The cicadas are chirping, a full moon illuminates the sky, and you’re drawn to the heat of the campfire before bed. With the sun long gone and a few hours to kill before tucking away in your tent for the night, it’s finally time to break out the campfire stories!
In the 21st century, gathering around the fire and exchanging tales is not an opportunity you have every day. Normally, it’s reserved for summertime bonfires or family camping trips, which may only come around once or twice a year. While it serves as an entertaining way to pass the time, there’s more to campfire stories than meets the eye. So why do we tell them in the first place, what purpose do they serve, and how can you make the most of campfire story time? Gather your friends, grab your s’mores ingredients, and let’s dive in!
The History of Campfire Stories
The discovery of fire has long been considered by anthropologists as vital to the successful evolution of humans. Whether it was to keep warm, see in the dark, protect us from predators, or cook the meat that would help boost our intelligence, fire has undoubtedly been a crucial element in the advancement of our species. Campfires date back to 400,000 years ago, according to a Time article, where evidence shows their habitual use for cooking and heat within caves in Israel.
If you think about how much time was spent cooking, eating, and keeping warm, it’s easy to see how the hearth of a campfire naturally became an important social hub. Research from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that this time spent around the campfire helped to shape culture as we know it today. When comparing conversations that took place during the day versus at night in nomadic communities, they discovered that these nighttime conversations were more culturally significant. Over 80% of conversations at night involved singing, dancing, spiritual discussions, or storytelling, compared to daytime conversations that predominantly involved talk of work-related issues and gossip.
The researcher responsible for these breakthroughs, Polly Wiessner, discusses the natural tendency for these nighttime fires to draw “aggregations of individuals who were out foraging by day and provided time for ventures into such virtual communities, whether human or supernatural, via stories and ritual.” The stories told around the fire helped shape rules and accepted behaviors these groups would follow. Further, they gave participants a medium in which to express their feelings and share experiences, in turn, unifying listeners and helping to develop mutual understanding and trust. Plus, it gave storytellers the chance to experiment with humor and innovation. These findings confirm that creative storytelling more than likely took place around an evening fire. Wiessner, writes about how this tradition has lived on, stating, “Appetites for firelit settings for intimate conversations and evening stories remain with us today.”
While we don’t rely on fire the same way our early ancestors did, there’s still value to be found in the practice. Gathering around the campfire and sharing tales is more than just entertainment. It’s an excuse to bring people together and bond over a shared experience, whether it be the laughter of a funny story or the chills of a scary one. Plus, it allows storytellers to lean into their creativity and create memories for everyone involved. So how can you make the most of this ancient tradition?
How to Make the Most of Story Time
While all you really need to get started with story time is a campfire and a good story to tell, setting the scene will make the experience all the more memorable.
Make It Cozy
Step one of setting the scene is creating a cozy environment in the outdoors. As we discovered in the history of campfire stories, the fire itself is a crucial element in igniting imagination and setting the scene for creative exchange.
If it’s summertime and the weather’s right, build your fire in the designated fire ring located within your campsite. If you’re adventuring in the dead of winter, consider setting up a wood stove in your tent. Or, maybe the weather’s no issue, but you’re simply after a more luxurious experience. In that case, many tents offer stove jacks, allowing you to safely enjoy a stove fire. Campfire stories inside the tent are a great option for those looking to elevate their experience and maximize comfort.
Wherever you decide to light your fire, you’ll need to gather your firewood. Many campgrounds offer firewood bundles that you can collect upon arrival. Or, cut it yourself if you have the approval of the landowners and the resources at hand. To make transporting logs to camp a little easier, consider investing in firewood log carriers. It’s a rather cheap investment that will save your back and help keep your fire fed all evening.
While we’re on the topic of comfort, don’t skip out on the campsite accessories! Be sure to bring out your comfiest camping chairs, extra fleece blankets, and any decor you can fit in your camping bags. Whether it’s tiki torches placed around camp or string lights hung from above, small details will help elevate the ambiance and add to the magic of your scene.
Prepare the Snacks
There’s a reason movie theaters offer concessions – and it’s more than just the extra revenue. People love to snack while enjoying entertainment! Before settling into your camping chairs, bring out all your ingredients for snack time. Here are some classic campfire snacks to enjoy while sharing tales around the fire:
- S’mores
- Hot cocoa
- Cinnamon rolls on a stick
- Banana boats
- Caramel corn
- Samoa chex mix
- Campfire popcorn
Anything you can make directly on your campfire will help add to the fun and magic of the occasion.
Pick Your Stories
Your campfire stories can come from just about anywhere. You can opt to ad-lib them like our ancestors once did, or you can pick out a collection of pre-written stories to bring along. While making up your own stories is always fun, it can take a lot of talent to craft engaging tales on the spot. If you’d rather go with a tried-and-true story, check out these classic ghost stories:
5 Classic Campfire Ghost Stories
1. The Vanishing Hitch-Hiker
Like many urban legends, many of the details of this classic story can be twisted and changed, depending on the narrator. The unchanging premise follows travelers who pick up a hitchhiker on the side of the road. The hitchhiker goes on to vanish abruptly, usually leaving an item behind. When the travelers go to return the abandoned item, they find an eerie truth: the hitchhiker was a ghost. Read a version of this legend here.
2. La Llorona
This story is guaranteed to send shivers down your spine if you’re camping near a river or lake. La Llorona is a famous Mexican folklore about the ghost of a weeping woman. She’s said to haunt bodies of water out of mourning for her drowned children. Leave your audience spooked with the full version found here.
3. The Hook
This classic story follows a young couple who park on Lover’s Lane, hoping for some privacy. Between radio reports of an asylum escapee and unsettling feelings from the girlfriend, they decide to head home. Except, when they emerge from the car, they see a bloody hook hanging from the passenger side door. Read the full story here.
4. Doggy Lick
A scary story appropriate for all changes, Doggy Lick tells the story of a young girl who puts her hand under her bed to receive comfort kisses from her beloved dog. After putting her hand under her bed to get licks one night, she awoke to discover something chilling. Her dog was outside the entire time. Get the full effect here.
5. Bloody Finger
Whether or not this is a scary story or a comedy is for your audience to judge. Bloody Finger is a classic theatrical story involving a haunted hotel room and a ghost complaining of bloody fingers. After a handful of guests are scared away, one decides that all the ghost needs is a band-aid. Tell the story with this script!
When telling your stories, don’t shy away from the dramatic effects! Whether it’s creating unique voices for each character or adding in sound or flashlight effects or flashlight, the more pizzazz you can give to a story, the more engaging it will be for your audience.
Keep the Tradition Alive
Campfire stories are more than just a way to pass the time. Sharing tales around the fire is a historically significant practice that created culture, fostered creativity, and connected people. By setting the scene with a cozy camp setup, forging the right snacks, and compiling a list of ghost stories, you’re prepared to keep the tradition alive – and have fun doing so. So, sit back under the stars, and get storytelling!