5. Alp
The word "alp" is a variation of the word "elf". The Alps are creatures that appear
in nightmares in the middle of the night. These creatures would appear in the dreams
of men and women but prefers to disturb women more.
They could manipulate dreams to their liking and would create horrible nightmares. This
is probably why Alptraum is the word for nightmare in German which if translated literally would
mean Elf dream.
Other than manipulating dreams, they like to sit on the people that they are disturbing.
The pressure from them sitting would become heavier until the crushing weight wakes the
victim up thus they were said to be the reason of sleep apnea, sleep paralysis and even night terrors.
They also like to drink blood. They would suck the blood through the breasts of humans
and again prefers women to get the extra taste of breast milk, apparently they do that with
cows as well, because they like milk.
The alps are known to shape-shift. They can change into cats, pigs, dogs or even butterflies
but to know that the animal is a shape-shifting Alp is by looking at the hat it always wears.
The hat is known as a Tarnkappe which means magic or camouflage hat that gives them the
power to turn invisible and maybe even shape-shift. The hat is always visible no matter what shape
the alp takes.
4. Nachzehrer
They are a hybrid between vampires and ghouls and their name could mean "after living".
The Nachzehrer is prominent in old folklore around most of the northern regions of Germany.
They are creatures that come to life after being dead. A nachzehrer are usually created
when the dead person died because of unnatural causes such as suicide or accidental deaths or even plagues
and the curse making them into one is not transferable like the werewolves or modern
vampires that we know.
Apparently, the Nachzehrer does not really suck blood but they do devour the bodies of
their family members, people near them and even their own bodies. The Nachzehrer can
also kill you by ringing church bells that bring death to all that hears them and by
making you come in contact with its shadow.
Now, since they are ghoul like, they are really hard to kill and can't be killed by normal
methods. You would need to have a coin and get ready to chop off their head. The coin
were said to paralyse the Nachzehrer just like how Chinese vampires are with talismans.
So you have to put the coin in their mouth and then make the final blow by chopping the
head clean off its shoulders. So to find a Nachzehrer that are inactive, you would find
them lying in its grave with its thumb in its opposite hand and has its left eye opened,
apparently they have the same habit when they are just walking about aimlessly.
3. Nachtkrapp
This creature was definitely inspired to strike fear into children to make them go to sleep.
The folklore came from South Germany and similar legends exists in Hungary, Czech Republic,
Poland and even Russia.
The Nachtkrapp is usually described as a giant and nocturnal raven-like bird. They would
go out of their nest during nighttime to hunt. They hunt little children for food.
Probably because children are smaller and easier to carry, they would abduct the children
to their nest and would start devouring them brutally, ripping their limbs and pecking
at the body to pick out the children's heart.
Some say the Nachtkrapp actually has a special bag it likes to carry around to abduct the
children away with. Though, how they hold the bag while being a bird is a bit of a mystery
and just adds to its creepiness.
There's a tamer version of the scary Nachtkrapp called Wütender Nachtkrapp which literally
means Angry Night Raven.
Though there's the addition of Angry in its name, they don't kill like the normal Nachtkrapp would.
They would just make loud noises by crowing out loud and flapping its wings to terrorise
children into being silent. Then, there is another version which depicts
a benevolent version of the Nachtkrapp which is called the Guter Nachtkrapp which means
Good Night Raven.
This bird would enter the children's room and gently sing them to sleep. For all we
know, it was instilling fear amongst the children by singing scary children's rhymes with them
being eaten at the end.
2. Erdhenne
The Erdhene is a spirit mostly found in the houses in the Alp region and Bavaria. They
are almost like the Banshees that I have explained in my Irish Mythological Creatures video in
that they act as a prophecy that death is coming.
Their appearance is very different from a banshee.
The Erdhenne would usually be invisible being a spirit that roams the house but if they
do appear in front of the human, they would appear as a shaggy, old and ash grey hen-like
figure with a short neck.
So rather than wailing like a banshee, you would hear clucking sounds out of no where.
The Erdhenne foretells death within a year and its usually the death of the person it
shows itself to.
However, according to another legend, if it cluck and flutter its wings nine times, the
head of the house would fall deadly ill and another different legend claimed that the
spirit will answer questions about the danger if asked directly.
1. Krampus Since Christmas is around the corner, this
creature is a must to be mentioned. A Krampus is a horned and scary looking anthropomorphic
creature, its quite hairy which is either black or brown and has cloven hooves. So its
a bit like a big, scary goat that walks on its two legs you know a bit like a faun but
much more scarier.
The Krampus would carry chains with him which he would thrash about for intimidation. He
would carry a bundle of birch branches or a whip to spank the children that were naughty
and would sometimes have a sack strapped on his back for him to kidnap the children and
drag them with him to the underworld.
Now, the Krampus is the opposite of St Nicholas, they would be together during Christmas to
give children either a reward or punishment. So if you were given coal as the gift be aware
that you have been naughty.