Global InformationUhaml information
The Uhaml (German: das Uhaml with neuter article[1]) is a spirit from German folktales. It was known among the former Germans of Bohemia[2] and Silesia,[1] now part of the Czech Republic and Poland respectively, particularly in the former Iglau language island of Bohemia.[2] The Uhaml is an airy sprite, a ghost,[1] or possibly some kind of demonic bird.[2] Nothing is known about its appearance other than it having horse feet.[1]
At night, the Uhaml's call can be heard from the air: "Uhuhu!"[1][2] People mocking it by imitating its call will be chased by the Uhaml until they are safe from it under the eaves.[3] In the forest, "she" (for the Uhaml is apparently imagined as female in this case only) might also aufhocken, i.e. leap on a passerby's back and let itself be carried, jumping down from "her" victim only upon reaching the forest border.[1]
To ward off the Uhaml's evildoing, three chips of wood and a loaf of bread will be placed in the parlor. The Uhaml will enter the parlor, cut the bread in two halves and take one of them with it.[1]
The name Uhaml can be explained as a Silesian dialectal form of Standard German "unheimlich", meaning "eerie" or "uncanny", or can more likely be connected to the Eurasian eagle-owl, called "Uhu" in German with regard to its call.[3]
- ^ a b c d e f g Will-Erich Peuckert: Schlesische Sagen. Munich 1993, p. 187.
- ^ a b c d Will-Erich-Peuckert: Uhaml. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 9 Waage-Zypresse, Nachträge. Berlin/New York 2000, Nachträge p. 797.
- ^ a b Will-Erich-Peuckert: Uhaml. In: Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer: Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens: Band 9 Waage-Zypresse, Nachträge. Berlin/New York 2000, Nachträge p. 798.