The Butzemann, witches and Nyx are all Kinderschrecken, literally 'child frights' of German folklore. The purpose of a Kinderschreck is to scare kids into good behavior, and to keep them away from dangers such as getting lost or drowning.
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1. Nyx or Nixies - Death in the Water
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The Daughters of The Rhine appear in the epic opera series by Richard Wagner, Der Ring des Nibelungen or Ring of the Nibelungs. In the first part, Das Rheingold (the Rhine Gold), the Rhine maidens tease the mountain dwarf Alberich, who comes to woo them.
Then a ray of sunshine reveals a golden gleam. The Rhine Gold, placed in their charge, can be made into a ring of great power if the wearer denounces love. Embittered by their mockery, Alberich curses love. He seizes the gold and flees as they scream in dismay.
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Freshwater nature spirits, the Nyx or water nixies can be any gender. They live in lakes, rivers, streams, fountains, groundwater, wells and marshes, wherever fresh inland water flows. Nyx have enchanting voices, compelling the listener into the arms of death.
Belief in the benevolent powers of the Nyx creates the tradition of the wishing well. A well is as simple as an spring coming up from an underground source, a pond or mountain stream. Such places are sacred to ancient Germans, who often construct well walls around them.
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People throw copper or silver coins in the water and ask a favor or luck from the resident spirit. Throwing a coin in a fountain today relates to this practice. Copper and silver are naturally antibacterial.
As a result the water remains fresh and clear, which to many proves spirits resides in the area. Water spirits care for the ecology of their environments. They nurture flora and fauna, such as filter-feeding clams who help clean the water, and clam lovers who come tor dinner.
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The words nixe, Nyx and nixie come from the Old High German nihhus meaning water elf or crocodile, which comes from the Proto-Germanic nikwus. In mythology, Nyx originate with waters of creation. Celtic Nek names the river Neckar in south Germany.
Tales of malevolent Nyx and related water spirits, such as the Norwegian brook horse, are intended to keep children away from water or dangerous shorelines. In the 19th century shorelines were less defined then they are today, often swampy; and wells were deep.
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The Scandinavian brook horse and Scottish kelpie both appear as lovely white or black horses. If a person mounts, the horse plunges into water, dragging the victim down to a terrible fate.
Brook horses can be tricked and caught, and made to labor. Given the chance they'll escape, perhaps pulling the luckless ex-owner to a watery grave and making a snack of his innards. They're especially fond of the liver.
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The Loreley (Lorelei) is type of nixie. Nyx can use irresistible beauty or song to lure a person. Sailors who hear the song of the Nyx fall into a trance. They might jump into the water and drown, or the boat is dashed apart on a rocky coast.
Survivors try to climb the rocks upon which the pitiless siren sings. Pond or river Nyx might also lurk close to the surface near marshy shorelines, to catch human victims venturing too close.
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2. Wicked Witches - Femmes Fatales of the Forest
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Witches are popular characters in stories, folklore and fairy tales, most famous being the witch of Hansel & Gretel fame. Originally, Druden are malevolent spirits or entities of the night, connected to Elfin or Kobold magic. In the 16th century they're equated with witches.
Their assault brings nightmares, insomnia or other sleep disorders. A person is always tired and may be weak or physically ill due to bad dreams or sleep deprivation. Drude may be any gender. As nighttime spirits they rarely show themselves but their presence can be felt.
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Another creature associated with nightmares is the Mare, a malevolent spirit about the size of a Schnauzer who oppresses a sleeper by sitting on the person's chest, making it hard to breathe. The Mare appears in the Lora Ley novel Poltergeist.
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The Drudenfuß, or "drude's foot" is a pentagram symbol used to ward off evil magic. It's also another name for mistletoe, a toxic plant. In sixeenth century Europe, the word Drude becomes synonymous with witch. About this time witch hunts start in earnest.
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The Malleus Maleficarum, (Latin for 'Hammer of The Witches') is a witch-hunting manual written in 1486 by two German monks. Throughout Europe it becomes a handbook for the persecution and execution of suspected witches and warlocks.
In folklore, fear of witches lives on long after witch hunt fever fades away. Up to the 20th century, as German children play among the trees and learn to forage mushrooms or berries in the forest, tales of child-eating witches keep kids from getting lost or going with a stranger.
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Witches are accorded such powers as flight, casting spells or curses with potions, spoken charms or the evil eye; or shape-shifting. Witches were said to cause sickness or blight (abilities also given Elves and Kobolds) and see the future.
Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgis Night) on April 30 - May 1 is also known as Hexennacht or Witches' Night in Germany. On the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains, legend says the witches gather to revel and feast.
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Witches may also take part in the Wild Hunt, a cross-European supernatural phenomenon. It may be led by a goddess, god or heroic figure. To fly, witches apply jimson weed (Datura stramonium) ointment on a spindle or broom.
As these are common household items, they're convenient evil accessories when accusing a person of witchcraft. Spinning and weaving, the craft of every woman in the Middle Ages, are also linked to witchcraft, as in weaving a spell; while a liar 'spins a yarn.'
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3. Butzemann - Creature of Darkness
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The Butzemann is also known as Mummelmann, or hooded man, because he often appears in a cloak. His face is only blackness for a face, or may have burning eyes to mesmerize his victims. He preys on children who aren't in bed on time.
He waits in dark hallways, closets and deep shadow. He can snatch someone on way to the toilet. He clutches children in his evil embrace and muffles their screams with his heinous laughter as he spirits them into his dark demesne to be killed and eaten.
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Buzemann is also a blanket term for any scary creature of the dark in human or semi-humanoid form, such as the demonic Hafermann of the harvest. He peers in windows after sundown. If anyone sees him, that person will die within a year and a day.
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Part of the Butzemann Kinderschreck is to get kids to bed and give beleaguered parents a break. In the late 1800s families have an average of five children. Farm families often have over a dozen.
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Fearmongering also helps keep children out of unlit areas at home. They might fall down stairs, hurt themselves, unintentionally see mom and dad doing weird things, or sneak into the pantry to snack on cake. For some kids, the nighttime urinary ritual is a terror.
Outside, where danger might lurk in the shadows, the Hafermann merges into the Butzmann's role as a child fright. He's also known to drag children into his dark demesne and eat them.
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Today's Butzemann has lost his fearmongering magic. In a modern version of the children's song Es tanzt ein Bi-Ba-Butzemann (Here Dances a Bi-Ba-Butzemann), the Butzemann is a dancing dwarf with a little bag, who gives apples to good children.
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