Hob (folklore)

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A hob is a type of small household spirits found in the north and midlands of England, according to traditional folklore of those regions. 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.^[1] 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 for ever. It could however be impossible to get rid of the worst hobs.^[2]

A famous hob called the hobthrust lived near Runswick Bay in a hobhole, it was said to be able to cure whooping cough.^[3]

As well as the brownie, another cognate exists in the Scandinavian tomte.

In Jim Butchers "the Dresden Files" (can be seen on the Sci-Fi channel) hobs are eye-less creatures who burn in light and there fore use a spell called myrk to cover all light from the area and then drag their victims to their hole to eat. They serve the Winter Queen of The winter Court of Faires 'Mab'

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