What Is a Red Cap?

What Is a Red Cap? thumbnail
This garden "gnome" could actually be a depiction of a red cap goblin.

A Red Cap (also spelled Redcap) is a frightening and murderous goblin from English and Scottish folklore which has appeared widely across popular culture, ranging from mentions in the Harry Potter series to traditional English stories.

  1. Redcap Geography

    • In folklore, Redcap goblins are traditionally found in the border areas between England and Scotland. Redcaps are said to live in abandoned castles and towers. Redcaps spend most of their time killing lost travelers in the countryside, according to myth.

    Why a Red Cap?

    • Redcaps are called such because the small ugly creatures wear a red hat, which is said to be dyed with the blood of their victims. If the dye dries out, it is said that the Redcap itself dies.

    Appearances in Fiction

    • Redcaps are a popular creature in fantasy literature and games. They are mentioned in the Harry Potter series, the Magic: The Gathering game, Dungeons and Dragons as well as other comic books and video games.

Related Searches:

References

  • Photo Credit Goblin in the garden image by Ivonne Wierink from Fotolia.com

Comments

You May Also Like

  • The History of Coon Skin Caps

    Anyone that grew up in the United States in the 1950's can attest to the pandemonium created by the coon skin cap...

  • About Mythical Ghosts & Goblins

    From the dawn of time, people have told stories about mythic monsters such as ghosts and goblins. They embody our fears of...

  • How to Create a Harry Potter Costume

    Go to any craft store. Buy gold and dark red ribbon, the gold of a wider width that the red. Go to...

  • Why Are Bullfighters' Caps Red?

    A muleta is a red flannel cape that hangs from a wooden stick that a matador uses during the third and final...

  • Harry Potter Crafts & Activities

    Harry Potter is a fictional wizard from a series of books who came to life in the movies that followed. When planning...

  • Harry Potter Tattoo Ideas

    Harry Potter Tattoo Ideas. The world J.K. Rowling dreamed up in her Harry Potter saga offers a nuance of fantastic creatures and...

  • How to Customize Boston Red Sox Baseball Hats

    You can show your support for Boston's major league baseball team with hundreds of different baseball hat designs. However, if you want...

  • How to Identify and Care for Red Cap Oranda Fish

    The red cap oranda is a beautiful, strikingly colored fish, which belongs to the Cyprinidae family. Like other cold-water cyprinids, it is...

  • Spiderwick Games to Play

    Spiderwick Games to Play. Based on the best-selling Holly Black/Tony DiTerlizzi fantasy book series, 2008's "The Spiderwick Chronicles" film grossed more than...

  • How to Wear New Era Hats

    The hat company New Era was started in 1920 by Ehrhardt Koch, with only 12 other employees working for him. Today, New...

  • Difference Between Goblin & Gnome Engineering

    Engineers in "World of Warcraft" can choose between Gnomish and Goblin engineering as a specialization. Goblin engineering focuses primarily on explosives, while...

  • How to Run a Gothic Horror Dungeons and Dragons Campaign

    There are almost as many ways to play the pen and paper role playing game Dungeons and Dragons as there are players...

  • How to Draw a Goblin

    Goblins can be mischievous, dastardly, wicked or just out and out silly. Goblins in "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit"...

  • The Definition of Ghillie

    In modern English, ghillie is a word commonly used in Scotland to describe a person employed as a gamekeeper or hunting attendant....

  • How to Care for Your Red Cap Oranda

    The red cap oranda (Carassius auratus auratus) is a type of goldfish. Its body is covered in iridescent white scales, its tail...

  • How to Paint Gnomes

    Gnomes, sometimes referred to as lawn gnomes or garden gnomes, came to America from Europe. Though naturally shy, these yard ornaments have...

  • How to Dress Like a Hogwarts Student

    Comments. You May Also Like. How to Make a Ron Weasley Costume. Harry Potter's best friend, Ron Weasley, is a great character...

  • Different Types of Anime Demons

    Different Types of Anime Demons. Anime is Japanese animation, often adapted from comic books (manga) for the television or big screen. While...

  • How to Make a Garden Gnome on a Toadstool

    Garden gnomes are a classic lawn decoration. The materials used to make them range from concrete to wood. You can make a...

  • How to Make Banners for Stories

    A beautiful banner can make a story visually interesting and keep a reader's attention. This is especially true with children's stories. Adding...

Related Ads

Featured