Tradition: Luxembourgish Mythology
Alternative Names: The Junglinster Dwarf
Category: Dwarf
The Myth
The Dwarf of Junglinster was a persistent supernatural dwarf who became involved with a young woman from the village. When the pastor learned of their relationship, he warned the girl seriously and she promised to avoid the dwarf. She told him of her decision, but he refused to leave her alone and somehow continued to find her wherever she went.
Frightened by his continued advances, the girl returned to the pastor and begged him for help. The pastor called upon an old shepherd from Beidweiler who was reputed to know various secret remedies. After considering the problem, the shepherd prepared a strange protection. He dissolved a handful of salt in water, dipped a piece of bread into it, covered the bread heavily with sulfur, and left it to dry on the stove. The girl was instructed to eat the bread before the dwarf’s next visit and then press it against her body when he appeared.
She followed the shepherd’s instructions. When the dwarf came again, a faint sound was heard, and the supernatural visitor immediately recoiled in disgust. From that moment onward, the dwarf abandoned the girl and was never seen again.
Sources
“Der Zwerg von Junglinster.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Luxemburg. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Zwerg_Junglinster.html