Schrat

The ''Schrat'' () or ''Schratt'', also ''Schraz'' or ''Waldschrat'' (forest ''Schrat''), is a rather diverse German and Slavic legendary creature with aspects of either a wood sprite, domestic sprite and a nightmare demon. In other languages it is further known as ''Skrat''.

Etymology

The word ''Schrat'' originates in the same word root as Old Norse ''skrati'', ''skratti'' (sorcerer, giant), Icelandic ' (devil) and ''vatnskratti'' (water sprite), Swedish ' (fool, sorcerer, devil), and English ' (devil).

The German term entered Slavic languages and (via North Germanic languages) Finno-Ugric ones as well. Examples are Polish ''skrzat'', ''skrzot'' (domestic sprite, dwarf), Czech (domestic sprite, gold bringing devil/ mining sprite), Slovene (domestic sprite, mining sprite), and (corn or gold-bringing being, whirlwind, Polish plait) as well as Estonian , (domestic sprite, "treasure/wealth-bringer", comparable to ''Schratt'').

Medieval attestations

The ''Schrat'' is first attested in Medieval sources. Old High German sources have ''scrato'', ''scrat'', ''scraz'', ''scraaz'', ''skrez'',''screiz'', ''waltscrate'' (''walt'' = forest), ''screzzolscratto'', ''sklezzo'', ''slezzo'', and ''sletto'' (pl. ''scrazza'', ''screzza'', ''screza'', ''waltscraze'', ''waltsraze'').

Middle High German sources give the forms ''schrat'', ''schrate'', ''waltschrate'', ''waltschrat'', ''schretel'', ''schretelîn'', ''schretlin'', ''schretlein'', ''schraz'', ''schrawaz'', ''schreczl'', ''schreczlein'', ''schreczlîn'' or ''schreczlin'', and ''waltscherekken'' (forest terror; also the pl. ''schletzen'').

In Old High German sources, the word is used to translate the Latin terms referring to wood sprites and nightmare demons, such as ''pilosi'' (hairy sprites), ''fauni'' (fauns), ''satiri'', (satyrs), ''silvestres homines'' (forest humans), ''incubus'', ''incubator'', and ''larva'' (spirit of the dead). Accordingly, the earliest known ''Schrat'' was likely a furry or hairy fiend or an anthropomorphic or theriomorphic spirit dwelling in the woods and causing nightmares.

Middle High German sources continued to translate ''satyrus'' and ''incubus'' as ''Schrat'', indicating it was considered a wood sprite or nightmare demon, but another ''vocabularium'' glossed ''Schrat'' as ''penates'' (domestic sprite).

The Middle High German story "Schrätel und Wasserbär (polar bear)" (13th cent.), where the spirit haunts a peasant's house in Denmark is considered "genuine" house spirit (kobold) material.

The medieval tradition of offering the or (i.e. ) pairs of little red shoes was preached as sin by Martin von Amberg (c. 1350–1400).

Diminutive forms

The ''Schrat'' is known by numerous diminutive forms, many of which take on the sense of Alp, a nightmare demon. That is to say, many of these carry the sense of an Alptraum (oppressive dream, nightmare) demon or sickness demon especially in the south (Cf. ). But ''Schrat'' diminutives may also refer to a house spirit (kobold, cf. ) or a stable-haunting being (that haunt stables and homes, shearing manes, braiding elflocks, and suckling on livestock and human mothers).

The diminutive form Schrätel, for example, is ambivalent, and is discussed below under both a "dream demon" and "household sprite", below.

To name other such forms, unsorted into specific spirit types: ''Schrätlein'', ''Schrättlein''; ''Schrättling''; ''Schrötele'', ''Schröttele'', ''Schröttlich'', ''Schreitel''; ''Schrätzlein''; and ''Schlaarzla'', ''Schrähelein''.

Wood sprite

The ''Waldschrat'' is a solitary wood sprite looking scraggily, shaggily, partially like an animal, with eyebrows grown together, and wolf teeth in its mouth., as summarized by Hans Pehl in the ''HdA''.

But this is a hotchpotch profile put together from disparate sources. Grimm gave attestations of ''Waldschrat'' in medieval romances ('' Barlaam und Josaphat'', Ulrich von Zatzikhoven's '' Lanzelet'') and the poem "''Waldschrat''" which is a retelling of Bonerius Fable No. 91,XVIII. (66.) "" in 54vv, in ''Altdeutsche Wälder'' 3: 225–227 none of which provide much physical description except being "dwarf" sized. The ''Schrat'' as ''Waldgeist'' is physically described as hairy in commentary by Karl Joseph Simrock, and is equated with Räzel (described further under ); in particular, the trait of the single joined eyebrow, is held to be common to the woodland ''schrat'', the Alp, and sorcerers (cf. ), some capable of werewolf-transformation. The last bit (wolflike teeth) appears to be clipped from the description of the "" encountered in the Middle Dutch version of the story of St. Brendan's Voyage. These ''Walschrande'' were described as having swines' heads, wolves' teeth, human hands, and hounds' legs that were shaggy. Celtic origin has been argued in scholarship concerning the ''schrat'' in the Arthurian cycle works (e.g. Ulrich's ''Lanzelet'', adaptation of ''Lancelot'') and the legend on St. Brendan who was an Irish monk.

The Austrian ''Schrat'' (pl. ''Schratln'') or ''Waldkobold'' looks like the creature as described above: it is small and usually solitary. The ''Schratln'' love the deep, dark forest and will move away if the forest is logged. The ''Schrat'' likes to play malicious pranks and tease evilly. If offended, it breaks the woodcutters' axes in two and lets trees fall in the wrong direction.

In the Swiss valley Muotatal, before 1638 there was an Epiphany procession called ''Greifflete'' associated with two female wood sprites, ''Strudeli'' and ''Strätteli'', the latter being a derivative of ''Schrat''.

Mining demon

A ''Schrattel'' can be a ''Goldteufel'' (gold devil) that can be made to serve a human, bringing his master gold or silver found in the Pusterwald region, according to the legend from Styria in Austria; the legend was recorded by in his novel ''Das Hochgericht vom Birkachwald''.

Nightmare demon

The '' Alp'' of German folklore, in the strict sense, refers to an ''Alptraum'' (nightmare) causing demon, and is associated with pressure like a horse is riding on the sleeper, with stifling against the pillow, and hence respiratory and other sicknesses. This tends to be known by the name ''Schrat'' or its variants in Southern Germany and Switzerland, especially in regions with Alemannic dialect. Such a demon is also considered a sickness demon, as explained above.

Forms

The ''Alptraum'' nightmare was known locally under diminutive names such as : Schrättel in Switzerland; or ''Schrättlein''; , ''Schrettele'' in Upper Swabia; around , Bühl, Wurmlingen in Swabia, or in "Munster valley" (, ) in Alsace.

Other forms are: , ; ; (corrupted forms based on German ''Schreck'' = fear or fright), (a corrupted form reminiscent of German ''Scherz'' = jest), , , and (''Käppel'' = little cap).

In the historic state of Baden (particularly Swabia), the enters by crawling through the keyhole and sits on the sleeper's chest. It can also enter through the window as a black hen. The Swabian is named as the perpetrator of the "Alp-pressure" () bearing down upon the human sleeper's chest or throat.

Livestock dream spirits

In Tirol, it is said the or (''Schrattel'') to the livestock is similar to what the dream-demon (drude) is to humans. It supposedly pins down livestock ("Schrattl-pressure"), and the affected cattle, pigs, or hens lie down as if paralyzed or dead. Tirolian farmers try to guard against this sprite by crafting the ("Scrattl-gate") from wooden slats (five pieces of wood interlocked, like a sideways-turned "H" and "X" combined, cf. fig. right), and it is alleged hanging one in the henhouse has saved it.

In Switzerland, the sucks the udders of cows and goats dry and makes horses become ''schretig'', i.e. fall ill. In Swabia, the ''Schrettele'' also sucks human breasts and animal udders until they swell, tangles horse manes, and makes Polish plaits. In Austria, The ''Schrat'' tangles horse tails and dishevels horse manes.

Witches, possessions, ghosts

Often, the nightmare demon ''Schrat'' is in truth a living human. This or (''Schrat'' witch) can easily be identified due to their characteristic eyebrows grown together, the so-called ''Räzel'' or ''Rätzel'' trait, sometimes applied to the mysterious beings often associated with the ''Schrat''. The appellations ''Raz, Räzel'' (''Rätzel'') was likely an apheresis of ''Shräzel'' (''Shrätzel''), according to Wilhelm Hertz.

In Swabia, the ''Schratt'' is a woman suffering from an hereditary ailment known as ''schrättleweis gehen'' or ''Schrattweisgehen'' (both: going in the manner of a ''Schrat'') which is an affliction usually inherited from one's mother. The afflicted person will have to step out every night at midnight, i.e. the body will lie around as if dead but the soul will have left it in the shape of a white mouse. The ''Schratt'' is impelled to "press" (German ''drücken'') something or someone, be it human, cattle, or tree. The nightly ''Drücken'' is very exhausting, making the ''Schratt'' ill. Only one thing can free the ''Schratt'' from her condition. She must be allowed to press the best horse in the stable to death.

According to other Swabian beliefs, the nightmare-bringing ''Schrat'' is a child who died unbaptized. In Baden, it is considered a deceased relative of the nightmare victim.

Protective amulets

The ''Schrat'' is further known to cause illnesses by shooting arrows. Its arrow is the belemnite (called , ''Schrat'' stone), but his stone can also be used to ward the spirit off. Beside the ''Schrattenstein'', it also fears the pentagram (called ''Schrattlesfuß'', ''Schrat'' foot in Swabia) and stones of the same name with dinosaur footprints. The ''Schrätteli'' can be exterminated by burning the bone whose appearance it takes when morning comes. The same is true for burning the straw caught at night, for in the morning it will become a woman covered with burns and never return again. If it is cut with a ''Schreckselesmesser'' (''Schrat'' knife), a knife with three crosses on its blade, the ''Schrettele'' will also never return again. The ''Schrat'' can be kept out of stables by placing the aforementioned wooden ''Schratlgatter'' (''Schrat'' fence) above the stable door, or using a convex mirror called ''Schratspiegel'' (''Schrat'' mirror) which also works the same way.

Domestic sprite

Middle High German literature

In the Middle High German story "Schrätel und Wasserbär" (13th cent.), the kobold haunts a peasant's house, but the Danish king lodges there with the polar bear, and after the encounter with the "giant cat" the spirit is frightened away.

A version of this story set in a miller's house in Berneck ( Bad Berneck im Fichtelgebirge), Upper Franconia, Bavaria, where a ''Holzfräulein'' replaces the Schrätel, and is killed by a "cat".

The ''Schrätel'' () as a peace-disturber or poltergeist also figures in the Tyrolean poet Hans Vintler's ''Die Pluemen der Tugent'' (completed 1411).

Local lore

The term ''Schrat'' (or its variants) is thought to have occurred more widely in the sense of "house sprite" in the past. According to belief from the 15th century, every house has a ''schreczlein'' which, if honored by the inhabitants of the house, gives its human owners property and honor.

But the sense of ''Schrat'' as a ''Hausgeist'' or kobold only survived in Southeastern Germany, and West Slavic Regions. More specifically, ''Schrat'' as domestic sprite is particularly known in Bavaria (the Upper Palatinate, the Fichtel Mountains extending to Czech; also Vogtland which spills into Saxony and Thuringia), and the Austrian provinces of Styria and Carinthia. In these parts (Southeastern Germany and Austria), the ''Schrat'' remains more akin to a domestic kobold, only occasionally appearing as an incubus. The form ''Schrezala'' was current in the Fichtelgebirge and Vogtland.

In Styria, the forms are glossed as ''penates'' (hearth deities) c. 1500. The ''Schratl'' of Carinthia is said to manifests itself as sunlight patterns on walls in and Lesachtal valleys, as a small blue flame or a red face popping out the window in ; he is considered invisible in , but perceptible by the noises in the walls similar to the cutting-sound of scythes, while the Carinthian (''Schrat'' manikin) is also reputed to make knocking noises in the bedroom walls at night like a ''Kobold'' or poltergeist. The ''Schratl'' of Styria is said to be a grunting little man dressed in red or green.

In Styria and Carinthia, the ''Schratl'' dwells inside the stove, expecting to be given millet gruel for its services. In Styria, this stove or oven (called ''Schratlofen''; ''Schrat'' stove) might also be a solitary rock formation or rock hole rather than a true stove. When summoned, it sits down on the doorstep.

In Carinthia, the ''Schratl'' can be intentionally driven away by gifting it clothes. The same motif is exhibited in the story of the (, Upper Franconia, Bavaria), except the grateful mistress of the house unwittingly gave clothes as reward to the helpful spirit because it was dressed in tatters. The that causes mischief in the stables is considered a type of kobold also, as it actually dwells in the house.

The ''schratl'' also is blamed for causing stabbing pains and "elflocks" ( polish plaits), which are referred to locally as (standardized as ). 914 "42. Der Schratl", Part 1.: "Der Schratl ist ein Gespenst.. Er verursacht Stechen im Halse und verfilzt die Kopfhaare (Schratlzöpfe). Gern hält sich dieses koboldartige Wesen im Hause auf. (The Schratl is a ghost .. It causes a stabbing pain in the throat and mats the hair on the head (Schratlzöpfe). This kobold-like creature likes to stay in the house.)" Collected from Mölltal, Carinthia.

A tale from recounts how a man outwitted a Schratl by demanding he fill his boot with money, actually only the cut-off tube of his boot, attached to his roof-ridge. The sprite brought money day and night that spilled into a big pile without achieving his boot-full, and finally died of exhaustion.

The Polish ''skrzat'' (often equated with '' latawiec'', 'the flying one') demands kasha (, porridge) for payment, and insists it is not overly hot.

Animal forms

The Schratel reputedly appears often in the guise of a cat or squirrel in Styria. Schratzl in the guise of a black cat was driven from Kirchberg an der Raab driven out into some ditch. Farmers in Donnersbachwald (in Styria) claimed the ''Schratl'' can appear as a chamois, buck-goat, or black dog.

The Schrattel in one tale appears as a black raven, in a tale of a man who contracted with the demon and loses his soul (, Styria). It is also commented that "Schratel" was once a name commonly given to a dog in Styria. In , in the vicinity of Radenstein (Rottenstein, Bad Kleinkirchheim), the caterpillar is called and thus identified as ''Schratel''. The butterfly is sometimes called ''schrätteli'', ''schrâtl'', ''schràttele'' or ''schrèttele'' and accordingly identified with the nightmare demon ''Schrätteli''. Sorcerers with unibrow (like the Schratel) are reputedly capable of sending an Alp in the guise of butterfly to people who are asleep (cf. § witches).

The ''Schretel'' appears as a butterfly according to the lore in the Tyrol region (Austria) as well as Sarganserland of the Canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland; in St. Gallen, the creature may appear also in the guise of a magpie, fox, or black cat.

Legend from Obermumpf, Aargau, Switzerland say that the , a sort of black magician also known widely in the Black Forests in Germany, could transform into a or a , or a red mouse, to creep up on people who are asleep, enter through open mouths and reach the heart, riding people, leaving them half-dead or paralyzed until expelled from the mouth. The sorcerer died but still loitered around as a spirit in the form of a black dog, and was finally purged by the Capuchin monks of the Franciscan order.

Egg-hatched, chicken-shaped

There is the motif recorded for kobolds under various names, across many regions including Pomerania that the sprite is born from an egg, laid by a hen. The Polish in Posen is reputedly born from a hen's egg of a certain peculiar shape, hatched after being kept in the armpit for a long time, and likewise in Kolberg (Kołobrzeg). A number of Polish anecdotes relate that the ''skrzat'' appears in the guise of a chicken, a black chicken, emaciated chicken, or flying bird with sparks flying.

Or else, the ''škrat'' could be bred from a black hen, or hired otherwise, but to obtain its services one had to sign away himself and his family sealed in a blood-signed, contract. Then, it would bring such items as the contractor desired to the window, and when carrying money it assumed the form of fire.

Dwarf

The Alsatian ''Schrätzmännel'' also appear as dwarves (German ''Zwerge'', sg. ''Zwerg'') dwelling in caves in the woods and mountains.

The same is true for the ''Razeln'' or ''Schrazeln'' in Upper Palatinate, whose cave dwellings are known as ''Razellöcher'' (''Schrat'' holes). Other names for them are ''Razen'', ''Schrazen'', ''Strazeln'', ''Straseln'', and ''Schraseln''. They dwell in the mountains and help the humans with their work, acting as domestic sprites. This they do at night, for they dislike to be seen. They only enter the homes of good people and bring good fortune upon them, expecting but the food left over on the dishes as their payment. Any other form of gratitude, especially gifts, will drive them away instead, for they will think their service has been terminated, and they will leave with tears. First they wait, then they eat, and after that they go into the baking oven for dancing and threshinge. Ten pairs or at least twelve ''Razen'' are said to fit inside an oven for threshing.

Connections with the devil, witches, and deceased souls

A red secretion left behind at trees by butterflies is said to be the blood of the ''Schrätlein'' or ''Schretlein'' who are wounded and chased by the devil (German ''Teufel''). Conversely, the ''Schrat'' can also be identified as the devil itself.

''Schrättlig'' is a synonym for witch (German ''Hexe''). In Tyrol and the Sarganserland, the ''Schrättlig'' also is thought to be the soul of a deceased evildoer living among people as an ordinary human, particularly an old woman. It is able to take on animal appearance, and often harms humans, animals and plants, further causes storm and tempest, but can also become a luck-bringing domestic sprite identified with ''lares'' and ''penates''.

The ''Schrat'' might also show behavior similar to the devil or witches. In Carinthia, whenever somebody wants to hang oneself, then a ''Schratt'' will come and nod in approval. The ''Schrat'' travels in the whirlwind as well, hence the whirlwind is known as ''Schretel'' or ''schrádl'' in Bavaria and the Burgenland respectively.

In Bavaria, and Tyrol, the souls of unbaptized children forming the retinue of ''Stempe'' (i.e. '' Perchta'') are called ''Schrätlein''. Like ''Perchta'', the ''schretelen'' were offered food on Epiphany Day in 15th century Bavaria.

In Yiddish Folklore

''Shretele''

Among the Yiddish-speaking Jews of Eastern Europe, there is belief in the helper or wealth-multiplying spirit called , probably connected to Polish ''skrzat'', Weinreich 988(1997); (2012). "" p. 326 (323–329). (pl. ) which they might have brought with them when they came from Alsace and Southern Germany.

The ''shretele'' is very kind. It is described as a small elflike creature, more specifically a tiny, handsome, raggedly dressed little man. ''Shretelekh'' can be found in human homes where they like to help out, e.g. by finishing up the making of shoes overnight at a shoemaker's home. If given tiny suits in gratitude, they will stop working and sing that they look too glorious for work, dancing out of the house and leaving good fortune behind.

The ''shretele'' might also stretch out a tiny hand from the chimney corner, asking for food. If given e.g. some crackling (gribenes), it will make the kitchen work successful. For example, if pouring goose fat from a frying pan into containers, one might be able to do so for hours, filling all containers in the house without emptying the pan – until someone cusses about this. Cussing will drive the ''shretele'' away.

The ''shretele'' might also dwell under the bed. From there it might come out to rock the baby's cradle, give the baby a light slap to make it stop crying, or nip from a brandy bottle. A bottle from which a ''shretele'' has sipped will always remain full no matter how much is poured out.

''Kapelyushnikl''

In Yiddish folklore, the function of the nightmare demon belongs to another kind of legendary creature, the (Polish for hat maker; pl. ) is a hat-wearing little being bent on pestering and teasing horses. It can only be found in Slavic countries and might even be an original East European Jewish creation.

The ''kapelyushniklekh'' can appear as a male and female pair of tiny beings wearing little caps, the woman also having braided hair tied with pretty ribbons.. No. 151 "Whos Milking the Cows?", p. 333

They love to ride horses all night, many ''kapelyushniklekh'' sitting on one horse, rendering the animal exhausted and sweating. ''Kapelyushniklekh'' prefer gray horses in particular. If one manages to snatch a cap from a ''kapelyushnikl'', they will be driven away for good. Only the one who lost its cap will come and ask for its return, in exchange for a great deal of gold, though in daylight the gold will have turned into a pile of rocks.

They can also milk cows dry at night and steal the milk, but if caught and beaten they promise that, if spared, they will never return and that the amount of milk given by the cows will be double of what it originally used to be, which will come true.

In Scandinavian and Baltic folklore

In Scandinavian folklore, the ''skrat'' is a prankster out in the woods or fields, known for its horse laughs, and known particularly to spoil the finds of treasure-hunters, and if the man thinks he spotted a gold ring, the spirit will laugh it away before he has actually gained possession. Commentary classes it as a type of '' myling''.
apheresis
The ''skrat'' or ''skratt'' is also known among the Estonian Swedes, and denotes a devil or ghost But this is more commonly called '' kratt'' (q.v.) (or ''krätt'', ''rett'', ''rätt''), and is a household spirit equivalent of the German ''Schrat ' The ''kratt'' more particularly is a "treasure-bearer" (wealth bringer), and the ''skrat'' or ''kratt'' will enrich his cohabitating farmer by stealing (milk, beer, money) from the neighbor.

This "treasure-bearer" has many aliases (around 30), much of which have different etymologies unrelated to ''Schrat''. In appearance, the ''kratt'' (also ''puuk'', ''nasok'') is sometimes an artificial composite creature made of old junk, which is four- or three-legged (cf. the 2017 Estonian movie ''November''); the subtype (''raha'' means 'money) is a money-bringer, and often take the form of a human or the composite artificial creature already described. However, the ''kratt'' as a group known by various names, and take on the various shapes, including animals such as birds (roosters), dogs (black dogs), or snakes (serpent with a red comb). But even though Charles Dickens as travel writer reported the ''skratt'' as a generous wealth-bringing "fiery dragon", its typical appearance is that of "a huge fiery shape with a long tail", and modern scholarship insist that the ''kratt'' has never been described literally as a "flying serpent/dragon" ''per se'' in the Estonian folklore record; cf. (whereas the Belarussian parallel is the flying serpent ), even though the alias name ('spark tail') is evocative of a fiery serpent. The Estonian ''kratts favourite food is porridge with butter (or "bread-and-butter and two or three types of porridges", which it demands as compensation), in contrast with the Belarusian flying serpent favouring fried eggs. Another point of contrast is that the Estonian ''kratt'' (or more generally the Finnish, Swedish, etc., Finnic, Finno-Ugric and Scandinavian "treasurer-bearer"), does not exhibit the secondary aspect of the "mythological lover", in contrast to the East (and West, South Slavic) "treasure bearer" which also seduces women, the examples of latter being the aforementioned Polish ('the flying one) and the Belarussian "flying serpent" (cf. fiery serpents for these).

Explanatory notes

References

Citations

Bibliography

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** Reprint 2000,
** Band 1 (1927) Aal-Butzemann.
** Band 3 (1931) Freen-Hexenschuss.
** Band 4 (1932) Hieb- und stichfest-Knistern.
** Band 5 (1933) Knoblauch-Matthias.
** Band 6 (1935) Mauer-Pflugbrot
** Band 7 (1936) Pflügen-Signatur.
***
** Band 9 (1941) Waage-Zypresse

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Schocken Books, 2012 edition

{{fairies

German legendary creatures
Jewish legendary creatures
Sleep in mythology and folklore
Forest spirits
Household deities
Sprites (folklore)
Wild men
Kobolds
European legendary creatures