Bilwis

A Teutonic spirit of maleficent powers. He was active on Walpurgis Night, flitting through the fields and wreaking havoc to the crops. In medieval German literature he was described as an evil being with a sickle on his big toe. He was believed to live in trees. People sometimes left offerings for him to protect their children from disease.

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References

Sources

  • Bonnerjea, Biren. (1920). A Dictionary of Superstitions and Mythology. Thomson Gale.
  • Leach, Maria, ed. (1984). Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend. New York: HarperCollins.