Doorst

The doorstep is a legendary figure from the Lucerne hinterland that dates back to pagan times. He is referred to as the "hellish hunter", which people should beware of during stormy seasons accompanied by storms. There are different descriptions of this legendary figure from region to region.

Characterization

The features of Türst, which are the same in most versions, are, on the one hand, his threat "push step right, gang, etc.", in which, according to a Wolhuser legend, if you do not evade in time, you will be transformed into a dog and the Türst all his life "without Rast und Ruh "must follow. Furthermore, it is warned against keeping the gates of the threshing floor open in winter so that the door can chase through the barn unhindered. The Sträggele , an ugly witch who is supposedly his wife, occurs in some legends Türsts. In other legends the Türst is said that he the cattle of Sennen so much frightened and confused that the cows for a long time no longer produce milk.

The legends in the different regions

In Horw , the doorway is followed by small dogs with a one-eyed dog at the head. Türst's entourage includes, on the one hand, the little dogs with the one-eyed dog on top, and on the other, the Sträggele , his wife and the waitress, a ghost with glowing eyes.

In contrast to Horw, the Türst in Rickenbach is shown as the leader of the wild hunt . He appears in a green hunting suit and his entourage does not consist of small dogs, but of animals that are half dog, half pig.

In Wolhusen it is said that the Türst goes hunting in the form of a large, black dog and that anyone who does not avoid it in time will be turned into a dog and will have to serve as an entourage for the rest of his life. In order to avoid the doorstep , the citizens put up crosses to prevent a doorstep attack . If a cross overturned, the peasants were unlucky until the cross was rebuilt. The Türst often occurs in conjunction with the Sträggele. She is often described as an old woman with a crooked nose, who kidnaps and tears children who have not been obedient.

In the area around the Pilatus it is said that the doorstep is a ghost and a "hellish hunter" who drives the farmers' cattle in front of him, frightens and confuses them so that they run aimlessly and don't produce milk for a long time. According to the legend in the Pilatus Mountains, the Türst is followed by hunting dogs, whose tracks are clearly visible because they only have three legs.

In Ettiswil it was customary for the tennis gates to remain open for fear of being torn open by Türst's invisible forces.

literature

Excerpt from the legends of the canton of Lucerne regarding Strrägeli, Türst and Vuotisheer, PDF
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm : Deutsche Sagen Vol. 1. [1965] P. 270. [1]