Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Esch-sur-Sûre Gnome, Ranker Delt Gnome
Category: Gnome / land spirit / helpful folk
The Myth
Many years ago, when gnomes were still said to live in the Ranker Delt a short distance south of Esch-sur-Sûre, two farmhands were plowing with their horses near a rock where the little beings had made their home.
As they worked, they suddenly heard a voice calling from inside the rock: “Bread! Bread!” One of the farmhands jokingly shouted back, “Cake! Cake!”
They continued plowing and soon turned back along the next furrow. When they came again to the same place, they found a large white napkin spread out on the ground. Upon it lay a fine cake, and beside it a knife.
“Should we eat the cake or not?” asked the older of the two.
“Why not?” replied the other. “The gnomes put it there so we could eat it.”
So they ate the cake completely and left the napkin where it lay. After plowing another furrow, they returned to the spot, but everything had been cleared away.
Gallery
Sources
sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Wichtlein bei Esch an der Sauer. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Wichtlein_Esch_Sauer.html
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
- Christian Ascetic Deep Dive
Philosophical Readings
- Nietzschean Deep Dive
Psychological Readings
- Jungian Deep Dive
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive
Political / Social Readings
- Marxist Deep Dive
Other
- How to Invite The Gnome of Ranker Delt