The Mossfolk (German: Moosleute, "moss folk", German: [ˈmoːsˌlɔɪ̯tə], wilde Leute, "wild folk", German: [ˈvɪldəˈlɔɪ̯tə]), also referred to as the Woodfolk (Holzleute, "wood folk", German: [ˈhɔltsˌlɔɪ̯tə]) or Forestfolk (Waldleute, "forest-folk", German: [ˈvaltˌlɔɪ̯tə]), are a class of fairy-folk, variously compared to dwarfs, elves, or spirits, described in German folklore as having an intimate connection to trees and the forest. In German, the words Schrat and Waldschrat are also used for a moss person. (Compare Old Norse skratti, "goblin".) The diminutive Schrätlein also serves as synonym for a nightmare creature.
"Between Leidhecken and Dauernheim in the Wetterau stands the high mountain, and on it a stone, der welle fra gestoil (the wild woman's chair); there is an impression on the rock, as of the limbs of human sitters. The people say the wild folk lived there 'wei di schtan noch mell warn,' while the stones were still soft; afterwards, being persecuted, the man ran away, the wife and child remained in custody at Dauernheim until they died."
Jacob Grimm
"According to certain tales of the peasantry, a demonic creature dwells near Leutenberg and on the left bank of river Saale, called the Buschgroßmutter (or Shrub Grandmother). She has many daughters, called Moosfräuleins("Moss ladies"), with whom she roves around the country at certain times and upon certain holy nights. It is not good to meet her, for she has wild, staring eyes and crazy, unkempt hair. Often she drives around in a little cart or waggon, and at such times it is wise to stay out of her way. Children, in particular, are afraid of this Putzmommel(hooded, female bogey) and delight in whispering tales of her to frighten each other. She is essentially the same spirit as Hulda or Bertha, the Wild Huntress – to whom local tales ascribe a following of children under the guise of the Heimchen who constitute her attendants in the area she frequents."
The female Moss people, the Moosfräulein ("Moss ladies"), have a queen called the Buschgroßmutter (Buschgrossmutter; "Shrub Grandmother"). Ludwig Bechstein describes her in his folktale 551
The Moss Man, who himself lived in the depths of need, was always there to help good people in their poverty. Moss Man and Moss Weibel , only three feet tall, lived deep in the forest under tree trunks and in caves, subsisting meagerly on roots and forest fruits and clothing themselves scantily with moss and fir branches. They had only one enemy, the " Wild Hunter ." From him and his followers, they were safe under the tree trunks and sticks into which the woodcutters had carved three crosses. The Moss People were friendly to people. "They especially helped the poor, and the leaves" – it must have been three handfuls – "with which they rewarded good deeds turned into gold, so that the hardship of the poor forest dwellers came to an end”.
