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Wendigo
211-Wendigo woge
Other languages: German: Wendigo
Hungarian: Wendigo
Russian: Вендиго
Farsi: ویندگو
Notables: Dead Jeffrey Dahmer
Dead Andrei Chikatilo
Dead John Kreski
Dead Miles Kreski

A Wendigo (WIN-dee-go; Eng., from Ojibwe wiindigoo "wendigo," a legendary possessing spirit) is a savage, cannibalistic Wesen that appeared in "To Protect and Serve Man". They are compulsive man-eaters and are said to have breath like burnt flesh.

Characteristics

211 - Behind the Scenes - Wendigo

Wendigo

When woged, they grow short, snow-white fur over their body, their teeth develop into needle-like fangs, their eyes turn yellow and appear to glow, their ears elongate, and their nails grow into long curved claws, which they often use in fights. Wendigos also have a distinctive brow ridge that curves downward in a half-U shape at the outer ends of their brows, before smoothly transitioning with the rest of their heads.

Unlike most Wesen whose voice remains unchanged or becomes deeper when they woge, Wendigos gain a higher pitched voice.

It is unsure how strong they are because a human, Craig Ferren, was able to handle two Wendigos, though not at once, and he was even able to kill one and severely injure another (albeit with a gun), while Hank was able to handle one by himself. It should be noted, however, that both gentlemen were big men and trained fighters (a soldier and police officer, respectively) and in turn, stronger than average. On the other hand, a single Wendigo was able to fair quite well against a Grimm, even after it had been wounded.

They are at least more durable than humans, able to run away moments after an intense fight. It also took several bullets from a hand gun to kill one, even at close range.

Behavior

In the distant past, Wendigos were savage cave dwellers in which they carelessly stored the remains of their victims. In modern times, however, Wendigos have been forced to adapt and now store the remains of past meals in pits located in the basements or crawl spaces of their homes.

Despite becoming more civilized, Wendigos are extremely savage when provoked, since one of Nick's ancestors stated that he was lucky enough to get away with his life after a direct confrontation with one. Despite this, like most Wesen, Wendigo fear Grimms, as demonstrated by John Kreski's reaction to Nick. However, they will still fight with them. It should be noted that if they get wounded, they become more ferocious.

They appear to be sadistic creatures, as they enjoy mocking their prey before eating them.

Legend

The Anishinaabe, Ojibwe, and Cree Native Americans all observed compulsive cannibalistic behavior in some individuals. It was said that if someone consumed human flesh, they risked the danger of accidentally becoming possessed by a demon, which would cause the human to take on the demon's form. The demon, known as a Wendigo, would drive the human into a compulsive cannibalism known as "Wendigo psychosis." The widespread fear of the Wendigo led to a social taboo around cannibalism.

Legend also had it that the Wendigos' hunger could never be sated. Wendigos would compulsively eat human after human, and as it consumed more, it would become larger, causing the stomach to never become full. As a result, a Wendigo that had consumed several humans in a short time would become very large.

Excerpt from Grimm Diaries

Huntington, Vermont. April 5, 1759

After the disappearance of the magistrate and his wife, I tracked what I believed to be a Wildermann through Starksboro into the Camel's Hump forest. It was there I first heard of the mythical Wendigo from the chieftain of the Algonquian tribe that had provided me refuge for the night.

I soon learned that these terrifying beasts are no myth. I came upon the cave of the Wendigo, rife with human remains, having been the scene of many murders and cannibalistic acts.

Two days later, I encountered the Wendigo himself. His eyes seemed to glow. His breath was hideous with the horrible stench of burned flesh. I made the terrible mistake of wounding him, which only made him more ferocious. I was lucky to escape with my life, as I surely would have been his next dinner guest.

211-Wendigo2211-windigo3211 - Wendigo diaries, human rests211-Wendigo book

Season 2 Blu-ray Grimm Guide Profile

Terrifying mythical beasts with needle-like fangs and razor-sharp talons. They are known to dig pits to bury human remains under houses or in basements. Famous cannibals like Jeffrey Dahmer are believed to have in fact been Wendigos.

Images

Trivia

  • The Wendigo is the first Wesen with a name that appears in the English language. However, the English Wendigo is a cognate adopted from the Ojibwe Windigo. In both languages, the word refers to an evil spirit that possesses a person who has previously tasted human flesh, cursing them with an insatiable blood lust. However, in some stories, the Wendigo is not a spirit but a person who turns into a monster if they commit the crime of cannibalism.
Wesen in Grimm
Accipitrid Wesen Barbatus Ossifrage, Geier, Steinadler
Amphibian Wesen Folterseele
Bovine Wesen Fuilcré, Heftigauroch, Taureus-Armenta
Canine Wesen Anubis, Apgadnieks, Blutbad, Coyotl, Höllentier, Hundjäger, Inugami, Luison, Schakal, Wældreór, Wildesheer
Caprine Wesen Krampus, Seelengut, Ziegevolk
Cathartid Wesen Raub-Kondor
Cetancodont Wesen Taweret
Chelicerate Wesen Spinnetod
Chelonian Wesen Genio Innocuo
Chimeric Wesen Manticore, Naiad, Wettbewerbsgewinner
Chiropteran Wesen Murciélago
Dinosaur Wesen Glühenvolk
Falconid Wesen Uhranuti
Feline Wesen Klaustreich, Weten Ogen
Hexapod Wesen Ataktos Fuse, Gevatter Tod, Jinnamuru Xunte, Kackenkopf, Mellifer, Musasat Alsh-Shabab
Lagomorpha Wesen Willahara
Lepidosauromorphan Wesen Furis Rubian, Königschlange, Lausenschlange, Phansigar, Quijada Vil, Skalengeck, Varme Tyv, Wasser Zahne
Lutrine Wesen Luisant-Pêcheur
Machairodontine Wesen Mauvais Dentes
Meline Wesen Drang-Zorn
Mustelid Wesen Ungeziefer Greifer
Osteichthyan Wesen Cracher-Mortel, Hasenfussige Schnecke, Matança Zumbido, Unnamed Red Herring-like Wesen
Pantherine Wesen Balam, Löwen, Pflichttreue, Yaguaraté
Passeriform Wesen Seltenvogel
Perissodactyl Wesen Dickfellig, Nuckelavee
Primate Wesen Alpe, Aswang, Cupiditas, El Cucuy, El Cuegle, Excandesco, Fuchsteufelwild, Hässlich, Hexenbiest, Indole Gentile, Koschie, Musai, Siegbarste, Wendigo, Wildermann, Zerstörer
Pseudosuchian Wesen Gelumcaedus, Skalenzahne
Rodent Wesen Eisbiber, Mauzhertz, Reinigen, Riesen-Ratte, Stangebär
Sauropsidans Wesen Dämonfeuer
Spiralian Wesen Gedächtnis Esser, Huntha Lami Muuaji, Lebensauger
Strigiform Wesen Scharfblicke
Suinan Wesen Bauerschwein, Malin Fatal, Schinderdiv
Ursid Wesen Jägerbar
Vulpine Wesen Fuchsbau, Kitsune, Vulpesmyrca
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