The Kratt, the Servant Made of Hay
Estonian farmers once told how to build a servant out of hay and old brooms, and bring it to life with three drops of blood given to the Devil.
What was reported
The kratt is a creature of Estonian folklore made by its owner from whatever was at hand: a bundle of hay or sticks, an old broom, a rake, a butter churn. To bring it to life, the owner gave the Devil three drops of blood, and with them, his soul.
The kratt brought its master riches, flying through the sky like a fiery streak to steal grain, money and milk from the neighbours. But it had to be kept busy every moment. Left idle, it could turn on its master or set the farm on fire. Clever owners got rid of one by setting it an impossible task.
Explanations offered
The kratt is a folk tale about greed and its price. Stories of fiery shapes crossing the night sky may also have been inspired by meteors. Estonian writers have retold the kratt many times, including in the 2020 film Kratt.
- When
- Told for centuries
- Where
- As told across Estonia
- Witnesses
- Estonian folklore
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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