Luxembourg Ghost Mythology

Haunting at the Enerèweschter Weiher

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Spirits of the Enerèweschter Pond
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Many years ago, on Friday nights, two enormous human figures were said to appear at the pond called Enerèweschter Weiher in the forest near Lintgen. Each carried a long whip and lashed the water with such force that the noise echoed far and wide. At the same time, strange cries of “Hoo-hoo! Hoo-hoo!” rang through the night.

Afterward, the figures would perform a circle dance around the pond. Whenever anyone tried to approach them, they vanished at the slightest sound, leaving only a loud splash behind in the water.

One night, several daring young men from the village hid behind thick tree trunks, each armed with a club, determined to uncover the truth. As midnight drew near, they again heard the whipping and the eerie cries, and they saw the figures dancing. At a signal, they rushed forward and struck with all their strength. But their blows met nothing. They heard only a splash in the pond, and then all was still.

From that time on, the haunting ceased. Yet even today, some villagers believe that invisible spirits still play their tricks at the Enerèweschter Weiher.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Der Spuk am Enerèweschter Weiher zu Lintgen. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Spuk_Lintgen.html

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Washerwomen at the Kaselter Bach

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Storm washerwomen of Kaselter Bach
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Near Lintgen, at the source of the Kaselter Bach, there once stood a tall beech tree. People said that shortly before a thunderstorm, musicians dressed in red would often appear there and play soft music.

At the same time, from the edge of the spring came the loud knocking and banging of washerwomen beating their laundry in rhythm with the music. According to the legend, these women caused rain and storms by splashing water upward with their washing whips, sending it into the clouds.

No one dared to watch or disturb them. It was said that even the strongest man would have been crushed or killed by a single blow from these washerwomen.

One traveler, who dared to whistle when he heard the ghostly music, was immediately struck by lightning. And two shoemaker’s apprentices, returning drunk from the Lorenzweiler fair and cursing the apparition, were found the next day beside the Kaselter stream with torn clothes, battered faces, and fractured skulls.

Thus the people avoided the place whenever storms gathered.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Wäscherinnen am Kaselter Bach bei Lintgen. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Waescherinnen_Lintgen.html

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Washerwomen at the Pond Rahloch

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Rahloch washerwomen
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Between Sandweiler and Itzig lies a pond known as the Rahloch, a place once regarded as eerie and feared.

One night, a lone wanderer passed by the pond and heard the sharp echo of washerwomen’s whips sounding through the still air. As he approached, he saw several old women standing at the water’s edge, silently beating laundry before them.

Seeing nothing strange in their work, he called out, “You are washing very late!” But the women gave no answer. Thinking to jest, he spoke again: “Ah, you wretched women, won’t you wash my clothes too?”

Hardly had he spoken when the women rushed upon him and beat him so severely that he fell senseless to the ground. When he later came to, he found his clothes completely soaked, and realized that the washerwomen had stripped him and washed them while he lay unconscious.

Filled with terror, he fled home as fast as he could. Only the next day did he notice that his hair had turned gray from the fright.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Wäscherinnen am Weiher „Rahloch“. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Waescherinnen_Rahloch.html

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Washerwomen at Sandweiler

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Night washerwomen
Category: Ghost

The Myth

At the Bireler farm near Sandweiler, it was said that seven girls came every night to wash clothes.

One night, a man passed by and, seeing them at work, jokingly called out to them, “Wash my shirt too!”

The washerwomen were enraged by his words. They rushed upon him and beat him severely with their washing whips.

From that time on, the man took great care never again to speak to washerwomen at night.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Wäscherinnen bei Sandweiler. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Waescherinnen_Sandweiler.html

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Bichelgretchen on the Syr

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Bichelgretchen; Washerwoman of the Syr
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Near Mensdorf, people once heard a woman washing clothes every night by the Syr River in the Bichel forest. This figure was known as Bichelgretchen.

She was feared because she carried an iron whip, whose cracking sound echoed through the night as she washed.

Travelers were warned never to mock or imitate her.
If someone clapped their hands to mimic the sound of her whip, they would suddenly lose their footing and fall into the river — at which point loud, mocking laughter would ring out.

Bichelgretchen was believed to possess supernatural strength, and anyone who came too close risked being struck down by the terrible force of her whip.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Das Bichelgretchen an der Syr. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Bichelgretchen.html

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Washerwomen at the Scholtesbur in Lintgen

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Scholtesbur Washerwomen; Midnight Washers of the Well
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Around midnight, a villager was passing the Scholtesbur near Lintgen with his dog when he saw two women at the well, silently striking their washbasins with tremendous force.

The dog shrank in fear against its master, sensing something unnatural.
The man hurried past, but soon heard footsteps behind him. Looking down, he noticed a long shadow at his feet. Turning quickly, he saw that one of the women was following close behind, while the other came after at a distance.

He called out to them, asking what they wanted, but received no answer. Since they neither attacked nor spoke, he continued on his way, gripping his walking stick in readiness. The dog followed in terror, tail tucked.

When he finally reached the hilltop and looked back, the women had vanished.
Yet down at the Scholtesbur he saw them again — now whirling in a wild, diabolical dance.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Wäscherinnen am Scholtesbur zu Lintgen. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Scholtesbur.html

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The Burjoffern of Niederkorn

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Washerwomen of the Fountain; Midnight Washers
Category: Ghost

The Myth

At the large washing fountain in Niederkorn, people often heard loud splashing around midnight, as if many washerwomen were laboring there.

Those who, out of curiosity, tried to approach and discover the source of the noise were suddenly struck by powerful jets of water. Though they saw no one, they were drenched again and again and chased away in this manner, sometimes all the way to their own doorsteps.

Thus the fountain was remembered as the place where the unseen Burjoffern worked and defended their midnight washing.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Burjoffern zu Niederkorn. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Burjoffern.html

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Night Washerwomen of Reisdorf and Betzdorf

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Midnight Washerwoman; Washer Spirit of the Syr
Category: Ghost

The Myth

At Lêbur in Reisdorf, people say that at midnight loud bellows can sometimes be heard, though no one is seen.

In the Betzter meadows near Betzdorf, on the banks of the Syr River, it is told that a girl once appeared every night to wash clothes in the darkness. She labored alone beside the water, returning again and again after nightfall.

Thus the places were remembered as sites where unseen washer spirits worked in the night.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Nächtliche Wäscherinnen zu Reisdorf und Betzdorf. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Naechtliche_Waescherinnen.html

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Washerwomen of the Runners’ Bridge

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Washerwomen under the Bridge
Category: Ghost

The Myth

One evening a woman was walking past the Fötzbusch forest between Götzingen and Kapellen. When she reached the runners’ bridge near the woods, she sat down to rest.

As she sat there, she suddenly heard from beneath the arch of the bridge a noise like the beating of laundry in water, as though several washerwomen were at work below. Yet no one could be seen.

Thus the bridge was remembered as a place where the unseen washer spirits labored in the darkness beneath the stones.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Wäscherinnnen unter der Läuferbrücke. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Waescherinnen_Laeuferbruecke.html

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Washerwomen of Liefringen

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Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Liefringen Washer Spirits
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Near the mill at Liefringen, people said that on dark and still nights the sounds of many washerwomen could be heard. From the water came the clapping and splashing of washing, as though a whole group labored beside the stream.

Whenever the noise was heard, no one dared to step outside their house, for the presence of the unseen washerwomen filled the place with fear.

Thus the area around the mill was remembered as the haunt of ghostly women whose washing could be heard in the night.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Die Waschfrauen bei Liefringen. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Waschfrauen_Liefringen.html

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