The legend of Buffardello and Linchetto

The locals in Tuscany believe in the legend of Buffardello and Linchetto. These are two little imps. Many locals have told us stories about these two imps roaming the countryside wrecking havoc. They don't cause any real harm but just enough to make people a little mad and even a little scared.  These imps usually go out at night looking for new victims for their jokes. The locals say they go from house to house in order to take away the blankets to some one who is sleeping or to sit on his chest so that he can’t breathe; he steals the fodder of the cows in the stables in order to give it to another cow that he likes more. They like to hide objects, or weave the tails of cows. Older people in the village say that you can keep away the imps by hanging a juniper branch to the front door of the house or the stable. For some mysterious reason they feel obliged to count the berries of the juniper before entering, but they soon get bored with counting and run away. Or, you can have a white night-shirt, at the foot of the bed, with sleeves arranged in the shape of the cross, the Buffardello, seeing the cross, will run away. You can also put a cup full of rice on the bedside table, the Linchetto will try to count the rice but will get tired and leave. Hmmmmm.....and all this time I thought it was my husband stealing the blanket.