Drak (mythology)

The ''Drak'' (), ''Drâk'', ''Dråk'',Jungwirth: ''Kobold''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 5 Knoblauch-Matthias''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 33. ''Drakel'' or ''Fürdrak'' (either for-''Drak'' or fire ''Drak''), in Oldenburg also ''Drake'' (f.), is a household spirit from German folklore often identified with the ''Kobold''Mackensen: ''Drache''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 391 f. or the devil (German ''Teufel''),Jungwirth: ''Kobold''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 5 Knoblauch-Matthias''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 46. both of which are also used as synonymous terms for ''Drak''. Otherwise it is also known as ''Drache'' (dragon) but has nothing much to do with the reptilian monster in general.Mackensen: ''Drache''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 391.

Nomenclature

The etymology of ''drak'', it has been argued, does not descend directly from Latin ''draco'' (German: ''Drachen'', ) for "dragon", but rather from the name '' mandragora'' (which is sometimes misconceived of as relating to the dragon, as in the English name "man-drake").

The creature is also known in the Alpine region (Switzerland, etc.) by such "cute" names as , (diminutive of , a Swiss franc coin),　, but also calling it ''drak'' in Switzerland is apparently an adoption of the Low German form: this local house kobold exhibits an overlap with the Alpine "field dragons" (, etc.), as well as conflation with the lucky mandrake (called 'e'' in German).

While name ''Tragerl'' (also used in Austria) has been folklorically connected to the sprite's penchant to carry () goods or riches to its owner, the similarity of this name to ''Trache'' (var. German for "dragon") is also noted.

The ''Drak'' is known under various other names. Some names given to the ''Drak'' hint at its elfish or ''Kobold'' descent, such as ''Alf'', ''Alber'', '' Alp'', ''Alrun'' (mandrake), ''Kolbuck'', , '' Pûks'', and '' Erdhühnlein''Mackensen: ''Drache''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 399. (earth chicken). Names based on clothing are typical for both ''Drak'' and ''Kobold'', e.g. ''Hauslätzchen'' (house bib), ''Rôdjackte'' or ''Rodjackte'' (the one with the red jacket), ''Jackerl''Eckstein: ''Milchhexe''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 6 Mauer-Pflugbrot''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 320. (the one with the jacket; a devil name), ''Langwams'' (long doublet), and ''Kortwämsken'' (little short doublet). Yet other names are rather proper names like they are also given to the ''Kobold'' or even the devil, such as ''Mårten'' (Martin), ''Mertche'' (diminutive of Martin), ''Lütche Ohle'' (little old one, a devil name), ''Steppchen'', ''Steppken'' or ''Steffchen''Eckstein: ''Kuchen''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 5 Knoblauch-Matthias''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 651. (devil names), ''Hänschen'' (Johnnie),Künzig: ''Klöße, Knödel''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 4 Hieb- und stichfest-Knistern''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 1549. and ''Federhänschen'' Mackensen: ''Drache''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 392. (feather-Johnnie, another devil name).

Appearances

The appearance of the ''Drak'' is very variable. Although humanoid shape is attested, as manikin, sometimes with a red cap and a red jacket, the ''Drak'' predominantly takes the shape of an animal. Especially frequently mentioned is the appearance of a cat or kitten, be it black or brown-black, even a so-called ''Teufelskatze'' (devil cat), or of a chicken (cock or hen) be it black or even wet.Mackensen: ''Drache''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 393. Such a ''Drachenhuhn''Eckstein: ''Ei''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 599. (dragon chicken) is sometimes capable of laying ''Taler'' (thaler) or silver eggs,Mackensen: ''Drache''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 398. in the latter case two per day. Other attested bird shapes, besides bird in general, are the partridge, a gray hawk, an owl, and a jackdaw. The ''Drak'' might also appear as a (pied) calf, a (three-legged or fiery) hare,Riegler: ''Hase''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 3 Freen-Hexenschuss''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 1518. a wingless red snake, or a black ant. The ''Drak'' might take the shape of an animal by day and that of a ''Kobold'' by night, or it appears as a chicken inside the house and in fiery appearance outside of it.

Various fiery appearances are also typical for the ''Drak'' when it flies out at night. A shooting star, meteor, will-o'-the-wisp (German: ''Irrlicht'') or lightning flash might thus very well be the ''Drak'' The fiery appearance of the ''Drak'' it too variable to describe exhaustingly, thus only a few examples shall suffice. It might appear as a fire column or fire pillar, as various objects with a fiery tail (a broom, a glowing ball, a star), as a fiery red lump, a firelight, a fiery grain sack, and quite frequently as a fiery boom (with a broad head, a big head like a stove pot, or surrounded by blue firelight). Other appearances are more like animals, such as a fiery snake, cat, or chicken, a being with a big fiery head and a long black-blue tail, and a being with a big dog head and a glowing snake tail. Where the ''Drak'' is flying everything burns down. Because of that it is regarded as an omen of firestorm. The ''Drak'' might also burn down its owner's house if it feels mistreated. Names associated with the ''Draks fiery and tailed appearance are ''Herbrand'' (shooting star), ''Langschwanz'' (long tail), ''Kortschwanz'' (short tail), ''Schlingsteert'' (either gobble tail or entwining tail), ''Gluhswanz'', ''Gluhstert'' or ''Glüsteert'' (all: glowing tail), and ''Salamander''. It further is accompanied by infernal sulfur stench.Olbrich: ''Schwefel''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 7 Pflügen-Signatur''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 1458.

Owning a ''Drak''

To win a ''Drak'' as one's domestic spirit a deal with the devilMackensen: ''Drache''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 395. signed with one's own bloodEckstein: ''Rahm''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 7 Pflügen-Signatur''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 493. is necessary, thus the owners are often said to be witches (German: ''Hexen'', sg. ''Hexe'') or freemasons (German: ''Freimaurer'' (sg., pl.)). What makes owning a ''Drak'' so desirable despite the price of one's soul is the fact that the ''Drak'' brings its owner whatever they might covet by stealing it from the neighbors. A ''Draks owner is not allowed to pray or to go to church for communion. The ''Drak'' will take every third owner back to hell.

There are several types of ''Drak''.

The first is the ''Gelddrache'' or money dragon which brings its owner money, gold and treasures, might also show where the latter are hidden.Mackensen: ''Drache''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 397 f. In accordance to both activity and appearance other names for the ''Drak'' are ''Geldhühndel'' (money chicken), ''Tragerl'' (carrier), and ''Stutzli'' (money). The money it brings can be spent but will return to the owner without fail. Owning a ''Drak'' can be bound to owning a specific ''Taler'' which will always return to its owner if not sold lower than its value. Otherwise it can only be inherited or given away as part of a dowry. Occasionally, such a ''Feuerpûz'' (fire bogey) might also be enclosed in a glass bottle. Owning a ''Drak'' makes the process of dying very difficult its owner. Placing the dying person on the dunghill or placing dung under the dying person's pillow is the only way to ease dying for a ''Drak'' owner. But even then the ''Drak'' might still scratch its owners face. Contrarily, a sudden death might also be the fate of a ''Drak'' owner, particularly as it kills its owner by various means if it believes its owner to live too long. People who get rich quickly are said to have a ''Drak''. The ''Drak'' brings its money load through the chimney or the skylight. Sometimes this load also can be horse dung turning into gold afterwards. The ''Drak'' carrying gold or money appears distinctly colored (red-hot, half red, half blue, blue generally or when carrying a particularly big amount, black or dazzlingly yellow) or flies particularly low. For this job the ''Drak'' expects to be well fed with millet gruel, though, to be placed on the stove the ''Drak'' dwells inside.von Geramb: ''Ofen''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 6 Mauer-Pflugbrot''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 1188. If the feeding ceases, the ''Drak'' can't fulfill a task or its lair is discovered, then the ''Drak'' will escape never to return again. When the gruel is burnt, then the ''Drak'' rages in the stove so that it seems it would soon explode.

Another is the ''Getreidedrache'', ''Korndrache'' or ''Weizendrache'' (crop dragon, grain dragon, and wheat dragon respectively) which is also known as ''Roggenkatze'' (rye cat).Eckstein: ''Butter''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 1 Aal-Butzemann''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 1732. This kind of ''Drak'' accordingly brings its owner loads of cereals. When doing so its color is blue, gray, black, or variously colorful. The ''Drak'' usually transports grain in an eggshell or a nutshell. Sometimes it carries so much that it has to throw away a part of its load during its flight. The ''Drak'' often appears as a wet or freezing chicken at the wayside. If someone takes it home for it to warm at the fireplace, it will bring cereals to show its gratitude.

The third type is the ''Butterdrache'' (butter dragon), ''Milchdrache'' (milk dragon) or ''Quarkdrache'' (quark dragon). Accordingly, this ''Drak'' brings its owner milk or dairy goods, among them cheese and quark but never the good one. The milk might look like cherry stones, though. It might even bring all ingredients needed to bake a cake, e.g. cream, butter, and raisins. It sucks other people's cows dry so that they only give blood instead of milk. In the shape of a squirrel it sits on a cow when the cattle get milked. Stealing butter is rather difficult for the ''Drak'', as it needs to visit a hundred villages to gather a spoonful of butter. The same can also be true for milk, for it will take one "''Nödel''" (measurement? spoon?) of milk per house in a hundred villages. The ''Drak'' brings other goods too, such as wood lugs turning into smoked beef, sausages (accordingly it is called ''Wurstdrache'' or sausage dragon),Eckstein: ''Milch''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 6 Mauer-Pflugbrot''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 255. bread, flour and eggs, linen, dung, and frogs which can be used to make chicken soup. It only readily unloads its gifts if there is nobody else looking, though, and also guards its owner's goods. Hence, it will disappear if eavesdropped on. The ''Wurstdrache'' is offered milk containing chunks of bread roll for its services.

In the guise of a black dog, the ''Drak'' vomits dumplings. The ''Drak'' can also vomit milk. As a black cat, it defecates knöpfle, a type of Southern German noodle dish. Only that the knöpfle are cat dirt in reality. The toad-shaped ''Knöpflekröte'' (knöpfle toad), too, poops knöpfle. The ''Drak'' is milked through a thread.

There is further differentiation between a ''guter Drache'' (good dragon) and a ''armer Drache'' (poor dragon). The former enters the chimney as a fireball and pours out milk, eggs, and money. The latter appears as a long boom, enters through the window's pendentive and leaves behind a gruesome stench.

Driving the ''Drak'' away

Other people can drive the ''Drak'' away or force it to part with its load by swearing (e.g. "''Schwinsdreck!''" = "pig dirt!"), calling it by its name,Mackensen: ''Drache''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 402. calling at it through a wheel hub, or shouting commandos such as "''Halbpart!''" ("half part!") "''Schütte, schütte!''" ("Pour out, pour out!"), "''Losch loh!''" ("Let go!" in Silesian dialect = "''Lass los!''" in Standard German). Reciting the rhyme "''Es fährt kein Fuhrmann über Land und Brück', Er lässet seinen Zoll zurück!''" ("No teamster drives overland and over bridges, He leaves behind his toll!") has the same effect, as has showing one's naked behind, and shooting or throwing at the ''Drak'', best with inherited silver, iron, or steel. Yet another method is pulling off a wheel from a wagon and putting it back on inverted. But one shouldn't stand directly beneath the ''Drak'' and flee under a roof as otherwise it will throw down a load of lice or filth, or sulfur stench which will never go away. A yellow sulfuric smelling substance left behind by the ''Drak'' is called ''Drachenschmalz'' (dragon lard) or ''Drachengspei'' (dragon spit). This is the load the ''Drak'' had to drop because it flew over manure or tan, thought to be yellow, pungent milk. Otherwise it might also enter the house of its owner, setting it on fire and burning itself to death.Tiemann: ''Rad''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 7 Pflügen-Signatur''. Berlin/New York 2000, p. 466.

Explanatory notes

References

Bibliography

* Ludwig Bechstein: ''Deutsches Sagenbuch''. Meiningen 1852. (reprint: F. W. Hendel Verlag, Meersburg/Leipzig 1930.)
* Eckstein: ''Butter''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 1 Aal-Butzemann''. Berlin 1927. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Eckstein: ''Ei''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin 1930. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Eckstein: ''Kuchen''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 5 Knoblauch-Matthias''. Berlin 1933. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Eckstein: ''Milch''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 6 Mauer-Pflugbrot''. Berlin 1935. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Eckstein: ''Milchhexe''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 6 Mauer-Pflugbrot''. Berlin 1935. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Eckstein: ''Rahm''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 7 Pflügen-Signatur''. Berlin 1936. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Freudenthal: ''glühend''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 3 Freen-Hexenschuss''. Berlin 1931. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Heckscher: ''Dünger''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin 1930. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Herold: ''Eichhörnchen''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin 1930. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Dohle''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin 1930. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Jungwirth: ''Kobold''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 5 Knoblauch-Matthias''. Berlin 1933. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Künzig: ''Klöße, Knödel''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 4 Hieb- und stichfest-Knistern''. Berlin 1932. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Lincke: ''Nachtjagd, -jäger''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 6 Mauer-Pflugbrot''. Berlin 1935. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Mackensen: ''Drache''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen''. Berlin 1930. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Mengis: ''rot''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 7 Pflügen-Signatur''. Berlin 1936. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Olbrich: ''Schwefel''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 7 Pflügen-Signatur''. Berlin 1936. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Riegler: ''Hase''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 3 Freen-Hexenschuss''. Berlin 1931. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* Tiemann: ''Rad''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 7 Pflügen-Signatur''. Berlin 1936. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
* von Geramb: ''Ofen''. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: ''Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 6 Mauer-Pflugbrot''. Berlin 1935. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000, )
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{{German folklore

German legendary creatures
European demons
Deal with the Devil
Household deities
Kobolds