Kratt

Kratt (or kratid in plural; also pisuhänd, puuk, tulihänd, vedaja), is a magical creature in old Estonian mythology, a treasure-bearer.[1]

Kratt was a creature formed from hay or of old household implements by its master, who then had to give the devil three drops of blood for the devil to bring life to the Kratt. Andrus Kivirähk's book Rehepapp ehk November (Old Barny aka November) offer a description that Estonians might had used blackcurrant berries instead of blood to cheat the Devil and save their soul from going to hell.

Kratt was notable for doing everything the master ordered them to and was mostly used for stealing and bringing various goods for the Kratt's owner. It was said to be able to fly around. An interesting aspect of the Kratt is that it was necessary for it to constantly keep working, otherwise it would turn dangerous to owner. Once the Kratt became unnecessary, the master of the Kratt would ask the creature to do impossible things such as build a ladder from bread, as portrayed in Andrus Kivirähk's Rehepapp (The Old Barny). Impossible tasks took so long to complete that it caused the Kratt, which was made of hay, to set on fire and burn to pieces, thus solving the issue on how to get rid of problematic figure.

In folk astronomy a bolide was thought to be kratt, that had been given an impossible job. Enraged kratt was thought to set on fire and burn away as a fireball.

The creature Kratt has notably appeared in the works of the Andrus Kivirähk, the Estonian author, whose work often draws upon Estonian mythology and presents it as a humorous and fairy-talelike way.[2] Estonian composer and conductor Eduard Tubin (1905–1982) has written a ballet "Kratt", that is entirely based on folk tunes. It is the first Estonian ballet and it deals with the topics like will money bring happiness, how can damnation be born from greed and will there be place for love in a world that puts such a great value on material goods.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Varavedaja Rahvakultuuri Keskus
  2. ↑ Ott Heinapuu & Katre Kikas FOLK BELIEF OR ANECDOTE?
  3. ↑ Kratt, Eduard Tubina ballett kahes vaatuses Rahvusooper Estonia (in Estonian)
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