Rübezahl ( pl, Liczyrzepa, Duch Gór, Karkonosz, Rzepiór, or Rzepolicz; cs, Krakonoš) is a
folkloric
Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging fro ...
mountain spirit (
woodwose) of the
Giant Mountains
The Giant Mountains, Krkonoše or Karkonosze (Czech: , Polish: , german: Riesengebirge) are a mountain range located in the north of the Czech Republic and the south-west of Poland, part of the Sudetes mountain system (part of the Bohemian Massi ...
(''Krkonoše'', ''Riesengebirge'', ''Karkonosze''), a mountain range along the border between the historical lands of
Bohemia and
Silesia
Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...
. He is the subject of many
legend
A legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived, both by teller and listeners, to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human values, and possess ...
s and
fairy tales in
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
,
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
, and
Czech folklore
Czech folklore is the folk tradition which has developed among the Czech people over a number of centuries. Czech folklore was influenced by a mix of Christian and pagan customs. Nowadays it is preserved and kept alive by various folklore ens ...
.
Name
![Maerchenbrunnen Berlin Friedrichshain Herme](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Maerchenbrunnen_Berlin_Friedrichshain_Herme.jpg)
The origin of the name is not clear. One interpretation is from the story ''How Rübezahl Got his Name'' by
Johann Karl August Musäus
Johann Karl August Musäus (29 March 1735 – 28 October 1787) was a popular German author and one of the first collectors of German folk stories, most celebrated for his ''Volksmärchen der Deutschen'' (1782–1787), a collection of German fairy ...
, which recounts how Rübezahl abducted a princess who liked turnips (german: Rüben, singular ''Rübe''). The princess gets very lonely there in the mountains. To keep her company, Rübezahl turns the turnips into her friends and acquaintances. As the turnips wilt after a little while, so do the persons that were created by Rübezahl's magic. The princess asks him to count (''zählen'') the turnips in the field. While he counted, she escaped. Following this explanation, some early English writers translated his name as "Number Nip" (that is, "turnip numberer"), including the
1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.
Another proposed etymology is ''Riebezagel'', from a combination of the personal name ''Riebe'' and the
Middle High German
Middle High German (MHG; german: Mittelhochdeutsch (Mhd.)) is the term for the form of German spoken in the High Middle Ages. It is conventionally dated between 1050 and 1350, developing from Old High German and into Early New High German. Hig ...
''zagel'', meaning "tail", from his pictorial representation as a tailed demon. According to the etymologist
Friedrich Kluge
Friedrich Kluge (21 June 1856 – 21 May 1926) was a German philologist and educator. He is known for the Kluge etymological dictionary of the German language (''Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache''), which was first published in 1 ...
, the name is a contraction of Middle High German ''Ruobezagel'', ‘turnip-tail’.
''Rübezahl'' is a name of ridicule, the use of which provokes his anger. Respectful names are "Lord of the Mountain(s)" (Herr vom Berge, Herr der Berge), "Treasure Keeper" (Schatzhüter) or among herbalists "Lord John" (Herr Johannes, Latin vocative: ''Domine Johannes''). In one
Silesia
Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...
n folktale, he is called "Prince of the Gnomes" (''Fürst der Gnomen'').
[Elizabeth Knowles, ed. ''The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. Page 940.]
The Polish name ''Liczyrzepa'' is a direct translation of the German name, introduced by Stanisław Bełza in 1898. It only became widespread in Poland after 1945 when Józef Sykulski started to translate tales of Rübezahl from German into Polish.
The Czech name, ''Krakonoš'', is simply derived from the name of the mountains.
Legends
![Symboliczny grób Karkonosza](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Symboliczny_gr%C3%B3b_Karkonosza.JPG)
In legends, Rübezahl appears as a capricious
giant
In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: ''gigas'', cognate giga-) are beings of human-like appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''giant'' is first attested in 1297 fr ...
, gnome, or mountain spirit. With good people he is friendly, teaching them medicine and giving them presents. If someone derides him, however, he exacts a severe revenge. He sometimes plays the role of a
trickster
In mythology and the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a character in a story ( god, goddess, spirit, human or anthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherwi ...
in folk tales.
The stories originate from
pagan times. Rübezahl is the fantastic lord of
weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, describing for example the degree to which it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloud cover, cloudy. On Earth, most weather phenomena occur in the lowest layer of the planet's atmos ...
of the mountains and is similar to the
Wild Hunt
The Wild Hunt is a folklore motif (Motif E501 in Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature) that occurs in the folklore of various northern European cultures. Wild Hunts typically involve a chase led by a mythological figure escorted by ...
. Unexpectedly or playfully, he sends
lightning
Lightning is a naturally occurring electrostatic discharge during which two electrically charged regions, both in the atmosphere or with one on the ground, temporarily neutralize themselves, causing the instantaneous release of an avera ...
and
thunder
Thunder is the sound caused by lightning. Depending upon the distance from and nature of the lightning, it can range from a long, low rumble to a sudden, loud crack. The sudden increase in temperature and hence pressure caused by the lightning pr ...
,
fog,
rain
Rain is water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides water ...
and
snow
Snow comprises individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground where they undergo further changes.
It consists of frozen crystalline water throughout ...
from the mountain above, even while the sun is shining. He may take the appearance of a monk in a gray
frock
Frock has been used since Middle English as the name for an article of clothing, typically coat-like, for men and women.
Terminology
In British English and in Commonwealth countries the word may be used as an alternative term for a girl's or ...
(like
Wotan); he holds a stringed instrument in his hand (the storm
harp) and walks so heavily that the earth trembles around him.
In Czech fairytales, Rübezahl ('' cs, Krakonoš'') gave
sourdough to people and invented the traditional regional soup ''
kyselo
In West Slavic countries, as well as in Belarus, fermented cereals, such as rye, wheat, or oatmeal, are used to make soups. In Poland and parts of Belarus, rye is traditional for making żur; a variant made with wheat flour instead of rye is kn ...
''.
There is also a mountain named ''
Kotel'' ( pl, Kocioł, german: Kesselkoppe), which means
cauldron
A cauldron (or caldron) is a large pot ( kettle) for cooking or boiling over an open fire, with a lid and frequently with an arc-shaped hanger and/or integral handles or feet. There is a rich history of cauldron lore in religion, mythology, and ...
. When fog rises from the valley at the bottom of the Kotel, people say that Rübezahl is cooking ''kyselo''. Rübezahl is seen to be the guardian of the
Krkonoše Mountains. Physically, his appearance varies; he can take any form he wishes, from an old grandma to a giant crossing his mountains with one step. Historically, his character has kept on expanding; from a bad demon causing storms and heavy snow, he evolved into a guardian of the poor people living in his mountains. It is said that he could test someone at any time to know whether that person's heart is pure (e.g. meeting someone as an old lady asking for help) and that if one does, that person would be shown the way to treasures hidden deep inside his mountains. He punished the German landlords mistreating
Czech people as well as any invaders.
File:Socha Krakonoše, Hořice.JPG, Sculpture of Krakonoš in Hořice
Hořice (, also known as Hořice v Podkrkonoší; german: Horschitz) is a town in Jičín District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 8,600 inhabitants.
Administrative parts
Villages of Březovice, Chlum, Chvalina, ...
File:Rübezahl.jpg, Rubezahl woodcarving in the Polish Karkonosze Mountains
File:Moritz von Schwind 008.jpg, ″Rübezahl" by Moritz von Schwind 200px, Moritz von Schwind, c. 1860.
Moritz von Schwind (21 January 1804 – 8 February 1871) was an Austrian painter, born in Vienna. Schwind's genius was lyrical—he drew inspiration from chivalry, folklore, and the songs of the people. Schwind ...
(1859)
File:Trutnov, fontanna Karkonosza na rynku(Aw58).JPG, The Krakonoš Fountain in Trutnov
Trutnov (; german: Trautenau) is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 29,000 inhabitants. The town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.
Administrative parts
Trutnov is ...
, Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
. The 3-meter sculpture was completed in 2013.
Museum
Museum devoted to the figure of Rübezahl in the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
town of
Görlitz, the
Rübezahl Museum, was opened in May 2005, thanks to the work of Ingrid Vettin-Zahn. Originally from
Lauban (Lubań) in
Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia ( pl, Dolny Śląsk; cz, Dolní Slezsko; german: Niederschlesien; szl, Dolny Ślōnsk; hsb, Delnja Šleska; dsb, Dolna Šlazyńska; Silesian German: ''Niederschläsing''; la, Silesia Inferior) is the northwestern part of the ...
, Vettin-Zahn was
expelled from her hometown like other
Silesian German
Silesian (Silesian: ', german: Schlesisch), Silesian German or Lower Silesian is a nearly extinct German dialect spoken in Silesia. It is part of the East Central German language area with some West Slavic and Lechitic influences. Silesian G ...
s and subsequently resettled in
Switzerland after 1945.
Appearances in literature
![Schlesisches Märchen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Schlesisches_M%C3%A4rchen.png)
Rübezahl was first mentioned in 1565 as ''Ribicinia'' in a poem by
Franz von Koeckritz. The Rübezahl story was first collected and written down by Johannes Praetorius in the ''Daemonologia Rubinzalii Silesii'' (1662). The character later appeared
Johann Karl August Musäus
Johann Karl August Musäus (29 March 1735 – 28 October 1787) was a popular German author and one of the first collectors of German folk stories, most celebrated for his ''Volksmärchen der Deutschen'' (1782–1787), a collection of German fairy ...
's ''Legenden vom Rübezahl'' and
Carl Hauptmann's ''Rübezahl-Buch'' as well as
Otfried Preußler
Otfried Preußler (sometimes spelled as Otfried Preussler; both ; born Otfried Syrowatka; 20 October 1923 – 18 February 2013) was a German children's books author. More than 50 million copies of his books have been sold worldwide and they have be ...
's ''Mein Rübezahl-Buch''. Finally, there is
Ferdinand Freiligrath's ''Aus dem schlesischen Gebirge'' from ''Ein Glaubensbekenntnis'', 1844 and
Robert Reinick's ''Rübezahls Mittagstisch''. He is potentially inspiration for the character Huhn in Gerhart Hauptmann's "Und Pippa Tanzt!".
The poem "Count Carrots" by
Gerda Mayer is based on the tale and appears in ''The Oxford Book of Story Poems''.
Rübezahl's Garden
Near Mount
Sněžka
Sněžka or Śnieżka (in Czech and Polish respectively; german: Schneekoppe, sk, Snežka) is a mountain on the border between the Czech Republic and Poland, the most prominent point of the Silesian Ridge in the Giant Mountains. At , its summit ...
in the
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
close to the
Polish border, there is a botanical locality with an especially large variety of plants that bears the name "Rübezahl's Garden". Some unusual
stone
In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...
buildings in the area are named after him as well, for example the ''Rübezahlkanzel an den Schneegruben''.
In the vicinity of
Jelenia Góra
Jelenia Góra (pron. ; Polish: ; german: Hirschberg im Riesengebirge; Exonym: ''Deer Mountain''; szl, Jelyniŏ Gōra) is a historic city in southwestern Poland, within the historical region of Lower Silesia. Jelenia Góra is situated in the Low ...
and other Polish locales under the
Krkonose Mountains, there is an annual series of
opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...
performances titled ''Muzyczny Ogród Liczyrzepy'', which translates into
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
as "Rübezahl's Musical Garden. In 2016, the series commenced for the 13th time.
In music
*
Joseph Schuster Joseph Schuster may refer to:
* Joseph Schuster (cellist) (1903–1969), Constantinople-born American cellist
* Joseph Schuster (composer) (1748–1812), German classical composer
* Joe Shuster (1914–1992), Canadian-born comic book writer who cre ...
: opera ''Rübenzahl, ossia Il vero amore'' (1789
Trieste
Trieste ( , ; sl, Trst ; german: Triest ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital city, and largest city, of the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, one of two autonomous regions which are not subdivided into prov ...
)
*
Vincenc Tuček: singspiel ''Rübezahl'' (1801
Breslau)
*
Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber (18 or 19 November 17865 June 1826) was a German composer, conductor, virtuoso pianist, guitarist, and critic who was one of the first significant composers of the Romantic era. Best known for his operas, ...
: romantic opera ''Rübezahl'' (1805
Breslau)
*
Franz Danzi
Franz Ignaz Danzi (15 June 1763 – 13 April 1826) was a German cellist, composer and conductor, the son of the Italian cellist Innocenz Danzi (1730–1798) and brother of the noted singer Franzeska Danzi. Danzi lived at a significant time in t ...
: romantic opera ''Der Berggeist oder Schicksal und Treue'' (1813
Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe ( , , ; South Franconian: ''Kallsruh'') is the third-largest city of the German state (''Land'') of Baden-Württemberg after its capital of Stuttgart and Mannheim, and the 22nd-largest city in the nation, with 308,436 inhabitants. ...
)
*
Wilhelm Würfel: opera ''Rübezahl'' (1824
Prague
Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and List of cities in the Czech Republic, largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 milli ...
)
*
Louis Spohr
Louis Spohr (, 5 April 178422 October 1859), baptized Ludewig Spohr, later often in the modern German form of the name Ludwig, was a German composer, violinist and conductor. Highly regarded during his lifetime, Spohr composed ten symphonies, t ...
: opera ''Der Berggeist'' (1825
Kassel)
*
August Conradi: comic opera ''Rübezahl'' (1849
Berlín)
*
Francis Edward Bache
Francis Edward Bache (; 14 September 183324 August 1858) was an English organist and composer.
Born at Birmingham as the eldest of seven children of Samuel Bache, a well-known Unitarian minister, he studied with James Stimpson, Birmingham City O ...
: operetta ''Rubezahl'' (1853)
*
Friedrich von Flotow
Friedrich Adolf Ferdinand, Freiherr von Flotow /flo:to/ (27 April 1812 – 24 January 1883) was a German composer. He is chiefly remembered for his opera ''Martha'', which was popular in the 19th century and the early part of the 20th.
Life
...
: opera ''Rübezahl'' (1852 Retzin,
Groß Pankow)
*
Gustav Mahler: opera ''Rübezahl'' (1879–83), music lost but libretto preserved
*
Arthur H. Bird: ballet ''Rübezahl'' (1887)
*
Josef Richard Rozkošný: opera ''
Krakonoš'' (1889
Prague
Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and List of cities in the Czech Republic, largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 milli ...
)
*
Hans Sommer: opera ''
Rübezahl und der Sackpfeifer von Neiße'' (1904
Braunschweig
Braunschweig () or Brunswick ( , from Low German ''Brunswiek'' , Braunschweig dialect: ''Bronswiek'') is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, north of the Harz Mountains at the farthest navigable point of the river Oker, which connects it to the ...
)
*
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (May 29, 1897November 29, 1957) was an Austrian-born American composer and conductor. A child prodigy, he became one of the most important and influential composers in Hollywood history. He was a noted pianist and compo ...
: movement No. 3 of ''Märchenbilder'' Op. 3 (1911
Carlsbad)
*
Willy Czernik: symphonic poem ''Rübezahl'' (1940)
*
Amon Düül II
Amon Düül II (or Amon Düül 2, PronunciationAmon Düül is a German rock band. The group is generally considered to be one of the pioneers of the West German krautrock scene. Their 1970 album ''Yeti'' was described by British magazine ''The W ...
: instrumental psychedelic rock track ''The Return of Rübezahl'' on the LP ''
Yeti (album)'' (1970)
*
Jan Klusák
Jan Klusák (born 18 April 1934 in Prague as Jan Porges) is a contemporary Czech composer, author of film, television and incidental music.
Life
Klusák was born to a Czech Jewish family, who owned a farm in Prosek, Prague. After he graduate ...
: opera
pasticcio
In music, a ''pasticcio'' or ''pastiche'' is an opera or other musical work composed of works by different composers who may or may not have been working together, or an adaptation or localization of an existing work that is loose, unauthorized, o ...
''Bertram a Mescalinda aneb Potrestaná věrnost též Očarované housle Einsteinovy čili Krakonošův dar'' (2002 Praha)
*
Dschinghis Khan
Dschinghis Khan (; "Genghis Khan") was a German Eurodisco pop band. It was originally formed in Munich in 1979 to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest with their song " Dschinghis Khan". The original group led by original members Henriette Str ...
: song ''Rübezahl'' from LP ''Helden, Schurken & der Dudelmoser'' (1982)
In film
*''
Rübezahl's Wedding'' (1916)
* ''
Rübezahl'' (1957)
* The Rübezahl Series (1975-1983, Krátký film Praha Studio Jirího Trnky, Czechoslovakia &
DEFA
DEFA (''Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft'') was the state-owned film studio of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) throughout the country's existence.
Since 2019, DEFA's film heritage has been made accessible and licensable on the PRO ...
, GDR, filmed in Dresden)
* Rübezahls Schatz (2017), German/Czech fairytale movie filmed in
Bohemian Switzerland
Bohemian Switzerland ( cs, České Švýcarsko; german: Böhmische Schweiz), also known as Czech Switzerland, is a picturesque region in the north-western Czech Republic.
It has been a protected area (as Elbe Sandstone Mountains Protected Landscap ...
Krakonoš
The
Czech
Czech may refer to:
* Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe
** Czech language
** Czechs, the people of the area
** Czech culture
** Czech cuisine
* One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus'
Places
* Czech, ...
variant of Rübezahl, ''Krakonoš'', features in literature and in other culture:
* Krakonoš played an important role in old local legends in
Krkonoše
The Giant Mountains, Krkonoše or Karkonosze (Czech: , Polish: , german: Riesengebirge) are a mountain range located in the north of the Czech Republic and the south-west of Poland, part of the Sudetes mountain system (part of the Bohemian Massif ...
, which have been collected since 1618. To the present day Krakonoš features as the principal character in many regional folk-tales.
* Krakonoš appeared as a main character in the Czech
children's television series
Children's television series (or children's television shows) are television show, television programs designed for children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run during ...
''Krkonošské pohádky'' ( en, Fairy Tales From Krkonoše) broadcast in the program
Večerníček
Večerníček (meaning "little bedtime story" Czech and Slovak) is a television program for children in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It has been broadcast regularly for over 50 years. Before the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, two ...
.
* A
brewery
A brewery or brewing company is a business that makes and sells beer. The place at which beer is commercially made is either called a brewery or a beerhouse, where distinct sets of brewing equipment are called plant. The commercial brewing of bee ...
located in
Trutnov
Trutnov (; german: Trautenau) is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 29,000 inhabitants. The town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.
Administrative parts
Trutnov is ...
makes "Krakonoš"
beer
Beer is one of the oldest and the most widely consumed type of alcoholic drink in the world, and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches, mainly derived from ce ...
.
[
]
Further reading
* Henning Eichberg: ''Rübezahl. Historischer Gestaltwandel und schamanische Aktualität.'' In: Jahrbuch ''der Schlesischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Breslau'', Sigmaringen, 1991; 32: 153-178.
* Stephan Kaiser: ''Der Herr der Berge Rübezahl''. Katalog zur Ausstellung. Königswinter-Heisterbacherrott: Museum für schlesische Landeskunde, 2000 (Hrsg.)
Notes
External links
Musäus: ''Rübezahl und das Hirschberger Schneiderlein'' illustrated by Arpad Schmidhammer, Fischer & Franke, Berlin 1901
on Projekt Gutenberg-DE
muellers-lesezeit.de''Rübezahl - Duch Gór - Rybecal'' by Ullrich Junker & Izabela Taraszczuk, Bodnegg - Jelenia Góra 2003 on Digital Library of Jelenia Góra
(emergency banknotes) Small currency notes from the town of Greiffenberg depicting the legend of Rübezahl
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rubezahl
Czech folklore
Earth spirits
German legendary creatures
Giants
Gnomes
Medieval legends
Polish folklore
Slavic legendary creatures
Sudetes