Will-o'-the-wisp - The Name

In the folk tales, the Will o' the wisp or ignis fatuus ("fool's fire") is the phenomenon of ghostly lights sometimes seen at night or in twilight hovering over damp ground in still air (often over bogs or in forests). The will o' the wisp is said to recede if approached and as a result, much folklore has been attached to this mysterious legend.
Among Gaelic and Slavic folk cultures, the will o' the wisps are said to be mischievous spirits or other supernatural beings attempting to lead travelers away to enchant them. Lost peasants see the lights and are led away through the woodland darkness...Then, depending on how they treat the Will O' the Wisp- the spirit would either get them lost further in the woods or guide them out.
This is a fairly common tale concerning the Will-o'-the-Wisp, however, the 'Ignis Fatuus' or the Will-o'-the-Wisp has also been portrayed as being a guardian of treasure- much like the Irish leprechaun leading those brave enough to follow, to sure riches. Finns and Danes, for example, believed that there was treasure deep in ground, and this could be raised only when the fire was there. Sometimes you had to do some magical tricks, to uncover the treasure.

Will-o'-the-wisp - the circus play with these ideas by planting little fire spirits around events... Will you follow our wispie lights?