Hob (folklore)

Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire. Local people would ask "Hobhole Hob" for help to get rid of a cough.

A hob is a type of small mythological household spirit found in the English Midlands, Northern England,[a][b] and on the Anglo-Scottish border, according to traditional folklore of those regions.[3] 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. 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 forever. It could, however, be impossible to get rid of the worst hobs.[4]

  1. ^ Atkinson 1868, pp. 262–263.
  2. ^ a b Scott 1965, pp. 108–109.
  3. ^ Atkinson, Philip. Folk Tales of North East England.
  4. ^ A Dictionary of English Folklore. 2000, 2003, Oxford University Press.


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