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Meaning & History
In Silesian legends, Rübezahl is the 'lord of the mountains' in the Riesengebirge. He is also described as a 'prince of gnomes'.The origin of the name is unclear. In the legend itself it is explained as "turnip counter" because he was forced to count turnips. The name is seen as derogatory and calling it aloud in the mountains calls for trouble. However, Rübezahl has a good heart and is helpful to people who call him in hardship.