The Akaname is a Japanese yōkai known for licking the filth that accumulates in bathtubs and bathrooms. Depicted in 18th-century art, its grotesque form and long tongue have made it a memorable figure in folklore. It stands as a peculiar symbol of the intersection between the mundane and the supernatural in Japanese cultural tradition.

Akaname

Barstuk is a small dwarf from Warmian-Masurian folk tales. It inhabits the forests of the region. It is believed to help households through secretive visits.

Barstuk

The Bauchan is a domestic hobgoblin from Scottish folklore, known for its mischievous disposition and occasional helpfulness. It is a small, supernatural entity that inhabits rural households. Despite its capricious nature, the bauchan is revered as an enduring part of Scotland’s mythological heritage.

Bauchan

The Bodach is a folkloric figure from Gaelic mythology, often depicted as an old man embodying the dual roles of trickster and bogeyman. He is used in cautionary tales to warn against misbehavior and to illustrate the unpredictable nature of age and rustic life. In legend, he is notably paired with the cailleach, the hag, representing complementary aspects of the supernatural in Gaelic lore.

Bodach

Brownies are household spirits from Scottish folklore known for performing chores at night in exchange for small offerings. They are mischievous yet helpful, maintaining the home by assisting with domestic and farming tasks. When insulted or offered unwanted gifts such as clothing, they are said to leave the household forever.

Brownie (folklore)

Duendes are small, humanoid creatures from Iberian and Latin American folklore, often seen as mischievous household spirits. They are comparable to dwarves, gnomes, and leprechauns in both appearance and playful behaviour. Their legends capture a duality of helpfulness and mischief that reflects the rich tapestry of folk tradition.

Duende

Fulla is a goddess in Germanic mythology known as the trusted attendant and confidante of Frigg. She is depicted wearing a golden band and is responsible for the care of sacred objects such as Frigg's ashen box and footwear. Additionally, she is noted in the Horse Cure Merseburg Incantation as assisting in healing and is recognised as Frigg's sister.

Fulla

Hestia is the ancient Greek virgin goddess of the hearth and home, one of the Twelve Olympians, known for her modest and stabilising presence.

Hestia

The hobgoblin is a traditional English household spirit known for its dual nature of helpfulness and mischief. Historically revered as a benevolent domestic helper, it later became associated with playful trickery following the spread of Christianity. Shakespeare’s depiction of Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream further cemented its image as an enigmatic and capricious figure in folklore.

Hobgoblin

Iratxoak are imps from Basque mythology known for their benevolent nature and nocturnal assistance in farming tasks. They provide help in exchange for food offerings. A specific subtype, the Galtxagorriak, is recognised by their distinctive red-pants.

Iratxoak

The Kabouter is a diminutive, gnome-like creature from Dutch folklore, renowned for its long beard and distinctive pointed hat. It is traditionally depicted as a domestic spirit that assists with household tasks and cares for animals while punishing intrusions into its privacy. Its mysterious and multifaceted nature has left an enduring mark on both traditional folklore and modern popular culture.

Kabouter

Keukegen is a mysterious yokai depicted in Toriyama Sekien's Konjaku Hyakki Shūi. It is characterised by its unusual, fluffy hair-like appearance. Little is known about its behaviour or origins, leaving it shrouded in the enigmatic qualities typical of Japanese supernatural beings.

Keukegen

The Kilmoulis is an ugly, fey creature from Anglo-Scottish folklore, known for its enormous nose and lack of a mouth which compels it to inhale food. It haunts mills, offering help to millers despite its penchant for mischief and pranks. Its appearances in Dungeons & Dragons, video games, and the Witcher series showcase its enduring presence in popular culture.

Kilmoulis

The lubber fiend is a legendary figure in English folklore known for performing housework in exchange for a saucer of milk. Depicted as a large, hairy man with a tail, it shares traits with household spirits such as brownies and hobgoblins. In its darker aspect as the abbey lubber, it haunts abbeys and tempts monks into vice.

Lubber fiend

The Monaciello is a sprite from Neapolitan folklore, depicted as a benevolent, short, and stocky man. Dressed in a long monk's robe with a broad hood, his appearance lends him the name 'little monk.' He is renowned for his role as a household spirit who brings good fortune and protection to Neapolitan homes.

Monaciello

The Namahage are demonlike beings from the Oga Peninsula in northern Japan, appearing during New Year's rituals. They are portrayed by men wearing hefty oni masks and traditional straw capes to instill fear and discipline. Rooted in local folklore, they serve as both symbols of purification and enforcers of moral conduct.

Namahage

Panti is a fabulous beast from Chickasaw mythology renowned for its exceptionally lovely teeth. It exchanges its own teeth for lost baby teeth, echoing the roles of the Tooth Fairy and Ratoncito Pérez. This benevolent creature symbolizes a cherished rite of passage in indigenous folklore.

Panti'

Zashiki-warashi are child spirit yokai from Iwate Prefecture, known to inhabit traditional Japanese homes and bring good fortune. They appear as playful, ethereal children whose presence is considered a positive omen. Their mischievous yet protective nature has cemented their enduring role in regional folklore.

Zashiki-warashi

Zlydzens are small, hunchbacked creatures from Belarusian mythology known for their hazardous nature and domestic mischief. They often reside under masonry stoves in traditional homes. Their presence serves as a cautionary symbol in folklore.

Household Protectors Creatures