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[[Category:Definitions]]
[[Category:Deities, Spirits, and Mythic Beings]]
A '''drude''' (Drude}, pl. ''Druden'') 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 [[classification of demons|hierarchy]].
In German folklore, a '''drude''' ({{lang-de|Drude}}, plural ''Druden'') is a kind of malevolent nocturnal spirit (an elf (Alp) or kobold or a hag) associated with nightmares, prevalent especially in Southern Germany. Druden were said to participate in the Wild Hunt and were considered a particular class of demon in Alfonso de Spina's [[classification of demons|hierarchy]]. The word also came to be used as a generic term for "witch" in the 16th century (Hans Sachs).


==Name==
In early modern lexicography and down to the 19th century, it was popularly associated with the word ''druid'', without any etymological justification. Its actual origin is unknown. Jacob Grimm suggests derivation from a euphemistic ''trût'' (modern ''traut'') "dear, beloved; intimate", but cites as an alternative suggestion a relation to the valkyrie's name Þrúðr.<ref>Kluge, F. ''Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache'', Berlin 1989</ref>  
The term ''drude'' is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word ''trute'' or the Gothic word ''trudan'', both in the sense of "to kick".<ref>Kluge, F. ''Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache'', Berlin 1989</ref> Supporting this are names for drudes based on the root ''to stamp'' from the Alpine region such as ''Stampfe'' or Romansh ''stampa'' and a Bavarian word for a wizard, ''Truderer''.


Other names for drudes include ''Nachtmahr'' ("Nightmare") and ''Walriderske''.


==Characteristics==
According to old German belief, drudes are virgins and priestesses 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.
==Drudenfuss==
[[File:Wappen Weiler-Rems.png|thumb|150px|The Weiler-Rems coat of arms containing a Drudenfuss]]
[[File:Wappen Weiler-Rems.png|thumb|150px|The Weiler-Rems coat of arms containing a Drudenfuss]]
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.
The ''Drudenfuss'' (or ''Drudenfuß''), literally "drude's foot" (also ''Alpfuss''<ref> Kaspar von Stieler (1691) records  ''drutenfuß, alpfuß'', and also ''druidenfuß''</ref>), is the pentagram symbol (in early usage also either a pentagram or a hexagram), believed to ward off demons, explicitly so named in Goethe's Faust (1808). The word has been in use since at least the 17th century, recorded by Justus Georg Schottelius (as ''drutenfusz'', glossed ''omnis incolumitatis signum ''). Its apotropaic use is well-recorded for 18th to 19th-century folk belief in Bavaria and Tyrol.<ref>Grimm, ''Deutsches Wörterbuch'', s.v. "Drudenfuß".</ref>
 
One of the charms against drudes is the ''Drudenstein'' or drude stone, a certain kind of stone with a natural hole in it.
 
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 Pocket #111. She appears pliable and with one spidery 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''.
''Drudenfuss'' is also the German name of the pentagram used as  a heraldic device (alternatively ''Drudenkreuz'' "drude's cross" and  ''Alpfuß, Alfenfuß'' "elf-foot" or ''Alpkreuz'' "elf-cross") besides the more descriptive ''Pentalpha'' or ''Fünfstern''.
A ''Drudenstein'' is a pebble with a naturally-formed hole in the center. In Bavaria, such  pebbles were hung in rooms, on cradles or in stables to ward off nightmares, or to protect horses against matted manes or tails.<ref>Friedrich Panzer, ''Bayerische sagen und Bräuche '' vol. 2 (1855), 164. 429,</ref>




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* [[Mara]]
* [[Mara]]
* [[Nightmare]]
* [[Nightmare]]
* [[Succubus]]
* [[Succubus (Traditional)|Succubus]]
* [[Incubus]]
* [[Incubus]]




==References==
==References==
<references/>
{{reflist}}
* Lurker, Manfred. ''A Dictionary of Gods & Goddesses, Devils & Demons''. Routledge, 1987.




==External Links==
==External Links==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drude The original source of this article at wIkipedia]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drude The original source of this article at WIkipedia]

Latest revision as of 10:24, 20 October 2014

In German folklore, a drude (German: Drude, plural Druden) is a kind of malevolent nocturnal spirit (an elf (Alp) or kobold or a hag) associated with nightmares, prevalent especially in Southern Germany. Druden were said to participate in the Wild Hunt and were considered a particular class of demon in Alfonso de Spina's hierarchy. The word also came to be used as a generic term for "witch" in the 16th century (Hans Sachs).

In early modern lexicography and down to the 19th century, it was popularly associated with the word druid, without any etymological justification. Its actual origin is unknown. Jacob Grimm suggests derivation from a euphemistic trût (modern traut) "dear, beloved; intimate", but cites as an alternative suggestion a relation to the valkyrie's name Þrúðr.[1]


The Weiler-Rems coat of arms containing a Drudenfuss

The Drudenfuss (or Drudenfuß), literally "drude's foot" (also Alpfuss[2]), is the pentagram symbol (in early usage also either a pentagram or a hexagram), believed to ward off demons, explicitly so named in Goethe's Faust (1808). The word has been in use since at least the 17th century, recorded by Justus Georg Schottelius (as drutenfusz, glossed omnis incolumitatis signum ). Its apotropaic use is well-recorded for 18th to 19th-century folk belief in Bavaria and Tyrol.[3]

Drudenfuss is also the German name of the pentagram used as a heraldic device (alternatively Drudenkreuz "drude's cross" and Alpfuß, Alfenfuß "elf-foot" or Alpkreuz "elf-cross") besides the more descriptive Pentalpha or Fünfstern.

A Drudenstein is a pebble with a naturally-formed hole in the center. In Bavaria, such pebbles were hung in rooms, on cradles or in stables to ward off nightmares, or to protect horses against matted manes or tails.[4]


See Also


References

  1. Kluge, F. Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, Berlin 1989
  2. Kaspar von Stieler (1691) records drutenfuß, alpfuß, and also druidenfuß
  3. Grimm, Deutsches Wörterbuch, s.v. "Drudenfuß".
  4. Friedrich Panzer, Bayerische sagen und Bräuche vol. 2 (1855), 164. 429,


External Links