Mythical creatures have always been a part of mankind’s history. Some of these mythical creatures are large, and some are small.
Small in stature, considered mischievous, and regarded as troublemakers, some of these small mythical creatures will bring a smile to your face.
They are known for other attributes as well, but some of the most well-known of small mythical creatures in existence are written below.
Here is a short bio of 15 of the most famous small mythical creatures:
Top 15 Smallest & Littlest Mythical Creatures
1. Brownies
Brownies are the first of the small mythical creatures.
Originating in Scotland and England, these mythical creatures are usually hard at work in the home churning butter and doing other household tasks.
Even though they dress in rags, you cannot confront them on this; they will either leave your home or turn into a boggart, which is a brownie gone bad.
Boggarts are destructive, turning your home into a mess!
2. Christmas Elves
Most people are familiar with the small mythical creatures that are popular around Christmastime, the Christmas Elves.
Diminutive in stature, these elves help fill Santa’s shelves with toys for good girls and boys around Christmastime every year.
Legend has it that they live at the North Pole with Santa Claus and are hard at work year-round making toys.
3. Leprechauns
True to form, these are some of the small mythical creatures from Irish folklore.
They are cobblers and are hard at work making shoes, and trouble.
Because they are devious and dressed in green from head to toe many a greedy person looking to find their pot of gold has ended up outwitted and empty-handed by the Leprechaun.
4. Gnomes
Gnomes are one of the more interesting of the smallest mythical creatures.
They are thought to be deformed dwarves living underground and protecting the buried treasure.
In more recent times, people have used gnomes in their gardens to protect their vegetation and/or minerals or buried treasure.
Gnomes are generally thought to bring good luck.
5. Pixies
From English folklore, the Pixie is said to be responsible for a myriad of coincidental mishaps.
One of the small mythical creatures known in folklore, the Pixie is said to be a small spirit generally found in the West Country of England.
When things are lost, travelers go astray, or candles mysteriously blow out, it is believed to be the handiwork of the mischievous Pixie.
6. Dokkaebi
From Korea, we have the Dokkaebi, one of the small mythical creatures on the continent of Asia.
Kind of ugly and resembling tiny trolls, these mythical creatures are in the habit of tricking and taunting humans.
The Dokkaebi can also turn from an ugly troll into a beautiful woman with the ultimate goal of seducing men.
7. Lutin
The French have invented a small mythical creature called the Lutin.
They are little people, namely goblins, whose sole task is to berate humans. Their specialty is spinning knots in the hair of sleeping humans and horses.
They are also magicians, with a hat that causes them to become invisible resulting in more mischievous behavior.
To get rid of the Lutin, just sprinkle some salt.
8. Knockers
The small mythical creature in Cornish folklore is said to be the knockers.
These guys are believed to dwell deep in the tin mines of Cornwall and Wales. The knocking sounds heard deep in the mines are attributed to these small people.
The miners would leave food and always speak respectively to the knockers, thereby ensuring a safe mine.
The term” Tommyknockers” was derived from the knockers via Cornish miners traveling to California during the gold rush.
9. Duende
The Duende is an example of one of the small mythical creatures located in Spain and South America.
They are small elf-like creatures with no thumbs who love to sleep under the bed or in the dark corner of a child’s room.
Many Spanish parents warn their children that the Duende will carry them off if they misbehave.
10. Trow
Trow is a name for one of the small mythical creatures from the Orkney and Shetland Islands in Scotland.
These creatures are devilish, breaking into people’s houses to warm themselves or throwing lavish parties all night long in their underground homes.
They have been known to kidnap humans for the sole purpose of having them play jigs all night long while they dance!
11. Kobold
These Kobold are pointed ears goblins from German folklore.
These small mythical creatures from Germany are precocious little sprites who live in your home and if you happen to annoy them, they retaliate in a variety of ways.
They are considered bad omens in the 3 places where they occur the most: the home, the mines, and on ships.
12. Laminak
From Basque mythology, we have another example of a small mythical creature named the Laminak.
Said to be the female counterpart of the male Cromlech-building Maide, these little fairy-like creatures live in caves in the mountains and sneak into houses at night.
13. Jack Frost
To Americans, Jack Frost is one of the most widely known small mythical creatures in North American folklore.
He is said to be “Old Man Winter” and responsible for the turning of leaves in the fall, and snow, sleet, and ice in the winter.
Because he is regarded as a sprite he is mischievous, nipping at fingers and toes in the winter.
14. Menehune
The Menehune are believed to be small mythical creatures living on the islands of Hawaii.
Because they live deep in the forest of the islands, only people who are close to them and their children can see the Menehune.
They are dwarfs, and they are said to be expert builders and carpenters, constructing roads and bridges at night.
15. Abatwa
From the Zulu tribe in Africa, we have small mythical creatures called the Abatwa.
Said to be miniature nomadic hunters, they ride ants and sleep in anthills.
Because they are sensitive to being called small, if you call them small they will shoot deadly arrows at you, causing uncontrollable bleeding and death.
The Abatwa are greatly feared in Zulu folklore for this reason.