Tradition: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternative Names: Leemänchen
Category: Forest Dweller
The Myth
The Leemännchen is a ghostly being that haunts the wooded areas of Aspelt and Rumelange, as well as the surroundings of Gentingen along the Our River. It delights in leading travellers astray, confusing them as they make their way through the darkness. Although its appearance is not described, its presence can be recognised by its eerie cries echoing through the night.
One night, a traveller who had drunk enough wine to feel unusually courageous passed through the area and heard the Leemännchen calling out. Irritated by the noise, he shouted at the spirit, telling it to keep quiet and boasting that he knew the way better than it did. Immediately, an invisible hand struck him so violently on the head that he staggered twenty paces away.
The blow left a permanent mark. For the rest of the traveller’s life, the five fingerprints of the Leemännchen remained visible on his skull, where no hair would ever grow again. The encounter taught him that mocking the ghostly guide was a dangerous mistake, even for someone who believed himself brave enough to face the darkness.
Sources
La Fontaine, Edmond de. Luxemburger Sagen und Legenden. Luxemburg: Jos. Beffort, 1882.