Nachtkrapp

 


The nachtkrapp is a boogeyman that haunts Germany, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Poland. It’s name in German means night raven. The exact details of the legend vary quite a bit regionally. Sometimes it appears as a raven, or as a more human like undead being, or as a shadowy, shape shifting ghost. It also varies in size from huge, to human sized, to the size of an ordinary raven.


The nachtkrapp is used as a cautionary tale to scare children into behaving. It’s said the nachtkrapp only comes out at night. If the nachtkrapp sees a child out at night it will carry the child off to its nest, rip the child apart limb from limb and eat its heart. Some tamer versions of the legend only have the Nachtkrapp putting children in a large bag it carries over its back and doesn’t say what’s done with them after that.


The nachtkrapp has hollow skeletal eye sockets. If anyone looks into its empty eye holes they die instantly. Depending on the region the nachtkrapp is said to have iron wings, which it can bludgeon people to death with, or tattered hole filled wings, which will also kill you if you look at them, similar to its eyes. The nachtkrapp makes eerie squeaking sounds, like a creaking door or old cart wheel. It can also scream, which will also scare people to death.


Some versions of the legend say only children can see the nachtkrapp, while others say anyone out at night may become its victim. The best way to avoid the nachtkrapp is to stay inside during night. Although leaving your window open on cold nights may also draw in the nachtkrapp.


The origin of nachtkrapp varies. Sometimes they’re said to be the ghosts of child murders, other times the ghosts of unbaptized children. Still other legends say they’re ravens transformed by eating the hearts of improperly buried children. Still other legends say the Valkyries were turned into nachtkrapp when Germany was Christianized.


Sources


https://birds-of-mythology.fandom.com/wiki/Nachtkrapp

https://mythos-and-legends.fandom.com/wiki/Nachtkrapp

https://folklorictales.wordpress.com/2017/10/13/nachtkrapp-night-raven/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_raven




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