Trasgu

The trasgo o trasgu is a mythological creature present in the tradition of several cultures of northern Spain, and present in general in Spanish culture. In other parts of Europe it is also known as "gnome," "sylph," or "kobold." The origin of this mythological creature is Celtic and Roman and comes from Northern Europe.

Asturian Mythology

The trasgu is the best known being of Asturian mythology, and is shared with mythologies of Celtic origin, like Galicia's. It is a domestic goblin with a mischievous and nervous character. It is often represented as a tiny man who limps with his right leg; he has dark skin, wears red clothes and a pointy red hat. He has a hole in his left hand. He is described at times as having horns, tail, sheep ears and long legs, and wearing a long black and gray cloak; at other times he is described as small, with long thin legs and wearing a tight dark brown dress [El gran libro de la mitología asturiana, Xuan Xosé Sánchez Vicente and Xesús Cañedo Valle, Ediciones Trabe, 2003, p. 111-112.] .

Nocturnal noises are attributed to him, and also small pranks like changing the location of objects. He enters homes at night when the inhabitants are asleep. If he is in a bad mood he breaks kitchen vessels, spooks cattle, stirs chests of clothes and spills water. These activities do not cause material damage, because the inhabitants find everything as they left it. On the other hand, when he is treated well, he does house chores during the night.

In Asturias, the trasgu is known by different names depending on the location. He is known as Trasno, Cornín or Xuan Dos Camíos in western Asturias. He is known as Gorretín Coloráu or the one with the "gorra encarnada" (both meaning "little red hat") in eastern Asturias [Mitos y leyendas de Asturias. [http://www.asturiasnatural.com/mitologia/seres/trasgu.htm] ] .

How to Get Rid of Him

It is difficult to get rid of him when he annoys. If the house inhabitants decide to move to a new house, he follows them. In a tale, the inhabitants of a house abandon it because of the trasgu. On their way to the new house, the woman asks her husband: "Have we left anything?" The trasgu, following them, answers: "You have left the lamp, but I'm carrying it." [El gran libro de la mitología asturiana, Xuan Xosé Sánchez Vicente and Xesús Cañedo Valle, Ediciones Trabe, 2003, p. 114.]

In order to expel a trasgu it is necessary to request of him an impossible task, like bringing a basket of water from the sea, picking up millet from the floor (it falls through the hole in his hand), and whitening a black sheep. Because he thinks himself capable of doing everything, he accepts the challenge. In his stubbornness, he will try until he becomes exhausted. When he fails to accomplish the tasks, his pride is hurt. He leaves and does not return. He will also become spooked if someone falsely recreates actions proper of goblins.

Cantabrian Mythology

In Cantabria, the trasgo is a small goblin with black face and green eyes that inhabits forests. His main activity is to mock people and carry out pranks, especially against girls who are engaged in a specific activity, like shepherding. Because he must hide from humans, his clothes are made of tree leaves and moss.

Presence in Literature

Trasgu's pranks are told with variations in numerous towns of the Iberian peninsula, and his adventures are evoked in classical works of Spanish literature, like the Lazarillo de Tormes, the short farces of Cervantes and the comedies of Lope de Vega [Mitos y leyendas de Asturias. [http://www.asturiasnatural.com/mitologia/seres/trasgu.htm] ] .

Trasgos are also present in works like The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, where they are represented as wretched beings who live in the mountains. They are sometimes erroneously mistaken with the orcs in The Lord of the Rings and other works like Dungeons and Dragons. In these works the word "trasgo" is applied to humanoid creatures of great size; the beings that are equivalent to the trasgo are called goblins.

References

External Links

* [http://www.asturiasnatural.com/mitologia/seres/trasgu.htm Mitos y Leyendas de Asturias: El Trasgu]