Alp (folklore)

An alp is a nightmare creature originating from Teutonic or German folklore.

Not to be mistaken with the similarly named Alp Luachra, thealp is sometimes likened to a vampire, but its behavior is more like that of the incubus. The word "alp" is also a variation on the word "elf", and it also is known by the following names: "trud", "mare", "mart", "mahr", "Schrat", and "Walrider". Many other variations exist in surrounding European areas. The appearance of the alp itself is rarely described, other than it wears a hat and can shape-shift.

An alp is typically male, while mara and mart appear to be more feminine versions of the same creature. Its victims are often female, and it usually attacks during the nighttime, controlling dreams and creating horrible nightmares. An alp attack is called an "alpdrücke", or often "Alpdrücken", which means "Elf Pressure". An Alpdrücke is when an alp sits astride a sleeper's chest and becomes heavier until the crushing weight awakens the terrified (and breathless) dreamer. They awake terrified and unable to move under the alp's weight. This may have been an early explanation for sleep apnea and sleep paralysis, as well as night terrors. It may also include lucid dreams. Alps may also enter the body by becoming a fine mist and entering through the nostrils and mouth, where it can administer its nightmares from the inside, similar to a spirit possession. It also uses a long tongue for this same function, for it is suggested the alp "feeds" on dreams.When an alp attack is sexual in nature, it is said to be extremely unpleasant. An alp will rarely force itself on a victim in this way however, and sexual attacks by the alp are rare.An alp will repeat these sessions until it is repelled sufficiently, for it is quite persistent and determined once it selects its victim, and have been reported to travel great distances to and from their favorite haunt.

The reason it is sometimes associated with vampires is because it may drink the blood from the nipples of men and young children, though women are the preferred victim. The alp favors the taste of breast milk as well. Alps also exhibit an elf-like tendency for mischief, like souring milk and re-diapering a baby. A maid must sign a cross on the diaper or the alp will put the soiled diaper back on it. They also enjoy tangling hair into "elfknots" or chewing and twisting horse's tails. They will ride a horse to exhaustion during the night and may sometimes crush small farm animals to death during a pressing attack. Alps are also similarly blamed for minor illness and milking their cows dry, as alps enjoy the taste of cow's milk as well.

The alp's history originated in the mountainous regions of Germany and Austria. In Teutonic myth and folklore, the alps used to be rather friendly elf-like beings but eventually turned more negative and malevolent. The alp, in many cases, is considered a demon, but there have been some instances in which the alp is created from the spirits of recently dead relations. Children may become an alp if a mother needs to use a horse collar to ease the pain during an extremely long and torturous childbirth. Also, a child born with a caul or hair on the palms may become an alp. If a woman who is pregnant is frightened by an animal, the child may be born an alp. Stillborn infants are also suspected to return from the grave as alps and torment their family. Also, people who have eyebrows that meet are suspected to be alps.

As with the case of werewolves, sometimes a normal human or animal may become an alp during the night. They are typically unaware of their alp exploits and are usually in disguise while doing so. Finding out the alp while it is not active simply requires injuring or marking the alp during the attack and seeking out the being with a similar mark during the day. The person can then be cured if it is found out who sent them the curse, or how they became cursed to begin with. Witchcraft is often the prime suspect in this case.

Sometimes an alp is a spirit summoned by a witch or an evil person wishing harm on another, and sent to torment them. Tricking an alp shall lead you to the sender.

The alp is also well known for its shape-shifting abilities, similar to the creatures from werewolf lore. It may change into a cat, pig, dog, snake or a small white butterfly. It has also been said that it can fly like a bird and ride a horse. The Alp always wears a hat, giving it an almost comical appearance. The hat is known as a "Tarnkappe" (the literal translation being "Camouflage cap") or "Cap of concealment" (see also cloak of invisibility) which is simply a hat (or though rare, a veil) that gives the alp magic powers and the ability to turn invisible while worn. The hat is visible no matter what shape the alp takes. An alp who has lost this hat will offer a great reward for its safe return.

Protections against an alp include laying a broomstick under a pillow, iron horseshoes hung from the bedpost, placing shoes against the bed or placing a mirror on the chest. Steel and crosses are also used. If awoken by the alp and finding him still there, one can address him by asking him to return in the morning to borrow something or have coffee. It is said it will dash away at once, arriving in the morning in his "true" form for his gifts. Also, plugging up any holes, specifically keyholes, before a visitation will keep the alp out, while plugging them during a visitation will invariably seal him in the room, as they often leave only through their original entrance. A light kept constantly on during the night will also effectively ward off an alp, as they tend to shrink from the light. A sentry may also be employed to wait and watch for the alp to attack the helpless sleeper, and the alp may be driven away if caught by someone not under the alp's influence. Alps also can be weakened by the act of shoving lemons in its mouth if it is to be caught while resting. The alp appears all but impossible to kill, and sometimes even after being turned away it may reappear years later in a worse mood.

Alps in fiction

*An alp named Tonius "Tony" Zopfius VonHarnier is a main character in the online comic [http://www.drunkduck.com/Charby_the_Vampirate/ "Charby the Vampirate"]
*The alp is one of the first demons one can catch in the video game "Devil Summoner"
*"Nightmare on Elm Street" features a character (Freddy Krueger) who exhibits alp-like traits (tormenting sleeping teens and wearing a hat)
*Henry Fuseli created 2 paintings featuring a demon perched on the breast of a tormented sleeper, much like an alp, both of which can be seen in the article Nightmare

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