The Roggenmuhme

German folklore

Seeing parts of a rye crop suddenly move is according to old German folklore, not caused by the wind or animals, but by the Roggenmuhme, a witch-like monster who resides within rye fields. Literally translated, the name means ‘rye mother’.

Like many folklore and fairytales, it originated as a cautionary tale to discourage children from doing something they should not. In this case, playing often damaged the crops which affected the farmer’s harvest and livelihood).

According to folklore, the Roggenmuhme snatches kids and takes them away – never seen again. These monsters are also known to grab strands of rye and curse it, turning it black and poisonous (in reality, this is due to infection of the Claviceps purpurea parasitic fungus).

The Roggenmuhume wasn’t all bad: her blessing increased the fertility of the crops and improved the harvest. As such, some farmers would leave a section of the rye unharvested as a gift or offering to the her – a way to increase the harvest of the next year by pleasing her. She is also associated in some parts with rainfall (Regenmuhume – ‘rain mother’) and in pleasing her with offerings, a farmer could increase the chance of rainfall on his farm.

When those individuals did fight off the Roggenmuhume it was difficult. Her physical touch can inflict death or disease in her victims. In the Netherlands, she is also known as the ‘korenmoeder’ or ‘roggemoeder’. Dutch and Flemish folklore appear to have a male variant of the story, too. This creature is called the ‘korenpater’ or ‘rye priest’ and would take naughty children with him if they wandered through rye fields – never to be seen again.