German Mythical Creatures

Mythological Creatures Folklore Collection Project

German Folklore Collection

By: Jacqueline Maier

Introduction:  German Folklore has one common trend that is prevalent throughout all the stories I have collected. Fear. All these tales use fear to encourage appropriate behavior, especially where children are involved.

Loreley

Informant Information:

Name: Lorelei Maier

Age: 6

Gender: Female

Born/Raised: Bad Boll,  
 * Southern Germany 
Date of Collection: 5/3/2014

Genre: Legend  
 * Presented Orally

Presentation: In the informant’s family, this tale is often presented as a bed-time story to explain her name.

Who is Loreley?

Loreley = siren-like creature who lures sailors to their death with her voice. 

•  Loreley is only dangerous to men NOT women.

o   She does not drown, chase, or eat her victims

o   Men lose their senses when they hear her voice

•        Loreley means ‘murmuring rock’ or ‘lurking rock” 

·    American Song about Loreley (not personally collected or sung):

Loreley’s Creation Story

Once upon a time, a beautiful young maiden named Lorelei, committed suicide by pitching herself into a river in despair over a faithless lover. When she died she was transformed into a siren and could, since then, be heard singing on a rock along the Rhine River, near St. Goarshausen. Her hypnotic music lured sailors to their deaths.

Text

“I know everything about Loreley because I was named after her. She is very beautiful and nice and smart and she had long blond hair just like mine. She was very sad one day because her friend was mean to her so she jumped into the water and got turned into a siren. Her friend was a boy so now she hates boys and makes them do silly things. She can do that because her voice is so wonderful all the boys that hear it go crazy.”

-          This account was translated from directly from German

Actual Text:

German

English

Ein Märchen aus uralten Zeiten, Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn. Die Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt, Und ruhig fließt der Rhein; Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt, Im Abendsonnenschein. Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet Dort oben wunderbar, Ihr gold'nes Geschmeide blitzet, Sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar, Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme, Und singt ein Lied dabei; Das hat eine wundersame, Gewalt'ge Melodei. Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe, Ergreift es mit wildem Weh; Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe, Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh'. Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn, Und das hat mit ihrem Singen, Die Loreley getan.

I cannot determine the meaning Of sorrow that fills my breast: A fable of old, through it streaming, Allows my mind no rest. The air is cool in the gloaming And gently flows the Rhine. The crest of the mountain is gleaming In fading rays of sunshine. The loveliest maiden is sitting Up there, so wondrously fair; Her golden jewelry is glistening; She combs her golden hair. She combs with a gilded comb, preening, And sings a song, passing time. It has a most wondrous, appealing And powerful melodic rhyme. The boatman aboard his small skiff, Enraptured with a wild ache, Has no eye for the jagged cliff, His thoughts on the heights fear forsake. I think that the waves will devour Both boat and man, by and by, And that, with her dulcet-voiced power Was done by the Loreley.

Context

Who?

•         This tale is often performed for children
•         Because this tale it is based on the Rhine River, it might also be told to tourists in that area.

Why?

• This tale is used to explain why a distinctive rock along the Rhine echoes.
• In the case of the informant, this tale served the purpose of explaining what her name represents
  o   The informants name is Lorelei as well  

Where?

•         This tale is told primarily in Germany and is most prevalent in areas near the Rhine River near St. Goarshausen.

When?

•         This tale is told to the informant at bed time

•         It could also be performed at schools when children learn about the Rhine River or whenever the subject of the Rhine River comes up.

Rübezahl

Informant Information:

Name: Dieter Maier

Age: 75

Gender: Male

Born/Raised: Bad Boll,

 * Southern Germany

Date of Collection: 5/3/2014

Genre: Urban Myth 
 * Presented Orally

Presentation: Rübezahl is normally used as a threat to achieve the goal of the parent.

Ex) “Clean your room or Rübezahl will get you.”

Who is Rübezahl?

Rübezahl= a giant mountain spirit.

·         He is also called Lord of the Mountains

o  He gets angry if you call him Rübezahl he prefers Lord of the Mountain.

o   Lives in the Karkonosze Mountain range

·         He is powerful, magical, and fickle

o   He is kind to those who are kind to others and mean to those who wrong him or others.

·         He is dangerous to any and all ‘bad-guys’ as well as misbehaving children.

o   He will often use his magic as a tool to punish or trick

• Originated: During Pagan times.
• Rübezahl Storiesà There are many which are easily and often changed to fit the circumstances.
• Ex) When a child doesn’t eat they are told the story of how Rübezahl comes to take the children who don’t empty their plates
• Ex) When a husband fights with his wife she tells him to watch out or Rübezahl will turn him into a toad, donkey, etc.
• 
  

Text

“Rübezahl could be quite terrible if he wanted to be. My mom used to tell me all kinds of storied but I can’t remember any of them. I still know this story though because your little cousins like it so much…”

            “One day, Rübezahl kidnaped a Princess because he was all alone. So she wouldn’t be lonely, Rübezahl brought the princess a basket of turnips (Rübe)  and used his magic to enchant the turnips so that the Princess could turn them into people and animals to keep her company. When Rübezahl wanted to marry the girl, she told him first to go and count (zähl) all the turnips in the field.  When he left to count them, the princess took a turnip, turned it into a horse, and rode away. This is how Rübezahl got his name and why he doesn’t like being called by it. So remember, if you ever meet him call him by some other name”

            - This account was translated into English

German Text

„Eines Tages holte Rübezahl die schlesische Königstochter Emma hinab in sein unterirdisches Reich. Damit sie nicht so einsam sei, brachte er ihr einen Korb voller Rüben, die sie mit einem Zauberstab in Menschen und Tiere verwandeln konnte. Als Rübezahl sie heiraten wollte, stellte sie ihm eine Bedingung: Er sollte erst alle Rüben auf dem Feld zahlen. Während der Eheanwärter sich seinen Namen verdiente - als Rübezähler -, verwandelte Emma eine Rübe in ein Pferd und ritt davon.“

–     Rübezahl-Forscher Johann Karl August Musäus (1735-1787):

German

English

"Konrad !" sprach die Frau Mama, "Ich geh' aus und du bleibst da. Sei hübsch ordentlich und fromm, Bis nach Haus ich wieder komm'. Und vor allem, Konrad hör' ! Lutsche nicht am Daumen mehr; Denn der Schneider mit der Scher' Kommt sonst ganz geschwind daher, Und die Daumen schneidet er Ab, als ob Papier es wär'." Fort geht nun die Mutter und Wupp ! den Daumen in den Mund. Bauz ! Da geht die Türe auf, Und herein in schnellem Lauf Springt der Schneider in die Stub' Zu dem Daumen-Lutscher-Bub. Weh ! Jetzt geht es klipp und klapp Mit der Scher' die Daumen ab, Mit der großen scharfen Scher' ! Hei ! Da schreit der Konrad sehr. Als die Mutter kommt nach Haus, Sieht der Konrad traurig aus. Ohne Daumen steht er dort, Die sind alle beide fort. - Heinrich Hoffman 1844, (1809-1894)

One day Mamma said: "Conrad dear, I must go out and leave you here. But mind now, Conrad, what I say, Don't suck your thumb while I'm away. The great tall tailor always comes To little boys that suck their thumbs, And ere they dream what he's about, He takes his great sharp scissors out, And cuts their thumbs clean off, and then You know, they never grow again." Mamma had scarcely turned her back, The thumb was in, Alack! Alack! The door flew open, in he ran, The great, long, red-legged scissor-man. Oh! Children, see! The tailor's come And caught out little Suck-a-Thumb. Snip! Snap! Snip! The scissors go; And Conrad cries out - Oh! Oh! Oh! Snip! Snap! Snip! They go so fast That both his thumbs are off at last. Mamma comes home; there Conrad stands, And looks quite sad, and shows his hands, - "Ah!" said Mamma, "I knew he'd come To naughty little Suck-a-Thumb.“ - Heinrich Hoffman 1844, (1809-1894)

Context

Who?

•          Parents and Relatives would use stories Rübezahl to get children to behave:
  o   “If you don’t [insert desired behavior here] Rübezahl will come and take you away forever. Do you want that?”  
  
  When?

•       Stories of Rübezahl were told as bed-time stories 
•          Stories were told when a child was misbehaving

·         Where?

•       Rübezahl is a German character and is known all over Germany. Almost all children know of him.

·         Why?

•       This story is told to inspire good behavior from children almost exclusively. 
•       It might also be told as a bed time story as there are many stories with Rübezahl in them.

·         Emotions Evoked:

•    Fear
•    Obedience
•   Entertainment (sometimes)

Schneider (Thumbsuck)

Informants Information:

Name: Sven Maier

Age: 40

Gender: Male

Born/Raised: Bad Boll,

 * Southern Germany

Date of Collection: 5/3/2014

Genre: Urban Myth/ Scary Story

 * Presented Orally

Presentation: Threat is orally presented

 * The Schneider is normally used as a seriously scary threat when a young child is misbehaving or sucking their thumb.

·         Common Phrase: Der Schneider kompt schip, schnip, schnap, er schneidet deine daumen ab.”

•      Translation: “The cutter comes, snip, snip, snip, he cuts your thumbs off.”

Who is the Schneider?

Schneider= Skinny Adult with VERY large Scissors

He can sense when you suck your thumb and he will chase you down and cut them off.

Text

“The scariest creature I can think of is the Schneider. Your Oma only read the story to me a few times. I didn’t like it; it’s not a nice story. She didn’t use him to scare us from sucking our thumb, she used him to scare us out of doing anything she didn’t want us to do. She would tell us if we didn’t behave he would come and cut off our thumbs, it didn’t matter if we were sucking on them or not. I was so scared of that character, I thought he would come to cut off my thumbs when I wasn’t paying attention. Sometimes I would walk with my hands together in front of me so he couldn’t get them. When we were bad she would say ‘if you’re not good the cutter will come, snip, snip, snip, he cuts your thumbs off’”

            - Directly Recorded no Translation

German

English

"Konrad !" sprach die Frau Mama, "Ich geh' aus und du bleibst da. Sei hübsch ordentlich und fromm, Bis nach Haus ich wieder komm'. Und vor allem, Konrad hör' ! Lutsche nicht am Daumen mehr; Denn der Schneider mit der Scher' Kommt sonst ganz geschwind daher, Und die Daumen schneidet er Ab, als ob Papier es wär'." Fort geht nun die Mutter und Wupp ! den Daumen in den Mund. Bauz ! Da geht die Türe auf, Und herein in schnellem Lauf Springt der Schneider in die Stub' Zu dem Daumen-Lutscher-Bub. Weh ! Jetzt geht es klipp und klapp Mit der Scher' die Daumen ab, Mit der großen scharfen Scher' ! Hei ! Da schreit der Konrad sehr. Als die Mutter kommt nach Haus, Sieht der Konrad traurig aus. Ohne Daumen steht er dort, Die sind alle beide fort. - Heinrich Hoffman 1844, (1809-1894)

One day Mamma said: "Conrad dear, I must go out and leave you here. But mind now, Conrad, what I say, Don't suck your thumb while I'm away. The great tall tailor always comes To little boys that suck their thumbs, And ere they dream what he's about, He takes his great sharp scissors out, And cuts their thumbs clean off, and then You know, they never grow again." Mamma had scarcely turned her back, The thumb was in, Alack! Alack! The door flew open, in he ran, The great, long, red-legged scissor-man. Oh! children, see! the tailor's come And caught out little Suck-a-Thumb. Snip! Snap! Snip! the scissors go; And Conrad cries out - Oh! Oh! Oh! Snip! Snap! Snip! They go so fast That both his thumbs are off at last. Mamma comes home; there Conrad stands, And looks quite sad, and shows his hands, - "Ah!" said Mamma, "I knew he'd come To naughty little Suck-a-Thumb.“ - Heinrich Hoffman 1844, (1809-1894)

Context:

Who?

•           Often told to VERY small children.
•            Parents and relatives would use stories of the Schneider to get children to behave:
  o   “If you don’t [insert desired behavior here] the Schneider will come and cut off your thumbs.

When?

•            Story and character of the Schneider originated in 1845 from a book called Lustige Geschichten und drollige Bilder (Merry Stories and Funny Pictures) written by Heinrich Hoffmann.
•           Stories of the Schneider were told when child was misbehaving
•           Could also be told specifically to get a child to stop sucking their thumb

Where?

•           The Schneider is a German character and is known all over Germany. Almost all children know of him and are afraid of him.

Why?

•           This story is told to inspire good behavior from children almost exclusively.

·         Emotions Evoked:

•  Fear
•    Obedience
•    Paranoia
•    Panic

Der Großmann

Informant Information:

Names: Lenchen Maier

Age: 73

Gender: Female

Born/Raised: Southern Germany

 * WWII complications make location unclear

Lived Now: Bad Boll

Date of Collection: 5/3/2014

Genre: Urban Myth
 * Presented Orally

Presentation: The Großmann is normally used as a threat to keep a child close to home and behave.

Ex) “Hold my hand or the Großmann will get you.”

Who is Der Großmann?

Der Großmann = abnormally tall, faceless, and malicious creature

•           Lives in the Schwarzwald (Black Forest, Germany) 
•        Extremely old legend dating back to 16^th Century

What does he do?

•           Targets children especially and kills them.
•        He is mean and likes to cause great suffering and paranoia before killing
•        He sometimes lures his victims into the woods to kill them

Text

“The most terrible was the Großmann. He eats all children who wander away from their homes.  He is very tall and thin and lives in the black forest. My mom would tell me if I wasn’t good she would leave me in the woods for the Großmann to pick up. My father died when I was young so I was only her and seven kids so she had to make her stories extra scary to keep us under control. It worked very well. I was afraid to walk out of the house alone for a very long time. I guess I never thought to ask why the Großmann never ate adults.”

-          This account was translated into English

Context:

Who?

•  Parents and relatives would use stories of the Großmann to get children to behave: 

o   “If you don’t [insert desired behavior here] the Großmann will get you.

When?

•  Stories of the Großmann were told when child was misbehaving. Especially if that child wandered too far from home.

Where?

•  The Großmann is a German character who originated in Germany and so tales of him are told in  Germany. He is a very old character from Pagan times so many German citizens know of him.

Why?

•          This story is told to inspire good behavior from children and prevent them from wandering off.Emotions Evoked:

o   Fear

o   Obedience

Suppen Kasper

Informants Information:

Name: Oda Maier

Age: 4

Gender: Female

Born/Raised: Bad Boll,

 * Southern Germany

Date of Collection: 5/3/2014

Genre: Urban Myth/ Scary Story  
 * Presented Orally

Presentation: Suppen Kasper is used to get children to eat their food.

Ex) “If you don’t eat your salad the Suppen-Kasper will come for you.”

Who is the Suppen-Kasper

Suppen-Kasper= a stick thin boy that comes out of the bathroom drain and pulls you down with him to drown

What does he do?

•           Attacks skinny children who sit too close to the bathtub drain. 
•           Children who do not eat their dinner might also turn into a Suppen-Kasper. 

Text

“I’m really scared of the Suppen-Kasper. But he’s not fake I have seen him before. If you don’t eat your salad he will come and drag you down the bathtub drain and you will always have to live underwater and its really scary down there. I don’t like to eat my salad but I do it because I don’t like living in the bathtub even more. I don’t like bathtubs I don’t even like to take baths my hair gets really tangled.” 

German

English

Der Kaspar, der war kerngesund, Ein dicker Bub und kegelrund, Er hatte Backen rot und frisch; Die Suppe aß er hübsch bei Tisch. Doch einmal fing er an zu schrei'n: "Ich esse keine Suppe! Nein! Ich esse meine Suppe nicht! Nein, meine Suppe ess' ich nicht!". Am nächsten Tag, - ja sieh nur her! - Da war er schon viel magerer. Da fing er wieder an zu schrei'n:. "Ich esse keine Suppe! Nein! Ich esse meine Suppe nicht! Nein, meine Suppe ess' ich nicht!“ Am dritten Tag, o weh und ach! Wie ist der Kaspar dünn und schwach! Doch als die Suppe kam herein, Gleich fing er wieder an zu schrei'n: "Ich esse keine Suppe! Nein! Ich esse meine Suppe nicht! Nein, meine Suppe ess' ich nicht!“ Am vierten Tage endlich gar Der Kaspar wie ein Fädchen war. Er wog vielleicht ein halbes Lot - Und war am fünften Tage tot.

Augustus was a chubby lad; Fat ruddy cheeks Augustus had; And everybody saw with joy The plump and hearty healthy boy. He ate and drank as he was told, And never let his soup get cold. But one day, one cold winter's day, He threw away the spoon and screamed: "O take the nasty soup away! I won't have any soup to-day: I will not, will not eat my soup! I will not eat it, no!“ Next day! now look, the picture shows How lank and lean Augustus grows! Yet, though he feels so weak and ill, The naughty fellow cries out still "Not any soup for me, I say! O take the nasty soup away! I will not, will not eat my soup! I will not eat it, no!“ The third day comes. O what a sin! To make himself so pale and thin. Yet, when the-soup is put on table, He screams, as loud as he is able: "Not any soup for me, I say! O take the nasty soup away! I won't have any soup to-day!" Look at him, now the fourth day's come! He scarce outweighs a sugar-plum; He's like a little bit of thread; And on the fifth day he was-dead.

Context

Who?

•          Often told to VERY small children.
•      Parents and Relatives would use stories of the Suppen-Kasper to get children eat the food:
  o   “If you don’t eat your [insert uneaten food here] the Suppen-Kasper will come and drown you in the bathtub.

When?         

•  Story and character of the Suppen-Kasper originated in 1845 from a book called Lustige Geschichten und drollige Bilder (Merry Stories and Funny Pictures) written by Heinrich Hoffmann.
• Stories of the Suppen-Kasper were told when child don’t eat their food
• Could also be told specifically to get Child to stop sucking their thumb

Where?

•          The Suppen-Kasper is a German character and is known all over Germany. Almost all children know of him and are afraid of him.

Why?

•          This story is told to inspire good behavior/healthy eating from children almost exclusively.

Emotions Evoked:

•         Fear
•         Obedience

Krampus (The Holiday Devil)

Informants Information:

Name: Peter Maier

Age: 51

Gender: Male

Born/Raised: Bad Boll,

à Southern Germany

Date of Collection: 5/3/2014

Genre: Urban Myth/ Scary Story

àPresented Orally

Presentation: Krampus is used to scare children around Christmas into behaving and not being lazy.

Ex) “Klaus will drag you down to hell if you don’t clean your room.”

Who is Krampus?

Krampus= beast-like creature, hairy with hooves and goat horns. He also carries Chains which he rattles 

• Demonic  Creature 
• Originated in Germany 
• Dates back to Pagan times

What does he do?

•          He is the Anti-St. Nicholas/ Anti-Santa Clause 
•          He will hit bad children with the birch branches, whip, or chains he carries 
•          He then drags the children with him in his basket down into the pit of Hell

Text

“Your Oma used to scare me with Krampus. Krampus is like the anit-Santa. He has these huge horns, a lot of hair, chains, and a basket on his back to put children in. Oma used to tell me that if I wasn’t good all year then on Christmas Eve, instead of getting presents Krampus would come for me, hit me with his stick, and drag me in his basket down to hell. I always did what my mom told me after that.”

- Directly Recorded no Translation

Context

Who?

•          Parents and Relatives would use stories of Krampus to get children to behave:
  o   “If you don’t [insert desired behavior here] Krampus will drag you to hell.

When?

•           Originated in Sothern Germany.
•           Stories of Lady Perchta were told when child was misbehaving or being lazy.
•           Told close to Christmas but not exclusively.

Where?

•           Lady Perchta  is a German character who originated in Germany and so tales of him are told in Germany. She is a very old character but so many German citizens know of him. 

Why?

•          This story is told to inspire good behavior from children almost exclusively.

Emotions Evoked:

•          Fear
•          Obedience