Have you ever gotten a case of the willies? Maybe something sent a cold shiver down your spine. Something that gave you that foreboding ‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this’ knot in your stomach. However, where does the phrase ‘give me the willies’ even come from? And who are the Wilis?

In Giselle, the Wilis are the ghosts of women who were betrayed by their fiancés before their wedding day. Driven by a ghostly desire for vengeance against those who betrayed them, they symbolize the repercussions of betrayal and the intensity of passion.

These graceful, unrelenting spirits still resonate with modern audiences to this day, and it’s no wonder why. On stage, Giselle and the corps de ballet, the Wilis, embody their ghostly existence, often flitting through the darkness across a moonlit stage. In some productions, the Wilis are dressed in wedding veils to signify their lost marriages, or dance holding flowers to represent the children they never had.

However, the legend of the Wilis isn’t unique to Giselle, with the origin of these malefic spirits tracing back to Slavic folklore. Known by different historical names including the “Wilis” or “Wili”, they also share etymology with the Vila, specters who haunt forests, although regional differences in Slavic paganism portray them as mostly benevolent beings with prophetic and healing power.

Though the popular phrase, "Gives me the Willies," has various possible origins, ranging from the discomfort caused by frontiersmen's scratchy "woolies" underwear to the tragic death of the Willey family in 1825 New Hampshire, it is easy to see how the debut of Giselle in 1840 remains the most common and enduring candidate. The spectacle of ghostly dancers seemingly floating across the stage was undoubtedly a powerful sight for the audience.

Today, the Wilis live on as many cultural references including the 1990 film The Willies or Elektra Nonesuch’s 2002 album of the same name. They are also found in literature such as the Veela in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, magical beings who entranced men to perform reckless acts for their amusement and admiration.

Now, next time you see a spooky sight that makes your hair stand on end, you now know the history behind it.

Catch a case of the willies this Halloween! Get your tickets to Giselle, on stage at the Cobb Energy Centre, February 13–15, 2026.

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