Nachtkrapp

Nachtkrabb or night (t ) is rapping in the southern German and Austrian territory the name of a bogeyman figure with so similar function as they had formerly the Sandman. The Nachtkrabb grabs allegedly children who stay after dark even in the open air, and flies away with them so far that they never again find their home. The Frankish counterpart is called night Giger.

Only in the more northern areas of southern Germany this figure Sandmann is called.

The origin of the legendary figure is not fully understood.

Etymology

Krabb (even madder, crab, Grabbe, Rappe, from OHG Hraban ) is in the Upper German dialects a term for the ravens and other corvids. It stood to reason that these scavenging birds swarm also all kinds of ominous effect was imputed, for example, that the raven night kidnap the children.

According to Grimm's dictionary fell under the term " night raven " different birds, including owls and night herons.

Perhaps the term refers, like rapping, but only on the " pitch-black " color.

Variations

In Südschwaben the Nachtkrabb is a black legendary figure who puts children into his sack, and brings with him, who are still out after dusk.

In Austria one knows the bogeyman figure as Nachtkrapp. There it is described as a giant, raven -like bird kidnaps the children and also consume them.

In Central Thuringia children are warned of the night raven, which always occur in the swarm and children began and were taking, which are not at home after dark.

Less common is the so -called Good Nachtkrapp. In Burgenland, they tell the story that a raven come into the nursery, the children gently cradle to sleep and to-ceiling. He is tweeting a gentle, lulling melody.

Fastnacht figure

As a bird-like figure of the Nachtkrabb also one of the carnival figures of Murrhardter Narrenzunft; to find them already on a mural in Murrhardt monastery. The story is told from the Nachtkrabb often in the Carl - Swiss museum at the site.

Real model of Murrhardter carnival figure is probably the Schopfibis or forest Rapp, a dark -feathered bird with a bare red face and a long, red, curved beak, which lives in colonies and is able to give something of themselves eerie noises. He was until about 350 to 400 years at home in Central Europe and is likely to have stimulated the imagination of the carnival not only in Southern Germany. Also Venetian masks with long red beaks should go back to the forest Rapp.

Trivia

• Crime scene: Nachtkrapp consequence of the " Bodensee- scene ", which includes the Nachtkrabb as a guiding element