Elwetritsch
Elwetritschefountain by Gernot Rumpf in Neustadt an der Weinstraße | |
| Creature information | |
|---|---|
| Similar entities | the Bavarian Wolpertinger, the Thuringian Rasselbock |
| Origin | |
| Country | Germany |
| Region | Palatinate |
| Habitat | mainly in underbrush, under vines |
| Details | human reflex to fight primal fear of having a sleep paralysis |
The Elbedritsch - also Elwetrittche, Ilwedritsch; in the plural Elwedritsche(n) - is an imaginary bird-like creature that is reported in southwest Germany (especially in the Palatinate and neighboring regions). The area of distribution is essentially congruent with the historical Palatinate. With emigrants, the belief in the existence of Elbedritsche also spread to Eastern Europe and North America (Pennsylvania) in the 18th century and to South America (Brazil) in the 19th century. The Elbedritsch is to be seen as a local variation on comparable imaginary creatures from other regions (cf. Wolpertinger).