Ethane de Barro
Breve Historia de la Gente de Barro

"Este pequeño figurín de barro, que les pongo en la ventana de su cuarto, les protegerá en la noche". Decía la abuela Carmen cuando nos mandaba a la cama. Solo así la ventana permanecía abierta y nosotros soñabamos tranquilos.

Ese pequeño de barro nos salvó cuando fuímos niños pero no nada más a los de casa pues en el pueblo todos los tenían: Unos para proteger a los músicos y doctores en su trabajo de noche, otros para proteger de una serpiente o tormenta a los trabajadores del campo; para levantar una buena cosecha y para que el pan no faltara en la mesa; los había tambien para alegrarnos la vida e invitarnos a la aventura.

Por eso esta pequeña gente de barro tomaba formas variadas: los ángeles por protectores, los viejitos y viejitas porque eran sabios, los niños porque eran inocentes, los payasos por alegres y divertidos; los duendes y las hadas sabios como los viejos, inocentes como los niños, alegres y divertidos como payasos y además magos como los brujos.

Como se puede ver, nosotros no los inventamos, sólo quisimos en Ethane-Nidart conservar y compartir esta antigua tradición de nuestro pueblo.

Ahora que usted tiene uno de ellos, todo lo que necesita es un poco de cuidado y él sabrá corresponderle.

                Ethane
       "fuerte como el agua que eterna fluye"

Ethane of Clay
The Story of the Little People of Clay

"This little man of clay that I place in the window of your room will protect you during the night", our grandmother told us when she put us to bed. Only in this way could the window stay open, and we could sleep peacefully.

When we were children the little people protected everyone inside the house. But it didn't happen only in our house, the little people protected everyone in the town. And so, when the doctors or the musicians where working at night, these little people stayed on a shelf or a niche at home and gave them protection. They could protect you from a snake or a storm when you were out in the countryside. They could also bring in a good harvest so there would be plenty of bread on the table. The more unusual and dangerous the activity, the more varied and beautiful the little people became.

This is how little people came into being. The old ones (viejitos) because they were wise, the children because they were innocent, the clowns because they were funny and happy, and the elves because they were wise like the old ones, innocent and happy like children and clowns and also had magical powers like wizards. They also took the form of guardian angels.

So, as you can see, we didn't invent the little people. Here at Ethane (Nidart), we are only hoping to preserve and share this ancient tradition of our little town.

Now if you have one of them, all he needs is a little care and he will know how to repay you.

           Ethane
       "strong as an ever flowing stream".