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Manchachicoj

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Tradition / Region: Argentine Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Demon, Gnome

The Myth

Manchachicoj was said to be a small and deformed being, born of an unnatural union between a demon and a terrestrial witch. Though his body was misshapen, he possessed a strange charm: elegant in manner, seductive in speech, and gifted with a romantic soul that did not match his monstrous origins.

He lived in the Salamanca, the legendary place of sorcery and forbidden knowledge, where demons, witches, and spirits gathered beyond the reach of ordinary people. From this shadowed world, Manchachicoj would emerge, drawn again and again toward humanity by an unfulfilled longing.

His fate was tragic. No matter how refined his words or how sincere his devotion, Manchachicoj was doomed to fall in love with young human women who could never truly belong to him. Each love was impossible from the start, divided by nature, destiny, and fear. He could enchant and fascinate, but never remain. His presence carried danger and sorrow, and his romances ended in separation, loss, or despair.

Thus Manchachicoj became a symbol of cursed desire: a being caught between worlds, elegant yet grotesque, condemned to wander in search of a love he could approach but never keep.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Legendary creatures of the Argentine Northwest region. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendary_creatures_of_the_Argentine_Northwest_region

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Mężyk

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Tradition / Region: Polish mythology
Alternate Names: Mały mąż, mały człowiek, mały mężczyzna
Category: Demon, Gnome

The Myth

In the old beliefs of the Pomeranian people, Mężyk was a feared male demon who preyed upon the most vulnerable moments of human life. He was especially dangerous to women who had just given birth and to their newborn children, striking during the fragile time of childbirth and early infancy.

Mężyk was described as a small, male figure with a beard so long it reached all the way to the ground. He moved unseen through homes at night, slipping close to cradles. When his moment came, he would seize a child from its crib and hurl it onto the bench near the hearth. If no one intervened in time, he would steal the infant away completely, carrying it down into the underground world from which he came. Some believed the stolen children were never returned, replaced instead with sickly or unnatural beings.

He was considered the male counterpart to dangerous female spirits such as the dziwożony, mamuny, sybiele, and boginki—beings likewise blamed for the disappearance or exchange of infants. Together, these spirits embodied the deep anxieties surrounding childbirth, infant mortality, and unseen forces lurking at the edge of the household.

To protect against Mężyk, families relied on simple but powerful defenses. Iron or steel objects were placed in the cradle—knives, nails, or other metal items—believed to repel the demon and prevent him from approaching the child. Through such measures, people sought to guard newborns from the bearded thief who waited in the shadows, ready to snatch life away before it had fully begun.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Mężyk (demon). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (Polish), from https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%99%C5%BCyk_(demon)

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Little Peterman

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Tradition / Region: German mythology
Alternate Names: Petermännchen
Category: House dweller, Gnome

The Myth

Deep within the halls, vaults, and tunnels of Schwerin Palace lives Little Peterman, a small but vigilant household spirit who has guarded the castle for centuries. He is only a few feet tall and is most often seen carrying a heavy ring of keys, which jangle softly as he wanders through locked doors and hidden passages beneath the palace. Some say he also bears a lantern to light his way, and at times a sword or dagger, marking him as both watchman and protector.

Little Peterman is good-natured toward the honest. He rewards loyalty and upright behavior, and he is especially known for watching over the castle’s guards. Soldiers who fell asleep during night watch were sometimes shaken awake by an unseen hand or startled by sudden noises—saving them from severe punishment or disgrace. In this way, Peterman acted not as an enforcer of discipline, but as a quiet guardian of those who tried to do their duty.

Thieves and intruders, however, receive no such kindness. To them, Little Peterman becomes a tormentor. He bangs on doors, crashes through corridors, rattles chains, and plays relentless pranks until the unwelcome guest flees the castle in terror. His noises echo through the night, reminding all that the palace is never truly unguarded.

One old legend says that when Christianity came to the region, the pagan god once worshipped on the site of Schwerin Castle fled, taking his servants with him. Only one remained behind: Little Peterman, who refused to abandon his post. Another tale claims he once worked as a blacksmith in the underground tunnels, forging tools or weapons long forgotten, and that his spirit remained after death to protect the place he knew best.

Little Peterman does not have a single fixed appearance. Some have seen him as a small old man with a long white beard flowing to his waist. Others describe him as a jaunty cavalier with a feathered hat, curled moustache, waistcoat, and riding boots with spurs. Whatever his form, he is always unmistakably at home in the castle.

To this day, Little Peterman is remembered as the faithful spirit of Schwerin Palace: loyal, watchful, playful, and stern by turns—a reminder that even stone walls and locked doors may have a living memory that refuses to leave.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Petermännchen. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterm%C3%A4nnchen

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Clurichaun

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Tradition / Region: Irish mythology
Alternate Names: Clúrachán, Clobhair-ceann, Cluracan, Cluracaun, Cluricaun, Cluricaune
Category: Gnome, Fairy

The Myth

The clurichaun is a solitary fairy who loves drink above all else. He haunts breweries, pubs, wine cellars, and any place where alcohol is stored, and once he chooses a household or cellar, he is extremely difficult to get rid of.

He appears as a tiny old man, often no taller than a foot, with a red and weathered face, twinkling eyes, and a nose stained purple from constant drinking. He usually wears red—most often a red nightcap—along with fine little shoes fastened by silver buckles. Though small, his presence is loud and unmistakable: laughter, singing, banging, and drunken mischief echo wherever he settles.

At night, the clurichaun drinks whatever he can find. He rides atop wine casks like a king on a throne, draining barrels and singing merrily to himself. Servants who are careless suffer his wrath. If a tap is left running, he may wedge his own body into the barrel to stop the flow, waiting patiently until someone comes. But if he is neglected, insulted, or denied food or drink, his temper turns vicious. He pulls people from their beds, throws them down stairs, or beats them black and blue in fits of drunken fury.

Despite this, the clurichaun is not purely malicious. If treated well, he becomes fiercely loyal. He guards the cellar, protects the household’s property, and punishes dishonest servants who steal wine. Many families learned to leave him food and drink each night, fearing his anger more than his appetite.

Some tales say the clurichaun can slip through keyholes, ride through the air on reeds like a witch on a broom, or turn bog rushes into horses for midnight journeys. Others tell of unlucky men who refused to pay him for a drink and were forced into years of service, freed only by calling upon divine blessing.

Like his close cousin the leprechaun, the clurichaun is bound to place rather than people. If a household tries to flee him by moving away, he simply comes along, laughing from inside the new cellar. Once he chooses his haunt, he stays—drinking, singing, guarding, and tormenting—until the wine runs dry or the house falls to ruin.

The clurichaun is thus remembered as a spirit of excess and contradiction: drunken and dangerous, yet protective; cruel when offended, yet loyal when respected—a reminder that hospitality, once given to the unseen, must never be withdrawn.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Clurichaun. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clurichaun

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Dzedka

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Tradition / Region: Belarusian mythology
Alternate Names: Kladenets (Russian), Skarbnik (Polish)
Category: Gnome, Spirit

The Myth

Dzedka appears in the world as an old, humble man. He walks slowly along roads, across fields, and through the quiet edges of villages. His beard is long and red, his eyes glow faintly red as well, and his clothes are plain and worn. With his sack over his shoulder, he looks no different from a poor beggar, and many pass him without a second glance.

Yet to meet Dzedka is never accidental.

When a person comes close to him without realizing who he is, a strange drowsiness falls over them. Their legs grow heavy, their thoughts blur, and they sink into sleep right there by the roadside or in the grass. While they sleep, Dzedka opens his bag and leaves behind a gift.

When the sleeper awakens, Dzedka is gone. In his place lies a sum of money—sometimes small, sometimes exactly what the person secretly needed. It is said that this money brings no curse or misfortune, only relief and opportunity.

For those who are already wealthy but unhappy, Dzedka’s gift is different. Instead of money, he grants a dream. In that dream, he shows them what is missing from their lives and what they must change to find true happiness. When they wake, the knowledge remains clear in their mind, like advice given by a wise elder.

Dzedka never demands gratitude, offerings, or prayers. He gives silently and disappears, leaving only fortune, insight, and the sense that kindness may walk the world disguised as poverty.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Dzedka. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzedka

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Błudnik

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Tradition / Region: Sorbian Mythology, Polish Mythology, German Mythology
Alternate Names:
Category: Swamp dweller, Flame, Spirit

The Myth

In Sorbian tales, the Błudnik appears at night in places where the land itself is uncertain: bogs, marshes, wetlands, dark forests, and damp meadows. Travelers speak of strange lights drifting low over the ground—flickering, swaying, and always just out of reach. To follow them is dangerous.

The Błudnik is not merely a light, but a being with intent. It lures wanderers from safe paths, drawing them deeper into swamps or endless forest loops. Those who follow its glow find themselves hopelessly lost, walking in circles until exhaustion, fear, or the land itself overcomes them. In some stories, travelers vanish forever after chasing the light.

The spirit delights in confusion. It does not attack openly, nor does it speak. Instead, it misleads with false hope—appearing like a guiding flame, a lantern, or a sign of human presence. Only when it is too late does the victim realize the truth.

Elders warned that the Błudnik appears especially to the careless, the proud, or those who wander at night without respect for the land. To protect oneself, one must ignore strange lights, turn clothing inside out, pray, or mark a cross in the earth—anything to break the spell of deception.

In this way, the Błudnik stands as a reminder that not all light leads to safety, and that the night has its own will.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Błudnik. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (Lower Sorbian), from https://dsb.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C5%82udnik

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Krasnoludek

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Tradition / Region: Polish Mythology
Alternate Names: Krasnal
Category: Dwarf, Gnome

The Myth

In Polish folk tradition, krasnoludki are small, human-shaped beings who live close to the hidden places of the world—forests, hills, cellars, and quiet corners where people rarely look. They are usually described as no taller than a child’s knee, with bearded faces, clever eyes, and bright red pointed caps that mark them out from ordinary folk.

Krasnoludki are not mighty warriors or terrifying spirits. Instead, they belong to the older, gentler layer of folklore: quiet helpers, watchers, and sometimes tricksters. They move unseen among humans, observing daily life and occasionally intervening. When treated with respect, they may help with small tasks, guard treasures, or bring subtle good fortune. When mocked or disrespected, they can just as easily hide things, confuse travelers, or vanish altogether, taking their luck with them.

They are often imagined as living in groups, with strong bonds of kinship, and are skilled with simple crafts and handiwork. Though small, they are clever and resilient, and their red caps are said to be symbols of vitality and protection.

In many tales told to children, krasnoludki represent a world just beside the human one: familiar, homely, and magical without being grand. They remind people that the land itself is alive with watchers, and that kindness toward small, unseen beings is repaid in quiet ways.

Over time, krasnoludki became figures of warmth and nostalgia in Polish storytelling—symbols of folk wisdom, endurance, and the magic hidden in everyday life.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Krasnoludek. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krasnoludek

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Obariyon

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Bariyon, Ubariyon, Onbu Obake, Obosaritei
Category: Yōkai, Gnome

The Myth

Along quiet roads and village paths in Niigata, travelers once feared encountering a strange child-sized being called Obariyon. It hid in bushes or trees by the roadside, waiting patiently for someone to pass by. When a lone traveler approached, the creature would suddenly leap onto their back and cry out, “Obariyon!” — a childish demand for a piggyback ride.

If the traveler panicked or tried to throw it off, misfortune followed. But if they sighed, endured, and carried the Obariyon on their back, the burden grew heavier with every step. What began as the weight of a child soon felt like a crushing load, bending backs and shaking knees. To make matters worse, Obariyon was said to chew at the scalp of whoever carried it, gnawing painfully as it laughed.

Some stories say the weight became so great that the traveler was eventually crushed beneath it. Yet more often, the tale ends differently. When the exhausted person finally reached home and the Obariyon vanished, the unbearable weight was revealed to have been a sack of gold all along. Those who endured the journey without complaint found themselves suddenly rich.

Because of this, Obariyon came to embody a dangerous test of patience. Villagers even wore metal bowls on their heads to protect themselves from its biting jaws, unsure whether the creature would bring ruin or reward. In the end, Obariyon was remembered as a yōkai of burden and blessing alike — a spirit that punished weakness, but richly rewarded those who carried its weight to the very end.

Gallery

Sources

Yokai.com contributors. (n.d.). Obariyon. In Yokai.com — The Japanese Mythology Database, from https://yokai.com/obariyon/

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Burggruef Gnome

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourgish Mythology
Alternate Names: Wichtel
Category: Gnome, House dweller

The Myth

In the town of Grevenmacher, people once believed that small gnomes lived in the Burggruef, the old castle moat. These beings were not hidden enemies or frightening spirits, but friendly little folk who moved easily between their own hidden dwelling and the world of humans.

The gnomes were said to walk openly among the townspeople, helping where they could and bringing quiet good fortune. Unlike many other little folk, they were not feared or avoided. Instead, they were loved, welcomed, and spoken of with warmth. Their presence was believed to bring harmony to the town, as if the land itself was content.

Over time, the gnomes of the Burggruef faded from sight. Whether they withdrew deeper into the earth or simply left when belief in them waned was never known. Yet the memory remained: that once, in the castle moat of Grevenmacher, small hidden beings lived close to humanity, and for a time, both worlds shared the same ground in peace.

Gallery

Sources

SAGEN.at contributors. (n.d.). Wichtlein (Grevenmacher). In SAGEN.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Wichtlein_Grevenmacher.html

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Chopirako

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Tradition / Region: Japanese mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: House dweller, Gnome

The Myth

The Chopirako is said to be the most beautiful and refined of the household spirits known as zashiki-warashi. It appears as a small child, no more than four or five years old, pale and strikingly white, with a presence gentler and more radiant than its kin. Where a chopirako dwells, the house is blessed with quiet prosperity and harmony.

In old stories from northern Japan, a single household might host several such child spirits, each bound to a different space. One might live in the earthen floor, another in the living room, another near the tools of daily labor. The chopirako, however, was the highest and most graceful among them, associated with the heart of the home rather than its margins.

At night, when the house slept, these spirits made themselves known through sound rather than sight. Soft footsteps, the whisper of movement, or the faint presence of a child passing unseen through rooms were signs that the spirits were awake. They were never meant to be watched directly, and attempts to spy on them risked driving them away forever.

As with all zashiki-warashi, the chopirako was a double-edged blessing. As long as it remained, the household would thrive. If it vanished—offended, neglected, or simply choosing to depart—fortune would fade, and the house would fall into decline. Thus families treated their homes with care and respect, believing that unseen children might be listening, watching, and quietly deciding the fate of those who lived there.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). Chopirako. In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1085633632.html

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