Folklore has evolved in every society throughout human history, and the majority of these tales serve to allay anxieties about the unknown. For instance, while the majority of Americans today are convinced that Bigfoot does not exist, some still do. The Qallupilluk was the name of the mythical being that the ancient Inuit people feared and revered. This word means "monster," and stories about its horrifying deeds were used to discourage kids from becoming lost. Early tales claimed that Qallupilluk was an aquatic creature that tore children away from their parents and dragged them to an icy tomb.