Russian Legend & Folklore

Afanasiev, Alexander Nikolaievitch (Afanasyeu, Afanasyeff) (1826–1871) was a Russian folklorist, compiler of Russian Folktales (1855– 1863), published in eight parts ...

Ala is in Russian mythology, daughter of Volos, god of beasts and flocks. Serge Prokofiev’s ballet Ala and Lolli (1914–1915) ...

Alexander Nevsky (1220–1263) In Russian legend, prince-saint who defended Russia against foreign invaders. The heroic personality Alexander Nevsky, the first ...

Aliosha Popovich (Aljosa Popovic) (11th century c.e.) In Russian legend, bogatyr (epic hero) who appears in the bylini (epic songs) ...

Alkonost Alkonost is one of several magical Russian spirit birds. Her identity is complex and mysterious. She is the bird ...

Azadovskii, Mark Konstantinovich (1888– 1945) Russian folklorist whose expeditions in 1913–1915 took him to the Amur and Lena Rivers in ...

Baba Yaga is in Russian folklore, a female witch who loved to roast and eat people, preferably children. She was ...

Babushka-Lyagushka-Skakushka In Russian folklore this is “Grandmother Hopping Frog,” who lives in the Green Marsh. She is asked by Baba-Yaga ...

Baldak Borisievich In Russian folklore, a hero who defeated the Turkish sultan. One day Baldak Borisievich, with 29 other young ...

bylina (pl.: bylini) (true story) In medieval Russia, an oral heroic song or poem, originally sung by court minstrels and ...

A domovik (also domovoj, domovoy) is in Russian folklore, a household spirit that resides in every home. The domovik traditionally ...

The Firebird is in Russian folklore, a magical bird with golden wings and crystal eyes. The Firebird appears in many ...

Foma Berennikov is in Russian folklore, a hero who said he had killed 12 mighty heroes but in actuality had ...

Gamayun - The Prophetess Bird The Gamayun is among the magical spirit birds of Russian lore, related to Alkonost and ...

Kikimora The Kikimora is a female house spirit with dominion over spinning, weaving and needlework. There is not one Kikimora ...

Leshii :The Forest Lord The Leshii, male Russian forest guardians, weep when trees are cut down. Leshii is both singular ...

Leshovikha ORIGIN: Russia Female Leshii are called Leshovikha. Descriptions of the Leshii apply to the Leshovikha too except where gender-specific ...

Marko, the Gravedigger is in Russian folklore, a monk who restored the dead to life. Marko was a gravedigger for ...

Mati-Syra-Zemlya (moist Mother Earth) In Russian mythology, earth goddess. The worship of Mati-Syra-Zemlya continued in Russia up to the eve ...

Morozko Father Frost ORIGIN: Russia Morozko is responsible for the ferocity of Russian winters. Whatever he touches with his staff ...

Sirin ORIGIN: Russia Sirin, a spirit of beauty, joy, and happiness, manifests as a bird with a woman’s face. Her ...

The Coffin Lid A moujik was driving along one night with a load of pots. His horse grew tired, and ...

The Dog and the Corpse A moujik went out in pursuit of game one day, and took a favourite dog ...

The Shroud In a certain village there was a girl who was lazy and slothful, hated working, but would gossip ...

A certain soldier was allowed to go home on furlough. Well, he walked and walked, and after a time he ...

A soldier had obtained leave to go home on furlough -- to pray to the holy images, and to bow ...

Viesczy (VEETS-chee) Variation: Stryz, Vieszcy, Vieszy, Vjescey, Vji-esce A vampiric REVENANT from Russia, the viesczy is born either with a ...

Vourdalak (VOUR-da-lacs) Russian vampiric lore tells of the vourdalak, a particularly evil vampire that resembles a beautiful woman and preys ...

Vpir (VA-peer) Variations: Upir A vampiric spirit from Russian lore, the vpir possesses the corpse of a sorcerer or witch ...