Friday, December 21, 2018

Legend of the Snallygaster

R. M. Hanson
The Snallygaster (a corruption of the German term Schneller Geist, which translates as quick ghost) is an American folk legend coming out of German enclaves of the east coast from around the 1730s.

Much of these are centered around central Maryland and the area around Washington DC. Legend describes this demon as a mélange of nightmarish features: dragons, reptiles, and birds with metallic beaks and razor sharp teeth--even tentacles.

The beast will dive in a sudden, silent attack from the skies to swoop up an unsuspecting victim and carry its prey off into the night. Some accounts say the Snallygaster will suck the blood from its victim like a vampire.

Throughout the region, seven-pointed stars can be seen on barns. This German tradition is a ward against bad luck and evil spirits such as the Snallygaster.

Throughout the years, the legend accreted into a morass of influences that took off in popular culture via accounts published in less-than-reputable papers. These reports included fictitious claims that the Smithsonian Institution was offering a reward for a Snallygaster hide and the President Theodore Roosevelt had plans to hunt for the beast himself.

These days, the regional beast is another entry in the list of local monsters moving merchandise like The Jersey Devil or Sasquatch. These 'Small Town Monsters' seem to be gaining popularity in recent years as legend tripping catches on as a fun, ironic antidote to the mindless and mundane activities that feed our addiction to otherwise sheltered lives spent indoors staring at our phones.

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