In dictionaries, the kikimora is interpreted as a female spirit, living with people who do harm and fixes many troubles, acting only at night. She is also called a shishimore or a maro, and is credited with being the wife of a house-girl. There were also marsh kikimors, which roamed travelers, and each of these creatures had its own approach.
Who is this kikimora?
Until now, people believe in the existence of domestic spirits and try to appease them. Kikimora - this is one of the few creatures, which are very difficult to gratify. There are stories of how these spirits are thrown into the owners by vegetables, they throw clothes and tear pillows, harming domestic animals. At the same time, the nightly "entertainment" of these spirits leaves no trace, in the morning the house is in full order. Over time, the kikimora became the personification of the negligent mistress, who all falls from her hands.
There are several versions about the origin of these creatures, these are souls:
- Unresolved or killed children.
- Suicide.
- The kids, damned parents.
Its name came from the confluence of the words "kyka" - to chant, shout, and "Mara" - the name of the Slavic goddess of the fool. These harmful house spirits choose victims of the weak: kiddies, women or old people. There is an opinion that ostensibly to send kikimoru can be offended by payment builders or sorcerers, throwing a doll in the house. And marsh kikimors - wives of the devil, drive down travelers and kidnap children.
Slavic Mythology - Kikimora
Slavic pagans greatly revered all the spirits who were in the service of the gods, and each had its own approach and special gifts. In different chronicles and tales, it is noted that the shishimors are weak creatures, but they can gain additional strength if there is a will from above. And these are the most dangerous. It was believed that to see Maru - to a quick death. True kikimora in the Slavs personified with a harmful spirit, they were divided into 2 types:
- House. They lived only in houses or outbuildings. If it was inhabited by sorcerers, you could get rid of the "gift" if you find a doll and burn it. If it was inhabited itself, then it would not be possible to smoke the mara. The only chance is to achieve good, peaceful relations in the family, then she will leave, because it was believed that this harmful spirit settles in a house where they often quarrel.
- The Swamp. Legends describe her as an ugly old woman who frightens and confuses travelers. From the house the only difference is the place of residence, but in dirty tricks and character they are similar. The people who used to spend the night in the forest invariably took a guard from this evil spirits, which could spoil the night, take the horses to the swamp.
Is there a kykimora?
Kikimora in the ancient Slavs was considered:
- an unkind deity of nightmares;
- harmful spirit of the house.
Legends of Shishimoras tell us that they are born from a fiery serpent, and then they are transferred to the training of sorcerers. And they already push the spirits home to people. And today many researchers of paranormal phenomena are sure that there is a kikimora, only call it a barabash. Even the birthday of the kikimora was determined - March 2 is the day of the Slavic goddess Mary, on this day all the unnecessary trash was thrown out, especially the old dishes, so that the spirit could play enough. For this purpose, a place near a well or a crossroads, to which the path was swept, was specially designated.
Where does the kikimora live?
Where do kikimors live? Our ancestors believed that these spirits live behind the stove, in the warmth. At night, the mara could make noise, rattle, knock, jump incessantly, preventing the owners from sleeping. And if you did not like the house, the spirit could even get rid of the owners from different dirty trimmings, finishing with chopped dishes, broken furniture, damage to livestock. But the marsh shishimors have a dwelling in a secluded place in the swamps, from where they come out to harm the travelers. It was believed that the wives of the devil take refuge in places near the marshes, where murders or robbery were committed, and a lot of negative energy was accumulated.
What does a kikimora look like?
She was described as a little old woman with a hook crook, with a hump and in rags. The voice of the creature supposedly is, but communicates with people only sounds that sound like knocking dishes or baby crying, meowing or barking. Invisible and tireless, run very fast, have long arms and short legs, head is big, figure is thin, always bulging eyes and hairy paws-brushes, there are even horns and a tail, in some places the skin is covered with feathers or wool.
What does the marsh look like? Almost as well as domestic, only the color of the skin is earthy, with outgrowths of grass and moss. In some legends it is said that shishimora can appear in the form:
- girls or women with long hair;
- the ancient old man;
- a little girl playing with children or abandoned on the road;
- any animal.
What is afraid of a kikimora?
It is believed that to cajole the shishimore is almost impossible, but it is quite possible to fight it. Certainly you need to put things with prayer, and sprinkle the corners of the house with holy water and draw crosses there. Kikimora in Slavic mythology is described as a harmful spirit, which could be combated in several ways:
- to weave out of juniper more things, this plant does not like maras;
- wash the dishes and the floor with infusion of fern, which frightens off evil spirits;
- keep a lighted candle at night.
- hang in the henhouse "chicken god" - a pebble with a hole in the middle.
How to call kikimoru?
The Gentiles had a special rite - the awakening of kikimora, celebrated it on March 1, when spring begins. We played dances, baked pancakes and danced, children and girls wore a treat in the woods to the wood and kikimore, so that they would not stray in the forest and have berries with mushrooms. And now in many regions festivities are organized for this holiday, and in the Reserve of Fairy Tales both children and adults are amicably awakening the kikimora, noticing which window of the house she looked at. Believers say:
- in the right, the summer will be fruitful and rich;
- in the left - rainy and unfavorable.
Kikimora - Myths
Our ancestors believed that to see the kikimoru - to trouble or death, if it starts to make noise or knock - a sign of possible trouble for the family. The image of a harmful grandmother, a kikimora, who adores confusing yarn, is considered by contemporary researchers as a copy of the Greek Moira image, which spins the threads of fate. Analysis of fairy tales allows us to consider this spirit and as a useful assistant, who looks after the house, if with him to agree in an amicable way. And if it harms the owners, then because those are lazy and negligent.
Kikimora in the swamp also hurts allegedly for a reason. It indicates where a person violated the boundaries of nature, lures only those travelers who came to the forest without respect. And the children are taken away only by those to whom parents are inconsiderate in order to teach those caring. There is a belief that if the mother and father time to catch on and start looking for a child, then the kykimora will return him alive and healthy, and even endowed with the ability to read the secrets of the forest.