The aufhocker or huckup is a

shapeshifter In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shape-shifting is the ability to physically transform oneself through an inherently superhuman ability, divine intervention, demonic manipulation, sorcery, spells or having inherited the ...

German folklore German folklore is the folk tradition which has developed in Germany over a number of centuries. Partially it can be also found in Austria. Characteristics It shares many characteristics with Nordic folklore and English folklore due to thei ...

Characteristics

The Aufhocker is described in German legend as having an unidentifiable shape because it takes on shapes such as a goblin, a beautiful woman, a dead man, or various animals.

Legend

The name Aufhocker means "leap upon". This name is used because according to legend, the Aufhocker would leap upon the back of its victimsRose, Carol (2001). "Giants, Monsters and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend and Myth", p. 30. which are often thieves and criminals that need to be taught a lesson. Other common targets in the Aufhocker legend are lone travelers and old women. The Aufhocker is known as a pressure spirit or perching spirit because it jumps on the backs of travelers weighing them down with every step. The victims often die of exhaustion because the Aufhocker cannot be shaken off or killed. However, it is believed that travelers can free themselves if they are able to make it home before being killed. These attacks often occur in specific locations such as bridges, crossroads, springs, woods, on a path through a hollow, and cemeteries. The Aufhocker is a very dangerous theriomorph that is sometimes said to tear out the throats of humans instead of killing its victims from exhaustion.Maberry, Jonathan (2006). "Vampire Universe", p. 28. The version of the Aufhocker that attacks victims' throats is linked to

vampirism A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mi ...

. In vampire mythology, sunlight and church bells are often used to frighten vampires away and may be applicable defenses against the Aufhocker also. The Aufhocker legend is sometimes interpreted a metaphor for emotional burdens weighing on one’s shoulders no matter how hard they try to shake off their memories. The old woman that is a victim in some version of the legend represents time itself. The old woman is scared of getting older and has more memories to haunt her. Some other speculators say the Aufhocker legend is instead a materialization of

Night Terrors Night terror, also called sleep terror, is a sleep disorder causing feelings of panic or dread and typically occurring during the first hours of stage 3–4 non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and lasting for 1 to 10 minutes. It can last long ...

. Similar myths can be found in most of Europe. In the

Charente-Maritime Charente-Maritime () is a department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region on the southwestern coast of France. Named after the river Charente, its prefecture is La Rochelle. As of 2019, it had a population of 651,358 with an area of 6,864 square kil ...

''département'' of France, the Ganipote is depicted as having similar traits Ganipote.

References

{{legendary-creature-stub German legendary creatures Vampires Shapeshifting