Elves. German myths and legends

German folklore is affluent in traditions and legends where the elves are often key players. So, people in town had the belief that these little characters were causing quite harmful pranks and cause disease to livestock, and even people, the sleeping cause nightmares. In fact, 'Albtraum', the German word used to describe a 'bad dream', meaning "elf dream".

The aldbruck archaic form, on the other hand, means "elf pressure" because it was believed that nightmares are produced by the pressure exerted by small creatures on the sleeper's head. In this sense, the German belief in elves corresponds to the Scandinavian superstition 'mara' and is also similar to the legends connected with demons and Sucubus incubus.

Other stories have the goblin king surrounded by his entourage of elves and the great epic medieval German (Nibelungenlied) a dwarf named Alberich plays an important role. "Alberich" literally translates as "elf king", which later evolve to mean "elf-dwarf". This change is already apparent in the early Eddas. Alberich, took the name in French and incorporated Alberon English as Oberon, king of elves and fairies in the comedy drama "Dream of a Summer Night" by William Shakespeare.

The legend of Der Erlkönig apparently originated in Denmark in recent times has been the subject of debate. The name translates literally from the German as "Alder King" much better than its more usual English translation: the "elf king". In German went on to become Elfenkönig. Moreover, it has been suggested that Erlkönig is often a mistranslation of the original Danish elverkonge or elverkonge, meaning "elf king".

According to German and Danish folklore, the Erlkönig is a harbinger of death, as the Banshee Irish mythology, which appear only to the person failing in his deathbed. In his speech, the recumbent understand what death will have: a pained expression means a painful death, peaceful expression means a peaceful death.In the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, The Shoemaker and the Elves, a group of little creatures called naked Heinzelmännchen help a cobbler to make her work rewarding small obsequiándoles work clothes, delighted with her gift, run as far as never seen again again.