Italian mythology Archives

Tradition / Region: Italian Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Mountain dweller

The Myth

High in the southern Alps, around the village of Andrista, there is said to live a strange creature called the Badalisc. It dwells in the dark forests above the settlement, hidden among rocks, snow, and twisted trees. It has a great head wrapped in goat skin, small horns, a vast gaping mouth, and glowing eyes that shine in the night.

The Badalisc does not live quietly. Throughout the year it troubles the people of the village. It lurks in the woods, watching, listening, knowing their secrets. Though rarely seen, its presence is felt—mischief, unease, whispers of wrongdoing. The villagers know it must be dealt with.

So every year, on the eve of Epiphany, when winter lies deep upon the mountains, the men of the village go out to capture the creature.

They enter the forest masked and disguised. Among them are hunters, sweepers who clear the way, an old man and old woman, a hunchback who strikes the ground with his stick, and a young maiden who serves as bait, for the Badalisc is said to be stirred by desire. After searching the woods, they bind the creature with a rope and drag it down from the mountains into the village.

It is led into the square before the gathered community.

The Badalisc itself does not speak. It is wild and dumb. But through an interpreter its words are given voice. A long speech is read aloud—its “confession.” In this speech the creature reveals the hidden faults, scandals, petty sins, and foolish schemes of the villagers. Nothing escapes it. It mocks, exposes, and ridicules the community. As the words are spoken, the hunchback beats his stick rhythmically, marking the weight of each accusation.

The villagers listen. They laugh, they wince, they recognize themselves in the creature’s gossip.

When the speech is finished, the mood shifts. Singing begins. Dancing follows. Food is shared, especially the great dish of polenta prepared for the occasion. The Badalisc sits in a place of honor during the feast, no longer a menace but part of the celebration.

On the following day, its time among humans ends. The rope is removed. The Badalisc is released and allowed to return to the forest, back to its mountain home.

There it waits through another year—watching, listening, gathering secrets—until once again winter comes, and the villagers climb into the woods to bring it down.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Badalisc. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badalisc

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How to Invite The Badalisc

Tradition / Region: Italian Mythology
Alternate Names: Munaciello
Category: House dweller, Gnome

The Myth

The Monaciello, the “little monk,” is one of the most familiar and unsettling spirits of Naples. Small, stocky, and hooded in a monk’s robe, he moves unseen through the city, slipping in and out of homes as easily as water through stone. His presence is felt most often at night, when doors are shut and the streets are quiet.

According to the old stories, the Monaciello knows the hidden world beneath Naples. He travels through underground passages, wells, and tunnels, emerging unexpectedly inside kitchens, cellars, or courtyards. When he appears in a home, he expects hospitality—food, wine, and respect. Families who share what little they have are often rewarded, sometimes waking to find coins, jewels, or other valuables left behind without explanation.

But the Monaciello is quick to anger. If he is refused, mocked, or treated with greed, he becomes spiteful. He may steal valuables, break household items, or plague the residents with bad luck. For this reason, people speak of him cautiously, never boasting about his gifts, for fortune gained through the Monaciello can vanish as suddenly as it appears.

Despite his temper, the Monaciello is not considered evil. In many tales, he appears to the poor or desperate, guiding them to hidden treasure or secretly leaving wealth where it will be found. Such sudden luck is still explained by saying, “Perhaps the little monk has been in the house.”

Thus the Monaciello remains a figure of uncertainty—part helper, part trickster, a spirit of Naples itself. He rewards generosity, punishes arrogance, and reminds those who live above the old stones that unseen guests still walk the city by night.