Hags in folklore are old women associated with magic. They can be witches, demons, queens, crones or nature spirits, kindly or hateful. Goddesses often have a hag aspect.
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The word hag comes from Middle English hagge, hegge (“demon, old woman”), shortening of Old English hægtesse, hægtes (“harpy, witch”), from Proto-Germanic roots. From the Old High German hagazussa comes both hag and Hexe (witch).
Frau Holle & Perchta
Main Article: The Many Faces of Frau Holle
Among the ancient German deities, Frau Holle has various facets. She's a domestic goddess, linked to spinning and weaving. As an old woman she portrays the Dark Grandmother, receiving souls of children who die as infants.
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Holle lives in the clouds. As a weather deity she makes snow by fluffing her feather bedding. Like her southern relative Perchta, who dwells in a well, Frau Holle is connected to the spirit worlds and the realm of the Undead.
Associated with water and depths of the earth, Perchta appears as a hag or crone. She teaches humans the art of spinning flax into linen. Perchta and Frau Holle (as Hulda) are known to lead the Wild Hunt, along with Odin, Frigg, Diana, Siegfried and others.
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Moosmutter (Moss Mother)
Main Article: German Myth & Folklore: Moss People
Another ancient deity, the Moss Mother is a facet or aspect of the Earth Goddess or Earth Mother, who's known by many names including Nerthe, Erthe and Erde. Nerthe is an elemental goddess responsible for at least part of the world's creation.
During harvest, people celebrate abundance of the Earth and give thanks to the Earth Goddess. As this time Moss Mother makes an appearance. She's a hunched old lady with a backpack, gnarled and covered in moss. She can blend into the environment and disappear.
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Moss Mother spends her time traveling from one village to the next, wherever Harvest celebrations were held. Whether the festivities are poor or prosperous she always leaves a blessing. She has a strange sense of humor and brews her own beer.
Buschgroßmutter (Bush Grandmother)
Buschgroßmutter is reclusive. She lives deep in the forest, appearing to humans only once every century. Her hair is tangled and full of lice. She wears grimy skirts, shawl and apron. When she goes out she may be attended by Moss Women, or she travels alone.
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If she meets someone in the forest she might ask the person to comb her hair. Who succeeds is given precious gifts.
Gifts include a magic purse always filled with gold, or a never-ending ball of flax, which can make a person wealthy. Sometimes Buschgroßmutter has a face of metal, implying demonic associations, but she's not known as a harmful hag.
Eschenfrau (Ash Tree Woman)
Main Article: Eschenfrau: Wicked Ash Tree Woman
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The Ash Tree (Fraxinus) is highly regarded in German history and Germanic cultures. In Norse myth it's the world tree around which the realms exist. In practical use Ash is coveted for making spears and tool handles.
In German mythology the ash tree is linked to life, vitality and rejuvenation. In Celtic lore Fraxinus also relates to magic as a cosmic axis, tree of life or World Tree. An Ash Tree in Germany may be home to the Eschenfrau or Wicked Ash Tree Woman.
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She causes sickness, swooning, nausea and feelings of paranoia. She also steals silver or personal items. With savage intent she protects her tree from mortal harm. She calls up volatile defensive magic if anyone does damage, even taking a leaf or breaking a twig.
Roggenmuhme (Rye Aunt)
Roggenmuhme is truly demonic. She's among the most powerful of the Harvest Spirits. Her manifestation is a gigantic, ugly old woman with up to nine enormous teats, tipped with hot iron. Her teats are very long. She throws them over her shoulders when she runs.
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Her skirt or apron may be metal, or she can have a metal face. She could be all black or all white. She goes into the fields to snatch children. She beats them cruelly and may force them to suckle at her terrible teats filled with black tar.
She can cause raging fires and crop blight. There's nothing nice about this demonic hag. Other powerful demons such as the Roggenwolf and Hafermann may be found in her company. She takes children back to her demonic realm to torment and eat them.
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READ: Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction series Book 5 - The Corn Spirits
Witches
Even into modern times witchcraft has been defined in various ways as "use of supernatural powers to harm others". The first witch so named, the biblical Witch of Endor, communicates with the dead and calls up spirits.
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Hag witches have powers to dislodge Aufhöcker, creatures of the Undead who jump on a person's back and grow ever heavier. The Aufhocker mistakes her for easy prey and jumps from the victim's back to hers. She then banishes the Aufhocker with a spell.
Martin Luther of the 16th century Protestant Reformation believes witches and evil elves afflict his elderly mother. She's labeled by Luther's enemies as a whore and bath room attendant. Until the 20th century "witch" is a blanket term for evil.
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Holundermutter or Elderberry Mother
Holundermutter, Holunder Mutter, Elderberry or Elder Mother dwells in the magical Elderberry Tree. In some regions Holundermutter is equated with Frau Holle. Antiquated terms for the tree include Holder or Holler, specifically referring to black elder.
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She's most often found in the folklore of north Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. Tales of Holundermutter vary by region. The Elder Mother and elderberry tree are also linked to witches and witchcraft.
Elderberry is known for the purple dyes its berries produce. Tea of the flowers may have a sedative effect or cause waking dreams. It's said elderberry wine gives one the ability to see pixies.
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Druden
Main Article: Drude: Germanic Demon of Darkness
A Drude (pl. Druden) is a night demon who may appear as a hag. Druden live in the demonic realm and pass through that of mortals, spreading auras of pain and misery around them. They might work on the bidding of sorcerers or powerful supernatural entities.
In 16th century Europe, the word Drude is equated with witch. The Witch Hunts are reaching their high points of hysteria. Druden are manipulative demons who sow disharmony, destruction and death. Demonic possession is one of their specialties.
Associated with evil Elfin magic, the Drude also brings nightmares (German: Albträume lit. 'elf dreams') anxiety and sickness similar to the Mare. The demon can manifest as a succubus. The pentagram or Drudenfuss is considered protection from Druden and Elves.
Sträggele: Witch Hag of the Wild Hunt
Main Article: Sträggele: Witch Hag of the Wild Hunt
Sträggele is the wife of the Dread Huntsman, der Türst, of Lucerne canton in Switzerland. She first appears in mythology of the Middle Ages. In life, she's a noblewoman who flouts the laws of church and land.
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Her grievous sin is hunting during Lent. The raging host of der Türst swoops down like a mighty tempest, snatching her up into its midst. Sträggele develops supernatural powers, becomes wife of the Dread Huntsman and may lead the Wild Hunt specifically in Lucerne.
Sträggele has traits of Frau Holle / Perchta of Germany. In Lucerne, another popular figure the Wild Hunt is die Pfaffenkellnerin, a screaming spirit on the Seebodenalp. Like the Klagefrau and kobold Klabautermann, she's one of the noisy spirits of lore.
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Sträggele is connected to weather, able to rouse fierce storms. During winter solstice or Yule season, or at the beginning of January, she travels to households to be sure daughters and servants have done their allotted spinning. If not, she punishes them severely.
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