we create our own "luck" and define our paths. Simply put: your sister has gained in ability and confidence, showed it in her work performance and now been duly recognized. Good for her!

From my experience, we can choose to be overwhelmed by life or learn our lessons and shape our own destiny. Blessings to you and your own.

To publish a comment or vote, you need to be logged in (use the login form at the top of the page). If you don't have an account, sign up, it's free!

Search this site: