The 'Dragon-Poppet' (Dragedukker/Drejedukke), Denmark and Sweden
The Dragon-Doll was a 'spiritually imbued' figurine carved occasionally from a tree , which was said to bring money and perform 'miracles'. People will go aha! a Mandrake...usually it wasn't, as it would have been difficult to grow and obtain that root in the far north by people that lacked the wealth to travel to Italy, the Medieval and consecutive centuries source of the plant. The Dragedukker (Danish) was said to be able to build houses from stones that even a horse and cart couldn't carry because of the immense weight. Sometimes, the poppet was called the Drejedok/Drejedukke (Turning Sprite/Spirit - Danish). It was housed in a wooden coffin or box, like a Mandragora, which was turned to summon the spirit of the doll to bring shillings (coins), Daler (a larger sum) or the 'Vekseldaler' (Money that returned to the owner once it was spent).
In folklore, everyday people said that it could be seen by a blaze of light, in the early morning, from a neighbor's chimney, as this was the imp/'devil' flying in to bring the 'stolen' money to the doll's possessor. Regular people (Those not versed in Trylleformler- Danish 'Sorcerous Formula') also believed that a seven year old rooster laid an egg, indistinguishable from a hen's egg. The egg would be incubated and an imp/'devil' (The Dragon-Doll) would hatch out and fly to the top of the roost. The Dragedukker was supposed to imbibe the owner's blood until death by anemia had occurred. Folklore states that the doll was impossible to throw away, unless you convinced someone to take it, before your death. The tenth owner would have no profit in owning it and it would cause more trouble than gain. A Swedish Svartkonstbok gives the 'formula' for making the Dragon-Poppet, which takes seven years. The Swedish version says that the 'little dragon' gets money from the sea-bed and from graves. It's appearance ranged from a round stone, a mangy looking rat, a wooden doll, a white snake and a black snake. Oddly the formula/charm associated with ridding oneself of the little dragon was given by a village priest in Soes (normally spelled with stroke o), Denmark.
"If you want money, go to Varnæs (a local church in the story) church, and if that is too far, then to another church. It should be at midnight, and if one is audacious enough, on Thursday he will walk three times around the cemetery and say that he does it in the Devil's name, he will surely meet one! The spirit gives him the choice between a vekseldrittel and drejdok. They say that a drejdok (turn doll) provides the most, but that vekseldrittel is less risky."
"Dersom man vil have penge, skal man gå til Varnæs kirke, og er det for langt, så til en anden. Det skal være ved midnatstid, og den, som da er så dristig, at han tor gå tre gange rundt om kirkegården og sige, at han gjor det i Fandens navn, han vil ganske sikkert møde én. Denne giver ham valget mellem en vekseldrittel og en drejdok. Han siger, at en drejdok giver mest, men at en vekseldrittel er mere sikker."
"Danske Sagn: afd., 2. halvdel. Hekseri og sygdomme"
By Evald Tang Kristensen
Correction (Trylleformler is Norwegian, literally in English Troll-formula, more correctly spells, magic). When you are trying to learn Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian you are apt to mix the three. Studied and spoke German for years and still learning...
In folklore, everyday people said that it could be seen by a blaze of light, in the early morning, from a neighbor's chimney, as this was the imp/'devil' flying in to bring the 'stolen' money to the doll's possessor. Regular people (Those not versed in Trylleformler- Danish 'Sorcerous Formula') also believed that a seven year old rooster laid an egg, indistinguishable from a hen's egg. The egg would be incubated and an imp/'devil' (The Dragon-Doll) would hatch out and fly to the top of the roost. The Dragedukker was supposed to imbibe the owner's blood until death by anemia had occurred. Folklore states that the doll was impossible to throw away, unless you convinced someone to take it, before your death. The tenth owner would have no profit in owning it and it would cause more trouble than gain. A Swedish Svartkonstbok gives the 'formula' for making the Dragon-Poppet, which takes seven years. The Swedish version says that the 'little dragon' gets money from the sea-bed and from graves. It's appearance ranged from a round stone, a mangy looking rat, a wooden doll, a white snake and a black snake. Oddly the formula/charm associated with ridding oneself of the little dragon was given by a village priest in Soes (normally spelled with stroke o), Denmark.
"If you want money, go to Varnæs (a local church in the story) church, and if that is too far, then to another church. It should be at midnight, and if one is audacious enough, on Thursday he will walk three times around the cemetery and say that he does it in the Devil's name, he will surely meet one! The spirit gives him the choice between a vekseldrittel and drejdok. They say that a drejdok (turn doll) provides the most, but that vekseldrittel is less risky."
"Dersom man vil have penge, skal man gå til Varnæs kirke, og er det for langt, så til en anden. Det skal være ved midnatstid, og den, som da er så dristig, at han tor gå tre gange rundt om kirkegården og sige, at han gjor det i Fandens navn, han vil ganske sikkert møde én. Denne giver ham valget mellem en vekseldrittel og en drejdok. Han siger, at en drejdok giver mest, men at en vekseldrittel er mere sikker."
"Danske Sagn: afd., 2. halvdel. Hekseri og sygdomme"
By Evald Tang Kristensen
Correction (Trylleformler is Norwegian, literally in English Troll-formula, more correctly spells, magic). When you are trying to learn Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian you are apt to mix the three. Studied and spoke German for years and still learning...
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