Rübezahl - German

My name is Anja, and I live in a little cottage where the meadows meet the great, forested mountains. The wind that rushes down from the peaks always sounds like it’s whispering secrets. My grandmother says it’s the voice of the mountain spirit, a giant with a long, mossy beard and eyes as grey as storm clouds. He is the guardian of these peaks, a mischievous shapeshifter who can be as gentle as a summer breeze or as wild as a thunderstorm. We have a special name for this legend of the Giant Mountains; we call him Rübezahl. He has been watching over these lands for longer than anyone can remember, and his stories are carried on the wind just like the fluffy seeds of a dandelion.

He is a trickster, and he loves to test the hearts of people who wander into his kingdom. One day, a rich merchant, dressed in fine silks, was crossing the mountain pass. Rübezahl appeared before him as an old, hunched-over man whose walking stick had broken. 'Please, sir, can you help me?' he croaked. But the merchant just sneered, 'Get out of my way,' and pushed past him. A moment later, a thick, swirling fog rolled in, so dense the merchant couldn't see his own hands. He was lost for three whole days. Later, a poor girl carrying a basket of herbs came down the same path. She saw the old man and, without a second thought, gave him her own sturdy walking stick. 'Here,' she said kindly, 'you need this more than I do.' As she walked away, she noticed the path ahead was sparkling. The pebbles had turned into shimmering jewels, a gift from the mountain spirit for her kindness. Rübezahl isn't mean; he just makes sure people are respectful to nature and to each other.

He got his funny name, which means 'Turnip Counter,' from a princess he once fancied. He brought her to his underground kingdom filled with treasures, but she was clever and missed her home above the ground. She told Rübezahl she would stay with him forever if he could tell her exactly how many turnips were growing in his giant field. Rübezahl, wanting to prove how powerful and smart he was, immediately went to count them. He stomped through the field, pointing his big finger, 'One, two, three…' While he was busy counting every single turnip, the princess used a magic spell her godmother had taught her. She turned a turnip into a beautiful white horse and galloped all the way home. He wasn't even truly angry, just a little bit grumpy to have been outsmarted by a princess and a turnip.

For hundreds of years, people have told these stories around warm fires, teaching their children to be kind, generous, and to respect the wildness of the mountains. The story of Rübezahl reminds us that nature is full of magic and power, and that a good heart is the greatest treasure. Even today, artists paint pictures of his shaggy beard, and storytellers write new adventures for him. When you see a strange-looking cloud sitting on top of a mountain or hear the wind whistling through the trees in a funny way, you can imagine it’s Rübezahl, watching over the world and waiting for his next adventure. His story helps us wonder about the mysteries of the world and connect with the ancient magic that lives in nature.