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Wichtelchesleh Gnome

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourgish Mythology
Alternate Names: Wichtelcher of A Kungen
Category: Gnome

The Myth

Between Greisch and Tüntingen lies a meadow known as A Kungen, a quiet place bordered by stone and grass. In old times, the rocks there were believed to be inhabited by ancient male elves, small beings bound to the earth itself.

These beings were called the Wichtelchesleh, named after the stony ground in which they lived. They were never seen openly, yet their presence was known to those who worked the land. Stones would shift when no one touched them, and faint sounds were sometimes heard from within the rock, as if something small and living moved beneath the surface.

The Wichtelchesleh were thought to dwell deep inside the stones, emerging only when the meadow was empty and silent. Like many hidden folk, they avoided human eyes and withdrew if disturbed. Their world existed alongside the human one, separated by nothing more than a thin layer of earth and stone.

As fields were changed and the land grew busier, the Wichtelchesleh faded from memory. Yet the name of the place remains, a reminder that once, beneath the rocks of A Kungen, the Little Ones were believed to live.

Gallery

Sources

SAGEN.at contributors. (n.d.). Wichtelcher (Greisch). In SAGEN.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/wichtelcher_Greisch.html

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Junglinster Gnome

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

The Myth

In the lands around Junglinster, small hidden folk known as the Wichtelcher were once said to live close to humans, though rarely seen by them. They dwelled not in houses, but in quiet places where field, forest, and village met: the forest of Echels between Gonderingen, Junglinster, and Burglinster; the field called Gêschelt near Gonderingen; and the marshy ground of Bruchlach near Junglinster.

The Wichtelcher were tireless workers. At night, when human voices faded and lamps went dark, they emerged to tend fields, repair tools, and set right what had been left unfinished. By morning, tasks were mysteriously complete, as if done by invisible hands. No thanks was spoken aloud, for gratitude shown too directly might drive them away.

They lived close to the earth, slipping easily between soil, roots, and stone. When the land was disturbed or their places cleared away, they vanished without complaint, retreating deeper into the ground or leaving the area altogether. No one ever saw them depart; one day the help simply stopped.

Even after they were gone, people remembered the Wichtelcher as quiet helpers of an older time, beings who worked alongside humanity without reward, bound to the forests and fields as long as those places remained whole.

Gallery

Sources

SAGEN.at contributors. (n.d.). Wichtelcher (Junglinster). In SAGEN.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/wichtelcher_Junglinster.html

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Tillepetchesfel Gnomes

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourgish Mythology
Alternate Names: Gnomes of the Tillepetchesfels
Category: Gnome

The Myth

On the wooded slope above Schläderbach rises the Tillepetchesfels, a rocky outcrop long feared and avoided. In ancient times, people said the stone was not empty, but alive with hidden folk.

Within the rock lived gnomes, small earth-dwellers who shared the place with heathens of an older, forgotten age. They were rarely seen, yet their presence was felt: footsteps where no one walked, whispered sounds in the trees, and the sense of being watched by eyes that never showed themselves.

The gnomes were said to belong to the mountain itself. They moved through stone as easily as humans move through air, emerging only when the forest was quiet and retreating again into the rock before dawn. No one knew whether they guarded buried treasures, ancient rites, or simply the land itself.

Those who climbed the Tillepetchesfels without respect were said to return uneasy, confused, or ill at ease, as though the mountain had rejected them. For this reason, the people believed the gnomes still lingered there, bound to the stone, keeping the memory of the old world alive beneath moss, roots, and rock.

Gallery

Sources

SAGEN.at contributors. (n.d.). Wichtelcher. In SAGEN.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/wichtelcher.html

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Little Fellows

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Tradition / Region: Manx mythology
Alternate Names: Themselves, Little People, Little Ones, Lil’ Boys
Category: Gnome

The Myth

On the Isle of Man, the Little Fellows still walk the land—though never, ever should they be called fairies. To name them so is careless, even dangerous. They are spoken of politely, as Themselves or the Little People, for they may be listening.

The Little Fellows are not tiny, winged creatures, but small folk, two to three feet tall, shaped much like humans. They dress in red caps and green jackets, and they love the hunt above all things. Many have seen them riding out on horseback, followed by packs of little hounds shimmering in every color of the rainbow. Their hunting parties pass swiftly through fields and hills, vanishing as suddenly as they appear.

They are clever, willful, and easily offended. Mischief comes naturally to them, and spite is never far away. A careless word, a disrespectful glance, or a failure to show courtesy may earn their anger. That is why the people of the island speak of them kindly and indirectly, giving them flattering names so as not to draw ill luck.

Though troublesome, the Little Fellows are not wholly evil. They live alongside the human world, slipping in and out of sight, riding the hills, running their hounds, and watching how people behave. Those who respect them may pass unharmed. Those who forget themselves may learn—too late—that the Little People have long memories, sharp tempers, and ways of reminding humans that Ellan Vannin is not theirs alone.

Gallery

Sources

ManxLiterature.com contributors. (n.d.). Manx fairy tales. In ManxLiterature.com, from https://manxliterature.com/sort-by-genre/other/manx-fairy-tales/

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Yumboes

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Tradition / Region: Wolof mythology , Senegal Mythology
Alternate Names: Bakhna Rakhna (“the good people”)
Category: Gnome

The Myth

The Yumboes are the spirits of the dead, small and radiant beings who dwell just beyond the human world. They are said to be pearly white from head to toe, sometimes with hair that shines like silver in the moonlight. Though once human, they now exist in a lighter, more otherworldly form, standing no taller than a small child.

Their home lies beneath the Paps hills, hidden from ordinary sight. By day they remain concealed underground, but at night—especially under the full moon—they emerge to dance in open places. Their dances are graceful and joyful, and their laughter is said to drift softly through the night air.

The Yumboes hold great feasts beneath the moon. Long tables appear laden with food, though the servants who wait upon them are invisible, seen only as moving hands and feet. They eat corn, which they quietly take from human stores, and fish, which they catch themselves. These meals are not secretive: Yumboes are known to invite both locals and strangers to join them, welcoming humans into their celebrations without malice.

Though they belong to the realm of the dead, the Yumboes are gentle beings. Their alternate name, Bakhna Rakhna, means “the good people,” reflecting their benevolent nature. They do not haunt or terrify, but instead linger close to the living world, dancing, feasting, and reminding those who glimpse them that the boundary between life and death is thin, luminous, and sometimes joyful.

Gallery

Sources

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

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Iratxoak

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Tradition / Region: Basque mythology
Alternate Names: Iratxo (singular), Galtxagorriak
Category: Demon, Gnome

The Myth

The Iratxoak are small, imp-like beings who live close to human settlements, especially farms and rural households. Though easily overlooked, they are generally benevolent and industrious, favoring people who treat them with respect.

By night, while humans sleep, the iratxoak may come out to help with farm labor—threshing grain, tidying barns, or completing chores that would take people much longer by day. They ask little in return. Simple offerings of food are enough to secure their goodwill. When welcomed in this way, they work silently and efficiently, leaving signs of their help behind by morning.

Among the iratxoak are a well-known group called the Galtxagorriak, whose name means “red pants.” These iratxoak are distinguished by the bright red trousers they wear. Lively and tireless, they are especially fond of work and movement, often completing tasks at astonishing speed through the night.

Though helpful, iratxoak are not to be mocked or ignored. Their aid depends on mutual respect, and without proper offerings or gratitude, they may simply vanish—or refuse to help again. In this way, they embody a quiet moral of Basque folklore: prosperity comes through reciprocity, care, and respect for unseen helpers who share the land.

Gallery

Sources

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

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Meuzelmannekens

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Tradition / Region: Dutch Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Gnome

The Myth

In the peatlands of the Soesterveen near Soest, people once spoke quietly of small beings called Meuzelmannekens. They were a kind of earth folk, living unseen among the turfhopen—the stacked piles of peat that lay drying on the land. While the peat remained, the Meuzelmannekens dwelled within it. When the turfhopen were taken away, they slipped back into the earth itself, vanishing without trace.

They were also said to live in the grain fields near the Lazarusberg. While the corn stood tall, the Meuzelmannekens remained hidden among the stalks. But when harvest time came and the fields were cut bare, they withdrew once more into the mountain. There, deep within the hill, they spent the entire winter, sheltered beneath the ground.

No one ever truly saw them. They caused no harm, stole nothing, and brought no illness or fear. Their presence was known only through tradition and quiet belief, as beings who shared the land but never troubled those who worked it.

The Meuzelmannekens were remembered as peaceful dwellers of soil and field, moving with the rhythms of harvest and winter, retreating into earth and hill as naturally as seeds sinking back into the ground.

Gallery

Sources

Abe de Verteller contributors. (n.d.). Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten. In Abe de Verteller, from https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/

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Galgenjong

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Tradition / Region: Belgian Mythology
Alternate Names: Galgenaas, Duivelsjongen
Category: Gnome, Demon, Familiar

The Myth

In old Flemish tales there is a sinister little being known as the Galgenjong, a creature bound to bargains and blood. In its smallest form it appears as a tiny black beast, no larger than a pea, with a blood-red mouth. At other times it takes on a clearer shape: a gnome-sized figure, as large as a child’s doll, black-skinned, with shining eyes and a red tongue. In this form it hides itself in a small box or a pouch, waiting for its owner’s command.

Whoever possesses a Galgenjong gains unnatural advantages. Their hands move faster than any other worker’s, their strength exceeds human limits, and luck follows them—especially in games of cards. The creature can see what is yet to come and knows where hidden treasures lie, whispering secrets no ordinary person could uncover.

But its gifts are never free. Each day the Galgenjong must be fed a drop of its owner’s blood. Without this offering it grows restless and dangerous. Though it brings fortune to its master, it spreads misfortune to everyone around them. Neighbors fall into bad luck, accidents multiply, and prosperity withers wherever the creature lingers.

To obtain a Galgenjong, one must commit oneself to darkness. Some say it can be gained by fasting for three days in honor of the Devil. Others claim it comes only through joining a secret and wicked brotherhood. Once acquired, the creature is almost impossible to be rid of. It cannot be dismissed or destroyed by its owner’s will alone. Only if someone else steals it away can its bond be broken.

If the Galgenjong remains with its master until death, it claims its final payment. When the owner dies, the creature carries their soul with it, dragging it down to hell as the last fulfillment of the pact.

Thus the Galgenjong is remembered as a source of power and ruin alike: a tiny servant of immense danger, promising success in life while quietly ensuring damnation in the end.

Gallery

Sources

Abe de Verteller contributors. (n.d.). Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten. In Abe de Verteller, from https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/

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Zashiki-warashi

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Zashiki-bokko, Kura-warashi, Warashi
Category: Yokai, Gnome

The Myth

In the farmhouses and old family homes of northern Japan, there lives a mysterious child spirit known as the zashiki-warashi. It appears as a young child—sometimes five or six years old, sometimes closer to twelve—often with a red face and long or cropped hair. Though it looks human, it is not. It belongs to the house itself.

A zashiki-warashi dwells in the inner rooms of prosperous households, especially among wealthy farmers or old, respected families. As long as the child spirit remains, the house flourishes. Crops grow well, money comes easily, and the family prospers. But if the zashiki-warashi leaves, misfortune soon follows. Wealth drains away, sickness appears, and families fall into ruin.

The spirit is playful and unpredictable. It may wander around beds at night, flip pillows, make footsteps in empty rooms, or rustle paper screens. Sometimes it laughs, sometimes it snorts, and sometimes it speaks openly with people. Guests may glimpse it crouching beneath a household altar or peeking from behind doors. In other homes, it remains unseen, known only through sounds and disturbances.

Some houses are said to host more than one zashiki-warashi. In certain villages, they are even ranked—some higher, some lower—each with a different temperament and influence. A few appear as boys, others as girls, and some are remembered as former princesses or noble children bound to the house by fate.

Many stories tell of disaster following their departure. In one tale, two zashiki-warashi were seen moving from a house to another; soon after, nearly the entire family left behind died from poisoned food. In another, a household fell into poverty the moment its spirit vanished. These stories serve as warnings: the spirit’s presence must be respected, never mocked or driven away.

Most strangely, zashiki-warashi do not reveal themselves to everyone. Often, only the head of the household can see them—and even then, only a few times in a lifetime. To others, the spirit remains invisible, known only by laughter in empty rooms or footsteps where no child should be.

Thus the zashiki-warashi endures as both blessing and omen: a child who brings fortune, a spirit bound to home and lineage, and a reminder that prosperity, once lost, may never return.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 座敷童子 (Zashiki-warashi). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654392.html

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Red Willow Children

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Tradition / Region: Chinese Mythology
Alternate Names: Red Willow Boys, Tamarisk Children
Category: Gnome

The Myth

In the deep mountains near Urumqi, herders tell of tiny people who appear when the red willows bloom. They are no taller than a foot or two and resemble miniature men, women, and children. When spring comes and the willow branches redden, these beings break off the twigs, bend them into small hoops, and wear them as crowns upon their heads.

They gather in groups and dance among the valleys, moving in circles and making soft, musical sounds, like a distant song carried by the wind. Their dancing is joyful but fleeting, and they vanish as suddenly as they appear.

At times, the Red Willow Children creep into camps or tents to steal food. When caught, they do not resist. Instead, they fall to their knees and weep like frightened children. If tied or imprisoned, they refuse all food and soon die. If released, they move away timidly at first, walking only a short distance before turning back to look. If shouted at or chased, they kneel again and cry. Only when they are far enough away to know they are safe do they finally flee, crossing streams and mountains and disappearing into the wilderness.

No one has ever found their nests or homes. They seem to belong neither fully to the forest nor to the mountains, and their true nature is uncertain. Some say they are neither spirits nor beasts, but something in between.

One tale tells of a local magistrate who once captured a Red Willow Child and brought it away for closer inspection. Its hair, eyebrows, and beard were said to be indistinguishable from those of a human. This discovery led some to believe that the ancient stories of little people hidden in the wild places of the world might be true after all.

Thus the Red Willow Children remain beings of song and sorrow—small, elusive figures who dance beneath blooming willows and vanish before they can ever be fully understood.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). 红柳娥. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%BA%A2%E6%9F%B3%E5%A8%83

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