| Russian Spirits or don't take a bath at night |
Folk stories about supernatural, mythological creatures still
abound in Russia, particularly in rural areas. Certainly not all
people believe in such things, and the descriptions of each of the
spirits and their abilities can vary dramatically between villages.
Rusalka Water-Dwelling Forest Spirit.
Swing on birch branches during Whisuntide, spin skilled. They may spoil
a harvest, or tickle a man to death, or lure them to drown them. Naked
except for her ankle-length black or green hair. If given clothing, in
gratitude they will endow giver with health, riches, happiness or magic
powers to treat others.
Polevoi meadow haunting.
Zharpesta the Firebird.
A scarlet and golden peacock-like bird that spreads beauty by
dropping her feathers about. Men have long sought a glimpse of her
astonishing beauty, or to cage her.
Domovoi House Spirit.
Brings luck to the owner of the house, takes vengence against the
owner if he fails to take the domovoi to a new house. Shows himself as
a small old man, a grass snake, or as a weasel. Will appear to the owner
prior to misfortune. Therefore, it is considered bad luck to chase a
snake or weasel out of the house. Many people leave a small meal for
the Domovoi each evening.
Dvorovoi Yard Spirit.
Looks after the livestock if he likes the color of a cow’s hair or the
coat of a horse, harasses the cattle if he doesn't.
Leshii Forest Spirit.
Laughs boisterously in the forest. Invisible, he leads people to make
them get lost, shows himself before misfortune, takes away children
from those parents who swear at them or hit them.
Bannik Bathhouse Spirit.
Second bath of day must be left for him. Bathhouse must be left
empty at night for him.
Ved’ma Witches.
Damages people and cattle, spoils the harvest, flies on a broom. All
witches gather for witches sabbath, can transform into a cat, pig,
frog, etc. Cannot die unless she transmits her ‘witch power’ to someone
else. Every village has a lime tree or pine tree where witches are
known to gather.
D’yed Moroz Grandfather Frost.
Tall, lean, with long white beard. Wears a long blue coat trimmed with
white fur and embroidered with snowflakes and stars. (During the
Soviet Era art began depicting him in a red coat.) Carries a staff.
Mystic, kindly patriarch brings presents on Christmas eve (Dec 31) on
a three-horse sledge.
Snyegurochks Snow Maiden, D’yed Moroz’s
daughter.
Helps her father deliver presents. Wears white caftan with blue
embroidery. Parades and parties are held in these two’s honor on Jan. 1
Baba Yaga A witch.
Steals away bad children. Her house is on chicken bone stilts and when
it moves about, you can hear the bones rattle.
Cherti Demons.
They punish those people who wash in bath-houses at night, substitute a
log for a child if the parents swear at it or beat it, they play tricks on
drunk men.
Vodianoi
FOLK BELIEFS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRISTIAN SPIRITS:
Lisus Khristos Jesus Christ.
Threw the Devil in a bog, divided animals into divine and devilish, took
away people’s knowledge of the exact time of their death, punished
communists for destruction of churches.
Bogoroditsa The Virgin.
Helps during childbirth, weeps for our sins, intercedes for us
Svyatoi Nikolai-ugodnik Saint Nicholas
helps travelers (this is same as western Santa Claus)
Svyatoi Georgii Saint George
helps soilders, conquers snakes, protects cattle from wolves, can
transform into a wolf etc
Svyatoi IL’ia Saint Il’ya
sends rains on the earth, throws lightening at demons
Svyatoi Nikolai the Martyr Saint Nicholas Romanov II
Patron Saint of parents and the devout. Among the miracles which got
him cannonized were help for paerents whose children had been killed.
(the children showed up alive) Nicholas, his wife and all their children
were murdered. They have all been cannonized Martyr Saints.
abound in Russia, particularly in rural areas. Certainly not all
people believe in such things, and the descriptions of each of the
spirits and their abilities can vary dramatically between villages.
Rusalka Water-Dwelling Forest Spirit.
Swing on birch branches during Whisuntide, spin skilled. They may spoil
a harvest, or tickle a man to death, or lure them to drown them. Naked
except for her ankle-length black or green hair. If given clothing, in
gratitude they will endow giver with health, riches, happiness or magic
powers to treat others.
Polevoi meadow haunting.
Zharpesta the Firebird.
A scarlet and golden peacock-like bird that spreads beauty by
dropping her feathers about. Men have long sought a glimpse of her
astonishing beauty, or to cage her.
Domovoi House Spirit.
Brings luck to the owner of the house, takes vengence against the
owner if he fails to take the domovoi to a new house. Shows himself as
a small old man, a grass snake, or as a weasel. Will appear to the owner
prior to misfortune. Therefore, it is considered bad luck to chase a
snake or weasel out of the house. Many people leave a small meal for
the Domovoi each evening.
Dvorovoi Yard Spirit.
Looks after the livestock if he likes the color of a cow’s hair or the
coat of a horse, harasses the cattle if he doesn't.
Leshii Forest Spirit.
Laughs boisterously in the forest. Invisible, he leads people to make
them get lost, shows himself before misfortune, takes away children
from those parents who swear at them or hit them.
Bannik Bathhouse Spirit.
Second bath of day must be left for him. Bathhouse must be left
empty at night for him.
Ved’ma Witches.
Damages people and cattle, spoils the harvest, flies on a broom. All
witches gather for witches sabbath, can transform into a cat, pig,
frog, etc. Cannot die unless she transmits her ‘witch power’ to someone
else. Every village has a lime tree or pine tree where witches are
known to gather.
D’yed Moroz Grandfather Frost.
Tall, lean, with long white beard. Wears a long blue coat trimmed with
white fur and embroidered with snowflakes and stars. (During the
Soviet Era art began depicting him in a red coat.) Carries a staff.
Mystic, kindly patriarch brings presents on Christmas eve (Dec 31) on
a three-horse sledge.
Snyegurochks Snow Maiden, D’yed Moroz’s
daughter.
Helps her father deliver presents. Wears white caftan with blue
embroidery. Parades and parties are held in these two’s honor on Jan. 1
Baba Yaga A witch.
Steals away bad children. Her house is on chicken bone stilts and when
it moves about, you can hear the bones rattle.
Cherti Demons.
They punish those people who wash in bath-houses at night, substitute a
log for a child if the parents swear at it or beat it, they play tricks on
drunk men.
Vodianoi
FOLK BELIEFS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRISTIAN SPIRITS:
Lisus Khristos Jesus Christ.
Threw the Devil in a bog, divided animals into divine and devilish, took
away people’s knowledge of the exact time of their death, punished
communists for destruction of churches.
Bogoroditsa The Virgin.
Helps during childbirth, weeps for our sins, intercedes for us
Svyatoi Nikolai-ugodnik Saint Nicholas
helps travelers (this is same as western Santa Claus)
Svyatoi Georgii Saint George
helps soilders, conquers snakes, protects cattle from wolves, can
transform into a wolf etc
Svyatoi IL’ia Saint Il’ya
sends rains on the earth, throws lightening at demons
Svyatoi Nikolai the Martyr Saint Nicholas Romanov II
Patron Saint of parents and the devout. Among the miracles which got
him cannonized were help for paerents whose children had been killed.
(the children showed up alive) Nicholas, his wife and all their children
were murdered. They have all been cannonized Martyr Saints.
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