Stamp of the Day: Hattifnattar/Hattifatteners

Men hu så hemskt, därinne satt
blott hattifnatt vid hattifnatt
och luktade av åskan bränt
de är elektriska, som känt

But oh the horror, inside was
hattifatteners alone, side by side
smelling from the lightning burnt
electrical they are, as commonly known



About the Hattifatteners (Hattifnattar, Hattivatit) from the stories of Moomin:

Small white ghost-like creatures that resemble worn socks. Hattifatteners are always on the move and travel in large groups (but always in odd numbers), such as boat convoys. Their only goal in life is to reach the horizon. During their travels they never say a word to each other, and it's doubtful that they have the ability to talk at all, they seem to communicate solely by telepathy -- except in the comics, where they complain bitterly to their host Moomin about the lack of food, cocktails and beds. The Hattifatteners cannot see very well, but their sense of touch is very strong, and they can feel ground vibrations and electricity. Hattifatteners assemble once a year when they "recharge" in a thunderstorm. At this time they should be avoided since they are highly charged and can give you electrical burns. Despite physiologically resembling animals, Hattifatteners grow from seeds. Planting Hattifattener seeds where someone has taken up residence is an effective way to get rid of him/her. Hattifatteners will only grow from this seed if it is sown on Midsummer Eve. (Wikipedia)