Bat Mythology and Folklore Myths and Legends about Bats Bats are in the mythology and folklore of every culture of the world. Often they are portrayed as half bird and half beast.
Bats also appear in stories about darkness, death, and night.
However, the most common association of bats is with witches and vampires. Almost all cultures from Japan to Europe to the New World share this common belief. It is not unusual for bats to be associated with death. Sometimes bats are viewed as a forewarning of an impending death or other misfortune. Bats are also depicted as agents of death as well as associates of witches and vampires.