The Lucky Rod

Loading map...

Geographic Coordinates: 50° 6' 36.58" N, 9° 17' 50.81" E

The “lucky rod” of which is spoken here does not bring good luck and is not a rod either, but a thick stick which is capable of beating up anyone black and blue on the command of its owner without any visible action of a human hand — no matter how near or far the victim might be. To attain such a stick, you must walk into the forest during the holy night of Christmas and cut off a young oak while incanting certain verses. However, you must not be shouted at during the way to the site and back home again and not say any words either, for then the stick will not have any powers and you might also suffer great misfortune. If this task is successful, and someone attains an empowered stick through such sacrilege, then a vengeful mind might very well consider this to be lucky — but whether it represents fortune for their souls is probably best judged by whoever blessed this stick.

Hansfort of Edelbach in the Kahl river valley had such a vengeful mind as well. He could never forget when he had been insulted, even if the insult was purely imaginary. Once, his cousin had demanded a small sum of money from him which he had allegedly owed him. Hansfort denied the debt — rightfully or wrongly — but had to pay it when the cousin sued him before the court. This rankled Hansfort so much that he was unable to sleep. Christmas approached and Hansfort had heard of the lucky rod and knew how to attain one. He decided to cut one and then make an attempt with it on the back of his cousin.

When Christmas Eve had arrived and midnight was approaching, Hansfort started on the path into the nearby forest. At the entrance to the same he encountered a well-built huntsman who was accompanied by two large dogs. The hunter said: “Good evening, Hansfort! Where are you going at this late hour?” Hansfort startled when he was greeted with his own name, for the Moon was bright and the huntsman was fully illuminated, but Hansfort did not recognize him. Nevertheless, he replied the greeting and muttered something of an undelayable journey before continuing on his path. When he heard the bells of Ernstkirchen ringing to midnight mass during the quiet winter night, he started with his task and soon had the stick in his hands. He turned around and wanted to start on the way home — then perceived that the huntsman was standing right behind him. But not with a friendly greeting, but with terrible countenance, and he grabbed Hansfort at his collar, soared high into the air with him, twisted his neck and then threw him onto the ground so that no bone remained whole.

On the site where this occurred no blade of grass grows even today.

Source: Herrlein - Die Sagen des Spessarts, p. 65f

Sunken Castles, Evil Poodles 1E Note: This story was published in the book Sunken Castles, Evil Poodles: Commentaries on German folklore. Get the book for further context and explanatory commentary!