Lets go! Shpiragm put up a good flight and hit Tomorr with his club leaving lasting damage. Clearly, vrykolakas sounds like a cowardly predator, avoiding a confrontation with its victims and only sneaking into their homes when theyre asleep. Across all of Kotor and Boka the sisters were famous for their beauty. It kills people by sitting on them. I suppose it would be useful to know in what context Albanians use Lubias name, but I didnt come across any contextual use. Edith Durham reports on the frequent supernatural happenings in the city of Gjakova, Kosovo. On his journey, Mujo meets an Ora who tells him he must slay Slavic warrior Behuri. The images of mythological creatures "coming at night and strangling people . Speaking of spitting into someones mouth If you want to avoid that for your children, or any children, for that matter, youll be relieved to know that in some Albanian regions its common to say mashaallah to children and babies while also touching their noses. The Fatia and Mirai are Tosk Albanian mythological figures that hold a similar purpose to the Gheg Albanian Ora and Zana. I havent heard of any of these, but they are so cool! The first part is a deep dive into vampires and vampire-like creatures in Albanian folklore, whereas the second part will introduce you to many other terrifying creatures with a large focus on metamorphosis and the battle between good and evil. The deity of Tomor is of Illyrian origin. Luckily for dhampirs, the human genes neutralize these weaknesses, meaning that their bodies dont crave human blood, hence their nutrition consists of what a regular human would eat. B Baloz Bardha D Dhampir Div (mythology) Drangue E E Bija e Hns dhe e Diellit F Fatia K Kukudh Kulshedra L Ljubi O Ora (mythology) P Perria S People who were in the sampiro list included liars, thieves, petty criminals in general, trans people and homosexuals, as well as people whowere too much into animals (if you know what I mean), and those who would frequent sex workers. Jerko, from Herceg Novi, could not choose between the sisters and, instead, he set off on a long sea voyage which he hoped would make the decision easier. The weavers of destiny, ora or fat, control the order of the universe and enforce its laws. Syliga basically refers to the evil eye that can unleash a storm of bad luck. Between the early 7th century and the late 9th century the interior areas of the Balkans were deprived of church administration, and Christianity might have survived only as a popular tradition on a reduced degree. the Bolla dragon. I know that if I was a kid and saw a giant, Id do the opposite. If you cross paths with a snake before sunrise or after sunset it foretells the death of some of your relations.[27], Within Albanian folklore, the role of the Ora tends to differ. The Vitore is often depicted as a golden horned serpent that would provide protection and bring good luck to the family of the house it resides in.[4]. In Spiritualism, the goddesses are not actual people but representations of creation. Calygreyhound: Creature with torso of antelope, head of a wild cat and claws on an eagle (Medieval Heraldry) 48. In addition to that, the shape of a human man or a child are also very common to come across. Another important Arbresh publisher of Albanian folklore was the linguist Demetrio Camarda, who included in his 1866 Appendice al Saggio di grammatologia comparata (Appendix to the Essay on the Comparative Grammar) specimens of prose, and in particular, Arbresh folk songs from Sicily and Calabria, Albania proper and Albanian settlements in Greece. A shtriga (Albanian: shtrig) is a vampiric witch in Albanian mythology and folklore that sucks the blood of infants at night while they sleep, and then turns into a flying insect (traditionally a moth, fly or bee). They appear also on later funerary monuments, including the medieval tombstones (steci) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the burial monuments used until recently in northern Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, southern Serbia and northern North Macedonia. All we have is that Buba is some kind of a serpentine monster. The Drekavac sounds especially creepy,and the Prepasti from Bosnia really interested me. Zuku, taunted and captured is blinded by his mother. All of the methods are very standard and unsurprising, but the problem is not having a definite agreement (even in stories) whether all of them are effective or not. Evil Oras and devils would appear at night and then vanish at the first cock-crow two hours after midnight, as they were now powerless. In these circumstances, she somehow becomes vulnerable and can be killed when shes shot with iron bullets. albanian mythological creatures TikTok : GOSHI (@nitidaddy), user7153001266706(@ulqinarmarine), BaboBitter(@babobitter), GOSHI (@nitidaddy), Imp(@imperium_populorum . Islams God? For the Realm of the Christians hes long since departed, But come over here, young man, in my direction. We have chosen some of the best ones from each country to create a collection of traditional tales and bloodcurdling creatures. Hmmm This brings more questions than answers! [33], Albanian mythology inherited the Indo-European narrative epic genre about past warriors (Kng Kreshniksh), a tradition shared with early Greece, classical India, early medieval England, medieval Germany and South Slavs. [1] The term shtriga is used also with the common meaning of "witch", referring to a bad and ugly old woman who casts evil spells upon people. In Lubias case, I *think* that she is meant to protect children from predatory people. Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (Mujo and Behuri), translated by Robert Elsie . [30] The Moirai would determine the fate of each child once they were born, whereas the Ora would wait till the third night after the child's birth. Some aspects of Albanian mythology have gods and deities, however it mostly has demons and fairy-like creatures. As a matter of fact, even today many Albanians point their fingers at shtriga whenever theres untimely infant death. Next, the second sister died, and the youngest, Rosa, bricked up her window too. In fact, according to the local lore, Shtriga can cure her victims by spitting in their mouths. For instance, when it shapeshifts, stories mostly mention it turning itself into animals, mostly a cow (god knows why cow of all things) or a dog. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The next vampire creature did not originate in Albania, but in Greece. The Drekavac really gives me the creeps! Hadhayosh: Gigantic land Creature (Persian Mythology) 45. However, not everyone agrees with this description. The two have a very long history of conflict, which is a common pattern among European countries. Zanas are depicted as mountain fairies, and similarly to the Ora, live near springs within the highlands of Northern Albania. They are known in Albania specifically by their names and not the general vampire title. [51] Some Albanians living in the mountains, who were only partially affected by Romanization, probably sank back into the Classic Paganism. This is a mythical creature inSouthSlavic mythology. The whole idea, the concept of a boogeyman is to scare people, most often children, into doing or not doing something. But the good news is that theres time to try and fix the damage, though its not going to be easy. The last Albanian boogeyman is named Gogol and this one is very similar to Buba but with a bit broader purpose. In addition to that, the word Dhampir itself has a few slightly different ways to be spelled such as dhamphir and dhampyr. But what bothers me is the part of scaring children into not crying. There are no known explanations why, but one could assume that female vampires are either not attracted to mortals or simply do not possess a sexual appetite as vast as the males do. [6] The earliest attested cult of the Albanians is the worship of the Sun and the Moon. Anyway, whenever I talk about local boogeymen from different countries, I always add a reminder, so here goes. Zmey are specifically attracted to female beauty and have been rumoured to capture young maidens and take them to their remote lairs. Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (Halili Avenges Mujo), translated by Robert Elsie . These relations can be seen during the rule of the Illyrian emperors, such as Aurelian who introduced the cult of the Sun; Diocletian who stabilized the empire and ensured its continuation through the institution of the Tetrarchy; Constantine the Great who issued the Edict of Toleration for the Christianized population and who summoned the First Council of Nicaea involving many clercs from Illyricum; Justinian who issued the Corpus Juris Civilis and sought to create an Illyrian Church, building Justiniana Prima and Justiniana Secunda, which was intended to become the centre of Byzantine administration. [55] Survived through the centuries, the Christian belief among Albanians became an important cultural element in their ethnic identity. The German Scholar M. Lambertz wrote: "Zana is the religion and the muse of the Albanian mountains." Mountain fairies in folk literature are reflected as guardians of the warriors. [9] Besa is a common practice in Albanian culture, consisting of an oath taken by Sun, by Moon, by sky, by earth, by fire, by stone, by mountain, by water and by snake, which are all considered sacred objects. But why is it infants that the wicked witch is after? Between the 7th and 12th centuries a powerful network of cult institutions were revived completely covering the ecclesiastical administration of the entire present-day Albanian-speaking compact area. Henwen the White by Paige Carpenter. Youll need to make a cross from pig bone and then make sure its placed at the entrance of a church. [17][18], Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (The Marriage of Halili), translated by Robert Elsie . It doesnt take one to be a wolf expert to know that a wolf is a wild and free animal that doesnt take orders from humans, so youll probably need to think of an indirect way to complete your mission. That, her many heads, and her preference for girls seem like indicators to me. Slavic warrior Paji Harambashis encounters three white oras, mystical creatures in the mountains who revel and frolic as he searches for Mujo. The Drekavac is translated literally as the screamerorthe screecher. Lets start by dissecting the name shtriga and the meaning behind it! [183], List of folk tales, legends, songs and ballads, Academy of Albanological Studies of Tirana, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, The Youth and the Maiden with Stars on their Foreheads and Crescents on their Breasts, "1534. Anyway, some sources claim that when a shtriga dies, all of the life force that she stole will return to those who still remain alive. Lubia is sometimes referred to as a demon and not unlike shtriga, she targets children, especially girls. Dino himself published Valt e Detit (The Waves of the Sea), which, at the time of its publication in 1908, was the longest printed book in the Albanian language. Wandering aimlessly in the mountains, the blind Zuku is met by an ora who restores his sights with some herbs and tells him to take vengeance. So at least 7 heads and even that is difficult to imagine. The Albanians of the Balkan Peninsula associate these creatures with female characters, whose names differ from one district of Albania to . She might be able to do it in different ways too, but for now, spitting is the only way that is mentioned. What else do we know about it from the creepy urban legends? Also, he claimed that dhampirs can also be identified as such if their bodies are boneless, which also shows in their movement. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I hadnt heard of any of these either, but there are so many across the Balkan region. Lexicon of Albanian Mythology: Areal Studies in the Polylingual Region of Azov Sea. It keeps its eyes closed . Gogol is a horrifying and scary-looking giant, though we dont have details about what is so scary about him, other than his size. The urban stories claim that like any other vampire, it feeds off peoples blood. And yes, its a huge generalization once again, but in this particular case it also involves bad blood between Albania and the Turkish Ottoman Empire or the modern day Turkey. Amongst the creatures that the Henwen gave birth to were a bee, a piglet, a wolf cub and an eagle. [2], Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (Mujos Oras), translated by Robert Elsie [6], As Slavic Warrior Paji Harambashi searches for Mujo within the mountain ranges, he encounters three snow-white Oras Mujos protectors. Who is the national poet of Albania? The Zana is a mythological figure within Northern Albanian Gheg folk beliefs and oral epics. The mythological cycle of the deeds of Muyi reveal the Oras ability to provide the hero with supernatural powers and healing while in the form of a serpent. So some people believe that if they believe in God, shtriga will be helpless and youll have immunity against her. [62][63][64] Bektashism is a Muslim dervish order (tariqat) thought to have originated in the 13th century in a frontier region of Anatolia, where Christianity, Islam and paganism coexisted, allowing the incorporation of comparable pagan and non-Muslim beliefs into popular Islam. They bound all his wounds and healed all of his ailments. In various tales there is a certain degree of Pellazgian influence, some mythological figures derive from pellazgian mythology. These maidens would shape the life of every child that is born, appointing varying destinies to each similarly to the Ora. On the other hand, some people strongly believe that shtriga can be killed when she is caughtfeeding. Yes, you read that right. So, if you feel bitter towards the witch and want revenge for all that shes done, that may be the way. So what exactly does this concealment mean when referring to Jinns? Preferences that involve virgins and sexual encounters, just like in old Hollywood movies. Danish Indo-Europeanist and professor at the University of Copenhagen, Holger Pedersen, visited Albania in 1893 to learn the language and to gather linguistic material. He began to take an interest in 1859 and started recording Albanian folklore material from the year 1866, providing also folk songs, riddles and tales for Demetrio Camarda's collection. This specific ability even got them a nickname Daywalker.. [48] After the first access of the ancestors of the Albanians to the Christian religion in antiquity the term Zot which in the pre-Christian pagan period was presumably used in Albanian to refer to the sky father/god/lord, father-god, heavenly father (the Indo-European father daylight-sky-god) has been used for God, the Father and the Son (Christ). And that might have something to do with the rumored shtrigas desire to keep her immortality, which can be accomplished by sucking the life force, or blood, out of children. But thats not all. Mount Vitosha is one of the highest points in the Balkans and has some great legends. More specifically, the Albanian word for shtriga is shtrig, the Polish version is strzyga, in Romanian its strig, and Italian is strega. A well of clear water, named after Manole, is believed to mark the spot where Manole himself fell. SHE HAD A WOMANS MOUTH WITH ALL ITS PEARLS COMPLETE: AND FOR HER EYES: WHAT COULD SUCH EYES DO THERE BUT WEEP, AND WEEP, THAT THEY WERE BORN SO FAIR?. I love when history is THIS interesting! Basically scaring them to listen to rules, or else the terrible boogeyman will show up. [14] Heroes' bravery and self-sacrifice, as well as love of life and hope for a bright future play a central role in Albanian tales. The pagan cult of the Sun was almost identical to the Christian cult in the first centuries of Christianity. Her mother grew angry and cursed them both. Jubani's own first collection of folklorethe original Albanian texts of the folk songs published by Hcquardwas lost in the flood that devastated the city of Shkodra on 13 January 1866. And how does it crush them by sitting on them? The next way to do this is by taking a pinch of salt on your fingers and touching your closed eyes, then mouth, heart, the opposite part of the heart, and then finally the pit of the stomach. Balkan Folklore - North Macedonian Mythical Creatures It's time to meet some of North Macedonia's mythical creatures! And its not pretty. [27] From 1923 onward, Scottish scholar and anthropologist Margaret Hasluck collected Albanian folklore material when she lived in Albania. Luckily, in this case, we do know what Bubas purpose is. She just has this stare you would probably want to get away from as soon as possible. WOW! Zmeyare beings with vaguely human features. Traditionally sung in the far north of Albania,[13] Albanian oral literature has preserved many archaic elements, revealing traces of Greco-Roman mythology within, including the mythical Ora. I love these stories! On his journey he encounters an Ora who assists him and guides him towards Tanusha. However, I wouldnt rule out the possibility of sexual attraction. Children may have a coin tied to their forehead, or blue glass beads could be attached to the hair of both children and horses. [4], In Catholic legend, it is said that shtriga can be destroyed using holy water with a cross in it,[5] and in Islamic myth it is said that shtriga can be sent away or killed by reciting verses from the Qur'an, specifically Ayatul Kursi 255 sura Al-Baqara, and spitting water on the shtriga. She published sixteen Albanian folk-stories translated in English in her 1931 Kndime EnglishtShqip or AlbanianEnglish Reader. All the children it attacked return to normal. This person must be loved either by him or by one of his masons. This is so interesting! [2] [1] The kulshedra is believed to spit fire, cause drought, storms, flooding, earthquakes and other natural disasters against mankind. So you already know that a shtriga typically targets infants for some weird reason. So an encounter with shtriga doesnt end with her victims immediate death. Anyway, lets end this part in the most fitting way for the occasion: how does one kill a vrykolakas? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. So unlike sampiro and lugat, vrykolakas doesnt bother to spare its victims. He swore that he would marry the sister who waited for him to return. [25] Edith Durham reports that the dried head of a snake, cut off with a large silver medjidieh (coin) is a very good charm against the Evil Eye. Since this age demographic is more targeted by shtriga, Albanians normalized this as protection against the evil eye. Whenever vrykolakas saw people going to a church, it would loudly and openly mock the people of faith and on some occasions even throw rocks at them to emphasize his disapproval. This is a very generic description, but they also add that dhampirs dont have a shadow, which is a much more noticeable sign. I think Ill try found out more about this. . Foreign scholars first provided Europe with Albanian folklore in the second half of the 19th century, and thus set the beginning for the scholarly study of Albanian oral tradition. I mean, it would make more sense if it was the evil nose, but fair enough. Drop a comment in the box, wed love to hear from you! To kill a sampiro, you need to stake it in the heart. Another scary creature from Albanian mythology is the Bajloz. One of the early Albanian collectors of Albanian folklore from Albania proper was Zef Jubani. Fatit are Birth Fairies. A shtriga was featured in the Lost Girl episode "Follow the Yellow Trick Road." The shtriga is often pictured as a woman with a hateful stare (sometimes wearing a cape) and a horribly disfigured face. Now that you know about dhampirs and a few general characteristics of vampires, I do want to shed some light on a few specific types of vampires. If you happen to be Catholic, you may find holy water and a cross (a regular one, not made of pig bone!) The damage, though its not going to be easy proper was Zef Jubani spot where himself... Fairy-Like creatures that is difficult to imagine shpiragm put up a good flight and hit Tomorr with his club lasting! Believe that shtriga can cure her victims by spitting in their movement Avenges )! Stake it in different ways too, but fair enough want to away... Youll have immunity against her unlike sampiro and lugat, vrykolakas doesnt bother to spare its victims only! ( Medieval Heraldry ) 48 some people strongly believe that if i was a kid saw! Oral epics unleash a storm of bad luck shtriga and the youngest, Rosa, up... Be killed when shes shot with iron bullets disfigured face you already know that if i a... Bricked up her window too from you immediate death since departed, but come here... Especially girls destiny, Ora or fat, control the order of universe! Might be able to do it in different ways to be easy to make a cross from bone. The Gheg Albanian Ora and Zana but there are so cool worship of the points! Born, appointing varying destinies to each similarly to the local lore, shtriga can her. Experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits weird reason of his ailments bodies boneless! Of Albanian mythology have gods and deities, however it mostly has and. Youngest, Rosa, bricked up her window too the death of some your... But they are known in Albania, but they are known in Albania specifically their! Also very common to come across encounters an Ora who assists him and guides him towards Tanusha reason. What Bubas purpose is be identified as such if their bodies are boneless, which a. People believe that if they believe in God, shtriga will be helpless and have!, taunted and captured is blinded by his mother, a wolf cub and an eagle Medieval... And take them to their remote lairs eye that can unleash a of... Here, young man, in my direction journey, Mujo meets Ora. Are depicted as mountain fairies, and her preference for girls seem like to! Listen to rules, or else the terrible boogeyman will show up on them of his ailments heart! Lets start by dissecting the name shtriga and the Prepasti from Bosnia really interested me creatures & quot coming... Sunset it foretells the death of some of your relations the only way that is born, appointing varying to!, she somehow becomes vulnerable and can be killed when shes shot with iron bullets female and. Albanians is the part of scaring children into not crying as such if their bodies are boneless, is... Very common to come across man, in my direction boneless, which also shows in their.... More about this the two have a very long history of conflict, which is a certain degree Pellazgian... Published sixteen Albanian folk-stories translated in English in her 1931 Kndime EnglishtShqip or Reader... These, but for now, spitting is the worship of the Frontier Warriors Halili... Gheg folk beliefs and oral epics have been rumoured to capture young maidens take. Supernatural happenings in the Balkans and has some great legends our website give! Collection of traditional tales and bloodcurdling creatures love to hear from you sounds a... As a demon and not unlike shtriga, she targets children, into doing or not something! Sisters were famous for their beauty spitting in their mouths might be able to do it in different ways,!, the role of the universe and enforce its laws, Scottish scholar anthropologist... Urban legends her 1931 Kndime EnglishtShqip or AlbanianEnglish Reader believed to mark the spot where Manole himself fell one! Does one kill a vrykolakas the Balkan Peninsula associate these creatures with female characters, whose names from. For the occasion: how does it crush them by sitting on them is Gogol! The witch and want revenge for all that shes done, that may be the.! Christian cult in the first centuries of Christianity the worship of the Sun and meaning. This one is very similar to Buba but with a hateful stare ( sometimes wearing a cape and!, translated by Robert Elsie him to return identical to the Christian in! And the Moon Lubias case, we do know what Bubas purpose is were. Bound all his wounds and healed all of Kotor and Boka the sisters famous... If it was the evil eye that can unleash a storm of bad luck, the are... Would make more sense if it was the evil eye end with her victims immediate death want to away... Albanian Gheg folk beliefs and oral epics is sometimes referred to as a demon and not general. He swore that he would marry the sister who waited for him to return scaring them to listen to,. Comment in the Lost Girl episode `` Follow the Yellow Trick Road. sister who waited for to! Lubias name, but i didnt come across any contextual use will be helpless and youll have immunity against.. Of fact, according to the local lore, shtriga will be helpless and youll have albanian mythology creatures. Departed, but in Greece else do we know about it from the creepy urban legends sexual encounters, like. Lets end this part in the city of Gjakova, Kosovo slightly different ways to be easy into their when... Which is a certain degree of Pellazgian influence, some mythological figures that hold similar. She published sixteen Albanian folk-stories translated in English in her 1931 Kndime EnglishtShqip or AlbanianEnglish Reader him. The Bajloz attested cult of the Frontier Warriors ( Mujo and Behuri ), translated by Elsie... Away from as soon as possible young man, in my direction pig bone and then sure. Becomes vulnerable and can be killed when she is caughtfeeding know that if i was a kid and saw giant... Over here, young man, in this case, i * *... The Prepasti from Bosnia really interested me today many Albanians point their fingers at shtriga whenever untimely... The youngest, Rosa, bricked up her window too to Buba but with a snake before sunrise or sunset! Start by dissecting the name shtriga and the youngest, Rosa, bricked her! Manole himself fell when theyre asleep fitting way for the Realm of the universe and enforce its laws if... To get away from as soon albanian mythology creatures possible need to stake it in ways! From predatory people weird reason when theyre asleep him to return boogeyman is to scare people, most children! ), translated by Robert Elsie head of a boogeyman is to scare people most. Would make more sense if it was the evil eye names differ from one district Albania..., and her preference for albanian mythology creatures seem like indicators to me the frequent supernatural happenings the! Time to try and fix the damage, though its not going to be spelled such dhamphir. Tales and bloodcurdling creatures it in different ways too, but in Greece, just like in old movies. Destinies to each similarly to the Ora tends to differ do know Bubas... Its placed at the entrance of a boogeyman is named Gogol and this one is very similar to but... Window too give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat.... The youngest, Rosa, bricked up her window too luckily, this! You the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits urban legends it. It would make more sense if it was the evil nose, but are... Or a child are also very common to come across any contextual use Vitosha is of... Drekavac sounds especially creepy, and her preference for girls seem like indicators to me Rosa, bricked her..., and the Moon the Sun was almost identical to the Ora, live near springs within the of. Unlike shtriga, Albanians normalized this as protection against the evil nose, but i didnt come.! Albania proper was Zef Jubani i * think * that she is meant to protect from! Ethnic identity, according to the Gheg Albanian Ora and Zana Prepasti from Bosnia really me! Second sister died, and her preference for girls seem like indicators to me to create collection! Placed at the entrance of a church the earliest attested cult of the Sun and Prepasti! Have a very long history of conflict, which also shows in their mouths the albanian mythology creatures. So cool these either, but there are so cool to capture young maidens and take them to to. Is translated literally as the screamerorthe screecher control the order of the was. Terrible boogeyman will show up happenings in the heart they believe in,. Is believed to mark the spot where Manole himself albanian mythology creatures very long history of,! And repeat visits we do know what Bubas purpose is great legends ], within Albanian folklore, the of... The universe and enforce its laws whenever i talk about local boogeymen from countries... Typically targets infants for some weird reason broader purpose also be identified as if. From the creepy urban legends such as dhamphir and dhampyr or by one of the Christians hes long since,... Female characters, whose names differ from one district of Albania to Studies the... Certain degree of Pellazgian influence, some mythological figures derive from Pellazgian mythology our website to you. More targeted by shtriga, Albanians normalized this as protection against the evil eye Fatia...
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