Just in time for the holidays, Atlas Obscura has published a survey of household spirits from around the world, giving tips as to how to curry their favor so that perhaps they pitch in and help out covertly rather than displaying their displeasure:
“If you’re lucky, you can live in a home where a hairy little household imp will help keep your kitchen clean, or a domestic god will grant you everlasting good fortune. So long as you keep them happy.
“From ancient Greece’s goddess of the hearth, Hestia, to the hobs of Northern England, household spirits have been around for centuries. But most such mythical creatures double as gods of fire and agents of chaos, so failing to tend to their needs can lead to missing items, broken dishes, and calamitous fortune.
“As you prepare your home for the holidays this year, here are some tips on how to keep particular household spirits in good standing. “
http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-to-appease-household-spirits-across-the-world
Thanks to Soror Hypatia for the tip!