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Alutin (French pronunciation:[lytɛ̃]) is a type ofhobgoblin (an amusing goblin) in Frenchfolklore andfairy tales. Female lutins are calledlutines (French pronunciation:[lytin]).
Alutin (varieties include theNain Rouge or "red dwarf"[1]) plays a similar role in the folklore ofNormandy tohousehold spirits in England, Germany and Scandinavia.Lutin is generally translated into English as:brownie,elf,fairy,gnome,goblin,hobgoblin,imp,leprechaun,pixie,puck,jetin orsprite.[2] It sometimes takes the form of a horse saddled ready to ride, and in this shape is calledLe Cheval Bayard.[3] Lutins sometimes tangle people's or horses' hair intoelf-locks.[3]
A French fairy tale, "Le Prince Lutin", written in 1697 byMarie Catherine d'Aulnoy has a description of the "air, water and terrestriallutin": "You are invisible when you like it; you cross in one moment the vast space of the universe; you rise without having wings; you go through the ground without dying; you penetrate the abysses of the sea without drowning; you enter everywhere, though the windows and the doors are closed; and, when you decide to, you can let yourself be seen in your natural form."[4] In this story a red hat with two feathers makes the lutin invisible.
Lutins also assistPère Noël inLapland.[citation needed]
The name is attested asnetun ca. 1176–1181 byChrétien de Troyes inYvain, the Knight of the Lion, asnuiton byBenoît de Sainte-Maure inTroie, and asluitun ca 1176–1181 byWace in theRoman de Rou. It originally designated a sea monster. The meaning "a kind of demon, more mischievous than evil, who comes to torment people" appeared in the second quarter of the 14th century asluitin inLe Chevalier de La Tour Landry.[5]
It comes from LatinNeptunus, the name of the Roman god of the seas, which came to also designate a pagan god in Late Latin. The transition fromnetum tonuiton was probably influenced byOld Frenchnuit ('night'), and the formluitun ~luiton by Old Frenchluitier (modernlutter, 'to fight').[5]
Belief inlutins also spread toNorth America, particularly theCanadianprovince ofQuebec, as spirits in the form of either pets (such as dogs or rabbits) or other common animals. Completely white cats are especially considered likely to belutins, although seemingly any distinctive animal that lives in or near the home may be regarded as such. Theselutins may be good or evil, with goodlutins being attributed powers ranging from control of the weather, to shaving the beard of the master of the house before he woke on Sundays. Evil or offendedlutins may harass the house-owner with any number of minor troubles, such as blunting a scythe or filling shoes with pebbles.Salt is considered abhorrent to them, and they are thought to go out of their way to avoid crossing it when spilled on the ground.[6]
TheNain Rouge appearance is said to presage terrible events forthe city. The Nain Rouge appears as a small childlike creature with red or black fur boots. It is also said to have "blazing red eyes and rotten teeth." (Skinner 1896)
French-Newfoundland culture also mentions the lutin, particularly in connection with causingfairy-locks.[7]
