Lutin

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A lutin (French pronunciation: [lytɛ̃]) is a type of hobgoblin (an amusing goblin) in French folklore and fairy tales. Female lutins are called lutines (French pronunciation: [lytin]).

A lutin (varieties include the Nain Rouge or "red dwarf"^[1]) plays a similar role in the folklore of Normandy to household spirits in England, Germany and Scandinavia. Lutin is generally translated into English as: brownie, elf, fairy, gnome, goblin, hobgoblin, imp, leprechaun, pixie, puck, jetin or sprite.^[2] It sometimes takes the form of a horse saddled ready to ride, and in this shape is called Le Cheval Bayard.^[3] Lutins sometimes tangle people's or horses' hair into elf-locks.^[3]

A French fairy tale, "Le Prince Lutin", written in 1697 by Marie Catherine d'Aulnoy has a description of the "air, water and terrestrial lutin": "You are invisible when you like it; you cross in one moment the vast space of the universe; you rise without having wings; you go through the ground without dying; you penetrate the abysses of the sea without drowning; you enter everywhere, though the windows and the doors are closed; and, when you decide to, you can let yourself be seen in your natural form."^[4] In this story a red hat with two feathers makes the lutin invisible.

Lutins also assist Père Noël in Lapland.^{[citation needed]}