Spirit of the Day: #6 Heimchen Heimchen are the Ghosts of Lost children who accompany Perchta, an Alpine deity. They are often conflated with Gnomes. They are the souls of children who died heathen or "Unbaptized" as little pagans. She then tends them as a surrogate mother and protective Queen. The Heimchen will often carry trinkets such as a jar of their mothers tears that have been cried for them since they died. The smallest of the Heimchen will pull Perchta's plow until they are given a name and freed to be reincarnated, with the children remaining with her until they reincarnate, though some chose to stay with her becoming transformed into the Perchten, a kind of nature spirit with various shapes. The Heimchen travel with Perchta on the Wild Hunt often doing her bidding such as blinding those who see them with magic, leaving gifts, and partaking of the offerings of milk for her and them. While often painted as a punishment the Heimchen all adore Perchta and their only concern is keeping up with her.