Editing German folklore (section)

== Characteristics ==
It shares many characteristics with [[Nordic folklore]] and [[English folklore]] due to their origins in a common [[Germanic mythology]]. It reflects a similar mix of influences: a pre-Christian [[pantheon (gods)|pantheon]] and other beings equivalent to those of [[Norse mythology]]; magical characters (sometimes recognizably pre-Christian) associated with [[Liturgical year|Christian festivals]], and various regional 'character' stories.

As in Scandinavia, when belief in the old gods disappeared, remnants of the [[mythos]] persisted: There are:
* [[Frau Holle]] or [[Perchta]], a "supernatural" patron of spinning and leader of the [[Wild Hunt]] (in German folklore preceded by an old man, Honest Eckart, who warns others of its approach) or of the [[Heimchen]]
* solitary wild huntsmen such as the [[ewiger Jäger]] or the [[Türst]]
* the [[Lorelei]], a dangerous [[Rhine]] [[Siren (mythology)|siren]] derived from 19th-century literature, among other [[Nixie (folklore)|nixies]] such as the [[Rhinemaidens]]
* the [[Weiße Frauen]] and [[Witte Wiwer]], white female spirits
* the [[Doppelgänger]], supernatural beings said to resemble the exactly similar appearance of determined person
* the giant [[Rübezahl]]
* the mining sprite [[Bergmönch]]
* wood sprites such as the tiny [[Moss people]] and their matriarch [[Buschgroßmutter]], or the man-eating [[Fänggen]]
* nightmare-causing [[Alp (folklore)|Alp]], [[Mare (folklore)|mare]], and [[Drude]]
* the banshee [[Klagmuhme]]
* undead [[Nachzehrer]] and [[Wiedergänger]]
*  ghostly [[Feuermann (ghost)|Feuermann]], [[Hemann]], and [[Uhaml]]
* [[changeling]] legends
and many more generic entities such as the [[elf]], [[dwarf (mythology)|dwarf]], [[Kobold]] (with variants such as [[Bieresel]], [[Gütel]], [[Heinzelmännchen]], [[Jack o' the bowl]], and [[Niß Puk]]), [[Klabautermann]], [[Schrat]], [[Wild man]], [[Drak (mythology)|Drak]], [[Aufhocker]], [[Ork (folklore)|Ork]], [[poltergeist]], [[bogeyman]], [[Will-o'-the-wisp]], various [[Feldgeister]], and [[Erlking]]. Famous individual Kobolds are [[King Goldemar]], [[Hinzelmann]], [[Hödekin]], and [[Petermännchen]].

There further are mythical animals such as [[Bahkauv]], [[Beerwolf]], [[Elwetritsch]], [[Erdhenne]], [[lindworm]], [[Nachtkrapp]], [[Rasselbock]], [[Tatzelwurm]], and [[Wolpertinger]], or mythical plants such as [[Alraune]] and [[Irrwurz]].{{cn|date=June 2019}}

Popular folklore includes [[Krampus]], [[Belsnickel]], and [[Knecht Ruprecht]], a rough companion to [[Santa Claus]]; the [[Lutzelfrau]], a [[Yule]] witch who must be appeased with small presents; the [[Christkind]]; the Osterhase (Easter Hare – the original [[Easter Bunny]]); and [[Walpurgisnacht]], a spring festival derived from pagan customs.

Character folklore includes the stories of the [[Pied Piper of Hamelin]], the [[Godfather Death]], the [[trickster]] hero [[Till Eulenspiegel]], the [[Town Musicians of Bremen]] and [[Faust]].