Boggart

The Origin of the Boggart

The Boggart (also spelled bogart, boggard, or buggart) is a widespread household spirit or malicious fairy in Northern English folklore, particularly in Lancashire and Yorkshire. They are closely related to the helpful brownie or hob, but while those spirits are generally benign and helpful when treated well, the boggart is inherently mischievous, spiteful, and sometimes downright dangerous.

The word “boggart” is derived from the Middle English bugge, meaning a terrifying specter or scarecrow, sharing the same root as the word “bogeyman.”

Appearance and Characteristics

Boggarts are notoriously difficult to describe because they are rarely seen, preferring to remain invisible or hide in dark corners, under beds, or in cupboards. When they are described, they are usually small, ugly, hairy, and incredibly quick.

In many local legends, boggarts are capable of shapeshifting, taking the form of a black dog, a horse, or a terrifying shadow. In modern pop culture (most famously in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling), the boggart’s shapeshifting ability is its defining trait, magically taking the form of whatever the observer fears the most. However, in traditional folklore, this specific fear-shifting trait is largely absent.

The Mischief of a Boggart

The primary activity of a boggart is causing profound annoyance and minor destruction within a household or on a farm:

• The Poltergeist: Boggarts act very similarly to modern poltergeists. They are famous for snatching the bedclothes off sleeping children, hiding small objects, souring milk, pulling the ears of dogs, and creating loud, terrifying banging noises in the middle of the night.
• Farm Sabotage: On farms, they were blamed for lame horses, broken tools, and crops inexplicably dying overnight.

How to Deal with a Boggart

According to folklore, getting rid of a boggart is incredibly difficult, and often counterproductive.

The most famous piece of advice regarding a boggart is: never name it. If a family gives the spirit a name, it becomes permanently attached to them. Furthermore, attempting to flee a boggart by moving to a new house is almost always futile. The famous folklore tale of “The Boggart of Syke Lumb Farm” describes a family packing all their belongings onto a cart to escape their tormentor, only to hear a small voice pipe up from inside the butter-churn saying, “Aye, we’re flitting!” (We’re moving!).

The best way to deal with a traditional boggart is to ignore it as best as possible, or occasionally, to leave it a small offering of food in the hopes it will calm down, though this can easily backfire and make the creature more demanding.