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Yule was never the same since the royal decree of King Haakon the Good of Norway, in an attempt to minimize the pagan festivities, merged Yule with Christmas. According to some sources, Yule originated as a hunting holiday after harvest was done, ending in December. Jump to: Hunting Holiday & Harvest Rituals Winter Solstice Celebrations Haakon the Good A Merry Viking Yule In other views Yule came into being as a celebration of the Winter Solstice. Festivities began at the Solstice on Dec 21 and lasted to midwinter on January 12. Yet another theory sees Yule originally a midwinter celebration. See also: Pretty Poisons: Holly, Yew, Mistletoe Pagan Solstice Fests: Mithras & the Sun Herbology & Lore: Rowan (Mountain Ash) Yule comes from Old English “gēol,” derived from older Germanic languages predating Christianity, such as Old Norse. “Jól” was used poetically to refer to a celebratory feast. The word jolly comes from the same root. Haakan (Haken) Haraldsson, otherwise known as King Haakan the Good, ruled Norway from 934 - 961 CE. An enthusiastic supporter of the Christian faith he's most famous for his dramatic decree changing the dates of Yule to coincide with Christmas season. Hunting Holiday & Harvest Rituals Back to Top Harvest rituals celebrate abundance, gifts of the Earth and blessings of elemental spirits. They're a time to eat, dance, drink, spend time with family and community. In autumn, wild game brought the bounty of forest and streams to the table. Harvest celebrations in the Northern Hemisphere roughly parallel the hunting season from mid-Sept to mid-Dec. See also: Nature Spirits of German Mythology German Myth & Folklore: Dwarfs Winter Tales - 4 Novellas Harvest can happen all summer and into late autumn, with crops like winter wheat and rye harvested as early as June, and later wheat and corn up to November. Traditionally, harvest festivals begin the first Sunday before the Harvest Moon (Sept-Oct) which is the closest full moon to the Autumn Equinox (Sept 23). The hunting holiday was a good time to stock the larder with venison and other wild meats. Smoked or cured, meat would last through the natural refrigeration of winter until the coming of spring and Mardi Gras or Fetter Donnerstag in February. People relied on the generosity of wild nature as much as on domestic produce. See also: Herbology & Lore: Stinging Nettle German Myth & Folklore: Elves Happy Tuesday! Tidbits & Trivia According to the Ynglinga Saga by Icelandic poet and historian Snorri Sturluson, King Domalde was sacrificed at Uppsala in autumn, after three years of famine. The people hoped a royal blood sacrifice would be looked upon more favorably by the gods. In the Saga, the first day of Yule is the last day of autumn. Following, the first day of winter according to the old Norse calendar falls between Oct 21 and 27. Gormánuður is the first winter month, and midwinter is in January. In between is the Winter Solstice, the day of the longest night. Winter Solstice Celebrations Back to Top In Wicca and neo-paganism Yule is held on the Winter Solstice based on historical and mythological context. In Germany the feast of the ancient goddess Frau Holle falls over Yuletide. The feast of Yule itself lasts about three days but Yuletide celebrations range from the Solstice to the time of the Yule Sacrifice in January 12. See also: Elderberry Tree: Germanic Nature Lore Eschenfrau: Wicked Ash Tree Woman Happy Saturday! Tidbits & Trivia In German lore, Frau Holle is a powerful figure who has survived centuries of change and attempted suppression to emerge stronger than ever today. She's most popular in north and central Germany. A woman of many facets she is variously a domestic deity, a weather goddess, a warrior goddess, a White Lady and the Dark Grandmother. Her origin may date back to the time of creation. Winter Solstice was a time to welcome the return of the Sun. An ancient solstice celebration is the cult of Mithras, a solar deity in Roman antiquity rivalling the cult of Christianity, which began about 47 CE in Rome. Even earlier in Rome, Dec 25 was the day of Sol Invictus or the Unconquered Sun. See also: Reiker For Hire - 3 in 1 Anthology Gramophone, Player Piano & Motion Pictures Art, Power and the Calamitous Crusade Another related idea was the celebration of midwinter, which in the Norse calendar fell in January. Norwegian winters comprise very short days and long, bitterly cold nights, when the Undead were said to roam. Haakon the Good Back to Top Haakon the Good, who ruled from 934 to his assassination in 961, was the youngest son of King Harald Fairhair (r. 872 - 930) and brother of Eric Bloodaxe (r. 931 - 933). It's suggested in early literature Haakan's father Harald Fairhair brought the tribes together and unified Norway. Before then, Vikings settled the vast reaches occupied by the native Sami people, and made forays to Denmark. They traveled up the Rhine to pillage such German towns such as Bonn, Cologne and Andernach. The earliest Viking settlement is at the town of Füsing in north Germany, near the Danish border. It's first mentioned in records of 804 CE from the court of Charlemagne. See also: Lora Ley Adventures - Feast of Fools Fairy Rings, Moon & Nature Magic Harvest Spirits: Katzenmann (Cat Man) As he knew of all the blood plots and cunning schemes at the Norwegian court, Harald Fairhair sent Haakon to the Anglo-Saxon court in England. There, Haaken learned about Christianity. He was baptized, and in 934 two Benedictine monks came with him to Norway to spread Christian ideas in his kingdom. While Haakon was growing up, his half-brother Eric Bloodaxe came to the throne. Returning to Norway in 934, Haakon was no stranger to strategy. He got an influential group of people on his side by promising to remove certain taxes. It worked like a charm and Bloodaxe, in fear for his life, fled Norway with his family. He and one of his sons died in battle in northwest England twenty years later. Haakon rose to the throne in 934 and killed two more of Eric's sons in other battles. So much for brotherly love. See also: German Myth - Headless Horseman Wiedergänger - One Who Walks Again German Myth & Folklore: Moss People Haakon built several churches and found people to act as priests. At the time of his rule, Yule festivities were held at midwinter. He changed to dates so Yule would coincide with Christmas. The people kept many of the old traditions. According to the Historia Norwegiæ, a Latin history of Norway c. 1500 CE, Haakon practiced both Christian and pagan rites. The remaining three sons of Eric Bloodaxe bided their time. In 961, they came back and attacked Haakon. While they didn't kill him, the King later died of infection from an arrow wound. See also: Aufhöcker - Cursed Undead of German Myth Germanic Mythology - Brook Horses Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good A Merry Viking Yule Back to Top According to Norse historian Lee M. Hollander, Norse farmers had to come to the temple hof every nine years and make animal sacrifices during Yuletide. Sanctified blood went to paint parts of the temple such as altar and posts. The person making the offering was also doused or painted and said to be washed in blood. Blood represented life and the life force, strength and courage. Afterward there were feasts, drinking, dancing and a communal bonfire. The Gretis saga describes Yule as the time of "greatest mirth and joy among men." See also: German Folklore - Irrwurz or Mad Root German Myth - Werewolves Wild Women and Winter Tales It was a time to make oaths, a tradition which survives today in New Year's Resolutions. Business deals, arranged weddings and partnerships were also part of the Yuletide tradition. Today, Yule is usually a Solstice festival. Traditions brought from early Yule celebrations to Christmas or neo-pagan Yuletide include the log, which is supposed to burn continuously the three to twelve days of Yule. See also: German Herbology - Edelweiss Hags in German Myth & Folklore Herbology & Lore: Poison Hemlock In Norse tradition it was an oak log inscribed with runes. In England a birch log is popular, while the French use cherry wood sprinkled with wine. Part of the log is kept to start next year's Yule fire. The evergreen wreath or tree is a Yule tradition, festive with small treasures, berries or nuts. Decorations for the tree included candy, sweet treats, candles, and sometimes goat ornaments to symbolize the goats of Thor. See also: German Harvest Spirits - Dragons Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series German Myth - Father Rhine River God Trees can be spruce or even long-needled pine, but for optimal Tannenbaum efficiency get a fir. The needles stick to the branches and don't shed in the same abundance as other conifers like spruce. Decorating with greenery is a Yule tradition. Holly at Christmas comes from another solstice festival, the Roman Saturnalia. Back to Top

With little defensive hairs ready to sting, this nutritious green plant protects itself from hungry foragers. Also known as burn nettle or common nettle, the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) can be gathered and cooked to soften the hairs and abolish the sting. Jump to: The Stinging Nettle Magic & Folklore of Nettles Nettles in the Garden Nettle Health Benefits Nettle Yarn & Fabric Nettle Sayings & Idioms Historical Reference - Victor Hugo Nettle can be used in herbal and natural medicine, fabric and textiles, food and cuisine, magic and spirituality. This feisty plant finds its way into the folklore of many cultures in Europe and elsewhere. The Stinging Nettle Back to Top The nettle has a long history of use as a source for traditional medicine, food, tea, and textile raw material in ancient and modern societies. Urtica comes from the Latin, "to sting". Credit for first naming the plant goes to Carl Linnaeus, known as the father of taxonomy, who published it in Species Plantarum in 1753. See also: Herbology & Lore: Caraway German Harvest Spirits: Roggenhund (Rye Dog) Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine In five of its six species the plant has countless hollow hairs. Not all sting but many act as little syringes. The tip imbeds into the skin and injects chemicals such as histamines. The afflicted person could have mild burning sensation to hives, red rash and other allergy symptoms. Native to Europe and Asia, nettles are commonplace throughout the world. They're often found close to homes and farmsteads as they enjoy nitrogen and phosphorus-rich soil. Presence of nettles is sometimes used to judge soil quality. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle In summer, nettles grow about 3 to 7 ft (0.9 - 2 m), and die back for winter. They spread through both seeds and rhizomes, which gives them survivor skills to grow back quickly after forest fires. See also: Pagan Solstice Fests: Mithras & the Sun German Myth & Folklore: Imps Elderberry Tree: Germanic Nature Lore Magic and Folklore of Nettles Back to Top In folklore of Frau Holle, an ancient German goddess, nettles become an instrument of punishment. Frau Holle is the patron of spinning and weaving. She comes around to check on households during her feast time in winter. She has strict rules against spinning or weaving on her feast days; however, the allotted work for the year must be done. Should the girl or servant slack, Frau Holle beats her with a bunch of stinging nettles. This theme also appears in the tradition of St Nicolas and a previously pagan helper going door to door Dec 5 - 6. They bring candy and fruit for the good, while the naughty get a birch switch with which to be beaten. See also: Pretty Poisons: Holly, Yew, Mistletoe Happy Saturday! Tidbits & Trivia German Myth & Folklore: Moss People While painful, a beating with nettles is preferable to punishment doled out by Frau Holle's close relative, Perchta, to the south. Perchta disembowels offenders and stuffs the body with straw. Both goddesses leave gifts or coins for the hard workers. The fairy tale of Frau Holle illustrates the importance of work and rewards to come. According to superstition, fever could be cured by pulling up a nettle plant with the roots, and saying the names of the afflicted person and family. Nettles are also symbolic of the Norse thunder god Thor. People put nettles on their roofs during storms to protect the home from lightning. Trickster Loki's fishing net is made from nettle. In traditional Chinese medicine nettle is considered a Yin plant. It strengthens the Yin aspects of the Self. Yin relates to earth, female, darkness, night, moon, passivity, self-awareness, intuition and absorption. Nettle makes a nourishing tonic for the nervous system. Yin tonics help regulate the body fluids and provide moisture in dry conditions. See also: Happy Thursday! Tidbits & Trivia German Myth & Folklore: Imps Hags in German Myth & Folklore Nettles in the Garden Back to Top Nettles have a few gardening benefits. They're rich in nitrogenous compounds and can be used as a compost activator or to make liquid fertilizer. Nettle also repel insect pests, except those who feed on nettles, such as the larvae of the peacock butterfly in Europe and Asia. It's also the host plant of the red admiral, whose range extends from New Zealand to North America. The reward for allowing caterpillars to chew the nettles is a bevy of beautiful butterflies. Nettles are among the few plants who can live happily in soil containing poultry droppings. See also: Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Angel of Long Point - Abigail Becker Harvest Spirits: Katzenmann Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle As a weed, the nettle plant is hard to abolish from the premises. Mowing it causes thicker growth. A tough plant, if cut or superficially pulled out it can revitalize even in poor soil conditions. Nettle Health Benefits Back to Top Nutritionally, nettle is a healthy leafy green. Leaves are an excellent source of calcium and dietary fiber. It's also a good source of iron, magnesium and vitamin B6. Cooking negates the stings, making nettle a tasty and nutritious side dish or flavorful addition to soups & stews. For centuries, stinging nettle has been used in natural medicine. Teas, oils and extracts can treat: painful muscles arthritis & joint pain eczema acne gout anemia urinary tract infections & urinary ailments inflammation hay fever symptoms blood pressure blood sugar levels See also: Nature Spirits of German Mythology Herbology & Lore: Rowan (Mountain Ash) Witches' Night - Hexennacht Nettle tea revitalizes and boosts energy without caffeine. Despite its sting, or perhaps because of it, nettle has anti-allergic properties. Mildly diuretic, nettle also has blood purifying elements and is used to cleanse and detoxify the body. Used in soap, nettle is a natural astringent. Research shows that flavanols such as quercetin and other elements of nettle may protect brain cells, reverse damage and improve mental function and memory. Nettle Yarn & Fabric Back to Top Fabric of nettle fibers has been found in Bronze Age ( bet 1730 - 1600 BCE) burial sites in England. Like hemp and flax, nettle makes durable textiles. Ramie is the generic name for a bast fiber fabric made from the stems of nettle plants. It's also called nettle cloth, grass linen, china grass cloth and rhea, depending on the plant source. See also: German Myth & Folklore: Dwarfs Eschenfrau: Wicked Ash Tree Woman German Myth - Father Rhine River God Bast is the substance surrounding the stem of certain plants. Other bast fibers include flax, hemp, linden and mulberry. In the old mythology, the goddess Perchta taught mortals to spin linen from flax. Fabric created from the yarn is durable and resilient, similar to linen but stronger. When soaked its strength increases. Nettle Sayings & Idioms Back to Top In German, "sich in die Nesseln setzen", means to sit in nettles or get in trouble. The nettle also features in the German fairy tale Maid Maleen, collected by the Grimms. In English, to "grasp the nettle" means to seize the day, put one's effort into it, get it done. Grasped firmly the nettle doesn't sting as much because the grip flattens noxious hairs. See also: Herbology & Lore - Chamomile Magic of Music & Cats Castle Frankenstein - Legend & Lore It's echoed in a 1924 book by Seán O'Casey: "Gently touch a nettle and it'll sting you for your pains/Grasp it as a lad of mettle and soft as silk remains". The English "nettled", meaning to be angry or upset, comes from the plant. In French, idiom faut pas pousser mémé dans les orties (don't push granny into the nettles) means, be careful not to abuse a situation. Historical Reference - Victor Hugo Back to Top An enthusiastic review of the nettle and its properties comes from French writer Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885). He's best known as author of the Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables. “When the nettle is young, the leaves make excellent greens; when it grows old it has filaments and fibers like hemp and flax. Cloth made from the nettle is as good as that made from hemp. "Chopped up, the nettle is good for poultry; pounded, it is good for horned cattle. The seed of the nettle mixed with the fodder of animals gives a luster to their skin; the root, mixed with salt, produces a beautiful yellow dye. It makes, however, excellent hay, as it can be cut twice in a season. See also: German Vampires - Nachzehrer Chicken Soup: Chickens in German Folklore Herbology & Lore: Death Cap Mushrooms "And what does the nettle need? very little soil, no care, no culture; except that the seeds fall as fast as they ripen, and it is difficult to gather them; that is all. If we would take a little pains, the nettle would be useful; we neglect it, and it becomes harmful. Then we kill it. "How much men are like the nettle! My friends, remember this, that there are no weeds, and no worthless men, there are only bad farmers.” Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Back to Top

Who's munching on the cabbage leaves? Who put the chief into mischief? Who confounds one's senses beyond belief? Imps are among the nature spirits of German and other European mythology. See also: German Myth & Folklore: Elves Happy Wednesday! Tidbits & Trivia German Myth & Folklore: Moss People Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Usually they have the physical characteristics of a person but are only about the size of a finger. They may look appealing and attractive, especially when trying to get food. Don't be deceived. Imps are imbued with trickster energy. They can pester household members and animals. In overwhelming numbers, havoc ensues. These creatures of Faerie travel in pairs or groups. Alone they feel vulnerable. They love sweets such as honey, and human food, and may be found in the house as well as fields or forests. They drink flower nectar and their activities help pollinate plants. Often they show up in vegetable gardens. They may also try to get milk drops from the udder of a cow or goat. Like fairies they love the milk of doe deer. See also: German Myth & Folklore: Dwarfs Nature Spirits of German Mythology Elderberry Tree: Germanic Nature Lore A flourishing vegetable garden is paradise for these tiny creatures. Imps take bites of tomatoes, nibble on pea tendrils, munch on cabbage and whatever else suits their fancy. Fearing predatory birds and cats, they hide beneath the leaves. A household with a cat will probably not have imps in the garden, but they might just be less obtrusive. Imps love nothing better than a good joke or prank. They'll trick mortals by hiding objects or tying shoelaces together so the person stumbles, or throwing pebbles or pine cones. Reaching into a hole, under a root or leaf could result in a pinching bite from the imp. When several are involved they can plague a person with guerrilla attacks and run away with cries of glee. See also: Harvest Spirits: Katzenmann (Cat Man) Castle Frankenstein - Legend & Lore 19th Century: Home Gym, Bicycles, Antiseptic Imps are magic creatures and as such don't possess magical qualities. They themselves are magical. They know eldritch languages, and may communicate with the house Kobold to find out more about the homeowner and household. While imps became mythologically associated with witches, they didn't have the disease-causing properties of elves and were considered to be spies and messengers. If a person in the forest, field or house has the feeling many eyes are watching, could it be imps? One might hear them whisper in the grass or leaves, or hear their laughter on the wind. Imps don't fly, but climb, jump and run with nimble ease. See also: Pretty Poisons: Holly, Yew, Mistletoe Happy Saturday! Tidbits & Trivia Herbology & Lore: Rowan (Mountain Ash) Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Mortals won't see them if they choose not to show themselves. Maybe, glancing over a ripe corn cob in the rows, a farmer might notice two bright eyes just for a moment, before the little entity is gone. Imps are also among the vast repertoire of German harvest spirits. Imps like to eat, but don't like to work. Surrounded by abundance, why should they? Although they come into the house in search of edibles, following their keen sense of smell, they're at home among the grasses and trees. They're able to recognize evil in magical objects such as gemstones or charms, and their chitters of alarm can warn others nearby. See also: Goats in German Myth: Erntebock & Habergeiß Fairy Rings, Moon & Nature Magic German Myth - Father Rhine River God If an imp is caught, the catcher can require a service or a wish granted. Imps haven't the same wish-granting powers as fairies but can make it happen. If the catcher is a worker of magic, the imp may be bound to a bottle, horn or vessel of containment, so it must appear at the owner's bidding. Imps are super stubborn and hate being told what to do. Sometimes it's easier to forget about it than try to get this recalcitrant creature of magic working for a person. In the end the imp must obey, but can make life very difficult. See also: Song of the Loreley Apples: Myth, Nature & German Folklore Herbology & Lore: Death Cap Mushrooms If the imps are getting unruly, caraway will send them off to the next homestead. Their keen sense of smell is offended by the strong odor. They might have allergy-type reactions such as sneezing. Imps became associated with the Christian Devil, as did many magical inexplicable beings. Imps are the ones with pitchforks who poke sinners in the rear. Like elves, they were also alleged to be witches' familiars. See also: 19th Century: Home Gym, Bicycles, Antiseptic German Nature Folklore - Fruit Trees Germanic Mythology - Brook Horses Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Generally perceived as evil, witches were thought to curse crops, work harmful magic, brew potions and revel with the Devil. The dominant ideology sought to drive a wedge between the people and the forces of nature by demonizing mystical creatures of lore. Imps appear in the mythology of England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Poland and many other countries. The word imp came into common use in the 16th century. Regionally it may be interchangeable with brownies, sprites, pixies, fairies, leprechauns and gremlins. Fairy was often a broad term for any magical nature spirit. Back to Top

The Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) is easily recognized by its generous offerings of bright red berries. Also known as mountain ash, Rowan is a member of the Rose family Rosaceae and genus Sorbus. In magic and daily life, Rowan was said to have apotropaic qualities to repel evil energies and protect against illness or harm caused by witchcraft. See also: German Nature Folklore - Fruit Trees Eschenfrau: Wicked Ash Tree Woman Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine Rowan is a small tree or bush with ornamental, medicinal and spiritual uses. The bright green leaves, slender trunk and batches of red berries make it a colorful addition to the yard. Beside strong protective abilities the Rowan also imparts wisdom and gives courage in difficult times. Rowan wood, ornaments, sticks or jewelry are said to repel the evil eye and curses. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The Mountain Ash was once known as the travelers' tree because it clarifies awareness of the path and prevents people from losing their way. Rowan is the clan badge of Malcolms and McLachlans. In the Highlands use of any part of the tree, except the berries, was once forbidden except in rituals. See also: Gramophone, Player Piano & Motion Pictures Herbology & Lore: Caraway German Folklore - Irrwurz or Mad Root Rowan is a deciduous hardwood with a darker core of heartwood. The dense wood, tough but flexible, is suited to carving and turning, for tool handles and walking sticks. In Finland, Rowan is the traditional wood for horse sled shafts and spikes of rakes. Rowan fruit or berries have a bitter taste. They attract birds such as cedar waxwings. In some folk beliefs, winter starts when the cedar waxwings have eaten all the fruit. Berries collected after frost or put in the freezer are less bitter. The taste comes from parascorbic acid in the raw berries, which can cause indigestion. It's destroyed with heat and cooking. See also: German Myth - Harvest Spirits 3 Reiker For Hire, Victorian Era & Nixies German Myth - Father Rhine River God In cuisine, the fruit of European rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) makes jelly used to accompany wild game. In alcoholic beverages, mountain ash fruit is a flavoring in liqueurs, cordials and ale. The fruit can be made into wine or a clear Schnapps called Vogelbeerschnaps, from Vogelbeer, the German name for Rowan (Eng. bird berry). Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle In Scotland, a Rowan may be planted by the front door for magical protection. Birds scatter the Rowan seeds in their droppings. In this way a Rowan may grow out of a fertile hole or crevice in another tree. These Rowans, called flying Rowans, are considered to have especially potent magic. Rowan is a hermaphrodite, producing flowers which possess both male and female parts. The tree supports an ecosystem of butterflies, bees, cedar waxwings, blackbirds, thrushes and other birds, insects, fungi, lichen and micro-organisms. The deciduous nature of Rowan, shedding its leaves over winter to grow again when the days lengthen, relates the cycles of life and rebirth, a favorite theme in nature religion. Trees in the Northern Hemisphere begin to bud after the Winter Solstice. See also: Hags in German Myth & Folklore Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good German Myth: Lindwyrm, Mare & Pig Demons Beautiful through they are, Rowan flowers have an unpleasant scent likened to that of freshly decomposing corpses. It's similar to the Hawthorn which because of its smell was suspected of spreading plague. Both Rowan and Hawthorn have magical powers of protection against evil spirits or entities. The Rowan's Celtic name, fid na ndruad, means 'wizard's tree'. Planted near the house it defends against malevolent magic entering the home. Rowan helps protect against both hostile and careless fairy powers. Along with Elder and Holly, Rowan is a favored wood for making runes. A person who witnesses a fairy procession, fairy ring or other fairy activities can be drawn into the magical influence and disappear for years. It seems only a few minutes to the victim. See also: Fairy Rings, Moon & Nature Magic Herbology & Lore: Death Cap Mushrooms The Many Faces of Frau Holle The touch of a Rowan bough can negate the fairy magic and ideally bring the victims back to their senses. A Rowan branch over the door allows a person to see fairies passing by in their ceremonial processions. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle In Scotland it's bad luck to chop down a Rowan tree. The bright red color of the berries is said to frighten away sinister spirits and malevolent magic. In Eastern philosophy, red is considered the most fortunate color, representing life, Fire and the Sun. Rowan berries are sacred to the Sami goddess Ravdna, consort of the thunder god Horagalles. The Sami people live in Norway, Sweden, Finland and northern Russia. Parallels appear between Horagalles and Norse thunder god Thor. See also: Apples: Myth, Nature & German Folklore Pioneering German Women - Bertha Benz German Traditions - the Linden Tree In Wicca, the Rowan is known as a tree of the Goddess or a Faerie tree because of its white flowers. Rowan connects to the zodiac sign Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18). Besides strong protection, Rowan wood can boost creativity and heightens the intellect. See also: Happy Thursday! Tidbits & Trivia German Traditions - Gingerbread Houses German Myth & Folklore: Elves Back to Top

Katzenmann or Cat Man is a hybrid harvest spirit of German mythology. A man with qualities of a cat or vice versa, he can manifest different forms, often assuming the appearance of a black cat. As a shape-shifting spirit he can also seem fully human but, like nixies, retains traits of his true nature. See also: Goats in German Myth: Erntebock & Habergeiß Animal Spirits - Frog, Cat, Bull German Myth - Harvest Spirits 2 Katzenmann functions in the realm of Faerie, a large group of magical nature spirits. He can see in the dark. His eyes may be amber gold, bright blue or startling green, and have slit pupils. Soundlessly he slips through the corn rows or wheat field. As both a tomcat and harvest spirit he's also linked to fertility. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle A person might feel someone watching, and hairs on the back of the neck prickle. Katzenmann is a patient observer and a stealthy hunter. He's usually solitary. If not, he's in the company of wild or domestic cats. He lives in the twilight zone between cats and humans. Although he shares some of their traits he's unrelated to cat spirits such as Murrkater and Weather Cats. Despite human characteristics he doesn't belong to the mortal world; nor does he fit in the company of demons. Like the Cat itself, he's independent. See also: Nature Spirits of German Mythology Herbology & Lore: Rowan (Mountain Ash) Witches' Night - Hexennacht Katzenmann is mystical, relating to the moon and night magic. He knows arcane secrets. He attunes to the lunar cycles. He may have the powerful hind legs of a Cat, enabling him to leap a great distance, and torso of a man, or the head of a cat and body of a man. In feline form he often appears as a black cat. He keeps his fingernails sharp. It's not uncommon for Katzenmann to crouch on a fence and leap on a passerby. He moves too fast to be seen but leaves red scratches on a person's flesh. He is the Wild Spirit. Like the cat he's a hunter and predator. He's especially powerful in the cusp times of dawn and dusk, and full moon nights. Like some other hybrid figures such as Bockmann, Katzenmann appears in male form. He's less aggressive than the goat man and often more felt than seen. See also: Bear Worship: Sacrifice of the Gods German Myth - Harvest Spirits Happy Saturday! Tidbits & Trivia Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Despite his secretive nature and flash attacks, Katzenmann is tolerated in the fields because he and by extension his cat spirits catch or frighten away mice and grain-eating birds, who can damage the crops. He doesn't stay in one field but roams through many, for the boundaries of humans mean nothing to him. Like Murrkater he could scratch or bite children and other humans. Beware of infection as his claws carry toxins. He can be the size of a man or in feline form the size of a cat. As a feline he might join the farm cats at milking time, hoping for fresh warm milk. In springtime the black tomcat could come around looking for love. See also: Eschenfrau: Wicked Ash Tree Woman Fertility Rituals - the Sacrificial God German Myth & Folklore: Elves Due to his fondness for fresh milk it's a good idea to leave a dish out for him between the rows of corn. Wild though he is, the Cat has a domestic connection and with this offering he looks favorably upon the household and brings feline protective magic to the fields. Sometimes he disappears for days, keeping his own eldritch agenda. As a spirit he doesn't need to eat, but his innate qualities are those of a hunter. His taste for blood may be quelled in the mortal world as he takes the form of a cat to catch mice and small field and barn animals. He's strong for his cat-size and might attack rabbits. See also: Animal Spirits - Puma, Butterfly, Dog Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good Nixies - Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Although he bites or scratches children in the fields he doesn't steal them. He just doesn't like them. The same goes for anyone intruding on his forays in the crops or surrounding forest. If caught napping he might be susceptible to magic spells but the chances of finding him are slim due to his keen senses. Despite his fierce defensive nature, Katzemann tends to be wary and lurk in the background. If confronted he attacks to confuse one's senses before he bounds away. Sometimes he screams in the night, a sound to send shivers through the bravest man, for his voice comes from the spirit world. See also German Myth - Headless Horseman Winter Tales - 4 Novellas German Folklore - Irrwurz or Mad Root Domestic and wild cats are related to mountain lions who don't roar but have a bloodcurdling shriek. It's nonetheless the sign of a fertile crop and good harvest as his aura can attract benevolent nature entities and frighten unwelcome ones, such as those imps who eat the cabbage. Driving out this elusive creature is difficult because he can't be caught by normal means and easily moves through spirit dimensions. A witch, shaman or Geisterfinder (spirit finder) might be needed. See also: German Harvest Spirits - Dragons German Myth: Lindwyrm, Mare & Pig Demons Wild Women and Winter Tales Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Shamans and witches can have a strong empathy with cats and cat entities, and understand the supernatural language of Katzenmann. A Geisterfinder can locate a spirit and ostensibly drive it out. These services could come with varying fees, from silver to a portion of the harvest. To protect against his sneak attacks in the fields, Katzenmann can be repelled with charms, bracelets or garlands of dried citrus fruits or lavender. He dislikes both these scents and quickly leaves the scene. See also: Magic of Music & Cats Pretty Poisons: Holly, Yew, Mistletoe German Myth - White Ladies & Changelings Back to Top

Fertility myth and ritual appear in mythology and practice throughout the world. Common to many cultures is the theme of the sacrificial god. It could be a symbolic sacrifice, a harvest sacrifice such as the rooster, sacrifice of humans from slaves to Kings (and how some got around it) or sacrifice in effigy. See also: Bear Worship: Sacrifice of the Gods Herbology & Lore: Rowan (Mountain Ash) German Myth - Harvest Spirits Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle To increase the fertility of crops and the bounty of the natural world, it was common to first spill some blood. The most precious blood is that of a King, and of those, the King of Gods. The sacrificial god appears in various versions and is almost always male. Fertility rituals ensure the seed spilled upon the Earth will produce a great crop. Agriculture with intent began about 11,500 years ago in the Pleistocene epoch. Many elements could affect crop growth including weather, soil conditions, pillaging tribes and evil spirits. See also: Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Chicken Soup: Chickens in German Folklore Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good Some nature spirits are neither good nor evil but their actions can affect the yield. If half the maize is struck by blight, rotted or burnt down, starvation follows. Some harvest spirits are incredibly evil before, during and after the harvest. Many, like the German Harvest Spirits Hafermann and Murrkater (grumbling tomcat), steal and eat children. So, it was common to sacrifice a chicken, or the King of the Chickens, the rooster. Sometimes it was done in cruel ways, such as burying the rooster up to its neck in earth and competing to cut off its head with a sickle. The King is fallen, representing the death of the God and the cycles of the Earth. His blood flows into soil and his flesh goes into soup. Those who eat of it consume the power of the deity, attune to its elemental qualities or hope for abundance. See also: Lora Ley Book 5 - The Corn Spirits Nature Spirits of German Mythology German Myth - Harvest Spirits 2 Bear and Bull sacrifice both relate to the sacrifice of the god. Both animals are powerful and potent. Oxen, who aren't potent, nonetheless represent the quality. The Bull is a domestic spirit, the Bear a wild one. The Bear Harvest Spirit may show up in the pea patch. Loud clanging of pots with noise usually reserved for demons could scare it away. If not, say goodbye to the peas, for the Bear is hungry toward the autumn months. Like most Harvest Spirits he leaves some fertility magic, so the sacrifice of peas might not be in vain. See also: German Harvest Spirits: Roggenhund (Rye Dog) Pretty Poisons: Holly, Yew, Mistletoe Apples: Myth, Nature & German Folklore Bear worship was most prevalent in the Slavic countries, possibly because these countries including northern Russia have the highest population of brown bears in the world. Even into the 20th century people such as the Nikvh in the Russian far east and the Ainu of north Japan killed and ate sacrificial bears representing the King of Gods. As well the Bull, with his fiery nature and virile strength, was admired, worshipped and sacrificed in fertility rituals throughout the ages. In Greek lore, the God Dionysus, a harvest deity, is often represented by a Bull. White bulls are especially sacred. During seasonal celebrations the Bull represents the power of the God and is slain in sacrifice. Followers eat the flesh and drink the blood in tribute, or to assume the symbolic powers of the God. See also: Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine Happy Saturday! Tidbits & Trivia Goats in German Myth: Erntebock & Habergeiß In Rome from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD the ritual sacrifice of a Bull was taurobolium. In the 2nd century the rites were connected to the worship of the Great Mother Goddess, Cybele. She was an Anatolian goddess adopted by the Greeks, who proliferated her worship, partly to help subdue unruly Carthage, one of the most affluent cities of the ancient classical world. Human sacrifice could involve anyone from children to captives to kings. In the case of kings, people like the Aztecs made a compromise as they didn't want to kill off a major God King every year. See also: Wiedergänger - the Undead Walk Again German Traditions - the Linden Tree German Myth - Harvest Spirits 3 Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Thus the tongue or lip of the King was ceremoniously slit and his blood dripped into a bowl. Priests might drink the blood of the god and pass it symbolically to the people in wine. Bread might be served to represent the flesh of the God. See also: Animal Spirits - Bear, Stag & Eagle Today's Zazzle Specials Care and Feeding of Your Kobold Part 1 Back to Top

Moss people inhabit deep forests, trees, ancient rocks and rills. Nature spirits of German mythology, they can appear in various forms and temperaments. Although they're independently mobile, moss people love their forest homes and don't go far. See also: Nature Spirits of German Mythology Elves & the Shoemaker - A Fairy Tale German Folklore - Irrwurz or Mad Root Moss people (Ger: Moosleute) are also known as wild folk (Ger. wilde Leute) wood people or wood folk (Holzleute) or forest folk (Waldleute). They belong to the Faerie, related to elves, fairies, dwarfs and Kobolds. In German folklore moss people have an intimate connection to trees and forest. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Moosfräulein or Moss Women may accompany the otherwise solitary Buschgroßmutter or Bush Grandmother when she goes out in her rickety wagon. Buschgroßmutter dwells deep in the forest and appears to humans only once every hundred years. She's sometimes seen as a leader of the Moss People. Despite their wariness of humans, Saxon folklore tells of the Holzfräulein ("Wood Women") who come out of the forest during epidemics, to teach people use of medicinal herbs to prevent or treat sickness. Also in this region, when the fog drifts through the trees it's said the Holzfräulein are baking bread. Moss People can be any gender, usually hoary and covered in moss, and range in size from almost invisible to the height of a normal person. They can be mistaken for mossy rocks or logs. If a clumsy traveler steps on them or damages their homes, they cause the miscreant to lose the way, feel ill, or stumble and fall. See also: Happy Saturday! Tidbits & Trivia German Myth - Harvest Spirits 3 Hags in German Myth & Folklore Some Moss People appear as beautiful humanoid forest spirits, cautious of mortals. In later folklore Moss People dress as little men and women, with fully human features or traits. Perhaps this last is driven by the rise of tourism and commercial opportunity in the human realm. In German a type of moss spirit may be called Schrat or Waldschrat, derived from Indo-European goblin or demon. The term is used throughout Europe including Iceland, with regional differences. See also: Amazing Legacy of Alexander von Humboldt Care and Feeding of Your Kobold Part 1 Herbology & Lore - Chamomile These wild people appear in the bark of trees and faces of rocks and can run through the forest like flashes of shadow. If one should run across the path, the traveler should walk backward through that spot to cancel any residual trickster magic. Most moss people rarely travel and only with good reason. Essentially they're homebodies and enjoy cultivating their environment. Like some Faerie folk they may use doe's milk for drinking or baking as deer are associated with Faerie magic. Moss people are social with those of their kin and other forest spirits. Although they gather in their own communities and stay away from humans, a person might see their fairy lights at night or hear laughter as they dance in groves and glens. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle If surprised they can be caught, but will not be helpful even if you threaten to throw them on the fire, for they have strong protective magic. You might get an allergic reaction such as itchy rash. This can also happen if you accidently kick or step on a moss person in the woods. Moosmutter (Moss Mother) The Moss Mother is a facet or aspect of the eternal Earth Goddess Nerthe (Erthe, Erde), one of the elemental creator deities. She appears at harvest time, a small hunchbacked hag looking like a cross between an old lady and a stump covered in moss. Moss Mother is generally of good humor. She travels on foot or magically from village to village during Harvest festivities and leaves a blessing. See also: Eschenfrau: Wicked Ash Tree Woman Apples: Myth, Nature & German Folklore Fairy Rings, Moon & Nature Magic She doesn't show herself to humans except as a bent old woman, and then infrequently. When not doing her autumn rounds she spends her time in the Neverending Forest in the company of birds, animals, tree spirits and moss people. Occasionally she may go visiting. She brews her own beer and likes to share. Moss Mother appears in the Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction series. She has a quirky sense of humor, having once turned a Dwarf into a bush because he said he wanted to worship at her feet. Generally she's a benevolent mossy hag. Befriending moss people takes a lot of time and patience as they fade into the environment if ever a human comes near. Unlike some spirits they aren't tempted by food or gold. They're active early to collect morning dew, and enjoy music such as reed or pan flutes. See also: Easter Bunny, Prussian Blue & Penguins Song of the Loreley German Myth - Father Rhine River God

Although the identifying feature of fairy tale Dwarfs is height, these magical creatures of Faerie were not always short. Common in Norse mythology, Dwarfs (aka dwarves) were the size of an average human until about the 9th century in Europe. As nixies in German folklore are water spirits, Dwarfs are spirits of the Earth, and also strongly connected with Fire as they typically work with metals and the ancient art of metallurgy. In the Lora Ley fantasy fiction series Caspar (Kaspar), who appears in the first two books, is a gemologist and warrior of the Dwarf realm. See also: Fairy Rings, Moon & Nature Magic German Myth & Folklore: Elves German Myth & Folklore: Moss People Dwarfs can be any gender. Early sources refer to some Dwarfs as beautiful people. They are fierce and strong. Because of their association with metal, fire and forging weapons they are known as skilled warriors and workers of ancient magic. Nibelung - Book 2 of the Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Dwarf realms are separate from those of mortals and may overlap. Like humans, Dwarfs live in social habitations with spouses and children. In Germany, the Loreley (Lorelei Rock) means "murmuring place". A waterfall and echoes of waves around the rocks caused the murmuring but in folklore it was said to be inhabited by Dwarfs, who lived behind the waterfall. In the 19th century, industry boomed and the waterfall vanished. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Of the various reasons Dwarfs, like elves, became short, a big one is fear. In myth and superstition, Dwarfs had potent mystic abilities. They were elemental sorcerers who used the crystals, gems and metals of the earth in magic. As Christianity crept through the land, the changing dominant ideology had to strip nature spirits and entities of their pagan powers. Portrayed as short, Dwarfs lost much of their commanding status and became objects of humor. See also: German Nature Folklore - Fruit Trees Hags in German Myth & Folklore Winter Tales - 4 Novellas The Butzemann in German mythology is similar to the English Bogeyman. He hides in dark corners or shadows of the night to snatch small children who aren't in bed on time. His very name once instilled terror. Nibelung - Book 2 of the Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series He's one of the Kinderschrecken of German folklore. Today he's a hunchbacked dwarf who gives apples to good children, and who's afraid of the Butzemann? The harvest spirit, Hafermann, takes on similar meaning, but as a demon he's still big and scary. By the time the gnome lit the literary fires in 16th century Switzerland, the Dwarf was already stereotyped into the comic or little evil. Credit for invention of the gnome goes to Swiss writer and philosopher Paracelsus. See also: German Harvest Spirits: Roggenhund (Rye Dog) Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files He describes gnomes as living in the mountains and caverns much like the north German Dwarfs. In the fertile environment of the Swiss Renaissance, Paracelsus found a receptive audience. Soon gnomes entered the cultures of other countries. Unlike Dwarfs, gnomes have always been short. Gradually, many left their alpine homes and moved into gardens across the globe. Because of their link to metals and gems, in mythology and superstition Dwarfs make a transition from workers of magic to hoarders of treasure. They enter the depths of the Earth in caverns and caves not to seek wisdom but to plunder or work witchcraft. They connect to life and death - the fertile womb and the subterranean realm of evil spirits and the Undead. See also: Wiedergänger - the Undead Walk Again Herbology & Lore: Death Cap Mushrooms Amazing Legacy of Alexander von Humboldt Apart from the one-eyed view of the northern contingent in Norse myth, the Germanic tribes didn't believe in an afterlife. Afterlife was one of the attractions of Christianity during its early spread through Rome and later the barbarian tribes. The Norse culture itself arose in the eighth century, and became Christianized in the 10th. This caused some conflict at Yule but has nothing to do with Dwarfs. Nibelung - Book 2 of the Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Or does it? In the ancient German mentality, fate was predestined, part of the reason some Germanic tribes were tough to beat. Warriors went into battle with legendary ferocity, because if it was their time to die, so be it. Otherwise, battle on. Nature worship in the present was the predominant philosophy, and Dwarfs are an integral part of nature magic. See also: German Myth - Father Rhine River God Your Photos on Totes, Coasters, Laptop Sleeves Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle In the mortal world, the blacksmith and farrier, who work with metals and the powers of creation, are also attributed supernatural powers. Metallurgy as an art and skill passed down by word of mouth, as did all language and folklore in early Germania. Metallurgy is also a primary focus in alchemy. Alchemy emerged from ancient Egypt and Arabia, spread to Greece and Rome and finally to western and central Europe in the early centuries AD. The word is from Arabian "al-kimia," referring to preparation of the Philosopher's Stone or Elixir of Life by Egyptians. Alchemists sought to turn base metals like lead into noble metals like gold, discover the elixir of life and find a miracle cure for all illness. See also: Apples: Myth, Nature & German Folklore Goats in German Myth: Erntebock & Habergeiß Reiker For Hire, Victorian Era & Nixies In history, gold is the first metal known to be gathered or mined. Small objects of natural gold were found in Spanish caves dating back to the Paleolithic, or late Stone Age, of 40,000 BC. As the Earth brought forth natural treasures, the Dwarfs became their custodians, guarding well the secrets of nature magic from those who would exploit the Earth for their own gains. Before long Dwarfs get a dose of trickster energy as mythology evolves. They're blamed for hoarding and hiding treasure, casting evil spells or curses, commanding the evil eye, causing natural disasters like rockslides, conversing with devils. Shape-shifting is also a Dwarfish talent. In tales the Dwarf temperament alters. Dwarfs become nasty little scoundrels, treacherous thieves lurking in dark places, not to be trusted. See also: Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine German Vampires - Nachzehrer Herbology & Lore: Caraway In some antisemitic cultures, Dwarfs were equated with wealthy Jews and became objects of revile or persecution. The myths about Jews and Dwarfs gave substance to the stereotypes of each other. As nature spirits of Earth, Dwarfs are one of the first races created when the formation of the Earth was young. Likewise, Nyx or nixies were created with the water, and solar spirits with the ancient Sun (Ger. Sonne). Nibelung - Book 2 of the Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Dwarfs in nature myth predate the creation of mortals. In early lore Dwarfs were benevolent to humans. By the time of the Crusades Dwarfs were sneaky, dark and dangerous, much like the Western perception of Seljuk Turks, target of the Crusades in the early twelfth century. Coincidentally the first mention of Dwarfs as unfriendly and mean to humans appears in Arthurian legend about the same time. See also: Happy Wednesday! Tidbits & Trivia Castle Frankenstein - Legend & Lore Herbology & Lore: Plantain Plant Dwarf became the name for all people of short stature. Between 1500 - 1700 it was chic to have a Court Dwarf or two. Philip IV of France had about 110. Many also performed as jugglers and comic characters in traveling shows. Philip IV is the same king who started mass persecution of the Knights Templar, a monastic military order, largely because he owed them money. Without trial he had hundreds burned at the stake for heresy, from the first arrests in 1307 down to the final Grand Master in 1314. See also: Care and Feeding of Your Kobold Part 1 Chicken Soup: Chickens in German Folklore German Myth: Lindwyrm, Mare & Pig Demons At this point the myth and magic of legendary Dwarfs has gone completely down the privy hole and the Dwarf of folklore is stuffed into a category of clown, trickster and object of ridicule. Dwarfs now embodied negative traits such as greed and treachery thus in the eyes of the people brought shame and punishment upon themselves. Nibelung - Book 2 of the Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series In Germany, Richard Wagner continued to solidify the stereotype of Dwarfs in the nineteenth century Ring of the Nibelungs character Alberich, a mountain dwarf. Wagner's gigantic opera is based on the 12th century epic work Nibelungenlied. See also: Art, Power and the Calamitous Crusade 19th Century: Home Gym, Bicycles, Antiseptic Romanesque - Magic of Light and Stone Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Nibelungenlied tells the story of Germanic hero Siegfried, set in the 6th century during the period of Late Antiquity. In the tale the Dwarf Alberich is a sorcerer, equivalent to the elf Oberon in English and French lore, and King of the Mountain Dwarfs (or Elves depending on the teller). By the time of Wagner's opera in the mid-1800s he's just a noxious little guy. In some stories he oppresses the other Mountain Dwarfs. Either way he's tricked by Siegfried. Maybe someday, the ancient Dwarfs will rise again to their former glory. Up until then, they remain in their glittering realms of nature, far beyond the ken of mortal men. See also: Nature Spirits of German Mythology Nibelung - Of Worms & Heroes Pioneering German Women - Bertha Benz Back to Top

The solitary Erntekröte (Harvest Toad), mysterious Bockmann (Goat or Buck Man) and sadistic Roggenmuhme (Rye Aunt) are pagan harvest entities. Harvest time in beautiful Deutschland produces more Field Spirits (Feldgeister) than an ear of corn has kernels. Harvest spirits may resemble people or animals, hybrids or nature elements such as wind or fire. Among them are shape-shifters, Aufhöcker and demons. Jump to: Erntekröte (Harvest Toad) Bockmann (Goat Man) Roggenmuhme (Rye Aunt) It's extremely bad luck to harm any Harvest Spirit. Sometimes iron can thwart hostile magic, or spells and rituals keep them away, as in the case of the Windsbraut. If it doesn't work, the farmer has a vengeful Harvest Spirit on his hands. Demonic Harvest Spirits can start fires, while others might cause accidents, illness or a bad harvest. Often, Field Spirits are occupied with catching small tender children to eat. They're Kinderschrecken, or 'child frights'. Their chilling stories are passed down in the oral tradition of German folklore, for entertainment on winter nights, and to keep children out of the fields. 1. Erntekröte (Harvest Toad) Back to Top Harvest Toad is one of the animal spirits of the season. She's a solitary creature. She can be small or quite large, with eyes as big as saucers. Her knobby skin is shades of brown, grey, greenish and earth red. See also: Hags in German Myth & Folklore Chicken Soup: Chickens in German Folklore Herbology & Lore: Death Cap Mushrooms Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Although this harvest spirit is reclusive, if she shows herself it's wise to follow the harvest spirit protocol and leave her alone. Erntekröte dislikes company. Her skin secretes toxins, causing sickness to those who bother her. To see the Harvest Toad in the field is a good sign, indicating prosperity to come. In Eastern culture the Toad relates to wealth as the Money Frog or Toad, Chan Chu. If she's in the orchard the trees will bear good fruit. If she appears in the garden, good luck is on the way. In the wheat or corn, she can foretell abundant crop and/or warn of blight or other grain disease, which might be treated if caught in time. See also: German Myth - Harvest Spirits German Myth - Harvest Spirits 2 Nature Spirits of German Mythology In nature the Toad eats pests such as slugs and beetle larvae, so she's part of a healthy crop or garden. Although in taxonomy there's no scientific distinction between frogs and toads, popular culture associates frogs with wet skin and water, and toads with dry skin and terrestrial habitats. They're both amphibians. The croak of the Erntekröte at night is linked to health and could be a warning of a sickness in the household, or a sign someone afflicted with an illness will recover. It might also be prudent to check the rye or wheat crop for ergot. See also: Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good Wiedergänger - the Undead Walk Again German Harvest Spirits: Roggenhund (Rye Dog) Don't eat the Toad. Erntekröte is poisonous to dogs, humans and other animals. If she's seen near the house, make sure the dog or children don't mistake her for a fun toy. Toad tadpoles and eggs are also toxic. As with bee stings, a little bit of poison can be medicinal. Toad venom is a traditional Chinese medicine for strengthening of heart, fighting tumors; and for antivirus, anti-infection, and pain killing effects. It should be taken only on advice of a qualified health practitioner. Unlike other harvest creatures of the night, like Murrkater the grumbling tomcat, Erntekröte doesn't hunt children. She will spit venom at them if they come too close. Some harvest spirits flee into the last stalks of the crop when the reaping is done. The Toad burrows deep into the Earth to hibernate for winter. In nature spirituality the Toad relates to moon magic, rebirth, fertility and wealth. 2. Bockmann (Buck Man, Goat Man) Back to Top Part man and part goat, this Harvest Spirit can assume to guise of a youthful faun or satyr; or, a centaur-like animal with the arms head and torso of a man and the body, tail and four legs of a goat. He can manifest as a man with horns and a tail, or an old hoary satyr with long beard. See: Goats in German Myth: Erntebock & Habergeiß He may be handsome or ugly, but charismatic. If he's been in the fields he may leave goat tracks in damp earth, bigger than the average goat would leave. Bockmann might play music on a lyre or reed pipes. He has the curved horns and cloven hooves of a goat and the power of an ancient nature spirit. Like his kin the Goat Harvest Spirits he's a trickster and destroyer. He may visit a farmer's wife or daughter as an incubus, or call her into the fields with the voice of a seducer, and spirits her away to whatever fate is in store. See also: Eschenfrau: Wicked Ash Tree Woman Castle Frankenstein - Legend & Lore German Myth & Folklore: Elves She may be seen dancing madly in the grain, or disappear forever. In this way he relates to Dionysus of Greek myth, whose female worshippers leave their families to go carousing with drunken abandon in the forest. If he finds children in the fields, Bockmann kicks them or smacks them with his horns. His eyes blaze like fire for he has some demonic associations. He might kill the children and leave them for other Harvest Demons to eat, since he gets joy from the action but doesn't care for the taste. He's one of the Harvest Spirits who could team up with Roggenmuhme. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle He may have goat hybrid companions and travel in a herd. These half-animals can do damage to crops at any time of year, as they eat what they want and rip up stalks and roots. They're especially fond of corn and root vegetables like carrots. He can appear during the day or at night. His powers are strongest at the twilight hours, when veils between worlds are thin; at Midsummer, the Solstice or Equinox, on Hexennacht and full moon nights. Even when the Harvest is in, this tricky spirit can linger until the first frost comes. See also: German Myth & Folklore: Dwarfs Fairy Rings, Moon & Nature Magic Herbology & Lore: Caraway The sight of Bockmann can fill a person with melancholy, lethargy or depression. He spreads such emotions. On certain nights when the moon is full one hears his cry in the fields, and those afflicted cannot help but follow. On full moon nights he can also cast a spell to make a person fall in love with the thought of him, and go willingly to an unknown fate. 3. Roggenmuhme (Rye Aunt) Back to Top One of the most fearsome of the Harvest Demons, Roggenmuhme or Rye Aunt is an Anti-Mother figure. A gigantic woman, she has multiple breasts, very long and tipped with iron. Inside is a sludge-like tar. Woe to any children she catches, for she beats them cruelly and makes them suckle at her red-hot teats. Her breasts are so long, she must throw them over her shoulders when she runs. She may be all black or all white, neither good. Due to her demonic nature she might have a metal face, metal limbs or clothes. She can start infernos of fire and rot in the crops. Among the Harvest Demons she's an alpha predator. She may work with other demons such as Roggenwolf or Pig Demons to hunt children. She steals wheat heads and tramples crops. However, the sight of her heinous form stalking through the fields is considered lucky for a good harvest. See also: Aufhöcker - Cursed Undead of German Myth Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome German Traditions - Gingerbread Houses While Harvest Spirits may flee into the final stalks, there to be taken into the house for the winter, Roggenmuhme does no such thing. As a Harvest Demon she goes into the ground or to a Demon realm or both. As she goes into the ground she's associated with the volcanic fires of the Earth. Roggenmuhme may appear as a grandmother type to gain trust. When children come to help her she snatches them up in her apron. If she's invited into the house she can infect the residents with plague or destroy buildings with fire. Her magic is strong and hard to fight. She can't be killed. She's an entity of Chaos and it's her nature to cause pain and destruction. If she forces a child to drink the toxic tar from her teats the child may assume demonic traits and follow her commands. An iron knife buried beneath the front threshold can stop evil spirits from entering and at least makes her pause. Dill, lavender, parsley, sage and oregano plants are known to cleanse the spiritual environment and expel evil energies. Plant these outside the house or on sunny windowsills in pots. See also: Herbology & Lore - Chamomile Germanic Mythology - Brook Horses Nixies - Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Rowan or mountain ash (Sorbus) has powers to repel demons. Rowan is a member of the Rose family, not a true ash. Enhance magic protection with bells or chimes, sounds demons hate. Rye Aunt may give the farm a wide berth. Belief in demons goes back to the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age, up to 2.5 million years ago. Demons represent the unknown, evil magic and primal fears. By the time the Apostle Paul began to preach Christianity in the Roman Empire of 47 AD, demons were already an ancient and powerful race. See also: The Strange Case of Rudolf Diesel Pioneering German Women - Bertha Benz Art, Power and the Calamitous Crusade Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Demons are common in world culture. Associating them with Christian Devil, subjugated by God, was a way of converting pagan tribes. It promoted Christianity as a cure or at least a treatment for demonic infestations and diseases caused by demons. Demons also lost much of their individual power when they were demoted to messengers and helpers of the Devil. Back to Top

Many seamen would have perished without the courage of Abigail Becker. Besides raising fourteen children in a trapper's cabin, she waded into treacherous icy waters and undertook hazardous journeys to rescue sailors stranded in deadly storms of Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada. See also: Famous Women Inventors - Anna Connelly Happy Friday! Tidbits & Trivia 19th Century: Home Gym, Bicycles, Antiseptic Long Point is a sand spit and mid-sized town on the north shore of Erie, in Norfolk County. In the nineteenth century it was dangerous in daylight and tragic at night. November gales were legend in ferocity. European immigrants settled in the area from 1790. After the American Revolution, some Loyalists joined them. After 1796, the rugged land was given to anyone able to develop it. In 1830 the first lighthouse on Long Point was built. Most of the shipwrecks occurred right off the point. In the Lake Erie Quadrangle, over 400 ships have sunk. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The Lake Erie Quadrangle occupies a 2,500 sq mi (6,500 sq km) area along Lake Erie in Pennsylvania; north to the shores of Ontario, Canada; and in the east and west to parts of New York and Ohio. This area has seen more than 430 maritime disasters. Abigail married Jeremiah Becker in 1848, when she was just seventeen years old. He was a widower with six children living in a cabin on Long Point. Life was not easy. The family had to live from the land and the lake. Abigail cared for the kids, chopped wood, scrubbed laundry, cleaned, prepared meals, churned butter, sewed clothes and made mattresses, curtains and rugs. Children helped with chores as soon as they were able. In short time Abigail was pregnant and would bear eight more children with Jeremiah. In the small cabin she cared for fourteen in all. See also: Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine Pioneering German Women - Bertha Benz Monday's Muse - Demons of Doubt Her husband was away when a hurricane level storm came in from the south-west about five in the afternoon, and rampaged through the night of November 23, 1845. During the tempest the Conductor, an American schooner from Buffalo, heading to Toronto with a load of corn, ran aground. The seven-man crew held fast to the frozen rigging half the night as the storm blew its course. See also: Add Photo: Phone Cases, Tags, Wallets, Playing Cards Pioneering German Women - Anita Augspurg Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Although she couldn't swim, at dawn Abigail waded into freezing water up to her chin and helped each man to shore. Her bravery later earned her awards, a handwritten letter and £50 from Queen Victoria. When the story of the Conductor became known, people of Buffalo raised over $350 (about $13,700 today) to reward her heroism. During another late autumn squall a schooner of barley went aground near the Becker cabin. All hands were rescued except the cook. Her body was later found floating in the wreckage of the ship. See also: Victorian Trends - Stripes to Taxidermy German Myth & Folklore: Elves Winter Tales - 4 Novellas Another time, four sailors staggered to Abigail's door during a blizzard. Their schooner was swept to shore and only four of six made it to the Becker cabin. Abigail let them warm up by the fire while she took one of her sons and went into the gale in search of the fallen seamen. Despite the storm and limited visibility she found them, and urged them to get up and come to her cabin. She had to pull them physically to their feet and push them along, but all the crew of the grounded schooner survived that night. The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) made it a priority to visit Abigail on a trip to Canada. Both the New York Life Saving Benevolent Association and the Royal Humane Society struck gold medals in her honor. See also: Inspiring Words from Shakespeare Like All Dreamers ... Your Photo on Mirrors, Buttons, Frisbees In 1864, Jeremiah joined the casualties and was lost during a storm on the lake, leaving Abigail alone with fourteen kids. Before 1870 she married again, a happy occasion followed by three more daughters, increasing her brood to seventeen. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Because of the high incidence of childhood death during the Victorian era in Canada, unavailable or forbidden birth control and endless house or farm work needing more hands, country families often had a lot of kids. Little girls like these two would already know how to spin and sew. The Angel of Long Point, Abigail Becker, died in Norfolk County in 1905 at the age of 75. She lived there most of her life and is buried in nearby Simcoe. Long Point is now an Ontario Provincial Park. See also: Reiker For Hire Victorian Crime Trilogy Wild Women and Winter Tales German Traditions - the Linden Tree Back to Top

Latest in the German mythology series, here is Roggenhund or Kornhund, aka Rye Dog or Grain Dog. A harvest spirit, the Rye Dog can appear at any time of year. It's always hungry and never satisfied. Roggenhund can completely ruin everyone's hard work at harvest. See also: German Myth - Harvest Spirits Animal Spirits - Puma, Butterfly, Dog Nature Spirits of German Mythology The Rye Dog or Grain Dog eats flour, especially rye flour which is popular for bread in Germany. Besides flour, the rye crop has various uses. What's special about rye? Germany is the top producer of rye grain in the world. Roggenbier or rye beer, originating in Bavaria, southern Germany, is a lager made from up to 60% rye malt. And let's not forget rye whisky. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Rye grain is also used for crispbread and some types of liquor. For breakfast, it can be boiled, eaten whole or rolled like oats as a cereal. For weight loss, rye flour makes a person feel fuller longer. It increases resistance to diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Rye grain also makes nutritious animal feed. There's evidence of rye cultivation in Neolithic times. As a crop rye became popular during the Bronze Age. It was grown along the Rhine and Danube Rivers; also in Ireland and Britain. See also: Castle Frankenstein - Legend & Lore Goats in German Myth: Erntebock & Habergeiß German Herbology - Chamomile So, when you've lovingly sown, nurtured, harvested the crops and ground your rye flour by hand, the last thing you want is Roggenhund sniffing around to eat it all up. The loss of a crop can be a disaster for a household depending on it through winter. Empower the Flour! 1. First be sure flour's stored properly in secure airtight containers. Glass or ceramic were used in the days before mass production of plastics. Avoid fabric bags as they are easily torn. In sealed glass containers flour stays fresh about 10 months. See also: German Herbology - Edelweiss Pioneering German Women - Bertha Benz 3 Great German Artists for Art Lovers 2. Sprinkle caraway around the storage area. This helps protect stores from hungry spirit dogs and also any freeloading Faerie folk who might take a liking to the larder. It could be one reason we find caraway in rye bread today. Caraway is among the flavors most disliked by supernatural entities. Also known as meridian fennel and Persian cumin, it has a strong licorice citrus taste. If you're lucky enough to have a house Kobold, be sure to keep caraway away from this spirit or the Kobold will leave, and not always in a friendly way. See also: Care and Feeding of Your Kobold Part 1 Herbology & Lore: Caraway German Myth - Harvest Spirits 2 Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Back to Top

Daughter of a lawyer, Anita Augspurg (1857 - 1943) was one of the foremost advocates of women's rights in Germany. The late nineteenth century saw the advancement of work unions, a woman's right to own property and socialist-driven reforms such as accident insurance and pensions. See also: Pioneering German Women - Bertha Benz Monday's Muse - Writing & Deadlines Wild Women and Winter Tales Anita Theodora Johanna Sophie Augspurg was born in the German kingdom of Hanover. At the time, Germany wasn't yet a unified country and consisted of various kingdoms, princedoms and autonomous regions. This would soon change. Augspurg is known as a German jurist, actress, artist, writer, activist of the radical feminist movement and a pacifist. Her outspoken dedication made positive advances for women in Europe. Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Books After attending a private women's school up to 1873, Anita worked at her father's law firm until she reached the age of majority. It was rare for a woman to work outside the home in the 19th century. Options were generally limited to teacher, nurse, servant, actress or prostitute. Nurses had no medical training but did the cleaning and domestic work at hospitals. Urban prostitutes had an average life span of four years due to violence and disease. One in five Victorians had syphilis. Servants were treated like chattel. Many people thought theater immoral, full of orgiastic excess. But, women were gradually rising above barriers and stereotypes. By 1873, Chancellor Otto Bismarck had unified the country as the German Empire (1871 - 1918). Advances in science, technology, health and human rights moved forward radically. The future was optimistic as the young German Empire caught up with French, English and Dutch technology. Hospitals first used antiseptic near the end of the 19th century, turning them houses of horror to hallowed halls of healing, and mental health treatment grew more compassionate. Change happened fast, and activists and entrepreneurs found opportunities to thrive. See also: Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files Happy Friday! Tidbits & Trivia Great 19th Century German Woman Artists Anita passed tests to be a teacher, but she was a talented actress and also studied under Minona Frieb-Blumauer, a famous German actress and singer from Stuttgart. From 1881 - 1882 Augspurg apprenticed at the Meiningen Ensemble, Court Theater of Saxe-Meinigen, and took part in concert tours across Germany, the Netherlands, and Lithuania. In 1887 she received an inheritance from her grandmother, making her financially independent. It was the same year old laws overturned and women were finally permitted to own money and property in their own names. Women had more freedom than ever before, but not without opposition. Augspurg moved to Munich and opened a photography studio with a friend, Dutch-born Sophia Goudstikker, who had both Dutch and German citizenship. Sophia was the first single woman to obtain a royal license for photography. See also: Famous Women Inventors - Anna Connelly 19th Century: Home Gym, Bicycles, Antiseptic German Myth - the Lutzelfrau The studio, Hofatelier Elvira, became a meeting place for the avant-garde, intellectuals and activists. Many famous people including Isadora Duncan, Marie-Adélaïde, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and Rainer Maria Rilke had their photographs taken there. Anita and Sophia presented it as a woman-run business, wore short hair and trousers, and flouted traditional roles. They came under attack by anti-feminists, both men and woman, for their outrageous behavior and controversial opinions. The studio flourished. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle In 1890, focused on activism and women's rights, Augspurg went to Zurich, Switzerland to obtain a law degree, as women still couldn't get one in Germany. In 1897 she was the first woman to earn her Doctor of Law in Germany - but not allowed to practice until 1922. She wrote for the newspaper Die Frauenbewegung ("The Women's Movement"). She condemned gender discrimination and described marriage as a type of legalised prostitution. In 1896, she went to Berlin for the International Conference of Woman. There she met radical feminist Lida Gustava Heymann, who later became her life partner. Passionate pacifists as well as women's suffrage activists, Augspurg and Heymann held illegal meetings in their Munich apartment during the First World War. See also: Great Women Artists - Käthe Kollwitz Sugar Beets, Altbier & First Newspaper Witches' Night - Hexennacht Besides advocating women's rights they spoke out against colonial oppression, antisemitism and Nazism. During the Nazi takeover in 1933 they were in Switzerland and remained there, expecting reprisals in Germany. After a brief exile in South America they returned to Switzerland and settled in Zürich. Heymann died in 1943 and Augspurg a few months later. Their forward thinking activism helped smooth the road for universal women's rights. See also: German Herbology - Edelweiss Victorian Trends - Stripes to Taxidermy Awesome Art & Artsy Deals