Theme trail · 10 stops
House Spirits
“All over the world, homes have one more resident.”
From Naples to Russia, from the Salento to Japan, almost every culture has imagined that someone invisible lived inside the house: an elf who plays tricks, a spirit who brings luck, a little god who should be left a bit of food. This trail goes from house to house.
'O MunacielloCampaniaWe start in Naples, where the Munaciello (the little monk of the house) may leave you a coin or make your keys disappear.
La Bella 'MbrianaCampaniaThe same city is also home to his gentle opposite, the Bella 'Mbriana, who shows herself as a gecko.
Lu ScazzamurriedduApuliaFurther south in Apulia, the elf changes his name to Scazzamurrieddu but keeps his red cap and his treasures.
The MonachicchioBasilicataIn Basilicata there are lots of hooded monachicchi, and they laugh all night long.
The MazzamurelloLazioIn Rome the Mazzamurello cannot be seen: you hear it knocking inside the walls.
The LinchettoTuscanyIn Tuscany the Linchetto prefers to pull off the blankets and be paid in bread and cheese.
The Lares and PenatesRoman mythologyTwo thousand years ago the Romans already had an altar at home for their protective spirits.
The DomovoiSlavic mythologyIn Russia the spirit lives behind the stove and moves house with the family.
The BrownieCeltic mythologyIn Scotland he helps with the chores, as long as nobody gives him clothes.
TsukumogamiJapanese mythologyIn Japan there is no need for an elf: after a hundred years, the objects themselves come to life.
Next trail: Dragons Around the World
Who's behind this
Ciro Simone Irmici
I build websites, apps and games. I built the Atlas with artificial intelligence and I check every card and every source myself. I am not a scholar of mythology: I tell these legends with respect and always say where they come from. If you know a legend from your town, write to me.
More of my work: free audiobooks on YouTube · ebooks on Gumroad · Apple Books · music on Spotify and YouTube Music