Hob (folklore)

A "hob" is a type of small household spirit found in the north and midlands of England, according to traditional folklore of those regions. They could live inside the house or outdoors. They are said to work in farmyards and thus could be helpful, however if offended they could become nuisances. [ [http://englishheathenism.homestead.com/folklore.html English Folklore ] ] The usual way to dispose of a hob was to give them a set of new clothing, the receiving of which would make the creature leave for ever. It could however be impossible to get rid of the worst hobs. [English Folklore. A Dictionary of English Folklore. Copyright © 2000, 2003 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.]

A famous hob called the "hobthrust" lived near Runswick Bay in a "hobhole", it was said to be able to cure whooping cough. [ [http://www.hedgewytchery.com/denizens.html Tom Tit Tot Be Named ] ]

As well as the "brownie", another cognate exists in the Scandinavian "tomte", all are thought to be derived from the household gods of olden times, known in England as the cofgodas (Old English for "house-gods") of which the brownie and hob are indeed a survival. ["Cove-Gods", "An Other Dictionary".]

Modern popular culture

In Jim Butchers "the Dresden Files" hobs are eyeless creatures who burn in light. They therefore use a spell called "myrk" to shield an area from light, and then drag their victims to their hole to eat. They serve the Winter Queen of The winter Court of Faires 'Mab'.

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