The Myth

The Heimchen are tiny supernatural beings, sometimes no taller than a finger, who appear in several forms throughout German folklore. In the Vogtland they are little mountain people living inside a great cave, while in Thuringia they are tiny earth spirits living in the mouse holes of human houses. They are often cheerful and friendly, helping people without being seen.

The mountain Heimchen live inside a hidden cavern illuminated as brightly as daylight by a gigantic carbuncle. Gemstone flowers grow throughout the underground meadow, while a soft humming fills the cavern like the sound of harps. The entrance does not always appear, and the little mountain people cannot always be seen by human eyes.

These Heimchen keep tiny golden sheep, no larger than lambs. Their shepherdess is Ilsa, an enchanted girl dressed in white who carries a golden staff. She remains among the mountain people while waiting to be freed from her enchantment.

In Thuringia, the Heimchen are also called Heimele, Butzelmännchen, or Erdmännele. These tiny beings live in mouse holes and emerge in the evening dressed in white. Hundreds of them may gather in a meadow, where they dance together in great circular dances. Their appearances are believed to reveal whether good or bad fortune is coming to the people living nearby.

The little spirits can also reward people who care for them. Small golden boxes containing delicate and delicious gifts may be found outside their mouse holes in the morning. The Heimchen are especially fond of helping humans secretly. They tend fields, look after cattle, and watch over children when their parents are away.

The Heimchen were once said to have been particularly helpful around the villages of Cosdorf and Rödern. Their constant assistance made the farmers prosperous, as the tiny spirits quietly helped with their work and cared for the animals.

Eventually, however, a stern stranger arrived and warned the villagers that Perchta should not be trusted. He told them that the Heimchen were actually the souls of children who had died without being baptized. After hearing this, the villagers became suspicious of the little spirits and stopped accepting their help.

Perchta then decided that the time had come to leave. She gathered the Heimchen and crossed the stream with them, taking the mysterious little people away from the villages. They never returned, and the prosperity they had brought with them disappeared as well.

The Heimchen are also connected with Perchta herself. In some Thuringian traditions they form part of her supernatural retinue, appearing as the wandering souls of unbaptized children. Their nature therefore ranges from benevolent household helpers and cheerful dwarfs to mysterious spirits belonging to the world of the dead.

Tradition: German Mythology
Alternative Names: Gütchen, Gütgen, Güetel, Gietel, Gitel, Gidl, Gidle, Göthel, Jütel, Heugütel
Category: Dwarf

The Myth

The Gütel is a small household spirit of German folklore, sometimes appearing as a little man or dwarf. In the Vogtland and Ore Mountains, the related Heugütel is described as a bearded little old man who lives in the hayloft. Despite his aged appearance, the Heugütel is believed to be the soul of a child who died without being baptized, and its tiny footprints may sometimes be found in ashes. Other Gütel are associated with the stove itself, where they are believed to make their homes. Geplakte markdown

The Gütel are generally helpful household spirits. They assist with work around the house and stable, while the Heugütel is particularly fond of children, rocking them to sleep and keeping them company while they dream. These spirits are most comfortable in households where people live piously, and the Heugütel is said to remain only where the inhabitants lead a Christian life. Geplakte markdown

Not every Gütel is friendly, however. Some of their darker forms torment children during the night, making them restless and causing illnesses such as chills, seizures, and measles. Women giving birth are also considered vulnerable to their attention. A Gütel can sometimes be distracted with small amusements: a little pot of leftover bathwater placed on the stove gives it something to play with, while eggshells, playing cards, and small bows and arrows can be left around the house or barn for its entertainment. Geplakte markdown

There are also ways of driving them away. Greasing the stove door with bacon rind or placing straw from the bed of a woman in childbirth across the doors can keep them out. In Saxony, giving the spirit new clothing is another way to make it leave. With the departure of the benevolent Heugütel, however, the household may lose the blessing and protection that came with its presence. Geplakte markdown

The Gütel can become especially dangerous when illness or death is near. In the Ore Mountains, a loud and heavy crash heard during the night was regarded as an omen of impending death. When someone had already fallen ill, offerings could be made to the Gütgen in the hope that the spirit would take an animal instead of the sick person. A cock was offered for a man, a sow for a woman, a goat for the person making the offering, and hens for children. Geplakte markdown

At night, the more troublesome forms also visit the stables. They torment cows until the animals growl and harass horses until they kick and bite. They are notorious for tangling the manes of horses and the hair of women into knots, a practice that gave rise to names such as Haargütel, meaning “hair Gütel.” Geplakte markdown

One particularly troublesome form haunts the woods and attacks solitary travelers. The little spirit leaps onto a person’s back and forces them to carry it, growing heavier and tormenting its victim until they become exhausted, breathless, and sick. In this form the Gütel becomes a true wandering menace rather than a helpful household companion.

Sources

“Gütel.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 4, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCtel