Dschuma
DSCHUMA – THE FIERCE VIRGIN
Dschuma is a disease demon, a spirit of cholera. She is a harbinger of illness. She only appears when illness and epidemic are imminent. She wanders through the night, naked and wailing. She’s not mourning her victims; she’s crying because she’s cold. She’s a little girl spirit and possesses little empathy. If she’ll put some clothes on and warm up, she may go away and take the threat of epidemic with her. Once she has been spotted, a ritual is immediately required to forestall an epidemic:
• Seven post-menopausal women must spin and sew one single red shirt while maintaining total and complete silence.
• The shirt must be completed in one single night.
• Once complete, the shirt is hung outside as an offering for Dschuma.
• If there’s no cholera outbreak, then you’ll know she’s accepted the offering.
ORIGIN:
Romania
MANIFESTATIONS:
Although she usually appears as a fierce young girl, she occasionally takes the form of an elderly, toothless hag.
COLOUR:
Red
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.
