Der Feuermann: How to survive an encounter with a flaming ghost on your next trip to Munich

Anyone who has every picked up a book of Grimm’s fairy tales knows that Germany has no shortage of terrifying monsters and macabre folklore. From Krampus, our creepy, Christmas devil, who terrorizes naughty children every December, to Der Großmann, a medieval monster; luring its victims into the depths of the Black Forest, and who is also the inspiration for the modern manifestation of Slenderman - yes, Germany is certainly teeming with supernatural spooks.

Not all of Germany’s spectres are created equal, though, and some of these sinister entities may be trying to do more than just get a cheap scare of out of you. In fact, some of these apparitions are so complicated, they really should come with a survival guide. Today, we will focus on one of the more bizarre spirits stalking Germany, and that is the polarizing figure of Der Feuermann or The Fire Man.  

Having an encounter with Der Feuermann can be terrifying, but believe it or not, spotting this fiery ghost is typically regarded as a good omen. First of all, you’re probably wondering who or what The Fire Man is. Don’t freak out, but these flaming spirits are tormented souls roaming the earth to atone for the sins they committed in life – and we’re not talking just any old sin, like telling a little white lie, dropping the F-bomb, or stealing a cookie from the cookie jar. No, we’re talking really big stuff, as most Fire Men were big-time criminals in life. Think: treason and double-murder!

Given their criminal pasts, the Fire Men should be handled with caution; especially as many of them still possess their malicious and murderous tendencies. Now, in case you’re worried that you won’t be able to recognize Der Feuermann for what he is – fear not! Fire Men are virtually unmistakable. These spooks usually appear in the form of a giant-sized, flaming skeleton – kind of hard to miss, right?

OK, so what does he want? 

You, of course. [evil laugh]

Just kidding, if a Fire Man appears on your next visit to Munich, it is usually with the intention of helping you. Remember, these fiery spirits are trying to atone for the mistakes they made in life, and they believe that performing a few good deeds in the world of the living will help them out of the limbo that is their current existence. This is why a Fire Man sighting is typically regarded as a good omen. Der Feuermann manifests in situations where he has determined you can really use his assistance. Perhaps you are wandering down a dimly-lit street at night while an unsavory character is lurking in the shadows, or your hike in the Bavarian Alps went off the rails and you’ve lost the trail just as the skies turned dark and ominous. These helpful Fire Men will use their flaming bones to help you find your way back to safety – but for a price…

Don’t be fooled into having a false sense of security when Der Feuermann crosses your path – he isn’t trying to help you purely out of the goodness of wherever his heart used to be. He needs something from you. The Fire Men are seeking blessings from the living for their good deeds, as these blessings will eventually tip the scales and balance out the horrible things they did in life, and only then can they finally be released from their own personal purgatory. That being said, if you promise to bless Der Feuermann, you better follow through on it because these fiery beings don’t take too kindly to those who use their services and then renege on the payment.

Here are some things to remember in order to survive your brush with Der Feuermann:

#1 Don’t touch the Fire Man! Yes, he’s made of actual fire, and touching him will severely burn you. 

#2 Never turn your back on him! Sometimes Der Feuermann will want to make sure you get home safely and will escort you all the way back to your front door. Experts warn that if a Fire Man does follow you all the way home, that you walk into your house or hotel backwards to ensure that your back never faces him. Like we said, these beings can be unpredictable and some of them may still have that craving for murder, which brings us to the next point…

#3 Don’t summon him unless you really need him! Yes, experts assert that the Fire Men can actually be summoned by the living for help. However, you should only do this as an absolute last resort because the Fire Man who answers your call may be one of the evil ones.

#4 Don’t taunt Der Feuermann! Young people, who want to believe that there is no such thing as the supernatural, often try to tempt fate by summoning him as a prank – think: Bloody Mary. Unfortunately, the only good that can come from playing this type of game is if a good-natured Fire Man heard the call and simply chose to ignore it. Der Feuermann doesn’t take too kindly to being mocked; usually retaliating against the pranksters by jumping onto their backs and lighting them ablaze – ouch!

#5 Don’t break your promise to him! An encounter with a Fire Man is certainly a terrifying experience because you don’t know if he is good or evil, and once he appears, you are basically forced to interact with him and hope it all goes well. It should go well for you as long as you bless him for his good deed with sincerity and pray to a higher power on his behalf. If, however, you lied or simply forgot to follow-through, Der Feuermann will seek his revenge on you; making you wish that you had never been born.

To discover more local supernatural spooks, join us on our award-winning Munich Ghosts and Spirits Tour… if you dare!