Drude
Encyclopedia
A drude is a kind of witch in German folklore
associated with dreams. Drudes were said to participate in the Wild Hunt
and were considered a particular class of demon in Alfonso de Spina's hierarchy
.
word trut or the Gothic
word mini trut, both in the sense of "to be trut". Supporting this are names for drudes based on the root to trut from the Alpine region
such as trut or Romansh trut and a Bavarian word for a wizard, Truderer.
Other names for drudes include trutmahr ("Nightmare") and Walriderske.
esses who are possessed in a certain way, enabling them to split off a drude from their spirit. This was known as the Drudenfluch or "drude's curse". Sometimes they voluntarily chose to do so, while in other cases it is forced upon them. Although this can have either a benevolent or malevolent effect on humans and elves
, women suffering from the drude's curse will keep this a secret from their fellow human beings. The only way to free oneself from the curse is by being given a very tame and important domestic animal to pass the drude onto, which kills the animal in the process. It was believed that amongst seven daughters there would be one drude.
Drudes typically take the form of an ugly, old, withered woman, who is, at the same time, very heavy. This old woman creeps into homes at night through the smallest of cracks and openings. Once in the room, the drude sits on the person's chest and possesses them. Drudes are also shapeshifters
and can appear as feathers, clouds of smoke, bumblebees, snakes or toads.
A drude is always female but often confused with the Trude, a half-human, half-birdlike being that shares some features with drudes.
The only way to prevent being possessed by a drude is by using a charm or exercising magic.
The Drudenfuss (or Drudenfuß), literally "drude's foot", also known as Drudenkreuz or "drude's cross", is believed to be the footprint of a drude with the power to ward off drudes. It was in common use in the Middle Ages, also as a signature mark amongst stonemasons. It is in the shape of a star with five points.
One of the charms against drudes is the Drudenstein or drude stone, a certain kind of stone with a natural hole in it (also known as Hascherlit).
A knife called Drudenmesser or "drude's knife" has nine half moons and crosses on its blade and is said to have the power to collapse a whirlwind by throwing this knife into a whirlwind that is forming.
#111. She appears pliable and with one spider
y leg, and appears to be opening a portal to another world within her torso.
In the German translation of the children's novel Ronia the Robber's Daughter
, a member of the tribe of evil female human-bird beings is referred to as Drude or Wilddrude (wild drude) rather than Trude.
German folklore
German folklore shares many characteristics with Scandinavian folklore and English folklore due to their origins in a common Germanic mythology. It reflects a similar mix of influences: a pre-Christian pantheon and other beings equivalent to those of Norse mythology; magical characters associated...
associated with dreams. Drudes were said to participate in the Wild Hunt
Wild Hunt
The Wild Hunt is an ancient folk myth prevalent across Northern, Western and Central Europe. The fundamental premise in all instances is the same: a phantasmal, spectral group of huntsmen with the accoutrements of hunting, horses, hounds, etc., in mad pursuit across the skies or along the ground,...
and were considered a particular class of demon in Alfonso de Spina's hierarchy
Classification of demons
There have been various demonologies in Christian demonology and classical occultism and Renaissance magic. Classification systems are based on the nature of the demon, the sin with which they tempt people, the month in which their power was strongest, the saints that were their adversaries, or...
.
Name
The term trut is thought to be derived from the Middle High GermanMiddle High German
Middle High German , abbreviated MHG , is the term used for the period in the history of the German language between 1050 and 1350. It is preceded by Old High German and followed by Early New High German...
word trut or the Gothic
Gothic language
Gothic is an extinct Germanic language that was spoken by the Goths. It is known primarily from the Codex Argenteus, a 6th-century copy of a 4th-century Bible translation, and is the only East Germanic language with a sizable Text corpus...
word mini trut, both in the sense of "to be trut". Supporting this are names for drudes based on the root to trut from the Alpine region
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
such as trut or Romansh trut and a Bavarian word for a wizard, Truderer.
Other names for drudes include trutmahr ("Nightmare") and Walriderske.
Characteristics
According to old German belief, drudes are virgins and priestPriest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
esses who are possessed in a certain way, enabling them to split off a drude from their spirit. This was known as the Drudenfluch or "drude's curse". Sometimes they voluntarily chose to do so, while in other cases it is forced upon them. Although this can have either a benevolent or malevolent effect on humans and elves
Elf
An elf is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind...
, women suffering from the drude's curse will keep this a secret from their fellow human beings. The only way to free oneself from the curse is by being given a very tame and important domestic animal to pass the drude onto, which kills the animal in the process. It was believed that amongst seven daughters there would be one drude.
Drudes typically take the form of an ugly, old, withered woman, who is, at the same time, very heavy. This old woman creeps into homes at night through the smallest of cracks and openings. Once in the room, the drude sits on the person's chest and possesses them. Drudes are also shapeshifters
Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...
and can appear as feathers, clouds of smoke, bumblebees, snakes or toads.
A drude is always female but often confused with the Trude, a half-human, half-birdlike being that shares some features with drudes.
The only way to prevent being possessed by a drude is by using a charm or exercising magic.
Drudenfuss
One of the charms against drudes is the Drudenstein or drude stone, a certain kind of stone with a natural hole in it (also known as Hascherlit).
A knife called Drudenmesser or "drude's knife" has nine half moons and crosses on its blade and is said to have the power to collapse a whirlwind by throwing this knife into a whirlwind that is forming.
In popular culture
Drude is Monster in My PocketMonster in My Pocket
Monster in my Pocket is a media franchise developed by Morrison Entertainment Group, headed by Joe Morrison and John Weems ....
#111. She appears pliable and with one spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
y leg, and appears to be opening a portal to another world within her torso.
In the German translation of the children's novel Ronia the Robber's Daughter
Ronia the Robber's Daughter
Ronia the Robber's Daughter is a children's fantasy book by the noted Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, first published in 1981. In the film based on the story, Ronia was played by Hanna Zetterberg Struwe.- Plot summary:...
, a member of the tribe of evil female human-bird beings is referred to as Drude or Wilddrude (wild drude) rather than Trude.