Pukwudgie facts for kids

A Pukwudgie is a small, human-like creature from the old stories of the Wampanoag people. These tales come from areas like Delaware and Prince Edward Island. Pukwudgies are often described as being about 2 to 3 feet tall. The name "Puk-Wudjie" or "Puck-wudj-ininee" means "little wild man of the woods that vanishes."

What are Pukwudgies Like?

Pukwudgies are known for their special powers and tricky nature. They can:

• Appear and disappear very quickly.
• Change their shape, sometimes looking like a porcupine from the back and a half-human, half-troll from the front.
• Use magic.
• Shoot poison arrows.
• Create fire.

Long ago, Native Americans believed that Pukwudgies were friendly to people. However, they later turned against humans and became mischievous. It's said that if someone bothered a Pukwudgie, the creature would play nasty tricks on them or follow them, causing trouble. Pukwudgies are also known for:

• Kidnapping people.
• Pushing people off cliffs.
• Attacking victims with small knives and spears.
• Using sand to blind people.

Pukwudgies in Old Stories

In Wampanoag folklore, Pukwudgies are seen as enemies of important heroes like Maushop and Granny Squannit. One story explains that Pukwudgies started causing trouble because they were jealous of how much the Native people loved Maushop. Because of their mischief, Maushop sent them away to different parts of North America.

Since then, Pukwudgies have been unfriendly to humans. They even got revenge by killing Maushop's five sons. Some stories even say they killed Maushop himself.

Pukwudgies in Books and Movies

Pukwudgies have appeared in modern stories, too!

In The Song of Hiawatha

The famous American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote about Pukwudgies in his long poem, The Song of Hiawatha. He learned about them from old Ojibwe stories. In the poem, Pukwudgies are called "mischievous" and "envious Little People" who plot against a strong hero named Kwasind.

In Harry Potter

The author J. K. Rowling included Pukwudgies in the magical world of Harry Potter. She described them as:

• Native to America.
• Short, with grey faces and large ears.
• Related to European goblins.
• Very independent and tricky.
• Not very fond of humans, whether they have magic or not.
• Having their own strong magic.
• Hunting with deadly, poisonous arrows.
• Enjoying playing tricks on people.

In the Harry Potter universe, Pukwudgie is also the name of one of the four houses at the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This house is said to represent the "heart" of a wizard and often favors students who become healers.

In Legacies T.V. Series

Pukwudgies are also shown and talked about in the T.V. show Legacies. They appear in the sixth episode of season four.

See also

In Spanish: Pukwudgie para niños