Grain demon

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The Habergeiß is an example of a grain demon. In the picture a Habergeiß at a carnival parade.

Grain demons is a collective term introduced by Wilhelm Mannhardt for supernatural beings who are in the grain field or other plantations such as flax, beans, poppy seeds, etc. The term demon is used here in a broad sense, without thinking of a gradation such as higher mythology or lower mythology. If the term “Korndämon” had not established itself in German through the mythological works of Mannhardt, the term “ Korngeist ” would be more appropriate.

Origin and shape

Grain demons have their origin in earlier vegetation gods of agrarian-oriented peoples. These gods were worshiped to protect and promote the crops. However, over time, the original meaning of these gods disappeared and they were demonized. They now served as a frightening figure to keep children from entering and thus destroying the ripening fields.

The presence of a grain demon is seen in the waves of the grain and is also found in sayings such as " The grain mother is in the field ". In addition to this indirect appearance of grain demons, there are also much more concrete ideas about their shape. These range from human to animal form and can be both male and female.

During the harvest, the last ears of grain were often tied together to form a shape (often also the corn muhme etc.) and remained on the field until modern times. A memory of offerings for nature spirits may have been preserved here.

Corn demons in Europe

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Korndämonen in Leander Petzoldt : Small Lexicon of Demons and Elementals , 3rd Edition Munich 2003, page 112, ISBN 3-406-49451-X
  2. ↑ Friedrich Schröder: Hansel and Gretel, The Enchantment by the Great Mother, opus magnum 2009, page 10:
  3. ^ Korndämonen in Leander Petzoldt : Small Lexicon of Demons and Elemental Spirits , 3rd edition Munich 2003, pages 112-113 ISBN 3-406-49451-X

further reading

  • Wilhelm Mannhardt : Rye Wolf and Rye Dog. Contribution to Germanic morality. Danzig 1865; 2nd probably edition Danzig 1866,
  • Wilhelm Mannhardt : The grain demons. Contribution to Germanic morality. Berlin 1868. Digitized
  • W. Golther: Germanic Mythology (1895)
  • J. Grimm: German Mythology (1835)
  • A. Kuhn: Legends, customs and fairy tales from Westphalia (1859)