Tradition: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternative Names: The Gathering Place of the Will-o’-the-Wisps
Category: Flame
The Myth
The Sammelplatz der Irrlichter, meaning the Gathering Place of the Will-o’-the-Wisps, is a notorious haunted area in the fields of Ertchessteil near Bech, along the Moselle River in Luxembourg. For generations, the place has been feared throughout the surrounding countryside because of the mysterious wandering lights that gather there. Nowhere else were the Irrlichter said to be so numerous or so daring, appearing in groups of dozens to torment those who passed through after dark.
The will-o’-the-wisps delighted in leading late-night travellers astray, luring them into dangerous swamps before clapping their hands in malicious amusement at their victims’ misfortune. They pursued those who fled in terror, chasing them through the darkness and making escape difficult. Yet the spirits were not entirely fearless: a traveller who stood their ground courageously and quickly made the sign of the cross could force them to retreat helplessly.
The tricks played by the Irrlichter at Ertchessteil were remembered as especially notorious, and many of their deceptions resembled those told in other local legends. The field remained famous as their principal gathering place, where the wandering lights assembled in great numbers to frighten travellers and lead them into danger.
Sources
La Fontaine, Edmond de. Luxemburger Sagen und Legenden. Luxemburg: Jos. Beffort, 1882.