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Aufhocken
The aufhocker () or huckup () is a shapeshifter in German folklore. Characteristics The Aufhocker is described in German legend as having an unidentifiable shape because it takes on shapes such as a goblin, a beautiful woman, a dead man, or various animals. Legend The name Aufhocker means "leap upon". This name is used because according to legend, the Aufhocker would leap upon the back of its victimsRose, Carol (2001). "Giants, Monsters and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend and Myth", p. 30. which are often thieves and criminals that need to be taught a lesson. Other common targets in the Aufhocker legend are lone travelers and old women. The Aufhocker is known as a pressure spirit or perching spirit because it jumps on the backs of travelers weighing them down with every step. The victims often die of exhaustion because the Aufhocker cannot be shaken off or killed. However, it is believed that travelers can free themselves if they are able to make it home before ...
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Shapeshifter
In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shapeshifting is the ability to physically transform oneself through unnatural means. The idea of shapeshifting is found in the oldest forms of totemism and shamanism, as well as the oldest existent literature and epic poems such as the ''Epic of Gilgamesh'' and the ''Iliad''. The concept remains a common literary device in modern fantasy, children's literature and popular culture. Examples of shapeshifters are vampires and werewolves. Folklore and mythology Popular shapeshifting creatures in folklore are werewolves and vampires (mostly of European, Canadian, and Native American/early American origin), ichchhadhari naag (shape-shifting cobra) of India, shapeshifting fox spirits of East Asia such as the huli jing of China, the obake of Japan, the Navajo skin-walkers, and gods, goddesses and demons and demonesses such as the Norse Loki or the Greek Proteus. Shapeshifting to the form of a wolf is specifically known as lycant ...
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German Folklore
German folklore is the folk tradition which has developed in Germany over a number of centuries. Seeing as Germany was divided into numerous polities for most of its history, this term might both refer to the folklore of Germany proper and of all German-speaking countries, this wider definition including folklore of Austria and Liechtenstein as well as the German-speaking parts of Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Italy. Characteristics It shares many characteristics with Nordic folklore and English folklore due to their origins in a common Germanic mythology. It reflects a similar mix of influences: a pre-Christian pantheon and other beings equivalent to those of Norse mythology; magical characters (sometimes recognizably pre-Christian) associated with Christian festivals, and various regional 'character' stories. As in Scandinavia, when belief in the old gods disappeared, remnants of the mythos persisted: There are: * Frau Holle or Perchta, a "supernatural" patron o ...
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Theriomorph
The word ''zoomorphism'' derives from and . In the context of art, zoomorphism could describe art that imagines humans as non-human animals. It can also be defined as art that portrays one species of animal like another species of animal or art that uses animals as a visual motif, sometimes referred to as "animal style". Depicting deities in animal form (theriomorphism) is an example of zoomorphism in a religious context. It is also similar to the term therianthropy; which is the ability to shape shift into animal form, except that with zoomorphism the animal form is applied to a physical object. It means to attribute animal forms or animal characteristics to other animals, or things other than an animal; similar to but broader than anthropomorphism. Contrary to anthropomorphism, which views animal or non-animal behavior in human terms, zoomorphism is the tendency of viewing human behavior in terms of the behavior of animals. It is also used in literature to portray the act of hum ...
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Vampirism
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deaths in the neighbourhoods which they inhabited while they were alive. They wore shrouds and were often described as bloated and of ruddy or dark countenance, markedly different from today's gaunt, pale vampire which dates from the early 19th century. Vampiric entities have been Vampire folklore by region, recorded in cultures around the world; the term ''vampire'' was popularized in Western Europe after reports of an 18th-century mass hysteria of a pre-existing folk belief in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Eastern Europe that in some cases resulted in corpses being staked and people being accused of vampirism. Local variants in Southeastern Europe were also known by different names, such as ''shtriga'' in Albanian ...
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Night Terror
Night terror, also called sleep terror, is a sleep disorder causing feelings of panic or dread and typically occurring during the first hours of stage 3–4 non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and lasting for 1 to 10 minutes. It can last longer, especially in children. Sleep terror is classified in the category of NREM-related parasomnias in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders. There are two other categories: REM-related parasomnias and other parasomnias. Parasomnias are qualified as undesirable physical events or experiences that occur during entry into sleep, during sleep, or during arousal from sleep. Sleep terrors usually begin in childhood and usually decrease as age increases. Factors that may lead to sleep terrors are young age, sleep deprivation, medications, stress, fever, and intrinsic sleep disorders. The frequency and severity differ among individuals; the interval between episodes can be as long as weeks and as short as minutes or hours. This has cr ...
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Charente-Maritime
Charente-Maritime (; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Chérente-Marine''; ) is a Departments of France, department in the French Regions of France, region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, on the country's west coast. Named after the river Charente (river), Charente, its Prefectures in France, prefecture is La Rochelle. As of 2019, it had a population of 651,358 with an area of 6,864 square kilometres (2,650 sq mi). History The history of the department begins with a decree from the National Constituent Assembly (France), Constituent Assembly on December 22, 1789, which took effect on March 4, 1790, creating it as one of the 83 original departments during the French Revolution. Named “Charente-Inférieure” after the lower course of the Charente (river), Charente, it was renamed Charente-Maritime on September 4, 1941, during World War II, reflecting its Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast identity. The department encompasses most of the former province of County of Saintonge, Saintonge (excluding Co ...
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Iglau Language Island
The Iglau language island or Jihlava language island (, ) was a German language island in present-day Czech Republic, located on the border between Bohemia and Moravia. The area included 79 settlements on an area of about 43 × 18 km around the city of Jihlava (). Other centres were the municipalities of Stonařov () and Štoky (). German settlement The settlement of Germans dates back to silver mining in the Iglau mountains in the Middle Ages. Here, as in other places in Medieval Central and Eastern Europe, mining was based on German-speaking skilled workers. From 1233 a document is preserved in which the Teutonic Order sold the Iglau church estates to the Seeau Monastery. In 1249, Wenceslaus I and Ottokar II, then Margrave of Moravia confirmed the Iglau Mining Law, which became formative for Central European mining and also the South American possessions of Spain. In the dispute for the imperial crown against Rudolf I, Ottokar II lost his life in the Battle on the Marchfeld ...
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Uhaml
The ''Uhaml'' (German: ''das Uhaml'' with neuter article;Will-Erich Peuckert: ''Schlesische Sagen''. Munich 1993, p. 187. ) is a spirit from German folktales. It was known among the former Germans of BohemiaWill-Erich-Peuckert: ''Uhaml''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 9 Waage-Zypresse, Nachträge''. Berlin/New York 2000, Nachträge p. 797. and Silesia, now part of the Czech Republic and Poland respectively, particularly in the former Iglau language island of Bohemia. The ''Uhaml'' is an airy sprite, a ghost, or possibly some kind of demonic bird. Nothing is known about its appearance other than it having horse feet. At night, the ''Uhamls call can be heard from the air: "''Uhuhu''!" People mocking it by imitating its call will be chased by the ''Uhaml'' until they are safe from it under the eaves.Will-Erich-Peuckert: ''Uhaml''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch de ...
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German Legendary Creatures
German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also German nationality law **Germanic peoples (Roman era) *German diaspora * German language * German cuisine, traditional foods of Germany People * German (given name) * German (surname) * Germán, a Spanish name Places * German (parish), Isle of Man * German, Albania, or Gërmej * German, Bulgaria * German, Iran * German, North Macedonia * German, New York, U.S. * Agios Germanos, Greece Other uses * German (mythology), a South Slavic mythological being * Germans (band), a Canadian rock band * "German" (song), a 2019 song by No Money Enterprise * ''The German'', a 2008 short film * "The Germans", an episode of ''Fawlty Towers'' * ''The German'', a nickname for Congolese rebel André Kisase Ngandu See also * Germanic (disambiguat ...
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Vampires
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deaths in the neighbourhoods which they inhabited while they were alive. They wore shrouds and were often described as bloated and of ruddy or dark countenance, markedly different from today's gaunt, pale vampire which dates from the early 19th century. Vampiric entities have been Vampire folklore by region, recorded in cultures around the world; the term ''vampire'' was popularized in Western Europe after reports of an 18th-century mass hysteria of a pre-existing folk belief in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Eastern Europe that in some cases resulted in corpses being staked and people being accused of vampirism. Local variants in Southeastern Europe were also known by different names, such as ''shtriga'' in Albanian ...
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