The Seventh Night of Halloween: Gobblin' Goblins

Welcome to the Ten Nights of Halloween! Each day I'll introduce you to one of the characters in my picture book, Halloween Good Night.

Oh, those Silly Little Goblins...

Today the seventh of the Ten Nights of Halloween! We started with one little Globster and moved on to two naughty Imps. We then had three young werewolves, four mummies, five zombies, six witches. And now we're looking at seven tricky goblins!  

Unlike a heap of creatures we've already looked at that date back to the earliest human records, goblins can be traced to European folklore beginning in the middle ages. Of course their oral history may go back much farther, but on paper, they began and grew and grew. But not too big. Because goblins are typically seen as small, grotesque fairy-like creatures, often invisible, but always hairy and evidencing poor oral hygiene.

Most goblins are tricksters, weaving nightmares of gossamer strands that they send into a human's ear, or stealing babies and replacing them with hideous goblin babies. They steal things, hide things, and are a general nuisance.

One type of goblin, however, is very fast, impossible to outrun, and needs to kill to survive. This type, called a Red Cap, inhabits castles and murders lonely travelers. Its one weakness? A passage from the Bible, which will make it lose a tooth as is rush away toward safety. So next time you visit an English castle, have a few scriptures in mind.

A Bit of Goblin History in this Video:

With some good ole fashioned goblin-kicking-music-video fun.

The best goblin crafts!

I was surprised to find two truly creative and cute goblin crafts. Who knew goblins were so popular? 

So creative and adorable, and so many uses from puppets to garland to place cards to...

If cute isn't your thing, this ghoulish Goblin printable would be a perfect toy or table decoration (or a treat box? or something to leave on the kids' blanket late at night for a little midnight "surprise"?).