The Scazzamurrieddhu – The Mischievous Elf Living Under Your Floorboards

On quiet Salento nights, when the wind has settled and the heat sticks to the walls, some swear they’ve heard him. A faint shuffling across the tiles, a whispered breath, bedsheets rustling without cause. And no—it’s not a draft.
It’s lu Scazzamurrieddhu.

Don’t expect a gentle woodland sprite. This is an elf the Salento way: rustic, sharp, and far from romantic. Small, hunched, and always wearing a red cap, he lives beneath houses—under the floor, near the hearth, or maybe inside an old cupboard. Rarely seen, but always felt through his tricks, his sounds, and occasionally… the smell of tobacco.

His pranks? Very real.

He’s not evil, just... stubborn. If he grows fond of a house, he stays. Ignore him, and he’ll remind you who’s boss: strange thumps, missing objects, restless dreams. But if you leave him a little milk, or a bit of bread, he’ll settle. He may even bring you luck.
Just don’t touch his red cap. That’s sacred. Without it, he loses his powers—and possibly, his temper.

Salento, from under the bed

The Scazzamurrieddhu is the spirit of old houses, the breath of alleys. He’s the unseen part of Salento, alive in whispered tales and grandmother’s warnings. He’s the mischievous, clever, slightly rebellious soul of the South.

So if one night you hear tiny footsteps behind you... don’t be afraid.
It’s probably just him—watching you, grinning, before diving back under the floorboards.