Mythological Creatures Series - Goblin

 

(Credit - Cornish Mine Goblin by Marc Potts)

Hi Guys,

Stepping up with the Goblin today - also called Bucca in Cornwall. The area near Truro in Cornwall, called Chybucca literally translates as House of the Goblin!

Generally described as a diminutive, grotesque, monstrous creature, similar to a dwarf, the Goblin appears in folklore from across the world from Mediaeval times onwards, the term was first recorded in the 14th Century. 

Depending on the country of origin of a story depends on the demeanour and temperament of the Goblin.

Folklore:

• In English, Irish, and Scottish folklore, goblin is a kind of blanket term for mischievous or evil spirits
• Whereas Hobgoblins are friendly trickster goblins from the same regions
• The Welsh have a coblyn, a type of knocker (benevolent mine spirit that warns of impending danger in Cornish folklore)
• In Anglo-Scots folklore, a Redcap is a type of goblin who inhabits the border regions, and dyes its hat red with human blood, hence the name.
• The Erlking is Germanic and highly malevolent
• The Trasgu is found in parts of Spain and Portugal, and is mischievous and skittish
• In South Africa, we find the Tokoloshe that is nocturnal and befriends children, although is not overly fond of adults, and can attack them
• The dokkaebi is found in South Korea, and rewards the good whilst punishing the bad by playing tricks on them
• The Santal peoples of Bangladesh have a gudrobonga, said to be similar to a goblin

The Native Americans have a couple of these creatures too:

• The Wamponoag  have a puckwudgie, a disappearing shapeshifter that lures people to their deaths, uses magic and creates fire
• In Quechuan folklore, there is the Muki, a pale, cave dwelling goblin that lives in the Andes Mountains

In some other cultures, these spirits have been assimilated by other beings, such as Djinns and Iffrits in Islamic culture.

There are far too many popular culture references to list in this post, suffice it to say, that these little creatures, whether benign or malevolent are found across the globe and in our consciousness' one way or another.

I hope this post has helped. Any regional variants I have missed out, please let us know in the comments below.

Kerenza x

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