German Dragon Spirits by Moss Matthey.

In the lore of Central and Eastern Germany, a strange kind of household spirit often appears. This spirit goes by the name ‘Drak’ or Drache’, meaning dragon, and pops up both in witch trial records and in later folklore. However, the Drache is a little different, and seems to straddle the line between household spirit and familiar. In my home area of Germany, the belief in the Drache proved quite enduring, being referenced as a living belief well into the 20^th century. The Drache has endured for centuries and continues to fascinate down to today. But what does this spirit look like?

A Dragon by Any Other Name

It’s tempting to imagine the Drache spirit appearing like the majestic dragons of medieval literature, soaring through the sky and breathing great gusts of fire. Unfortunately, that is not entirely accurate. While the Drache does have an association with fire, it is less likely to breathe it. Rather, it often appears as a ball of flames and smoke streaking through the sky. In fact, many supposed sightings of the Drache reported in trial records are thought to have been shooting stars, being characterized by a bright blazing streak through the heavens.

However, like the majestic dragons of lore, their fiery nature meant they weren’t to be messed with. If appropriate offerings weren’t made for their services, they were likely to burn down your home. Many folktales attribute fires breaking out to their wrath. However, this is where the similarities seem to end. As mentioned, rather than large scaly reptiles, the Drache most commonly appeared as a ball of fire and smoke. Beyond that, their appearance could vary.  In addition, these spirits were quite small, in many folktales small enough to live in a kettle, and certainly small enough to enter a house through the chimney.

What the Drache Does

Why would someone want one of these spirits, given the risk of your house burning down if they were displeased? Well, the benefits definitely seemed to outweigh the risks. The Drache served their master by bringing them an abundance of money, food, and saleable goods. In fact, the most common reason to be accused of forming a pact with them was a sudden increase in wealth. Seems like a great deal, doesn’t it? However, it’s not quite as it seems. In order to gain this wealth, the Drache would steal from all their keepers’ neighbours, enriching them at the expense of their community. The entire purpose of the Drache was to steal on their masters’ behalf and bring the stolen goods down their chimney, like a kind of economically aggressive Santa.

It is this aspect of the Drache’s lore that was the focus of the witch trials. Magical thievery at the expense of the community could not be tolerated, and great efforts were taken to root it out. The complaints about dragons did not often come from above through some inquisition, however. If an individual was suddenly rich, and especially if they were miserly with their wealth, then accusations often came from within the community itself. Within the trial records, we find accusations levelled against those who refused to lend money to their family or lent out money with extortionate interest. Essentially, those with the means to aid their community but who refused to do so, or who used their wealth to take advantage of said community, were likely to find themselves accused of being a dragon witch.

Dragon Brides and Dragon Bridegrooms

Another common motif was the association between the Drache and demons or even the Devil himself. Martin Luther, a key figure in the protestant reformation, wrote of the Dragon brides and Dragon bridegrooms, condemning liaisons with these spirits. In so doing, he linked them to the idea of incubus and succubus demons. The idea of carnal relations with the Drache also appears in the trial records. Several accused witches confessed to sleeping with their Drache in the form of a man. However, this was very likely after significant torture.

Within the early modern period, any spirit that didn’t exist in the Christian binary of good and evil was quickly labelled diabolical. The Drache is no exception. It is possible, even probable, that the Drache of the witch trails grew from earlier folk beliefs in dragon spirits. In Lithuania, there exists a belief in the žaltys, a house snake that brings good luck and must be honoured. Harming the žaltys is sure to bring misfortune. There are other traditions of revering serpents as household spirits that stretch back into European lore. However, these spirits lent themselves to being diabolised more so than most. In biblical lore, the Devil is described as both a dragon and a serpent. It is no surprise, then, that dragon or serpent spirits would be interpreted as demons.

The Drache Today

There are many ways to interpret this fascinating spirit for the modern day. One way I do this is by peeling back the layers of Christian bias to seek out an earlier belief in a household spirit I can incorporate into my own witchcraft. However, we also find in this lore a warning against profit-oriented economic behaviour, especially at the expense of the community. The Drache reminds us that we’re all in this together, and that a rising tide lifts all ships. We do not need to take advantage of others to get ahead. In a world where that seems to be an increasingly radical idea, I think it is important to remember the Drache spirits and their lessons from time to time. Community is more important than wealth, and people more important than profits.

I’m Moss, the person not the plant, and I’m a Pagan, a Witch, and a Cult Survivor. You might know me from my videos on Instagram and TikTok, where I try my best to be funny with varying results. I’m also an experienced public speaker and published writer.

For more information: https://mossmatthey.com/