Member-only story
The Slavic Kikimora. Who was the monstrous being that terrified children?
Slavic mythology was rich in many monsters and creatures. One of them was the Kikimora. In the form of a hideous old woman, it tormented the household members. It sent nightmares, howled at night, and plucked people’s hair.
In Andrzej Sapkowski’s ‘The Witcher’ saga, Slavic symbols abound. Among them appears the monster Kikimora, a dangerous creature resembling a spider with an enormous maw. However, in Slavic folk tales, the Kikimora looked a bit different.
What was the Kikimora?
The Kikimora was a household demon. It is associated with Slavic folk beliefs, although it gained the most popularity in Russian culture. The creature made life difficult for household members in every possible way. Its main goal was to drive the family as far away from the house as possible.
Under what circumstances would the Kikimora haunt the homes of its victims?
- When houses were cursed and built in the wrong place (e.g., above someone’s resting place).
- When a curse was cast upon the inhabitants of the house by someone.
- When there was injustice among the household members, attracting evil.
