The tree of souls

Around 1885, my great-grandfather lived in Germany in a town called Mittenwald, and he told my mother the story of the Tree of Souls. This tree was in the woods behind his town, it was huge and hollow, and it had an immense passage where people could get inside. At that time it was believed that the tree was home to hundreds of souls of women which the origin is unknown. It was also believed that they were the guardians of the city, they kept evil spirits away and helped the city prosper. Once a year, on Good Friday at midnight, they leave the tree for a procession through the town. They walked all over the streets, each with a candle in their hands giving their blessing. Residents turn out of respect for women should stay indoors with windows and curtains closed until the procession ended. In one of these processions, a girl decided to look out the window. She marveled, hundreds of women dressed in white, with a large candle in hand, reciting something that you could not hear. She noted that women were very unusual, because their bodies were transparent and luminous. Amazed at what she saw, she opened the window, jumped out and followed the women. When the procession ended, the women returned to the woods. The girl hesitated to follow them, but thought as she had gone so far away, it was better to go to the tree. From a distance, behind some bushes she saw the tree that the women were going in and disappearing. The last woman in line, stopped before entering, turned to the girl and looked into her eyes and started walking toward her. The girl for some reason was not afraid and waited for the ghost right where she was. The woman gave her the candle. "A gift for your courage." - Said the ghost. "Thanks." - Said the girl unresponsive. The woman returned to the tree, and before entering, looked at the girl again and disappeared. When the girl looked back at the candle, this had become a femur. Frightened she ran home and told his parents what had happened. The worried parents told her to go back to the woods and bury the femur under the tree because they did not want a human bone at home. The girl was last seen entering the woods. His footprints could be seen to the tree, but she was not there. There's a legend that says that the girl can be seen during the procession, she is holding her candle at the last line of women's ghosts.