Feldgeister ('field spirits';German:[ˈfɛltˌɡaɪ̯stɐ]; singular:Feldgeist) orKorndämonen ('corn demons';German:[ˈkɔʁnˌdɛˈmoːnən]; singular:Korndämon) arecorn spirits inGerman folklore.Feldgeister are often alsowind spirits,[1] causing lightning and rain.[2]
NumerousFeldgeister are known in German folklore, some shaped as animals, some in human form. The last grain heads and tree fruits are often left at their place as a sacrifice for the agricultural spirits.[3] During harvest seasonFeldgeister flee deeper into the fields to escape the mowers. With the last cornstalks the corn spirit becomes trapped. Either it is killed by cutting the grain heads, threshing the corn or it is brought to the village in a ceremonial manner, shaped as acorn doll.[4] Direct contact to theFeldgeist causes illness.[5]
TheRoggenwolf ("rye wolf"),Getreidewolf ("grain wolf")[1] orKornwolf ("corn wolf")[6] is a field spirit shaped as awolf. TheRoggenwolf steals children and feeds on them.[7]
Other names areGerstenwolf ("barley wolf"),Haferwolf ("oat wolf"),Erbsenwolf ("pea wolf"),Kartoffelwolf ("potato wolf"),[6]Graswolf ("grass wolf") andPflaumenwolf ("plum wolf").[8]
Sometimes theRoggenwolf is equated with thewerewolf.[8]
TheErbsenbär ("pea bear") orRoggenbär ("rye bear") is a field spirit shaped as a bear.[8]
TheKornhund ("corn dog")[1] is adog-shaped wind spirit feeding on flour.[9]
Other names areRoggenhund ("rye dog"),Heupudel ("hay poodle"),[1]Schotenhund ("husk dog"),[6]Scheunbetze ("barn dog"),Dreschhund ("threshing dog"),[10]Weizenbeller ("wheat barker") orKornmops ("corn pug")[11]
TheKiddelhunde ("titillation dogs") look for children to tickle them to death.[11]
There are severalcat-shaped field spirits. TheKornkatze ("corn cat"),Wetterkatze ("weather cat"),[1]Heukatze ("hay cat")[5] orWindkatze ("wind cat")[12] is a female cat spirit.
The male equivalent of theKornkatze is theKornkater ("corn tomcat")[13]Murrkater ("grumbling tomcat")[14] orBullkater ("bull tomcat") who steals children looking for cornflowers.[5]
TheScheunesel (barn donkey) orBaumesel ("tree donkey") is a corn spirit shaped as adonkey.[8]
There are alsopig corn demons. One such pig is theRoggensau ("rye sow").[1] TheRoggensau steals human children or perches itself on a hiker's back.[15] Other names areWindsau ("wind sow"),[5]Kleesau ("clover sow"),Kornsau ("corn sow"),Aumsau ("chaff sow")[10] orîserne Range ("iron sow").[15]
TheKorneber ("corn boar")[16] is a male pig-shaped field spirit.
TheKornstier ("corn bull") is acattle-shaped corn spirit.[6] At Christmas the bull fertilizes the fruit tree.[8] In spring theKornstier is calledAprilochse ("April ox") orMaiochse ("May ox").[17]
Another cattle-shaped spirit present in the fields in springtime is theMärzenkalb orMärzkalb (both "march calf").[17]
Additionally, a cow is also present called theKornkuh orKornmockel ("both corn cow")[18]
TheHaferbock ("oat buck")[1] orErntebock ("harvest buck")[19] is a he-goat spirit. ThisFeldgeist is also known asAustbock ("harvest buck"),[5]Halmbock ("haulm buck"),[6]Erbsenbock ("pea buck"),Kornbock ("corn buck"),[8]Roggenbock ("rye buck"),Arftenbuck ("pea buck"),Bohnenbock ("bean buck"),[20]Nickelbock[21]Haberbock ("oat buck"),[22]Grasbock ("grass buck"),Heubock ("hay buck") orBaumbock ("tree buck").[23] At Christmas the buck fertilizes the fruit tree.[8]
The female equivalent of theHaferbock is theHabergeiß ("oat goat"),[8] also known asKorngeiß ("corn goat"),Weizengeiß ("wheat goat")[24]Roggengeiß ("rye goat"),[22]Hobagoaß ("oat goat")[25] orHeugeiß ("hay goat").[23] TheHabergeiß is sometimes said to have only three legs.[26] It is sometimes also described as a three-footed bird, as a yellow bird with goat voice, as half a goat and half a bird, as a goat with horse feet and a mouth like a half-openedscutcher or as a youngchamois with wings. The cry of theHabergeiß pronounces springtime as well as bad luck. Someone who imitates the cry of theHabergeiß will get punishment. TheHabergeiß hunts, scratches or even eats the meddlesome one. If not, it will hang itself as a bloody coat at the crier's door. This corn demon also slaps people looking out of the window at night or takes part in thewild hunt, is also the mount of the devil. In heavy thunderstorm theHabergeiß bring cut grain from one field to another foreign field. The appearance of theHabergeiß causes bad luck. The corn will spoil, the cows will lose weight, give no milk and felt. When the cry of theHabergeiß is heard in autumn this means a long winter and lack of hay.[27]
BothHaferbock andHabergeiß steal, hit or kill children.[21]
A corn spirit shaped as a bird is theWeizenvogel ("wheat bird") orRätschvogel.[18]
TheGetreidehahn orTroadhân (both "grain rooster") is a rooster-shaped corn demon who sits in corn field and waits for children to peck out their eyes. Other names areArnhahn,[28]Erntehahn,Bauthahn (all "harvest rooster"),Herbsthahn ("autumn rooster")[29]Schnitthahn ("cut rooster"),Stoppelhahn ("stubble rooster"),[28]Kornhahn ("corn rooster") orSaathahn ("seed rooster").[30]
The female equivalent of theGetreidehahn is theErntehenne orAarhenne (both "harvest hen").[29]
Other corn spirits are shaped asrabbits,deer,[1]sheep,horses,foxes,mice,geese,storks,swans,dragons ortoads.[2]
SomeFeldgeister show mixed animal and human features. One example is theKatzenmann ("cat man") who shares feline and human features.[8] TheBockmann orBockelmann (both "buck man") instead is a human-goat hybrid who steals children.[8] He is also known asBockkêrl ("buck guy") orBockemâ ("buck man").[21]
TheRoggenmuhme ("rye aunt";German:[ˈʁɔɡn̩ˌmuːmə]) is a female corn demon with fiery fingers. Her bosoms are filled with tar, and may end in tips of igneous iron. Her bosoms are also long, and as such must be thrown over her shoulders when she runs. TheRoggenmuhme is completely black or white, and in her hand she has a birch or whip from which lightning sparks. She can change herself into different animals; such as snakes, turtles, frogs and others.[31]
TheRoggenmuhme is well known for stealing human children which are looking forcornflowers. TheRoggenmuhme is also known to replace children withchangelings.[32][4] She forces children to suck at her deadly bosom, and may strike the children with her bosom. TheRoggenmuhme also chases children at speeds simultaneous to a running horse. She blows the eyelight of children out, and pounds children in her iron butter churn. TheRoggenmuhme is said to be the mother of theRoggenwölfe ("rye wolves") and can, herself, also be in the form of a wolf. Sometimes theRoggenmuhme is accompanied by little dogs who lead children into her iron hug.[31]
TheRoggenmuhme walks through the corn field looking for food. She eats the grain, either all or just the very towering spikes. When the corn is bad or dried up, theRoggenmuhme punishes the farmer. ARoggenmuhme striding the fields is an indicator of a good harvest.[33] TheRoggenmuhme is also known to pester the maidservants who were not fully spinning theirdistaffs untilTwelfth Night.[34]
Other names for theRoggenmuhme areRoggenmutter ("rye mother"),Regenmöhme ("rain aunt"),Kornwyf ("corn woman"),[32]Kornmutter ("corn mother"),Kornfrau ("corn lady"),Kornmuhme ("corn aunt"),Kornweib ("corn woman"),[1]Roggenmöhme ("rye aunt"),Preinscheuhe,Tremsemutter ("cornflower mother"),Rockenmör ("distaff mother"),[34]Kornengel ("corn angel"),[16]Weizenmutter ("wheat mother"),Gerstenmutter ("barley mother"),Flachsmutter ("flax mother"),Erbsenmuhme ("pea aunt"), Großmutter ("grandmother")wilde Frau ("wild lady"),[35]Weizenmuhme ("wheat aunt"),Gerstenmuhme ("barley aunt"),Tittewîf ("bosom woman"),[31]Buttermuhme ("butter aunt"),[33]Erntemutter ("harvest mother"),die Alte ("the old one"),Heimmutter ("home mother"),große Mutter ("big mother"),alte Hure ("old prostitute"),große Hure ("big prostitute").[36] andHaferfrau ("oat lady").[37]
Kornmaid ("corn maiden"),Getreidemagd ("grain maidservant"),die Magd ("the maidservant"),Kornjungfer ("corn damsel"),Haferbraut ("oat bride"),die Braut ("the bride") andWeizenbraut ("wheat bride") are youngerRoggenmuhmen.[38]
TheHafermann ("oat man")[1] is a male corn demon who steals children. He throws an ironshillelagh. Wearing a big black hat and having a giant stick in his hand, theHafermann waits for passants to kidnap them through the air.[39]
Other names for theHafermann areGetreidemann ("grain man"),der Alte ("the old one"),[1]Heidemann ("heath man"),Heidemänneken ("little heath man"),[40]Kornjude ("cornJew"), who is said to be Jewish according to historicalanti-Semitic sentiment,[41]Kornmann ("corn man"),der schwarze Mann ("the black man"),der wilde Mann ("thewild man"),Grummetkerl ("hay guy"),Getreidemännchen ("little grain man"),Kleemännchen ("little clover man"),Grasteufel ("grass devil"),[37]Roggenmann ("rye man"),Weizenmann ("wheat man"),Gerstenmann ("barley man"),Erntemann ("harvest man"),Schewekerl,de grîse mann ("the grey man")[42] orErdäpfelmann ("potato man").[43]
A creature of similar name if not identical is theHeidmann ("heath man"). Thisghost looks at night through the windows of a house and the person he looks at must die in year and day.[44]
Der böse Sämann ("the evil sower"), another male corn demon, can be cast out by going over the fields with burning wisps of straw at the first day of fasting period.[45] It is said that theSäemann ("sower") is the owner of theSaathahn ("seed rooster"), a bird which is associated with seed. TheSaathahn is to be gathered by going out on the fields with a bag full of green shrubbery.[30]
TheHaferbräutigam ("oat bridegroom") is a youngerHafermann.[38]
TheKornkind ("corn child") orÄhrenkind ("grain head child") is a corn spirit shaped as a child.[1] It is identical with the fruit of the field which is "born" by harvest. Other names for theKornkind aredas Kind ("the child"),Erntekind ("harvest child"),Hôrputtel,Hôrkind andHurenbalg (all "prostitute's child") andReppekindchen.
TheHaferkönig ("oat king") andHaferkönigin ("oat queen") are the rulers of all field spirits.[46] Other names areKong ("king"),[47]Lattichkönig ("lettuce king") andMaigraf ("may earl").[38]
TheBilwis is a male or female[48] corn spirit of sometimes demonic or sometimes human origin. It has flying hair, is wrapped in whitelinen and wears a little triangular hat. TheBilwis rolls through the corn shaped as a destructive giant ball or appears as awhirlwind to steal grain during harvest season. Both can be repelled by throwing a knife with three crosses on its blade on theBilwis, shouting:"Da hast du es, Bilbze!" ("There you have it,Bilwis!").[49]
Sorcerers acting asBilwis and helpful methods against them are described byLudwig Bechstein:
"Even today, and this is popular belief, there are also suchBilsenschnitter (Bilwisse), that are people, going out to the fields very early at the days ofHimmelfahrt (eitherAscension of Jesus orMary),Saint John's Eve orTrinity Sunday, barefooted, a little sickle-shaped knife bond to the big toe of the right foot. They step through the seed and cut a line with the knife through it. At the time of harvest and threshing the tenth part of the fruit of such a field must bestow on theBilsenschnitter. However, the business is associated with great danger. Will theBilsenschnitter be called by someone or will be shot over him with a shotgun, then he has to die in the same year. When he notices and addresses the arrival earlier, the fate of death comes upon the other. Most farmers try to save themselves against the damage threatening their fields in such a way by plowing and sowing the field from outside first, because in grain cultivated in such a way noBilsenschnitter can break in. When threshing the grain which was cut, theBilsenschnitter comes, giving good words, that something in the farmstead may be borrowed him, which must not happen. For revenge at theBilsenschnitter, twigs ofjuniper are added during threshing of the tithed grain. Every beat with the flair then strikes theBilsenschnitter until he comes running at the end and requests, for all in the world, threshing may be created in another manner." (Translated from the German text)[49]
Additionally,Bilwisse also can be punished by hanging some of the grain heads, which are cut by aBilwis,into the chimney. TheBilwis will dry out as the grain heads will do, becoming amummy alive, finally dying woefully.[50]TheBilwisschnitt ("Bilwis cut") can also be done by riding on a billy goat, then called aBocksschnitt ("buck cut").[51]
ABilwis also muddles hair and beard, causes illness and nightmares.[52] Non-humanBilwisse live in mountains and trees.[53]
Other names for theBilwis areBil-wiss,[40]Bilbze,Bilbsenschnitter (Schnitter = mower),Bilsenschnitter,Binsenschnitter,[49]Belwit,[48]Belewitte,Pilwis,Pilbis,Bilverschnitter,Bilmes,Bilgenschneider (Schneider = cutter) andBilwiss.[54]
TheWindsbraut ("wind's bride") is an (originally female, but occasionally also male) spirit of the whirlwind.[55]
Windsbräute steal the earnings of fieldwork. They can be disarmed by throwing a knife into the whirlwind. AWindsbraut is unable to remove the knife by her own power and therefore needs the help of the knife's owner.[56]
AWindsbraut is not always a demon but also can be asorcerer or sorceress.[56]
Other names forWindsbraut areWindschbrauß,[56]Windbrauss,Windsprauch,[55]Windgelle,Windschbrach,Windgäsperl ("windKasperle") andWindgäspele ("wind Kasperle").[57]