When researching how to translate Wichtel I learned more about little folk in various country’s folklore than I will ever need. As all of them have different traits and backgrounds there is no way of translating the term. The best I can come up with is that a Wichtel is a kind of good-natured gnome, that might help around the house at night when it is not seen and it appears in greater numbers around Christmas time. In fact, the tradition of “secret Santa” is called “Wichteln” in Germany with the one significant difference that you just prepare a gift and it is handed out at random to the people who participate.
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pictures imperfect blog 
Oh I didn’t know these little fellahs had a specific name. Very cute.
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That’s their German name. I’m sure they have others in the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries, in Switzerland and Austria and possibly others.
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I know them as ‘gonks’! 🙂
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That might be a marketing name. Wichtel are a lot older in German folklore, similar to leprechauns in Ireland or Tokkeloshe in South Africa.
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🙂
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I think lots of houses have these 😂
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That’s just the most modern version that’s going round. But Wichtel are old.
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Love these; could do with them visiting more often at ours 😂
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