(Spoiler alert: If you haven’t read A Witch Forgotten yet, this post contains some minor spoilers.)

This is Poch…

… a good-hearted, if hairy, little house brownie. Not only does Poch look after Morven Manor, he also looks after Annabel, keeping her safe from evil housekeepers and wicked warlocks.

So, to celebrate Poch and his big-heartedness, I thought it would be nice to delve into the folklore of house brownies and other household faeries from different cultures around the world.

What are Brownies?

In British folklore, brownies are small, magical creatures who live in homes and help with household tasks (that is, when they feel like it … ). They’re are almost always male, which I find interesting as it was women during this time who traditionally did the domestic chores.

Brownies are usually described as small, humanoid figures covered in brown rags (which is where the name ‘brownie’ comes from). I decided my brownie, Poch, would have brown hair instead of brown clothing and that he would be very proud of it!

Brownies are secretive and rarely seen by humans. They come out at night to help with chores. In times gone by this might have meant sweeping floors, polishing furniture, or churning butter.

While many of the fae are considered malevolent to humans, brownies are generally known for being helpful—although they do have a mischievous streak. If a brownie feels mistreated, they will play tricks on you and may leave your home forever.

Traditionally, brownies are not paid for their work and are offended if payment is made. This is why in many stories, if you give clothes to a house brownie they will leave. The same is true for food and drink. If you leave food out for your house brownie, make sure it’s seen as a gift and not payment. This means never handing food directly to a brownie, but instead leaving it somewhere they’ll find it.

I’ve often thought it’s unfair that brownies don’t get paid for their work and wondered why they take such offence to the idea. There are a few theories:

One theory says that brownies are very independent and only do work they choose to. If you pay them for that work, it implies that you think they’re a servant, and this is not something a free-spirited faerie will take kindly to from humans.

Another theory is that brownies must prove they’re worthy enough before they can get paid. Once they’ve proven it, they are paid and released from their life of servitude.

Other stories tell of brownies being paid with poor-quality items which causes them offence and they leave the household.

In my book, we see Annabel give Poch clothes after Mrs Fleming shaves off the fur that he’s so proud of and which he wears like clothing. The gesture is one of friendship so Poch isn’t offended. It does, however, free him from his ties to Morven Manor so he’s able to leave if he wants to.

The exact origins of brownies are unclear, but they have been part of British folklore for centuries. Some stories say that brownies are:

• Nature spirits who decided to help humans
• Magical creatures created by faeries to assist humans
• The ghosts of helpful ancestors who stayed to look after their families

What do Brownies Like to Eat?

Brownies have simple tastes and appreciate small offerings left out for them. Some of their favourite treats include:

• A bowl of fresh cream or milk
• Honey or porridge with honey and butter
• Freshly baked bread
• Cake crumbs or cookies
• Berries and nuts

Poch enjoys scones with beer after a hard day’s work!

Where do Brownies Live?

Brownies who make their homes in a house will choose a cosy, quiet spot to live in, often somewhere nice and warm such as:

• Behind the kitchen stove
• In the attic or rafters
• In a rarely used cupboard or closet
• Near the fireplace
• In the barn or stable, if the house has one.

In other cultures, there are brownie-like creatures who prefer to live out in nature, such as in termite mounds or in tiny houses built specifically for them in a farmer’s field.

Poch lives in the dovecote of Morven Manor, where he’s created a cosy home for himself, complete with an animal skin bed and a small fireplace.

Brownies Around the World

Britain isn’t the only place with helpful household faeries. They’re present in European, Asian and Central American folklore as well.

Kobolds (Germany)

Kobolds are household spirits that, like brownies, help with chores but may cause harm if upset. One story tells of a kobold who lived in the kitchen of a castle. One day a kitchen boy accidentally splashed him with dirty dishwater and the kobold became so angry that he chopped the boy into little pieces and put him in the cooking pot.

Domovoi (Russia)

Also known as ‘the old man of the house’, these helpful spirits protect the household and livestock. They’re believed to be the soul of one or more ancestors and are worshipped as such. A domovoi may act like a brownie, tidying up around the home, but they also guard the family from harm. Unlike brownies, domovoi appreciate gifts of clothing, especially cloaks that keep them warm in the winter. They traditionally like to live behind the hearth where it’s nice and warm.

Seven Wherewithal Way by Samantha-Ellen Bound is a great middle-grade fiction book that features a grumpy domovoi as one of the characters.

Tomte (Sweden)

The tomte is a small, gnome-like figure that helps around farms and homes. There are tales of similar creatures all over Scandinavia. In Denmark, they’re known as nisse.

Tomten have become synonymous with Christmas as it is traditional to leave a bowl of porridge for your tomte on Christmas Eve to thank him for all his hard work during the year. Indeed, the tomte is often depicted with a red hat and a long white beard like a certain other famous Christmas character. If you decide to leave some porridge out on Christmas Eve, make sure it has a big knob of butter in it. Scrimping on the butter will offend your tomte.

Zashiki-Warashi (Japan)

In Japan, the zashiki-warashi are household spirits that resemble children. In fact, some people believe they’re the spirits of children who died in the house. They’re believed to bring good luck and prosperity to households but may become mischievous if ignored. Some households leave gifts of food and toys for their zashiki-warashi in the belief that it will bring good luck to their family. Zashiki-warashi who are not treated well will leave the household and misfortune, such as food-poisoning, will fall on the members of the household. There is a traditional belief that seeing a white zashiki-warashi is a good omen, while seeing a red one is a sign that bad luck is soon to fall on your family.

Alux (Central America)

The alux’ob (this is the plural of alux) are small beings from Mayan culture who protect homes, fields, and caves. They’re believed to live in the Yucatan Peninsula region and are said to materialise when a farmer builds a new home in a maize field. If the farmer builds them a tiny home, they will spend the next seven years protecting the field and its crops (and sometimes the local community). However, when the seven years are up, the farmer must bar the door of the alux’s house or it will wreak havoc and mischief on the farm.

How to Entice a House Brownie to Your Home

Would you love to invite a brownie into your house to help with chores, protect your home or maybe just to have a magical friend? There are a few things you can do to create a brownie-friendly environment:

1. Keep things tidy: Brownies are drawn to clean, organised homes. Although they enjoy helping out, but they don’t like spaces that are a complete mess.
2. Leave out offerings: Try leaving a small bowl of milk or a piece of bread on the hearth or in a cosy corner of your home. But keep it simple—brownies love humble, old-fashioned food.
3. Respect their space: Brownies like to work in the shadows, so don’t try to spy on them while they work. They’re shy creatures and prefer to be left alone while they do their magic.
4. Avoid gifts of clothing: Never give a brownie a gift of clothes. According to legend, once a brownie receives clothes, they consider themselves free from duty and will leave the home. If you like your brownie and want them to stick around, keep the gifts simple.
5. Stay humble: Brownies appreciate modesty. Make sure your household is friendly and humble if you want to keep a happy brownie around.

Famous Stories Featuring Brownies

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black features a brownie named Thimbletack, who lives in the walls of the Spiderwick Estate. He starts as a helpful household spirit but can turn into a mischievous boggart when he’s angry.

Another well-known figure is Billy Blind, a helpful brownie from English folklore who gave humans advice when they were in trouble. In the recent TV series, Renegade Nell, Billy Blind is a small fairylike creature who helps Nell when she’s in trouble and offers her advice (which she doesn’t always listen to!).

And, of course, we can’t forget everyone’s favourite house elf, Dobby, from the Harry Potter series, where house elves are magical creatures who help with chores but are offended by clothing gifts.

The Magic of Brownies in Your Home

Brownies may be shy and secretive, but their magic brings warmth and joy to homes they visit. Whether you’re leaving out a bowl of milk in hopes of a brownie’s help or just daydreaming about magical creatures sweeping your floors while you sleep, the folklore of house brownies is full of fun and wonder.

So, if you find things mysteriously tidied in the morning or hear a faint giggle in the night, you might just have a brownie helping you out! Treat them kindly, leave out some milk, and you’ll keep your brownie happy for years to come.