Drak (mythology)

The etymology of drak, it has been argued, does not descend directly from Latin draco (German: Drachen, Middle High German: trachen) for "dragon", but rather from the name mandragora (which is sometimes misconceived of as relating to the dragon, as in the English name "man-drake").^[10][13][15]

The Drak (Drache^[6]) is known under various other names. Some names given to the Drak hint at its elfish or Kobold descent, such as Alf,^[6]: n232 Alber,^{[6]: n236 [16][4]} Alp,^{[6]: n236 [16]} Kolbuck,^{[6]: n236 [16][16]} Koberchen,^{[1]: n242 [17][10]} Pûks,^[6] and Erdhühnlein^[18] (earth chicken). Names based on clothing are typical for both Drak and Kobold, e.g. Hauslätzchen ("house bib"),^{[6]: n231 [19]} Rôdjackte^[6]: n232 or Rodjackte^[4] ("the one with the red jacket").^[a]

In Westphalia, there is popular belief that the Drak (feurige Drache) is manifested in meteors, thus the creature is also called Herbrand^[b] (Herbrand, lit. 'war flame', denoting fireball or shooting star^[22]). It is called Schlingsteert ("coiling tail"), Langwams ("long doublet"), and Kortwämsken ("little short doublet", these three occur in Minden, Westphalia), and Langschwanz^[4] ("long tail", in Bückeburg, Lower Saxony, 10km east of Minden).^{[6]: n233 [23]}

The creature is also known in the Alpine region by such "cute" names as Tragerl (Austria),^{[24][25][10][1]: n238} Stutzli^{[1]: n239 [10]} (diminutive of Stutz, a Swiss franc coin), Geldhühndl,^{[1]: n241 [10]} but calling it drak has become current in Switzerland, apparently due to adoption of the Low German form: this local house kobold exhibits an overlap with the Alpine "field dragons" (tatzelwurm, etc.),^[10][c] as well as conflation with the lucky Alraun^[d] (lit. 'mandrake')^[10] And Tragerl has been discussed rather as a subtype of mandrake doll/imp (Alraun, aka Galgenmännlein)^[28][25] or kobold.^[28][4] While the name Tragerl (also used in Austria) has been folklorically connected to the sprite's penchant to carry (tragen) goods or riches to its owner,^[29] the similarity of this name to Trache (var. German for "dragon") is also noted.^[30]

Yet other names are rather proper names like they are also given to the Kobold or even the devil, such as Mårten (Martin),^{[6]: n235 [7]} Mertche (diminutive of Martin),^{[6]: n237 [7]} Lütche Ohle ("little old one"; a devil name),^[8]: n237 Steppchen,^{[6]: n231 [19]} Stepke,^[7] Steppken^[4] or Steffchen^[31] (devil names; cf. § Steppchen below), Hänschen ("Johnnie", diminutive of Johann. Cf. § Wendish drache below),^[32] and Federhänschen^[34] ("feather-Johnnie", another devil name).

A 2020 reference provides a "Kobold" map, indicating that Drak is a common alias for kobold particularly around northeastern Germany.^[35] The same reference also has a further map giving the breakdown on what aliases of Drak within various states inside Germany.^[14] It shows that in Saxony, Drak, Drache, Gelddrache (lit. 'money dragon') are used.^[14] Drak^[e] as well as the equivalents Glûbolt^[f] and Glûschwanz, Glûschwän ^[g] occur in Lower Saxony^[14] (cf. § Glûbolt below).

Drache and Draak are used in the state of Brandenburg, while Plon occurs on the eastern edge of Brandenburg.^[14] Plon is actually distinctive of Lusatia (Slavic-speaking area spanning Germany, Czech, and Poland),^[h] and in fact, plon [hsb] is a Lower Sorbian term applied to a household spirit (a house-dragon), to be distinguished from a usual monster-dragon^[38] (cf. § Zmij and plon below).

The physical appearance of the Drak is very variable. Although humanoid (small manikin) shape is attested, sometimes wearing a red cap and red jacket, the Drak predominantly takes the shape of an animal. Especially frequently mentioned is its occurrence in the guise of a cat or kitten, which may be black or brown-black, or even be a so-called Teufelskatze (devil cat). It is also said to appear as a black chicken (cock or hen) or a wet one (cf. § Chicken forms).^[39] Such a Drachenhuhn^[40] (dragon chicken) is sometimes capable of laying Taler (thaler) or silver eggs,^[41] in the latter case two per day.^[40] Other attested bird shapes, besides bird in general, are the partridge, a gray hawk, an owl,^[39] and a jackdaw.^[42]

The Drak might also appear as a (pied) calf (cf. § Wendish drache belwo)^[39] a (three-legged or fiery) hare,^[43] a wingless red snake,^[44] or a black ant.^[39] The Drak might take the shape of an animal by day and that of a Kobold by night,^[39] or it appears as a chicken inside the house and in fiery appearance outside of it.^[45]

Various fiery appearances are also typical for the Drak when it flies out at night. A shooting star, meteor, will-o'-the-wisp (German: Irrlicht) or lightning flash might thus very well be the Drak. The fiery appearance of the Drak is too variable to describe exhaustingly, thus only a few examples shall suffice. It might appear as a fire column or fire pillar, as various objects with a fiery tail (a broom, a glowing ball, a star), as a fiery red lump, a firelight, a fiery grain sack, and quite frequently as a fiery hay pole (with a broad head, a big head like a stove pot, or surrounded by blue firelight). Other appearances are more like animals, such as a fiery snake, cat, or chicken, a being with a big fiery head and a long black-blue tail, and a being with a big dog head and a glowing snake tail. Where the Drak is flying everything burns down. Because of that it is regarded as an omen of firestorm. The Drak might also burn down its owner's house if it feels mistreated.^[46] Names associated with the Drak's fiery and tailed appearance are Herbrand^[4] ("shooting star"), Langschwanz^[4] ("long tail"), Kortschwanz^[4] (short tail), Schlingsteert^[4] ("entwining tail"), Gluhswanz, Gluhstert ^[47] or Glüsteert^[6] (all: glowing tail), and Salamander.^[1] It further is accompanied by infernal sulfur stench.^[48]

The Plon is said to have seven heads^[i] according to the lore of Lusatian Heiligensee (i.e., Poświętne village in Osiecznica).^[37]

To win a Drak as one's domestic spirit a deal with the devil^[49] signed with one's own blood^[50] is necessary, thus the owners are often said to be witches (German: Hexen, sg. Hexe) or freemasons (German: Freimaurer (sg., pl.)).^[49] What makes owning a Drak so desirable despite the price of one's soul is the fact that the Drak brings its owner whatever they might covet by stealing it from the neighbors.^[41] A Drak's owner is not allowed to pray or to go to church for communion. The Drak will take every third owner back to hell.^[9]

There are several types of Drak.

The Drache may act in the capacity of a Gelddrache, a bringer of money, gold and treasures to the owner.^[51] Lutz Mackensen [de] notes the lore is represented both among Germans^[52]: n363 and Slavs,^: n364 i.e., the Gelddrache of Upper Lusatia is called Upper Sorbian: peńežny zmij in the language of Sorbian Slavs^[53][54][j] which has been rendered as "penny-dragon"^[55] (cf. § Zmij and Plon below).

The Drache might also show where wealth is hidden.^[52]: n342 In accordance to both activity and appearance other names for the Drak are Geldhühndel (money chicken),^[1] Tragerl^[4] (carrier), and Stutzli (money).^[1] The money it brings can be spent but will return to the owner without fail. Owning a Drak can be bound to owning a specific Taler which will always return to its owner if not sold lower than its value. Otherwise it can only be inherited or given away as part of a dowry. Occasionally, such a Feuerpûz (fire bogey) might also be enclosed in a glass bottle.^[51] Owning a Drak makes the process of dying very difficult its owner.^[51] Placing the dying person on the dunghill^{[51]: n334 [57]} or placing dung under the dying person's pillow is the only way to ease dying for a Drak owner.^[59] But even then the Drak might still scratch its owner's face.^{[51]: n335 [60]}

People who die a sudden death are suspected of being Drak owner.^{[51]: n336 [61]} And people who get rich too quickly also raise talks (gossips) about being a Drak owner.^[52]: n343 The Drak brings its money load through the chimney^: n338 or the skylight. Sometimes this load also can be horse dung turning into gold afterwards.^[52]: n341 The Drak carrying gold or money appears distinctly colored (black,^: n356 glowingly red,^: n358 half red or half blue,^: n359 or dazzlingly yellow^: n360) or blue when carrying money,^: n361, and flies particularly low when carrying such a load.^[52]: n362 For this job the Drak expects to be well fed with millet porridge, though,^[52]: n342 to be placed on the stove the Drak dwells inside.^[62] If the feeding ceases, the Drak can't fulfill a task or its lair is discovered, then the Drak will escape never to return again.^[41] When the gruel is burnt, then the Drak rages in the stove so that it seems it would soon explode.^[62]

Another is the Getreidedrache, Korndrache or Weizendrache^[41] (crop dragon, grain dragon, and wheat dragon respectively) which is also known as Roggenkatze (rye cat).^[63] This kind of Drak accordingly brings its owner loads of cereals. When doing so its color is blue, gray, black, or variously colorful. The Drak usually transports grain in an eggshell or a nutshell. Sometimes it carries so much that it has to throw away a part of its load during its flight. The Drak often appears as a wet or freezing chicken at the wayside. If someone takes it home for it to warm at the fireplace, it will bring cereals to show its gratitude.^[64]

The third type is the Butterdrache (butter dragon), Milchdrache (milk dragon)^[20] or Quarkdrache (quark dragon).^[63] Accordingly, this Drak brings its owner milk or dairy goods, among them cheese and quark but never the good one.^[18] The milk might look like cherry stones, though.^[65] It might even bring all ingredients needed to bake a cake, e.g. cream, butter, and raisins.^[31][50] It sucks other people's cows dry so that they only give blood instead of milk.^[20] In the shape of a squirrel it sits on a cow when the cattle get milked.^[66] Stealing butter is rather difficult for the Drak, as it needs to visit a hundred villages to gather a spoonful of butter.^[18] The same can also be true for milk, for it will take one "Nödel" (measurement? spoon?) of milk per house in a hundred villages.^[20] The Drak brings other goods too, such as wood lugs turning into smoked beef,^[18] sausages (accordingly it is called Wurstdrache or sausage dragon),^[67] bread,^[43] flour and eggs, linen, dung, and frogs which can be used to make chicken soup. It only readily unloads its gifts if there is nobody else looking, though, and also guards its owner's goods.^[68] Hence, it will disappear if eavesdropped on.^[69] The Wurstdrache is offered milk containing chunks of bread roll for its services.^[67]

In the guise of a black dog, the Drak vomits dumplings.^[32] The Drak can also vomit milk.^[20] As a black cat, it defecates knöpfle, a type of Southern German noodle dish. Only that the knöpfle are cat dirt in reality.^[32] The toad-shaped Knöpflekröte (knöpfle toad), too, poops knöpfle.^[63] The Drak is milked through a thread.^[70]

There is further differentiation between a guter Drache (good dragon) and a armer Drache (poor dragon). The former enters the chimney as a fireball and pours out milk, eggs, and money. The latter appears as a long hay pole, enters through the window's pendentive and leaves behind a gruesome stench.^[71]

Other people can drive the Drak away or force it to part with its load by swearing (e.g. "Schwinsdreck!" = "pig dirt!"), calling it by its name,^[72] calling at it through a wheel hub,^[73] or shouting commandos such as "Halbpart!" ("half part!") "Schütte, schütte!" ("Pour out, pour out!"), "Losch loh!" ("Let go!" in Silesian dialect = "Lass los!" in Standard German). Reciting the rhyme "Es fährt kein Fuhrmann über Land und Brück', Er lässet seinen Zoll zurück!" ("No teamster drives overland and over bridges, He leaves behind his toll!") has the same effect, as has showing one's naked behind, and shooting or throwing at the Drak, best with inherited silver, iron, or steel.^[72] Yet another method is pulling off a wheel from a wagon and putting it back on inverted. But one shouldn't stand directly beneath the Drak and flee under a roof as otherwise it will throw down a load of lice or filth,^[74] or sulfur stench which will never go away. A yellow sulfuric smelling substance left behind by the Drak is called Drachenschmalz (dragon lard) ^[48] or Drachengspei (dragon spit). This is the load the Drak had to drop because it flew over manure or tan,^[72] thought to be yellow, pungent milk.^[75] Otherwise it might also enter the house of its owner, setting it on fire and burning itself to death.^[76]

Wendish/Sorbian folklore on ridding the household spirit is discussed under § Zmij and Plon.

As already discussed, the Drak or Drache (also called fliegende Drache, lit. 'flying dragon'^[77][78]) is a subtype of the broad category of household kobolds, conflated with the notion of servant devils.^[8][79][80]

In January 2025 in Bautzen, a sort of float or windsock version of the Sorbian zmij, measuring 12 meters long, has been crafted by stitching together patches of colorful cloth, and placed on public installment to hang between buildings. Conceived of by the city's Cultural Office, and executed by Chilean artists Muriel Cornejo und César Olhagaray.^[91]