| Sennentuntschi | |
|---|---|
 PD Image of a Scarecrow made of the same type of materials as the Sennentuntschi. | |
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Other Names |
Sennentuntschi, Zurrimutzi, Hoazl or Hausäli, Unze, and Hansel |
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First Appearance |
Alpine Folklore |
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Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
Sennentuntschi is a living doll from Alpine folklore who after being abused by her creators takes revenge. The doll's name is different in each version that mentions it. (Sennen)Tuntschi itself is sometimes used as a name, there's Zurrimutzi, Hoazl or Hausäli, Unze, and Hansel in case of a male doll.
According to legend, a trio of herdsmen take care of cattle in the mountains for the duration of the summer. Feeling lonely, they make a doll available materials such as of wood, straw, cloth, and more. They have conversations with her, give her food, clean her, and even make love to her. Some versions may omit the sexual element and make the other abuse and/or abandonment the source of the doll's anger. Among these are tales that feature a male doll instead.
However Sennentuntschi comes to life because their actions. During the remainder of the season, she continued her tasks and even helped with their work. At the end of the summer though the herdsmen were going to leave her in the mountains. She requested that one of the men stays with her often picking the one who made her or abused her most. Though in some versions the man is chosen at random or they draw straws to decide.
The remaining herdsmen leave their friend begrudgingly. Looking back they are horrified to see the doll killing then flaying the man who stayed spreading his skin across hut's roof while laughing.
Public Domain Appearances[]
- Die Drei Melker (1839)