What are corpse lights believed to represent?

Corpse lights, often referred to in folklore and various cultural beliefs, are typically seen as spectral lights that appear over graves or in burial grounds. They are commonly associated with the presence of the dead or with death itself. Many cultures interpret these lights as ominous signs, suggesting an impending death or the presence of spirits.

The belief that corpse lights serve as harbingers of death stems from the idea that they signify the transition between the living world and the realm of the deceased. This aligns with many traditional narratives where encounters with such lights often indicate that a soul has not yet found peace, or that they serve as warnings for the living about the proximity of death.

In contrast, the other options—symbols of wealth, indicators of good fortune, and signs of transformation—do not fit the known associations with corpse lights. While some cultures may interpret lights in nature as omens of fortune or transformation, corpse lights specifically carry a much darker connotation, firmly rooting them in the theme of death and the presence of the undead. Thus, the role of corpse lights as harbingers of death is well supported by folklore and anthropological studies of beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife.