What is the noonday witch?

The Noonday Witch is a mythical creature in Czech folklore believed to appear at noon and scare young children who misbehave or do not sleep during the day. According to the legend, the witch appears as a haggard old woman with long hair, wearing a black cloak and a pointed hat. She carries a broomstick and a large basket, which she uses to abduct naughty children and take them away forever. Czech composer Antonin Dvorak wrote a symphonic poem titled "The Noon Witch," which tells the story of a mother who threatens her misbehaving child with the witch's wrath.