Mythology

Washerwomen at Sandweiler

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Night washerwomen
Category: Ghost

The Myth

At the Bireler farm near Sandweiler, it was said that seven girls came every night to wash clothes.

One night, a man passed by and, seeing them at work, jokingly called out to them, “Wash my shirt too!”

The washerwomen were enraged by his words. They rushed upon him and beat him severely with their washing sheets.

From that time on, the man took great care never again to speak to washerwomen at night.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Wäscherinnen bei Sandweiler. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Waescherinnen_Sandweiler.html

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Bichelgretchen on the Syr

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Bichelgretchen; Washerwoman of the Syr
Category: Ghost, Forest dweller

The Myth

Near Mensdorf, people once heard a woman washing clothes every night by the Syr River in the Bichel forest. This figure was known as Bichelgretchen.

She was feared because she carried an iron washing beater, whose cracking sound echoed through the night as she washed.

Travelers were warned never to mock or imitate her.
If someone clapped their hands to mimic the sound of her iron washing beater, they would suddenly lose their footing and fall into the river — at which point loud, mocking laughter would ring out.

Bichelgretchen was believed to possess supernatural strength, and anyone who came too close risked being struck down by the terrible force of her iron washing beater.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Das Bichelgretchen an der Syr. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Bichelgretchen.html

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Washerwomen at the Scholtesbur in Lintgen

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Scholtesbur Washerwomen; Midnight Washers of the Well
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Around midnight, a villager was passing the Scholtesbur near Lintgen with his dog when he saw two women at the well, silently striking their washbasins with tremendous force.

The dog shrank in fear against its master, sensing something unnatural.
The man hurried past, but soon heard footsteps behind him. Looking down, he noticed a long shadow at his feet. Turning quickly, he saw that one of the women was following close behind, while the other came after at a distance.

He called out to them, asking what they wanted, but received no answer. Since they neither attacked nor spoke, he continued on his way, gripping his walking stick in readiness. The dog followed in terror, tail tucked.

When he finally reached the hilltop and looked back, the women had vanished.
Yet down at the Scholtesbur he saw them again — now whirling in a wild, diabolical dance.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Wäscherinnen am Scholtesbur zu Lintgen. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Scholtesbur.html

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The Burjoffern of Niederkorn

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Washerwomen of the Fountain; Midnight Washers
Category: Ghost

The Myth

At the large washing fountain in Niederkorn, people often heard loud splashing around midnight, as if many washerwomen were laboring there.

Those who, out of curiosity, tried to approach and discover the source of the noise were suddenly struck by powerful jets of water. Though they saw no one, they were drenched again and again and chased away in this manner, sometimes all the way to their own doorsteps.

Thus the fountain was remembered as the place where the unseen Burjoffern worked and defended their midnight washing.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Burjoffern zu Niederkorn. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Burjoffern.html

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Night Washerwomen of Reisdorf and Betzdorf

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Midnight Washerwoman; Washer Spirit of the Syr
Category: Ghost

The Myth

At Lêbur in Reisdorf, people say that at midnight loud bellows can sometimes be heard, though no one is seen.

In the Betzter meadows near Betzdorf, on the banks of the Syr River, it is told that a girl once appeared every night to wash clothes in the darkness. She labored alone beside the water, returning again and again after nightfall.

Thus the places were remembered as sites where unseen washer spirits worked in the night.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Nächtliche Wäscherinnen zu Reisdorf und Betzdorf. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Naechtliche_Waescherinnen.html

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Washerwomen of the Runners’ Bridge

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Washerwomen under the Bridge
Category: Ghost

The Myth

One evening a woman was walking past the Fötzbusch forest between Götzingen and Kapellen. When she reached the runners’ bridge near the woods, she sat down to rest.

As she sat there, she suddenly heard from beneath the arch of the bridge a noise like the beating of laundry in water, as though several washerwomen were at work below. Yet no one could be seen.

Thus the bridge was remembered as a place where the unseen washer spirits labored in the darkness beneath the stones.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Wäscherinnnen unter der Läuferbrücke. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Waescherinnen_Laeuferbruecke.html

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Washerwomen of Liefringen

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Liefringen Washer Spirits
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Near the mill at Liefringen, people said that on dark and still nights the sounds of many washerwomen could be heard. From the water came the clapping and splashing of washing, as though a whole group labored beside the stream.

Whenever the noise was heard, no one dared to step outside their house, for the presence of the unseen washerwomen filled the place with fear.

Thus the area around the mill was remembered as the haunt of ghostly women whose washing could be heard in the night.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Waschfrauen bei Liefringen. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Waschfrauen_Liefringen.html

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Bombatsche Kätchen of Greiweldingen

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Bombache Katie, Bombatsche Katie
Category: Ghost

The Myth

In the forest near Greiweldingen, in a meadow called Föllewies, a strange woman known as Bombatsche Kätchen was said to appear beside the stream.

She washed laundry there, but her washing consisted only of small scraps of cloth no larger than a hand. People claimed they had seen these little pieces hanging on the hedges nearby. Because of this, when someone washed only ragged scraps, it became customary to say that they had laundry like Bombatsche Kätchen.

The place where she was believed to live was said to be barren, with no trees growing there. Both adults and children were afraid to go to that spot, fearing that Bombatsche Kätchen might harm them.

Thus she was remembered as a feared washer spirit who haunted the lonely meadow and stream.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Das Bombatsche Kätchen. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Bombatsche_Kaetchen.html

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Washerwoman of Manternach

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Manternach Washerwoman
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Two women from Manternach were returning toward evening from Lellig. When they reached the place called Helgenheischen, they saw a short distance from the path, in the middle of the stream, a woman dressed in white.

She sat in the water, splashing and beating it as though with a washing bat. At the sight, the two women were overcome with fear and returned home pale as death.

Thus the stream near Helgenheischen was remembered as the haunt of the ghostly washerwoman who appeared there in the evening.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Wäscherin bei Manternach. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Waescherin_Manternach.html

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The Washerwoman of the Johannisbur

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Johannisbur Washerwoman
Category: Ghost

The Myth

At the Johannisbur stream between Echternach and Steinheim, a ghostly washerwoman is said to appear on certain nights.

She is described as having a black face and wearing a white cap with mist-grey garments. She wields a long washing bat and strikes the cloth with such force that the blows echo eerily through the Johannisbösch and the nearby rocks.

The washerwoman is also said to host strange, ghostly guests. At times she sets richly laden tables beside the spring and serves them food and wine. After the meal, she washes the table linen in the water.

Once she encountered a man from Steinheim who was returning late at night from Echternach. She invited him to follow her, and he went with her to the spring, where a table stood covered with fine dishes and surrounded by uncanny figures. The man sat down among them, but when he made the sign of the cross to say his prayer, the entire scene vanished at once, and he found himself alone.

Thus the Johannisbur stream was remembered as the haunt of the ghostly washerwoman and her mysterious nightly gatherings.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Waschfrau am Johannisbur bei Steinheim. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Waschfrau_Steinheim.html

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