Mythology

Kobold

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Tradition: German Mythology
Alternative Names: Kobolt, Kobolde, Cobold
Category: Goblin

The Myth

The Kobold is a supernatural household spirit from German folklore, associated with both mischief and helpful service. Kobolds often perform domestic chores in exchange for offerings, washing dishes, cleaning kitchens, sweeping floors, and caring for livestock. They may also assist tradespeople and shopkeepers. However, their helpfulness is conditional: when mistreated or neglected, they can damage property and torment the people they live alongside. Kobolds are generally connected to a particular household, and some traditions claim that every house has its own resident spirit, whether its inhabitants welcome it or not.

Kobolds can inhabit hearths, barns, stables, woodhouses, and the beer cellars of inns. They typically perform their work at night, completing tasks that the human occupants have left unfinished. Some regional spirits have more specialized duties, such as the Wolterken, which grooms horses, feeds pigs, and carries water to livestock. Other kobolds are associated with particular occupations or locations. The Klabautermann, for example, is a shipboard spirit sometimes classified as a type of kobold, while mine spirits known as Kobel or Bergmännlein are associated with underground places. These overlapping traditions make it difficult to draw a strict boundary between kobolds and other household or nature spirits.

The appearance of a kobold varies considerably. It may resemble a small child wearing a fine jacket, a wrinkled old man in a pointed hood, a bearded figure, an animal, or even an object. Some are said to manifest as a shaft of fire with a head-like shape. Red clothing and pointed red caps are characteristic of certain varieties, including the Hütchen, whose name means “little hat.” Other named types include the northern German Niss and Puk, the latter related to the English folkloric Puck. The shapeshifting household spirit Hinzelmann, sometimes depicted as a feather or an animal, is another related figure, distinct from the Heinzelmännchen of Cologne.

Traditions also describe different ways in which a kobold might enter a household. In one account, a person takes pity on a cold, wet supernatural creature and brings it inside to warm up, unintentionally giving it a permanent home. A tradition from Perleberg describes a more deliberate method: on Saint John’s Day, a person must go into the forest between noon and one o’clock and find an anthill with a bird on it. After the correct words are spoken, the bird transforms into a small human figure that jumps into a bag, allowing the person to carry it home. Once settled, the kobold remains even when the household’s servants come and go.

Some accounts give kobolds a more unsettling origin, suggesting that those appearing as children may be the spirits of dead children. In such stories, a knife carried by the spirit represents the means by which the child was killed. Other traditions portray kobolds as mine spirits or beings whose nature overlaps with that of dwarves, wood sprites, and other supernatural inhabitants of the natural world. Across these varied accounts, the kobold remains a flexible figure of German folklore: a spirit that lives close to human communities, capable of useful work, disturbing tricks, and sometimes frightening manifestations.

Sources

“Kobold.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobold#Characteristics

Boezehappert

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Tradition: Dutch Mythology
Alternative Names: Boesjappert
Category: Goblin

The Myth

The Boezehappert, also known as the Boesjappert, is a frightening supernatural creature from the folklore of Friesland and Groningen in the northern Netherlands. In Friesland, it is described as a female necker, or water spirit, that lurks in deep lakes and ditches. It is said to drag children underwater when they play too close to the water’s edge, capturing and devouring them. The creature served as a terrifying warning to children to stay away from dangerous waters, return home when darkness fell, and never linger beside lakes or ditches after sunset.

A poem describes the Boezehappert as an enormous creature measuring four ells in length, with glowing green eyes, large, sharp teeth, horns, scales, and sharp claws. Its monstrous appearance reinforces its role as a predator lurking beneath the water, waiting for unwary children to approach.

In Groningen, the Boezehappert is associated instead with the spirit of a rye field. Despite this difference, it also served as a bogeyman used to frighten children into behaving properly. The creature’s regional variations reflect how local folklore used supernatural threats to warn children of dangers in their surroundings, whether the deep waters of Friesland or the fields of Groningen.

Sources

Van der Veen, Abe. “Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten.” Abe de Verteller. https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/

Bugul Noz

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Tradition: Breton Mythology, French Mythology
Alternative Names: Bugul-Noz
Category: Goblin

The Myth

The Bugul Noz, whose name means “Night Shepherd” or “child of the night,” is a nocturnal supernatural being from the folklore of Morbihan in Brittany, France. It is commonly described as a little man, goblin, or kobold, although some accounts portray it as a tall and foreboding figure that appears at twilight. Its appearance varies between traditions, but it is generally associated with the dangers of remaining outdoors after dark.

In descriptions recorded by Émilie Carpentier, the Bugul Noz is a small man with claws, fiery eyes, and a whistling voice. It threatens shepherds and workers who linger outside after nightfall. One legend tells of the creature riding through the darkness until it encounters a crossroads, where it turns back to avoid the shape of the cross. If it captures a person, it is said to drown its prisoner when the cock crows. Other accounts describe the Bugul Noz wearing an animal pelt that allows it to assume a wolf-like form, along with a large hat and cloak. In this version, the creature grows larger as it approaches its victims. It has also been portrayed as an undead spirit or a werewolf that steals children by hiding them beneath its hat.

Not every tradition depicts the Bugul Noz as malicious. Some accounts describe it as a benevolent spirit whose frightening reputation serves to discourage people from remaining outside in unsafe places after dark. Rather than seeking to harm travelers, it may be understood as a supernatural warning to shepherds and workers to return home before nightfall. In this interpretation, the Bugul Noz fulfils a role similar to that of other Breton bogeymen, using fear to encourage caution.

One particularly poignant version describes the Bugul Noz as the last of its kind. Aware of its terrifying appearance, the lonely creature calls out to warn approaching travelers so that they will not be frightened to death when they encounter it. Although it resembles a monster, it does not necessarily wish to harm anyone. This version transforms the Bugul Noz from a simple bogeyman into a tragic, isolated being whose frightening appearance prevents it from approaching others without causing fear.

Sources

“Bugul Noz.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugul_Noz

Kocmeuch

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Tradition: Polish Mythology
Alternative Names: Kocmołuch
Category: Goblin

The Myth

The Kocmeuch, also known by the nickname Kocmołuch, meaning “dirty” or “slovenly,” is a malevolent household demon in the traditional beliefs of the Lasowiaks, an ethnographic group in southeastern Poland. It is feared for stealing milk from cows, secretly entering stables and depriving households of an important source of nourishment. Its presence is associated with a gradual decline in milk production, with each milking yielding less than the one before.

The Kocmeuch is described as a small, deformed, naked man with an unusual and grotesque appearance. It has a large, egg-shaped head perched on a thin neck, large drooping ears, slanted eyes, a strongly bulging belly, a protruding navel, and equally prominent buttocks. Its arms and legs are thin, ending in sharp claws resembling those of a bird. Despite its strange appearance, the demon is dangerous to the livelihood of the household it inhabits.

During the day, the Kocmeuch hides beneath the threshold of a stable, remaining concealed from the people who care for the animals. At night, it moves about invisibly and creeps toward a cow’s udder to steal its milk. According to folk belief, this unnatural milking could cause cows to become barren. The gradual reduction in milk yield was therefore regarded as a possible sign that the demon had settled in the stable.

The traditional means of protecting livestock from the Kocmeuch involved the use of blessed objects. These sacred items were believed to frighten the demon away and drive it out of the stable, restoring protection to the household and its animals.

Sources

“Kocmeuch.” Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kocmeuch

Kallikantzaroi

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Tradition: Greek Mythology
Alternative Names: Kallikantzaros, Kalikantzaroi, Skalikántzaros
Category: Goblin

The Myth

The Kallikantzaroi are mischievous and frightening supernatural creatures in Greek folklore, believed to emerge from underground during the twelve days of Christmas, from Christmas Day until Epiphany on 6 January. Their appearance varies between regions, but they are commonly described as ugly, black, hairy goblins with horns, burning red eyes, and long black tails. Other accounts portray them with goat-like or donkey-like ears, animal limbs, cloven hooves, protruding tongues, and distorted features. They may be enormous or diminutive, and some traditions describe them as one-eyed, blind, lame, knock-kneed, or reverse-footed. They are generally depicted as male and are sometimes associated with the lustful, animalistic nature of satyrs.

According to a widespread legend, the Kallikantzaroi spend the rest of the year underground, attempting to saw through the trunk of the great tree that supports the Earth. They hope to bring the tree down and destroy the world. Just as they are about to finish their work, however, Christmas arrives, allowing them to emerge onto the surface. They abandon their task and spend the twelve days tormenting humanity. They enter houses through chimneys, urinate on fireplaces, contaminate food and drink, spoil milk, break furniture, devour Christmas pork, and play cruel pranks on people. When Epiphany arrives, the sun begins moving again and the creatures must return underground. They discover that the world tree has healed itself during their absence, forcing them to begin sawing once more. This cycle is believed to repeat every year.

Regional traditions describe the Kallikantzaroi in different ways. In older folklore from Chios, they were said to roam during the Christmas season and attack people with their sharp claws. They might sit on a victim and ask, “Tow or lead?” A person who answered “tow,” meaning a clump of hemp fibre, would be spared, while someone who answered “lead” would be crushed under their enormous weight and beaten. One method of distracting them was to leave a sieve outside. The creatures would attempt to count its holes but could never pronounce the number three, which was considered sacred, and so they repeatedly began counting from one. Another version involved leaving tangled hemp for them to count until the cock crowed and dawn destroyed them.

In some traditions, the Kallikantzaroi are believed to originate from human beings. On Zakynthos, a child conceived by a sinful woman on Christmas Eve was said to become a skalikántzaros in adulthood, gaining the ability to transform into one during the Christmas season. Other communities believed that children born at particular times could become these creatures unless protective measures were taken. In other parts of Greece, however, the Kallikantzaroi are regarded as a separate race of demons rather than transformed humans. They are said to feed on frogs, worms, snakes, and other small creatures, with pork considered a particular delicacy.

People traditionally used a variety of methods to keep the Kallikantzaroi away from their homes. Desserts and honey cakes could be left out to distract or appease them, while households in some regions offered particular foods on New Year’s Eve or Epiphany. Keeping a fire burning in the fireplace was believed to prevent them from entering through the chimney. Other protective measures included burning a Yule log throughout the twelve days, throwing salt or old shoes into the fire, burning incense, marking doors with a black cross on Christmas Eve, and hanging a pig’s lower jaw near the entrance or chimney. These customs reflect the widespread belief that the Kallikantzaroi could be held at bay until Epiphany forced them to return to the underworld.

Sources

“Kallikantzaros.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kallikantzaros#Greek_folklore

Losholich

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Tradition: Romani Mythology, Romanian Mythology
Alternative Names: Losholich, Locsholich, Lobolich, Luca
Category: Goblin

The Myth

The Losholich is a terrifying forest spirit in Romani folklore, described as a shaggy, toothy goblin with long, drooping ears. It inhabits remote wildernesses, including deep forests and caves, where careless travelers risk encountering it. Its appearance is grotesque and frightening, with coarse hair, sharp teeth, and an unsettling presence. Some accounts describe its ears hanging down to its shoulders, its arms reaching toward the ground, and its long fingers ending in sharp claws.

The Losholich is portrayed as a dangerous and unpredictable creature that attacks those who enter its territory. It may conceal itself among trees or emerge from the darkness to frighten or assault unsuspecting travelers. One account describes it as having a greenish fire burning inside its body, which it fans with its long arms and legs, using its movements to make the flames burn brighter. Its strange appearance and association with the wilderness make it a fearsome presence in the forest.

Despite its monstrous nature, the Losholich can sometimes be overcome through cleverness. According to one tradition, a person may defeat it by cutting the hair from its feet. If the hair is removed, the creature loses its power and dies. However, it is said to return in another form, suggesting that destroying its physical body does not necessarily end its supernatural existence.

Some stories describe the Losholich as a servant of the devil, while others portray it as a creature that can be compelled to perform tasks. In one account, it helps a cruel countess transplant an enormous oak tree from the forest to her courtyard. Although the spirit accomplishes the seemingly impossible task, its assistance does not make it benevolent. The Losholich remains a dangerous being associated with sinister powers, threatening wilderness, and misfortune.

Sources

“Losholich.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). https://www.bestiary.us/losholich

Nuno sa Punso

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Tradition: Philippine Mythology
Alternative Names: Nuno, Nuno sa Punso
Category: Goblin

The Myth

The Nuno sa Punso, meaning “old man of the mound,” is a small, dwarf-like nature spirit in Philippine mythology. Also known simply as the Nuno, meaning “old man,” “grandparent,” or “ancestor,” it is believed to be the spirit of an ancestor who dwells in an anthill or termite mound. Nunos may also inhabit places such as the roots of large trees, spaces beneath rocks, riverbanks, caves, and gardens. They are commonly described as tiny old men, although they differ from the dwende, another dwarf-like being in Philippine folklore. Whereas dwendes are often portrayed as playful creatures who reveal themselves to children, Nunos are easily angered and can punish those who disturb their homes.

People traditionally ask permission from a Nuno before cutting down a tree, breaking previously untouched ground, or carrying out other activities that might disturb its dwelling. This precaution is intended to avoid misfortune caused by offending the spirit. Anyone who damages or trespasses upon its mound risks provoking its anger and suffering supernatural retribution. For example, a person who kicks an anthill inhabited by a Nuno may find their foot painfully swollen. The spirit is believed to defend its territory and punish those who show disrespect toward its home.

The Nuno possesses the ability to curse people who come too close and offend it. According to folk belief, it may spit on a trespasser’s body, causing pain or illness in the affected area. Reported afflictions include boils, swelling, bodily aches, stomach pain, vomiting blood, urinating black liquid, and excessive hair growth on the back. Someone who urinates on a Nuno’s mound may suffer swelling of the genitals, while a person who kicks it may experience a swollen foot. These beliefs emphasize the importance of respecting the spirit’s dwelling and avoiding careless disturbance of places where it might reside.

Sources

“Nuno sa Punso.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuno_sa_punso

Muki

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Tradition: Peruvian Mythology, Bolivian Mythology
Alternative Names: Muqui, Mooqui, Chinchiliku, Anchanchu, Janchanchu, Jusshi
Category: Goblin

The Myth

The Muki is a goblin-like creature from the mining traditions of the Central Andes, particularly Peru and Bolivia, with related beliefs found in Ecuador and Colombia. Its name is associated in Quechua with both asphyxia and a goblin that inhabits caves. The Muki lives underground, especially within mines, where miners encounter it amid the darkness and dangers of their work. Despite regional differences in its name and appearance, stories of the Muki are widespread throughout Peru, from the southern highlands of Puno to the northern region of Cajamarca.

The Muki is usually described as a dwarf-like being no taller than two feet, with a stocky body and a head that appears to sit directly on its torso without a neck. In traditions from Cerro de Pasco, it has pale skin, a reddish, hairy face, long bright-blond hair, and a long white beard. Its deep, husky voice contrasts with its small stature, while its eyes reflect light like polished metal. Some accounts give it two small, shining horns that it uses to break rocks or indicate mineral veins. It may also have pointed ears and unusually large feet, causing it to walk with a waddling gait.

The Muki’s clothing often resembles that of a miner. It may wear a helmet, work clothes, and studded boots, carrying a lantern or flashlight. Other descriptions portray it in green clothing, a fine vicuña cape, or a miner’s waterproof outfit. Its appearance changes with the times: older accounts describe it wearing a vicuña poncho and carrying a gas lantern, while more recent depictions give it modern mining equipment and a battery-powered flashlight. Some traditions say it can transform into animals or take the form of a blond, light-skinned man to deceive miners. Different mining communities recognize their own local varieties of Muki, associated with particular mines and districts across the Andes.

Although the Muki can frighten or attack people, it is not always hostile. It sometimes warns favored miners of danger by whistling loudly and can influence the mineral veins underground, making them appear or disappear, or changing the hardness of the ore. It may even help with mining work or enter into agreements with individual miners. The Muki generally favors discreet, honest people who keep their promises and do not reveal their dealings with it. In return for its assistance, it may ask for coca leaves, alcohol, or companionship. Such agreements are dangerous, however, because miners may fail to fulfill their promises, provoking the Muki to take their lives.

Other stories portray the Muki as a threat to children, particularly those who have not been baptized. In some southern Peruvian traditions, unbaptized children may themselves become Mukis, while other accounts describe the creatures kidnapping children and keeping them until they transform into goblins. These beliefs reflect the blending of older Andean ideas about underground spirits with Christian concepts of baptism and spiritual protection. The Muki is associated with the Ukhu Pacha, the Andean world below, and helps explain the mysterious events, dangers, and uncertainties encountered in the mines. It may live alone or in groups, but is generally said to prefer solitude in an underground world where time does not pass and the creatures do not age.

Sources

“Muki (mythology).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muki_(mythology)

Trasgu

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Tradition: Spanish Mythology, Portuguese Mythology
Alternative Names: Trasgo, Trasno, Cornín, Xuan Dos Camíos, Gorretín Coloráu
Category: Goblin

The Myth

The Trasgu, also known as the Trasgo, Trasno, or Trasno, is a mischievous goblin found in the folklore of northern Spain, particularly Asturias, Galicia, and Cantabria, as well as northern Portugal. Its origins are associated with Celtic mythology, and similar beings appear in other European traditions. The Trasgu is especially well known in Asturian mythology, where it is regarded as a domestic spirit that enters houses at night and causes trouble for their inhabitants.

In Asturias, the Trasgu is usually depicted as a tiny man with dark skin, a limp in his right leg, red clothing, and a pointed red hat. A distinctive feature is a hole in his left hand. Other descriptions give him horns, a tail, sheep-like ears, and unusually long legs. He may wear a long black-and-gray cloak or a tight, dark-brown outfit. Depending on the region, he is also known as Cornín or Xuan Dos Camíos in western Asturias, and as Gorretín Coloráu, meaning “little red hat,” in eastern Asturias.

The Trasgu enters homes during the night, making strange noises and moving objects from their usual places. When mischievous, he may break kitchen vessels, frighten livestock, rummage through chests of clothing, and spill water. Despite these disturbances, his pranks generally cause no lasting material damage, and the household’s possessions are often found as they were before. When treated well, however, the Trasgu may become helpful and perform domestic chores while the inhabitants sleep.

In Cantabrian folklore, the Trasgu takes a somewhat different form. He is described as a small goblin with a black face and green eyes who lives in forests. He delights in mocking people and playing tricks, particularly on girls occupied with activities such as shepherding. Because he must hide from humans, his clothing is made from leaves and moss. In Portuguese folklore, the Trasgu or Trasno is especially familiar in the Trás-os-Montes region. Traditions of similar mischievous beings also spread beyond Portugal, inspiring related legends in places such as Brazil.

Sources

“Trasgu.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trasgu

Hobgoblin

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Tradition: English Mythology
Alternative Names: Hob, Hobgoblin
Category: Goblin

The Myth

A hobgoblin is a supernatural household spirit in English folklore, traditionally appearing as a small, hairy man. Like the closely related brownies, hobgoblins are often found in human dwellings, where they perform domestic chores while the family sleeps. Their tasks may include dusting, ironing, threshing corn, and other small household jobs. In return, they generally require little more than an offering of food.

Although hobgoblins were once regarded as helpful spirits, their reputation increasingly became associated with mischief following the spread of Christianity. Unlike the generally peaceful brownies, hobgoblins enjoy practical jokes and may play tricks on the people they serve. They can also be frightening or dangerous when angered. Some possess the ability to change shape, appearing as different animals or even as smoke. Offering them clothing can cause them to leave a household forever, although stories differ on whether they take offence at the gift or consider themselves too proud to continue working in new clothes.

One of the most famous figures associated with hobgoblins is Robin Goodfellow, a mischievous spirit identified by William Shakespeare as a hobgoblin in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Another example is Billy Blind, a clever hobgoblin or brownie who appears in several traditional ballads, where he helps people in difficult situations by providing useful information and advice.

Other local traditions describe hobgoblins whose activities range from harmless pranks to more troublesome interference. Blue Burches, associated with a shoemaker’s household in Somerset, usually appeared as an old man wearing loose blue breeches but could transform into a white horse, a black pig, or a wisp of blue smoke. Although the family tolerated his antics, clergymen eventually banished him. Robin Roundcap, a hearth spirit said to haunt Spaldington Hall in Yorkshire, helped with threshing corn and other domestic work but sometimes mixed wheat and chaff together, overturned milk pails, and extinguished fires. According to the legend, three clergymen confined him in a well through their prayers, giving the well the name Robin Roundcap’s Well.

Sources

“Hobgoblin.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobgoblin