Drak (mythology)

TheDrak,Drâk,Dråk,DrakelorFürdrak(either for-Drakor fireDrak), inOldenburgalsoDrake(f.), is ahousehold spiritfromGerman folkloreoften identified with theKoboldor thedevil(GermanTeufel),both of which are also used as synonymous terms forDrak.Otherwise it is also known asDrache(dragon) but has nothing much to do with the reptilian monster in general.

Names

TheDrakis known under various and often individual names. Some names given to theDrakhint at itselfishorKobolddescent, such asAlf,Alber,Alp,Alrun(mandrake),Kolbuck,Koberchen,Pûks,andErdhühnlein(earth chicken). Names based on clothing are typical for bothDrakandKobold,e.g.Hauslätzchen(house bib),RôdjackteorRodjackte(the one with the red jacket),Jackerl(the one with the jacket; a devil name),Langwams(long doublet), andKortwämsken(little short doublet).Yet other names are rather proper names like they are also given to theKoboldor even the devil, such asMårten(Martin),Mertche(diminutive of Martin),Lütche Ohle(little old one, a devil name),Steppchen,SteppkenorSteffchen(devil names),Hänschen(Johnnie),andFederhänschen(feather-Johnnie, another devil name).

Appearances

The appearance of theDrakis very variable. Although humanoid shape is attested, as manikin, sometimes with a red cap and a red jacket, theDrakpredominantly takes the shape of an animal. Especially frequently mentioned is the appearance of acatorkitten,be it black or brown-black, even a so-calledTeufelskatze(devil cat), or of achicken(cock or hen) be it black or even wet.Such aDrachenhuhn(dragon chicken) is sometimes capable of layingTaler(thaler) or silver eggs,in the latter case two per day.Other attestedbirdshapes, besides bird in general, are thepartridge,a grayhawk,anowl,and ajackdaw.TheDrakmight also appear as a (pied)calf,a (three-legged or fiery)hare,a wingless redsnake,or a blackant.TheDrakmight take the shape of an animal by day and that of aKoboldby night,or it appears as a chicken inside the house and in fiery appearance outside of it.

Variousfieryappearances are also typical for theDrakwhen it flies out at night. Ashooting star,meteor,will-o'-the-wisp(German:Irrlicht) orlightningflash might thus very well be theDrakThe fiery appearance of theDrakit too variable to describe exhaustingly, thus only a few examples shall suffice. It might appear as a fire column or fire pillar, as various objects with a fiery tail (abroom,a glowing ball, a star), as a fiery red lump, a firelight, a fiery grain sack, and quite frequently as a fiery boom (with a broad head, a big head like a stove pot, or surrounded by blue firelight). Other appearances are more like animals, such as a fiery snake, cat, or chicken, a being with a big fiery head and a long black-blue tail, and a being with a big dog head and a glowing snake tail. Where theDrakis flying everything burns down. Because of that it is regarded as an omen of firestorm. TheDrakmight also burn down its owner's house if it feels mistreated.Names associated with theDrak's fiery and tailed appearance areHerbrand(shooting star),Langschwanz(long tail),Kortschwanz(short tail),Schlingsteert(either gobble tail or entwining tail),Gluhswanz,GluhstertorGlüsteert(all: glowing tail), andSalamander.It further is accompanied by infernalsulfurstench.

Owning aDrak

To win aDrakas one's domestic spirit adeal with the devilsigned with one's ownbloodis necessary, thus the owners are often said to bewitches(German:Hexen,sg.Hexe) orfreemasons(German:Freimaurer(sg., pl.)).What makes owning aDrakso desirable despite the price of one'ssoulis the fact that theDrakbrings its owner whatever they might covet bystealingit from the neighbors.ADrak's owner is not allowed to pray or to go to church forcommunion.TheDrakwill take every third owner back tohell.

There are several types ofDrak.

The first is theGelddracheor money dragon which brings its ownermoney,goldandtreasures,might also show where the latter are hidden.In accordance to both activity and appearance other names for theDrakareGeldhühndel(money chicken),Tragerl(carrier), andStutzli(money).The money it brings can be spent but will return to the owner without fail. Owning aDrakcan be bound to owning a specificTalerwhich will always return to its owner if not sold lower than its value. Otherwise it can only be inherited or given away as part of adowry.Occasionally, such aFeuerpûz(fire bogey) might also be enclosed in aglass bottle.Owning aDrakmakes the process of dying very difficult its owner. Placing the dying person on thedunghillor placing dung under the dying person's pillow is the only way to ease dying for aDrakowner. But even then theDrakmight still scratch its owners face. Contrarily, a sudden death might also be the fate of aDrakowner, particularly as it kills its owner by various means if it believes its owner to live too long. People who get rich quickly are said to have aDrak.TheDrakbrings its money load through the chimney or the skylight. Sometimes this load also can be horse dung turning into gold afterwards. TheDrakcarrying gold or money appears distinctly colored (red-hot, half red, half blue, blue generally or when carrying a particularly big amount, black or dazzlingly yellow) or flies particularly low. For this job theDrakexpects to be well fed with millet gruel, though,to be placed on the stove theDrakdwells inside.If the feeding ceases, theDrakcan't fulfill a task or its lair is discovered, then theDrakwill escape never to return again.When the gruel is burnt, then theDrakrages in the stove so that it seems it would soon explode.

Another is theGetreidedrache,KorndracheorWeizendrache(crop dragon, grain dragon, and wheat dragon respectively) which is also known asRoggenkatze(rye cat).This kind ofDrakaccordingly brings its owner loads of cereals. When doing so its color is blue, gray, black, or variously colorful. TheDrakusually transports grain in an eggshell or a nutshell. Sometimes it carries so much that it has to throw away a part of its load during its flight. TheDrakoften appears as a wet or freezing chicken at the wayside. If someone takes it home for it to warm at the fireplace, it will bring cereals to show its gratitude.

The third type is theButterdrache(butter dragon),Milchdrache(milk dragon)orQuarkdrache(quark dragon).Accordingly, thisDrakbrings its owner milk or dairy goods, among themcheeseandquarkbut never the good one.The milk might look like cherry stones, though.It might even bring all ingredients needed to bake a cake, e.g. cream, butter, and raisins.It sucks other people's cows dry so that they only give blood instead of milk.In the shape of asquirrelit sits on a cow when the cattle get milked.Stealing butter is rather difficult for theDrak,as it needs to visit a hundred villages to gather a spoonful of butter.The same can also be true for milk, for it will take one "Nödel"(measurement? spoon?) of milk per house in a hundred villages.TheDrakbrings other goods too, such as wood lugs turning into smoked beef,sausages(accordingly it is calledWurstdracheor sausage dragon),bread,flourand eggs,linen,dung, andfrogswhich can be used to makechicken soup.It only readily unloads its gifts if there is nobody else looking, though, and also guards its owner's goods.Hence, it will disappear if eavesdropped on.TheWurstdracheis offered milk containing chunks of bread roll for its services.

In the guise of a black dog, theDrakvomitsdumplings.TheDrakcan also vomit milk.As a black cat, it defecatesknöpfle,a type of Southern German noodle dish. Only that the knöpfle are cat dirt in reality.The toad-shapedKnöpflekröte(knöpfle toad), too, poops knöpfle.TheDrakis milked through a thread.

There is further differentiation between aguter Drache(good dragon) and aarmer Drache(poor dragon). The former enters the chimney as a fireball and pours out milk, eggs, and money. The latter appears as a long boom, enters through the window'spendentiveand leaves behind a gruesome stench.

Driving theDrakaway

Other people can drive theDrakaway or force it to part with its load by swearing (e.g. "Schwinsdreck!"=" pig dirt! "), calling it by its name,calling at it through a wheel hub,or shouting commandos such as "Halbpart!"(" half part! ")"Schütte, schütte!"(" Pour out, pour out! "),"Losch loh!"(" Let go! "inSilesian dialect= "Lass los!"inStandard German). Reciting the rhyme "Es fährt kein Fuhrmann über Land und Brück', Er lässet seinen Zoll zurück!"(" Noteamsterdrives overland and over bridges, He leaves behind his toll! ") has the same effect, as has showing one's naked behind, and shooting or throwing at theDrak,best with inherited silver, iron, or steel.Yet another method is pulling off a wheel from a wagon and putting it back on inverted. But one shouldn't stand directly beneath theDrakand flee under a roof as otherwise it will throw down a load of lice or filth,or sulfur stench which will never go away. A yellow sulfuric smelling substance left behind by theDrakis calledDrachenschmalz(dragon lard)orDrachengspei(dragon spit). This is the load theDrakhad to drop because it flew overmanureortan,thought to be yellow, pungent milk.Otherwise it might also enter the house of its owner, setting it on fire and burning itself to death.

Literature

• Ludwig Bechstein:Deutsches Sagenbuch.Meiningen1852. (reprint: F. W. Hendel Verlag,Meersburg/Leipzig1930.)
• Eckstein:Butter.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 1 Aal-Butzemann.Berlin1927. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Eckstein:Ei.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen.Berlin 1930. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Eckstein:Kuchen.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 5 Knoblauch-Matthias.Berlin 1933. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Eckstein:Milch.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 6 Mauer-Pflugbrot.Berlin 1935. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Eckstein:Milchhexe.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 6 Mauer-Pflugbrot.Berlin 1935. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Eckstein:Rahm.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 7 Pflügen-Signatur.Berlin 1936. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Freudenthal:glühend.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 3 Freen-Hexenschuss.Berlin 1931. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Heckscher:Dünger.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen.Berlin 1930. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Herold:Eichhörnchen.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen.Berlin 1930. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Hoffmann-Krayer:Dohle.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen.Berlin 1930. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Jungwirth:Kobold.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 5 Knoblauch-Matthias.Berlin 1933. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Künzig:Klöße, Knödel.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 4 Hieb- und stichfest-Knistern.Berlin 1932. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Lincke:Nachtjagd, -jäger.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 6 Mauer-Pflugbrot.Berlin 1935. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Mackensen:Drache.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 2 C.M.B.-Frautragen.Berlin 1930. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Mengis:rot.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 7 Pflügen-Signatur.Berlin 1936. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Olbrich:Schwefel.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 7 Pflügen-Signatur.Berlin 1936. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Riegler:Hase.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 3 Freen-Hexenschuss.Berlin 1931. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• Tiemann:Rad.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 7 Pflügen-Signatur.Berlin 1936. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)
• von Geramb:Ofen.In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer:Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 6 Mauer-Pflugbrot.Berlin 1935. (reprint: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2000,ISBN978-3-11-016860-0)