Who is a kikimora in Slavic mythology? Where did swamp kikimoras come from? Slavic mythology - kikimora

Everyone has probably heard the word “kikimora”, seen the swamp kikimora in pictures, and read fairy tales about it. What do authentic Slavic beliefs tell about Kikimora?

Domestic kikimora is a Russian and, to a lesser extent, Belarusian mythological character, mostly female, who lives in a person’s home and other buildings, spins at night and brings harm and trouble to households and people.

Kikimora is a spirit that doesn’t like people very much. The domestic kikimora annoys the residents of the house, spoils their things, interferes with their sleep, and scares them at night. There is a swamp Kikimora, the description of which differs from the domestic one. She also harms people - when she meets her, she can knock her off the road or scare a child walking in the forest.

Swamp and domestic kikimors become “hostage” dead people, dead or ruined small children, stillborns, and miscarriages. The domestic Kikimora could have been planted by builders in order to harm the owners who had not paid them, or by sorcerers as a form of damage. To do this, they placed a doll, a rag, or a picture in an inconspicuous place. To get rid of the evil Kikimora, it was advised to find such a lining at home.

My father was building a house, and the carpenters were angry about something. They placed a kikimora doll in the last row, under the beam. At night, let’s scream: the child roars, it’s almost heartbreaking. There was no way we could sleep in this house. The old men judged. I had to remove and expose the roof and this row of logs. We found a doll. It's so small, made from rags.

In the swamp, and sometimes at home, Kikimora could start on its own, for example, at a place where someone, especially a child, tragically died, a crime or suicide was committed. Kikimoras are often found in abandoned houses.

What does it look likeKikimoraswamp?

No one has yet taken a photo of the swamp Kikimora, but there are many folk descriptions of it. The swamp kikimora in pictures and in life, as they said, resembles a small, hunched old woman, covered with grass and moss, dressed in dirty, torn rags. Although swamp and domestic Kikimora is shown to people only in exceptional cases, usually foreshadowing misfortune, sometimes you can try to see it:

The owner waylaid Kikimora early in the morning and saw: a small woman in a shamshur sitting on a horse and riding around the manger.

However, if you believe the fairy tales about Kikimora, she is able to take on any form - a familiar person, an ordinary woman or man, a beautiful girl with flowing hair. The spirit of the swamp and the house was reincarnated into different animals.

The housewife went to get firewood, and there was a pig in the hut. She came - he was on the bench, on the table, everywhere. And then a dog began to loom in this house.

What could be the danger of meeting withTOIkimora in the swamp or at home?

What are the ways to protect yourself from Kikimora? At home, Kikimora ruins the life of all its inhabitants - he hides things so that no one will find them, knocks and makes noise at home, spoils and confuses the yarn. They said this is because the domestic Kikimora also wants to manage things, but doesn’t really know how.

Swamp Kikimora scares travelers with scary sounds. She lures hunters into the thicket by quacking like a duck, for example. They protected themselves from the swamp Kikimora with a talisman, as well as from the pranks of Leshy. Do not go into the forest or near the swamp at odd times.

It is more difficult to get rid of domestic Kikimora. Fairy tales and beliefs about Kikimora say that if your home is “scaring”: strange sounds are heard, things are spoiled, in a word, everything that we call “poltergeist” happens, you need to look for a doll or other thing unnoticed by ill-wishers, and get rid of it with a special ritual. They said that Kikimora could be caught, the hair on the back of her head cut into a cross, and she would turn into a human, but in some way inferior.

The swamp kikimora is afraid of amulets - “chicken gods” (stones with a through hole), they carried it with them, hung it at home; juniper, fern.

February 16 They performed a ritual of getting rid of kikimoras. It was believed that on this day they were especially peaceful. Sorcerers performed rituals against annoying household spirits.

Tales aboutKikimoraswamp

Swamp kikimora is a more popular character these days. They tell stories about her and draw pictures. It was said in such fairy tales that the swamp Kikimora kidnaps children in villages, replacing them with her own or even with logs.

In some fairy tales, Kikimora appears as a good-natured character, rocking children, trying to help the mistress of the house, which makes her similar to the brownie.

In some places it was believed that Kikimora was the wife of a brownie, or they compared her image with Domakha (a female brownie). The swamp kikimora, which can be seen in modern pictures, is often compared to a mermaid. She acts as a real spirit-embodiment of nature.

Homemade Kikimora and Swamp Kikimora are two different characters. If the domestic Kikimora is a more ancient character, fairy tales about her have been preserved since ancient times, then the swamp Kikimora is more of a heroine of modern cartoons and stories.

Kikimora is a famous character in Slavic mythology. To understand the world of Slavic beliefs, the worldview of our ancestors, it is useful to study the stories and myths that have been preserved about the spirits of nature, home, and all things. Plus, this activity is extremely fun!

Who are kikimoras?

There was also a belief that kikimores- these are children who died, unbaptized or cursed by their mothers, whom witches place in someone’s house (here the influence of Christianity is already obvious), or women who were carried away in infancy by devils, raised by evil spirits and sent to live with people for a certain period of time. It was believed that carpenters could also plant kikimora in a house if they were not paid for their work.

Kikimoras know all the villages, all the towns, they know about all human sins. They sneak into the hut unnoticed and settle behind the stove inaudibly. They keep evil in mind for honest people, plotting to drive the owners out of the house. And they are more hostile towards men than towards women. They can spin with them, but, however, they will confuse more yarn.

At night, kikimoras play pranks, bother people, rustle in the dark, confuse tow and yarn, rattle windrows in the oven, steal chickens, pluck wool from sheep - they do dirty tricks little by little. They also harm livestock by counting them, but they can only count up to three. Always unhappy with what you have. And the oven is not built like that, and the table is placed in the wrong place, and the bench is made in the wrong place. They are always ready to grumble about everything and disturb people in everything. But still, kikimoras, compared to brownies, were considered less restless. During the day they are not only invisible, but also inaudible - they sit quietly behind the stove.

Kikimoras are devils. They were presented as unkempt women with disheveled, sticking hair, small, skinny, with an unpleasant face with a long nose, and a boring character. The kikimora has a head the size of a thimble, and a body comparable to a straw. From the connection of kikimora with male house spirits comes the continuation of the family of both. In other places it was believed that there were also forest kikimors - wood goblins and foxes. Most of all, kikimoras like to settle in dwellings built in swampy areas.

Kikimora is not a very dangerous spirit. She, despite all her malice, cannot cause great harm to a person. She disturbs, disturbs a person, tries to instill fear in him, but mainly evokes only hostility and ridicule.

The ritual of expelling kikimoras from houses was carried out on March 4 (old style). It was believed that on this day they become quiet, meek and tame and that only on this day can one get rid of them. During the expulsion, the kikimoras swept the stove and all the corners of the hut, fumigated it with the sentence: “You, kikimora-brownie, come out of Goryunin’s house quickly, otherwise they will beat you up with hot rods, burn you with a flaming fire, and pour black tar on you. My word is firm."

Are kikimoras evil or good spirits?

Kikimora (shishimora, mara) is one of the species. This character of East Slavic mythology is a manifestation of the evil spirit of Mara - Kiki-Mara.
Mara is the common Indo-European name for a night demon who sends obsessions and terrible dreams (hence “kosh-mar”). In European legends, Mara sits on the chest of the sleeping person, causing suffocation.
Kikimora is an evil spirit in the guise of a dwarf or a small woman, whose head is the size of a thimble and whose body is thin as a straw. Kikimora lives in the house behind the stove and is engaged in spinning and weaving, and also plays pranks at night with the spindle and spinning wheel of the owners of the house (for example, tearing yarn).
Kikimora can harm domestic animals, in particular chickens, by throwing and breaking dishes, disturbing sleep, and making noise at night.
Getting rid of kikimora is extremely difficult. The “chicken god” served as a talisman against it - a stone with a natural hole or the neck of a broken jug with a piece of calico, which was hung over the perch so that the kikimora would not torment the chickens, as well as juniper, a belt from which was tied around salt shakers.
It was believed that babies who died unbaptized became kikimoras.

The peasants also believed that the kikimora could have been “let in” during the construction of a house by carpenters or stove makers who wanted to harm the owners for some reason. To do this, craftsmen made a doll (a “kikimora” figurine) from wood chips and rags and placed it under the mat or in the front corner of the house.

It was also believed that a kikimora was a victim of a woman's abortion (an unborn child); no matter how many abortions a woman has had, she has given birth to so many kikimoras; at the moment of a woman’s death, all her kikimoras come to her to drag her soul into the hellish worlds.
The presence of a kikimora in the house could be easily determined by its wet footprints.

Swamp kikimora

There is also a swamp kikimora (forest), a wife (leshacha), who lives in a forest or swamp (swamp kikimora, forest kikimora). Described as a small, hunched, ugly old woman, dressed in rags, slovenly and eccentric. She was accused of kidnapping children and leaving an enchanted log in their place. Afanasyev in his work “Poetic Views of the Slavs on Nature” also provides information about leprechauns: “The popular imagination gives them such huge and long breasts that they are forced to throw them over their shoulders and only then can they walk and run freely.” And the little devil sitting on his back, who sucks the breast, is hidden and warmed by the long hair of the goblin. These women are overgrown, shaggy, and have matted hair.

In Slavic myology there were many unusual beliefs and fantastic characters, legends about which are still passed on from mouth to mouth. So, until now we can easily explain who the merman, the witcher and the kikimora are. The interpretation of each character suggests a deep subtext, rooted in ancient times.

History of creation

The history of kikimoras and the biography of the family dates back to ancient times. Kikimora personifies the spirit of nightmares. The origin of the East Slavic character is explained by mythology. According to popular beliefs, this creature lives in the homes of the Slavs and brings all kinds of harm. There are two variations in the appearance of the heroine's name. According to the first, it was called “shishimora”. “Shish” corresponded to evil spirits, and “mora” to the goddess Morena. In another explanation, "kiki" stands for "hunchback."

The personification of evil spirits, kikimora had no friends and did not communicate with anyone. She did not have her own home, so the creature lived in the house where a simple peasant lives. Kikimora had no relatives and was restless. When asked where the creature lives in the house, fairy tales answer that she preferred to be behind the stove. She announced her presence by knocking, whistling, falling objects and other unpleasant antics.

There was an opinion that unloved children, as well as small unbaptized drowned women, turn into kikimoras. Kikimoras appeared as a result of the romantic union of widows and maidens with a fiery serpent in the guise of a beautiful prince.

The ancient Slavs believed that carpenters and stove makers summoned kikimora using a special doll. By hiding it between the walls of houses, the craftsmen could cast a spell, thereby calling the beast into the house. Therefore, the craftsmen were always regularly paid for their work.

Residents of the Urals believed that children who disappeared in the swamps were stolen by swamp kikimors. They allegedly wrapped ropes around the child, pulling him into the swamp. Most of the village legends and tales associated with the disappearance of children in the swamps told about kikimoras. Mystical characters deprived their victims of memory and common sense.

In Slavic mythology

Mythology offers many explanations for the appearance of the image of the swamp kikimora. The most plausible is the image of innocent maidens drowned in the dirty quagmire of a swamp. Some stories described the kikimora as a wife. By marrying this character, the strange creature gained the opportunity to live in human homes. If the goblin became her chosen one, then the swamp forever remained her home.

According to legends and traditions, the kikimora was a negative character with negative energy directed at the owner of the home. The mythical creature interfered with homework and everyday life. Kikimors weaved threads in the opposite direction and were constantly in motion, so they confused any woman’s work. In addition to the living space, the creatures chose other places to settle. They liked barns and bathhouses, chicken coops and taverns. The main reference points for kikimoras were places where negativity accumulated. Therefore, the monsters chose dirty corners where old unnecessary things lay.

The image of the kikimora was compiled thanks to popular beliefs that described the appearance of the creature. Usually she was presented as an old and scary woman, hunchbacked, with disheveled hair. The costume was assembled from old cast-offs and rags. The head was crowned with a kokoshnik. The heroine had a thin build. The wind would easily carry it from place to place.

Film adaptations

The multi-part cartoon “Glasha and Kikimora” is a famous animation project that tells about the life of fantastic fictional creatures. Work on it was carried out from 1978 to 1995.

In 2011, the feature film “The Kikimora Who Laughs,” which tells about the psychological foundations of personality structure, was released on big screens. Actress Anna Troyanskaya played the main role in the film. The performer's photo was used in the design of posters for the film's distribution.

The character also appeared in the 2013 animated project “How to Catch the Firebird’s Feather.”

Despite the small number of media resources telling about the fantastic creature, it was one of the popular mythological images glorified by the Slavs. Composer Anatoly Lyadov wrote a symphony called “Kikimora” in 1909.

Swamp and domestic kikimors celebrate their birthday in March. The holiday dedicated to the goddess Mara (Sea) falls on March 2. It is believed that spring begins on this day. On this day, our ancestors performed rituals to appease the deity. The first ritual was general cleaning. They used an old broom to sweep rubbish out of the house and then burn it. Unnecessary clothes and dishes were thrown out of the yard or left on the road.
It was possible to drive out the kikimora by calling the priest for help and treating the house with church incense. To preserve their home and household, peasants sprinkled animals, crops and buildings, making mystical spells.

One of the most mysterious figures of Slavic mythology and magical beliefs associated with it is the kikimora. A creature that, on the one hand, always remains in the “shadow” of the attention of ordinary people, but on the other hand, is capable of causing quite serious harm, as evidenced by the secret of its name. So who is a kikimora?

Kikimora is an unclean female spirit that lives in residential buildings, also associated with nightmares.

Kikimora is usually represented as an ugly, hunched old woman, in rags, unkempt, with loose hair. Quite often the kikimora was depicted wearing a woman’s kokoshnik on her head. Kikimora was also represented in the form of a tiny woman or an old woman.

Most of the time, the kikimora remains invisible, and makes its presence known only at night during the Christmas season or only on the night before Christmas. Kikimora makes her presence known through various actions (throwing objects, breaking dishes) or through her voice, noise: her voice sounds dull, as if from empty space.

Like many other unclean spirits, kikimora has the ability to quickly move from place to place, disappear in one place and appear in another, and in addition has knowledge of the future.

The secret of the name "kikimora"

The name of kikimora consists of two parts: “kik” and “mora”. The first part comes from the verb “kick” - “scream, cry, lament.” The second part goes back to the common Slavic root “mor”, which means “death”. Thus, the harmful essence of this kikimora is reflected in its name, namely “the one that brings death.”

Origin of kikimora

The origin of kikimora in the popular consciousness was associated with ideas about the “unclean” dead. Kikimora appears in houses built on a “bad” place, for example, on a boundary or at the burial site of an “unclean” dead person. In some places it was also believed that children who died unbaptized or were abducted by evil spirits became kikimors.

In addition, there was an opinion that kikimors were inveterate dead or damned people. And sometimes it was believed that kikimoras appear from a love affair between girls and an evil spirit in the form of a fiery serpent.

Witchcraft "sharing" kikimora

In addition to the “natural” appearance of a kikimora in the house, there was also its witchcraft “sharing” with a person the magician did not want. To do this, they usually made a doll out of wood chips and rags, which was placed above the central ceiling beam or behind the stove, as well as in places where there was a lot of clutter. This action was accompanied by a special malicious conspiracy. As a result, the residents began to see various shadows, images of animals, and the like.

The evil caused by kikimora

According to traditional beliefs, kikimora can act as a harbinger of predominantly bad events. In particular, the appearance of a kikimora in a house or outbuildings was almost universally perceived as a bad omen - a restless spirit would begin to cause harm in the household and annoy the household.

In many places it was believed that if a kikimora was seen spinning, it meant the death of one of the household members. When she comes out of hiding or cries, it is also unfortunate.

According to popular beliefs, the work that the kikimora touches is then difficult for the hostess to finish. It is also known that the kikimora “works” untidy and does not complete any work itself. For example, if she works on an unfinished item, she will have to constantly rip it apart and sew it again.

The pranks of a kikimora can sometimes become so dangerous that if given time to get rid of it, it can even kill people from their homes.

Kikimora also scares small children at night, spoils household utensils, interferes with needlework, torments chickens and plucks their feathers, can cut tufts of fur from domestic animals, and so on.