Feldgeister

Feldgeister ("field spirits"; singular: Feldgeist) or Korndämonen ("corn demons"; singular: Korndämon) are corn spirits from German folklore. Feldgeister often are also causing lightning and rain.

Numerous Feldgeister are known in German folklore, some shaped as animals, some in human form. The last grain heads and tree fruits are often left at their place as a sacrifice for the agricultural spirits. During harvest season Feldgeister flee deeper into the fields to escape the mowers. With the last cornstalks the corn spirit becomes trapped. Either it is killed by cutting the grain heads, threshing the corn or it is brought to the village in a ceremonial manner, shaped as a corn doll. Direct contact to the Feldgeist causes illness.

The Roggenwolf ("rye wolf"), Getreidewolf ("grain wolf") or Kornwolf ("corn wolf") is a field spirit shaped as a wolf. The Roggenwolf steals children and feeds on them.

Other names are Gerstenwolf ("barley wolf"), Haferwolf ("oat wolf"), Erbsenwolf ("pea wolf"), Kartoffelwolf ("potato wolf"),Graswolf ("grass wolf") and Pflaumenwolf ("plum wolf").

Sometimes the Roggenwolf is equated with the werewolf.

The Erbsenbär ("pea bear") or Roggenbär ("ray bear") is a field spirit shaped as a bear.

The Kornhund ("corn dog") is a dog-shaped wind spirit feeding on flour.

Other names are Roggenhund ("rye dog"), Heupudel ("hay poodle"),Schotenhund ("husk dog"),Scheunbetze ("barn dog"), Dreschhund ("threshing dog"),Weizenbeller ("wheat barker") or Kornmops ("corn pug)

The Kiddelhunde ("titillation dogs") look for children to tickle them to death.

There are several cat-shaped field spirits. The Kornkatze ("corn cat"), Wetterkatze ("weather cat"),Heukatze ("hay cat") or Windkatze ("wind cat") is a female cat spirit.

The male equivalent of the Kornkatze is the Kornkater ("corn tomcat")Murrkater ("grumbling tomcat") or Bullkater ("bull tomcat") who steals children looking for cornflowers.

The Scheunesel (barn donkey) or Baumesel ("tree donkey") is a corn spirit shaped as a donkey.

There are also pig corn demons. One such pig is the Roggensau ("rye sow"). The Roggensau steals human children or perches itself on a hiker's back. Other names are Windsau ("wind sow"),Kleesau ("clover sow"), Kornsau ("corn sow"), Aumsau ("chaff sow") or îserne Range ("iron sow").

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