Sandman (folklore)
Encyclopedia
The Sandman is a mythical character in Western folklore
who brings good dreams by sprinkling magical sand
onto the eyes of children while they sleep at night.
" in one's eyes upon waking is supposed to be the result of the Sandman's work the previous evening.
Hans Christian Andersen
's 1841 folk tale Ole Lukøje recorded the Sandman, named Ole Lukøje, by relating dreams he gave to a young boy in a week through his magical technique of sprinkling dust in the eyes of the children. Andersen wrote:
E.T.A. Hoffmann
(1776–1822) wrote an inverse depiction of the lovable character in a story called Der Sandmann
, which showed how sinister such a character could be made. According to the protagonist's nurse, he threw sand in the eyes of children who wouldn't sleep, with the result of those eyes falling out and being collected by the Sandman, who then takes the eyes to his iron nest on the moon, and uses them to feed his children. The protagonist of the story grows to associate this nightmarish creature with the genuinely sinister figure of his father's associate Coppelius.
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
who brings good dreams by sprinkling magical sand
Rheum
Rheum is thin mucus naturally discharged as a watery substance from the eyes, nose or mouth during sleep . Rheum dries and gathers as a crust in the corners of the eyes or mouth, on the eyelids, or under the nose...
onto the eyes of children while they sleep at night.
Representation in traditional folklore
Traditionally he is a character in many children's stories, invoked to lull children to sleep. He is said to sprinkle sand or dust on or into the eyes of the child at night to bring on dreams and sleep. The grit or "sleepRheum
Rheum is thin mucus naturally discharged as a watery substance from the eyes, nose or mouth during sleep . Rheum dries and gathers as a crust in the corners of the eyes or mouth, on the eyelids, or under the nose...
" in one's eyes upon waking is supposed to be the result of the Sandman's work the previous evening.
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
's 1841 folk tale Ole Lukøje recorded the Sandman, named Ole Lukøje, by relating dreams he gave to a young boy in a week through his magical technique of sprinkling dust in the eyes of the children. Andersen wrote:
E.T.A. Hoffmann
E.T.A. Hoffmann
Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann , better known by his pen name E.T.A. Hoffmann , was a German Romantic author of fantasy and horror, a jurist, composer, music critic, draftsman and caricaturist...
(1776–1822) wrote an inverse depiction of the lovable character in a story called Der Sandmann
Der Sandmann
The Sandman is a short story written in German by E.T.A. Hoffmann. It was the first in an 1817 book of stories titled Die Nachtstücke .-Plot summary:...
, which showed how sinister such a character could be made. According to the protagonist's nurse, he threw sand in the eyes of children who wouldn't sleep, with the result of those eyes falling out and being collected by the Sandman, who then takes the eyes to his iron nest on the moon, and uses them to feed his children. The protagonist of the story grows to associate this nightmarish creature with the genuinely sinister figure of his father's associate Coppelius.
In popular culture
The Sandman is a popular character in folklore referenced in popular culture over several centuries. Some noteworthy examples include:- The 1933 Walt Disney Silly SymphoniesSilly SymphoniesSilly Symphonies is a series of animated short subjects, 75 in total, produced by Walt Disney Productions from 1929 to 1939, while the studio was still located at Hyperion Avenue in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles...
cartoon "Lullybye Land" ends with the baby being put to sleep by the sandman. - The 1957 Soviet cartoon "The Snow QueenThe Snow QueenThe Snow Queen is a fairy tale by author Hans Christian Andersen . The tale was first published in 1845, and centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by a little boy and girl, Kai and Gerda....
" is introduced by the Sandman who is depicted as an elf who puts children into a trance (sleep) using a black umbrella which causes a dreamless sleep or a colourful umbrella which causes dreams. - Films, including 1991The Sandman (1991 film)The Sandman is a 1991 stop-motion animation film, animated and directed by Paul Berry and nominated for an “Oscar” for Best Animated Short Film in 1992. The storyline is inspired by the E.T.A...
and 2000 versions of The Sandman. - Popular music including "Mr. SandmanMr. Sandman"Mr. Sandman" is a popular song written by Pat Ballard which was published in 1954 and first recorded in that year by The Chordettes. The song's lyrics convey a request to "Mr...
" popularized by the Chordettes, "SandmanSandmanThe Sandman is a figure in folklore who brings good sleep and dreams.Sandman may also refer to:-People:*Mark Sandman, singer and co-founder of the band Morphine*Charles W...
" by America (band)America (band)America is an English-American folk rock band that originally included members Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. The three members were barely out of their teens when they became a musical sensation during 1972, scoring #1 hits and winning a Grammy for best new musical artist...
and "Enter SandmanEnter Sandman"Enter Sandman" is a 1991 song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the first single from their eponymous fifth album, Metallica. The music was written by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich...
" by MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, and "Mr. Sandman" from the album TicalTical (album)Tical is the debut solo album of American rapper, and Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man, released November 15, 1994, on Def Jam Records. It was the first Wu-Tang solo album released after the group's debut, Enter the Wu-Tang ...
by Method ManMethod ManClifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
. - Comic book characters from Vertigo, DC ComicsSandman (DC Comics)Sandman is the name of seven fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. All are connected in one way or the other, though there are three largely dissimilar concepts, with two or three persons having served in each role various times...
and Marvel ComicsSandman (Marvel Comics)Sandman is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. A shapeshifter endowed through an accident with the ability to turn himself into sand, he eventually reformed, and became an ally of Spider-Man...
. - A recurring video game character in NintendoNintendois a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's Punch-Out!! series. - The Sandman appears in The SmurfsThe Smurfs (1981 TV series)The Smurfs is an American animated television series that aired on NBC from September 12, 1981 to August 25, 1990...
episode "Darkness Monster" voiced by Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
. When Papa Smurf and the Smurflings travel to the Land of Nod in order to obtain some sand in order to make Brainy Smurf's new glasses (after he lost them to the Darkness Monster when gathering chocolate from its cave with Clumsy Smurf), they end up meeting a grouchy Sandman after the previous one retired. After managing to convince the Sandman to help them, Sandman requires chocolate from the Darkness Monster's cave in exchange for him giving them the sand. Once this trade is done, Papa Smurf obtains the sand in order to forge Brainy Smurf's new glasses. - In The Life and Times of Juniper LeeThe Life and Times of Juniper LeeThe Life and Times of Juniper Lee was an American animated television series, created by Judd Winick and produced by Cartoon Network Studios. The show premiered on Cartoon Network on May 30, 2005. The series ended on April 9, 2007...
, there is a character name Steven the Sandman (voiced by Daran NorrisDaran NorrisDaran Morrison Nordland , usually credited as Daran Norris, is an American film and television actor and voice artist. Since 1977 he has participated in more than 400 films, video games, and television projects. He is best known as Gordy from Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, the voice of...
). - The Sandman appears in The Santa Clause 2The Santa Clause 2The Santa Clause 2 is a 2002 American comedy film and the sequel to the 1994 film, The Santa Clause. All the principal actors from the first film reprise their roles, except for Peter Boyle, who returns portraying a different minor character...
and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape ClauseThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape ClauseThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause is a 2006 American film, the sequel to The Santa Clause and The Santa Clause 2. This is the third and final film in the trilogy. This film was also scheduled as a Disney Channel Original Movie....
portrayed by Michael DornMichael DornMichael Dorn is an American actor, and voice artist who is best known for his role as the Klingon Worf from the Star Trek franchise.-Early life and career:...
. He is shown as a member of the Council of Legendary Figures and tends to fall asleep during meetings. - The Sandman is a likely influence for the Pokémon character HypnoHypnoHypno, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Hypno first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations...
, as well as the mythical Japanese creature, the BakuBakuBaku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
. - A weapon from the videogame Team Fortress 2 is called "The Sandman", a wooden bat that stuns enemies.
- The character was referred to in the opening theme song of The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonThe Late Late Show with Craig FergusonThe Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is a Peabody Award-winning American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish American comedian Craig Ferguson. Ferguson, the third regular host of the Late Late Show franchise, follows Late Show with David Letterman in the CBS late-night lineup...
: "It’s hard to stay up, it’s been a long, long day and you’ve got the sandman at your door. But hang on, leave the TV on and let’s do it anyway. It’s okay, you can always sleep through work tomorrow, okay. Hey, hey, tomorrows just your future yesterday". - A perk from the PC and videogames Fallout 3Fallout 3Fallout 3 is an action role-playing game released by Bethesda Game Studios, and the third major installment in the Fallout series. The game was released in North America, Europe and Australia in October 2008, and in Japan in December 2008 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360...
and Fallout: New VegasFallout: New VegasFallout: New Vegas is a first person action role-playing video game in the Fallout series developed by Obsidian Entertainment, and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is based in a post-apocalyptic environment in and around Las Vegas, Nevada...
is called "Mr. Sandman". It gives you the ability to silently kill people in their sleep.