Kikimora and other monsters
After a short but very constructive conversation with my wife about my crypto investments, I decided to take a short break from all this crypto-turmoil.
But what can I do, to keep my mind busy, and don't let my English writing get rusty?
I looked at my lovely wife, searching for some clues, she's only snorted with disgust, twisted around and left my room.
Suddenly, I got a revelation, I will post about:
Slavic Female Demons
Initially, the Slavs' world was incredibly dark and full of monsters. When the ancient gods wandered among the Slavic tribes, doing what gods were supposed to do, they were accompanied by entities who were generally unpleasant and rarely kind to people. These monsters have been the subject of numerous works.
Over the millennia, humanity has learned to detect and even deal with evil monsters. New, powerful rites and prayers were developed. Shamans and magicians created elixirs and amulets to protect humans from the omnipresent demons.
Despite all of their efforts, darkness descended, the fire gradually went out, and creatures arrived.
KIKIMORA
Kikimora felt most at ease in buildings constructed on old graves and historical sites of dark cults. She has a soft spot for cursed individuals.
The monster's look may be misleading, as it resembled an elderly, destitute woman clad in torn and ragged clothing. If you looked closely, you could see a snout like a bird's beak and bird talons instead of feet.
Once she had decided where she wanted to live, it was impossible to persuade her otherwise. It sat in a dark, rarely frequented area and began its reign there. She adored dusty attics and dark, wet basements, especially those that were never cleaned.
Kikimora's job was to make life miserable for the residents of the area. She couldn't get enough of their dread and rage. It began inconspicuously and seemingly harmlessly, with light knocks and murmurs. However, as Kikimora grew, the noises increased. They heard intense groans, screams, and squeals. Worse, the creature started to harass the inhabitants more directly.
Kikimora snuck into people's beds at night, pulling their hair, tearing garments, and destroying other equipment. She also refused to give up on pets. Cows became terrified and stopped delivering milk, while chickens with ripped feathers grieved all day instead of laying eggs.
Typically, the only way to get rid of Kikimora was to relocate.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE DEMON
· Kikimora occurs in Slavic folklore and stories from Eastern Europe.
· Kikimora was a domestic demon, and all troubles in houses and peasant fields were blamed on her.
· The creature took the guise of an elderly woman clad in rags or a beggar. However, if you peered closely, you could see a beak-like snout and bird claws instead of feet. She could also shift into a giant spider-like monster with thick, hairy legs. She appears in this form in Andrzej Sapkowski's novels about The Witcher.
Kikimora was particularly fond of spinning flax. One attempt to identify its existence involved leaving raw flax in the residence. Kikimora couldn't resist, and at night she created strings out of it.
· To guard against Kikimora's visitation, people put unique amulets and religious symbols in their cottages and farms. Apparently the monster disliked the scent of burning juniper and the sound of stones clicking together; therefore, rattles loaded with pebbles were put in windows and doors.
Strzyga
Over time, our ancestors learned to identify those who may become strigoi in the future. The first indication that a kid was cursed was the presence of united brows at birth. Even more clear evidence was when a baby's teeth erupted.
Among cultures more prone to symbolism and superstition, girls who sleepwalked at night or old women who talked to themselves were sometimes suspected of being Striga. Of course, the simplest thing to do was to be accused of being a monster during trying times for people. Examples include all plagues. Patients who had previously unknown signs of the illness were buried while still alive.
As you might expect, they eventually learned how to defend themselves against the Striga. As for the deceased who were suspected of being able to rise from the grave, a bag was placed over their heads or their eyes were blindfolded so that they did not know which direction to dig to escape (a slightly ill-thought-out method, because it was already dark enough a few feet below the ground to hurt your eyes).
When the Strzyga was discovered in its ultimate state, it had to be burned, which was the most efficient way of eliminating the monster. Otherwise, long nails or aspen dowels were effective. They needed to be inserted into the right areas of the ghost's body. These included the lips, temples, heart, and even the crotch.
Furthermore, suspected persons were buried far away from human habitations, with a huge and sharp stone pushed into their mouths and their wrists securely bound behind their backs to prevent the Striga from spreading its wings.
More Facts
· Strzyga is a female demon, although there is also a male form called Strzygoń.
· The striga is sometimes mistaken for the vampire.
· Striga is said to have originated with the Greek demon Striges, whose stories spread across the Slavic regions.
· The Strzyga is a monster born with a second, evil soul that, unlike a vampire, must be infected by another vampire.
· Strzyga, unlike Vampire, could freely stroll on sacred land.
· It was thought that the Strzyga was scared of the light, the ringing of the church bell, and spilled poppy seeds.
· The Striga became known through novels and films about the Witcher, who had to battle this ghost several times.
· Some tales state that a Strzyga might be rescued from a wicked and murderous soul. This necessitated an understanding of long and intricate spells.
· According to certain traditions, in order for a woman to become a Striga, a very severe curse must be placed on her out of malice.
Strigas are frequently depicted in folklore as gorgeous, promiscuous girls or women. Most of the curses placed on women who would become Strzyga in the future are thought to have been motivated by jealousy of beauty and retribution for male infidelity.
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DISCLAIMER!
If any woman got offended by this (or any of my
other) article, I feel sorry for that and it wasn’t my intention.
Women as strong, marvelous creatures took a very
special place in our (men's) culture, history, and daily life as well since the
begining of humanity.
In ancient times, when the Slavic tribes led their
simple, magical lives, the place of women in the local community occupied an
important position. Women were, after all, mothers and carers of the family,
and the respect they were accorded grew with age. An important feature that
distinguished women was the monopoly of knowledge in the fields of herbalism,
quackery, and folk medicine.
However, in many ancient Slavic beliefs, women
were also associated with positive, protective magic. However, there were
darker corners of folk mythology, in which women appeared as demons and evil
beings. Between such a division into good and evil, there was an eternal
balance, which was destroyed by the advent of Christianity. The priests of the
new religion could not accept the lofty role of women in a world they believed
God would create for men. Such thinking is still visible today not only in the hierarchy
of the church but also in Christian societies.
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Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikimora
https://blog.slowianskibestiariusz.pl/tag/slowianskie-demony-zenskie/
https://www.naszeszlaki.pl/
https://blog.slowianskibestiariusz.pl/bestiariusz/demony-wampiryczne/strzyga/
