The Palace of Tre Sorelle (three sisters), with three windows facing the sea, of which two are walled up and one is still intact, can still be seen in Pranj today. I suppose its fine if it can save a life. The Ora's appearance alters according to the personality and attributes of the human a white Ora for the brave and industrious, or a black Ora for the lazy or cowardly.[8], In Northern Albania, the Oras are represented similarly to the Southern Albanian Fatia as a group of three mythological goddesses who gather in the night to perform the task of determining the childs fate at birth and distribute their favours upon the child. Dhampirs are a widely-spread subject in Balkan folklore, which includes Albania, todays subject. Hold on, this is going to be *very* different. When I was doing my research specifically about dhampirs, I expected to discover some kind of defects that would come from the human parent. In addition to that, no one knows the exact number of Lubias heads, but Albanian creepy urban legends hint that it can be any number between 7 and a hundred. "[59] In Ottoman times education in the Albanian language was forbidden. If you do end up looking into shtrigas eyes, what youd see is either white, grey, pale blue, or pale green eyes. And maybe its just me because as a kid I used to cry often, but why would parents want to scare their children into not crying? This reminds me of Annabelle. Bo's friends search for the creature after figuring out that the shtriga had bitten Bo in its moth form, leaving her comatose and dying as it feeds on her fears. Their name derives from Fate. zana) comes from Illyrians to the present day. The town of Berat sits in the foothills of Mount Tomorr and is closely guarded by Baba, as its his favourite city and great source of pride. Nothing about vrykolakas makes much sense to me and it sounds like a classic case of the broken telephone. On a final note about a lugat, I just wanted to add that basically there is no positive way to see the creature. Believe in God and youre protected! [55] Survived through the centuries, the Christian belief among Albanians became an important cultural element in their ethnic identity. Amongst the creatures that the Henwen gave birth to were a bee, a piglet, a wolf cub and an eagle. I cant wait to visit the Balkans one day and just love learning about this area . [16], Albanian myths and legends are already attested in works written in Albanian as early as the 15th century,[17] however, the systematic collection of Albanian folklore material began only in the 19th century. [50] Church administration, which was controlled by a thick network of Roman bishoprics, collapsed with the arrival of the Slavs. The Ora (Albanian: or, definite form: ora, pl. This method would trap shtriga inside, giving you the opportunity to kill her, though Im not entirely sure how anyone would do this since sources claim that she cant be killed using regular weapons and methods. Islams God? She also enjoys walking in beauty through the daylight, searching for men to eat for dessert. Apparently, parents tell their loud children that Buba will get them if they dont quiet down. Children may have a coin tied to their forehead, or blue glass beads could be attached to the hair of both children and horses. We love to travel and share our Balkan experiences to assist and inspire. From 1848 he served as interpreter to French consul in Shkodra, Louis Hyacinthe Hcquard, who was very interested in, and decided to prepare a book on, northern Albanian folklore. The two titans eventually killed one another and poor Earthly Beauty drowned in her tears, which became the Osum River. Perhaps thats the best way to undo her damage? I know that if I was a kid and saw a giant, Id do the opposite. [22] At midnight, Zuku slays Slavic warrior Baloz Sedlija, and burns his mother to her death. Albert Doja reveals beliefs about the protective house snake throughout Albanian culture and superstitions. This particular one is called the Night Hag. When Ana arrived, they told her that they wanted to play a game during their lunchtime. Baba Tomorri has taken a fine-looking bride, Earthly Beauty. Hmmm This brings more questions than answers! It is said that shtriga is the only one who can cure her victims. Or it eats their food? Accordingly, the male word for shtriga can be shtrigan or shtrigu. The heels, the swaying, and the flying fabric are creepy enough, but then it also begins to make kissing sounds. The Zana is a mythological figure within Northern Albanian Gheg folk beliefs and oral epics. Newborns, children or beautiful girls have been said to catch the evil eye more easily, so in some Albanian regions when meeting such a person, especially a newborn, for the first time, people might say "masha'allah" and touch the child's nose to show their benevolence and so that the evil eye would not catch the child. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. albanian mythological creatures TikTok : GOSHI (@nitidaddy), user7153001266706(@ulqinarmarine), BaboBitter(@babobitter), GOSHI (@nitidaddy), Imp(@imperium_populorum . Most believe he is visible only at night, especially during thetwelve days of Christmasand in the earlyspring. Abaia: A magical eel (Melanesian Mythology) 47. [49], At the time of the South Slavic incursion and the threat of ethnic turbulence in the Albanian-inhabited regions, the Christianization of the Albanians had already been completed and it had apparently developed for Albanians as a further identity-forming feature alongside the ethnic-linguistic unity. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Thank you so much for sharing! Fatit are Birth Fairies. When assuming the form of a child, the Drekavac predicts someonesdeath, while in its animal form, it predicts cattle disease. As for the origins of vrykolakas and how you can turn into one, wellhold on tight, the list is long. [4], With the birth of each child many Oras gather in the night towards the cliffs to decide upon the qualities that child would receive. There was no one to wall it up after she died. In particular an important role was played by the Theme of Dyrrhachium and the Archdiocese of Ohrid. Many of the characters of the Albanian mythology are included in the Albanian Songs of the Frontier Warriors ( Albanian : Kng Kreshniksh or Cikli i Kreshnikve ), the traditional cycle of Albanian epic songs. The characters in Albanian tales, legends and myths include humans, deities, demigods, monsters, as well as supernatural beings in the shapes of men, animals and plants. [2] Within Central Albania it was believed that the Ora were present everywhere, listening to peoples blessings and curses, which they would then aim to quickly fulfil. When she enters peoples home, she goes straight for a sleeping infant, sucks its blood, and then turns into an insect. And yes, vampire hunters were a thing in Greece and likely in Albania too. Another famous vampire type is called lugat and it may also be called kukithi or liogat. While Jin is a general reference to concealment, al-janin refers specifically to a fetus that is concealed in its mother's womb. Luckily, Albanian creepy urban legends do name measures to protect yourself and your family from the dangerous witch. All in all, she is either middle-aged or an elderly woman who, judging from her dark stare alone, is definitely not a sweet and ordinary grandma. [182][136], Another characteristic of Albanian heroic songs are weapons. The German physician Karl H. Reinhold collected Albanian folklore material from Albanian sailors while he was serving as a doctor in the Greek navy and in 1855 he published Noctes Pelasgicae (Pelasgian Nights). 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. Save Balkan Folklore Discover the Fascinating Tales and Mythical Creatures for later by pinning the image below. Her favorite target is infants and she typically hunts during the night when infants (and their parents, for that matter) are sleeping. [17][18], Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (The Marriage of Halili), translated by Robert Elsie . The name of the mythological figure is an old Albanian word. It facilitated the conversion process to the new Muslims and became the official order of the Janissaries. Such motifs are particularly related to the ancient cults of the Sun and Moon, survived until recently among northern Albanians. She published sixteen Albanian folk-stories translated in English in her 1931 Kndime EnglishtShqip or AlbanianEnglish Reader. Should an Ora howl at a person, the threads of their fate would be cut. Another important figure in Norse mythology is the god Thor, who is known for his strength and his weapon, the mighty hammer Mjolnir. 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). This next creature can, in some way, count as a vampire, although its best-known as a witch. But wait, it gets even better! [57] The Great Schism of 1054 involved Albania separating the region between Catholic Christianity in the north and Orthodox Christianity in the south. Although labeled as a vampiric witch, shtriga has a lot of resemblance to a boogeyman. I gotta admit, that does sound hard to ignore. As a symbol, it is depicted by eight spiked tridents radiating outwards from a central point. [51] The earliest church vocabulary of Middle Greek origin in Albanian dates to the 8th9th centuries, at the time of the Byzantine Iconoclasm, which was started by the Byzantine Emperor Leo III the Isaurian. In other words, lugat in Albania is basically a type of a boogeyman and interestingly enough, it is not the only one. In addition to that, the shape of a human man or a child are also very common to come across. 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. In the 1800s, John Keats, a romantic poet, created this vision of Lamia, SHE WAS A GORDIAN SHAPE OF DAZZLING HUE, VERMILION-SPOTTED, GOLDEN, GREEN, AND BLUE; STRIPED LIKE A ZEBRA, FRECKLED LIKE A PARD, EYED LIKE A PEACOCK, AND ALL CRIMSON BARRD; AND FULL OF SILVER MOONS, THAT, AS SHE BREATHED, DISSOLVD, OR BRIGHTER SHONE, OR INTERWREATHED THEIR LUSTRES WITH THE GLOOMIER TAPESTRIESSO RAINBOW-SIDED, TOUCHD WITH MISERIES. Is it the Christian God? Yeah, the Balkans are full of these tales! The Drekavac is translated literally as the screamerorthe screecher. 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. Zuku Bajraktar captures his mothers secret lover, Slavic warrior Baloz Sedlija, as his prisoner. [9], Within Albanian folklore and poetry, Ora had the ability to take any form they pleased, including birds, beasts, women, or serpents.[10], In Northern Albania, Oras often appear as serpents. similarly to the Southern Albanian deity Vitore. Turns out that not only can lugats bite cause mental and spiritual distress, but it can also lead to the victim becoming the predator. Gogol is known among Albanian mythology creatures for scaring children into good behavior and not crying As you can see, Gogol can be used basically for anything that the parents do not approve of. So you already know that a shtriga typically targets infants for some weird reason. [26] Albanian folk songs and tales were recorded by the Austrian consul in Janina, Johann Georg von Hahn, who travelled throughout Albania and the Balkans in the middle of the 19th century and in 1854 he published Albanesische Studien (Albanian Studies). [2] In Albanian folk beliefs, earth is the object of a special cult,[7] and an important role is played by fire, which is considered a living, sacred or divine element used for rituals, sacrificial offerings and purification. [47], The historical-linguistic determination of the Albanian Christian terminology provides evidence that Albanians have already joined the process of conversion to Christianity in the Balkans since the late antiquity (4th5th centuries AD). 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]. E Bukura e Dheut. Note that the parent vampire is not a dhampir, but a 100% vampire. But her care and love for him was stronger than the storm, and she kept walking. Also, he claimed that dhampirs can also be identified as such if their bodies are boneless, which also shows in their movement. [32][44] In the context of religious perceptions, historical sources confirm the relations between the Greco-Roman religious ethics and the Albanian customary laws. [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. Lets go! What kind of being was standing before him. This list may not reflect recent changes . The kucedra or kulshedra is a mythological creature in Albanian mythology that is usually depicted as a large, multi-headed dragon with 7 heads. [11] As the Ora provided protection, their appearance as a serpent could also foretell unfortunate events. She did not die and re-emerged on a different isle. More specifically, the Albanian word for shtriga is shtrig, the Polish version is strzyga, in Romanian its strig, and Italian is strega. Drop a comment in the box, wed love to hear from you! She is a female demon who comes to you at night, in many forms, to give you nightmares and terrify you. But not until the rain completely washed their blood from the ground and when their bones were ploughed back into the earth. 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. By some accounts, her form is repulsive. The inhabitants of the Dukagjini Mountains believed that three types of Fates existed: e Bardha (The White One) distributes good luck and wishes humans well, e Verdha (The Yellow One) distributes bad luck and casts evil spells, and e Zeza (The Black One) who decides death. Shefit Koboci Afrdita Armati Bardha Bindusi Bolla Baloz (monster) Constantin and Doruntin The male noun for shtriga is shtrigu or shtrigan. The deities are generally not persons, but animistic personifications of nature. The Shtriga appears in the Legends of Tomorrow episode "Wet Hot American Bummer." Travelling anywhere in the Balkan region, you are almost certain to be told one of these folklores or hear about a mythical beast. [45], Prehistoric Illyrian symbols used on funeral monuments of the pre-Roman period have been used also in Roman times and continued into late antiquity in the broad Illyrian territory. The Vitore is a household deity known as the woman who spins[4] spinning out the destiny of each person when they are born. [3] Ancient Illyrian religion is considered to be one of the sources from which Albanian legend and folklore evolved,[29][30][31] reflecting a number of parallels with Ancient Greek and Roman mythologies. The good Norns who are well born would shape a good life, while the bad Norns are responsible for misfortune in peoples lives. Basically scaring them to listen to rules, or else the terrible boogeyman will show up. During construction the walls of the monastery would continuously crumble. Often appearing on roads and meadows or next to rivers and creeks, they began as ambiguous, black mists, silhouettes and whirlwinds. In addition to that, the word Dhampir itself has a few slightly different ways to be spelled such as dhamphir and dhampyr. See more Zana e malit. Usually, shtriga were described as old or middle-aged women with grey, pale green, or pale blue eyes (called white eyes or pale eyes) (Albanian: sybardha) and a crooked nose. As discussed by Robert Elsie; tales and legends within Albanian folklore and poetry reveal the fundamental theme of the struggle between good and evil, a reflection of social values as we perceive them(Elsie, 2015). Their characteristics depend on their nationalities. : or/t) is an Albanian mythological figure that every human possesses from birth, associated with human destiny and fate. But there are also those who have certainpreferences. [31] As discussed by Snorri Sturluson, the Norns were three maidens whose names are Urr, Verandi and Skuld,[32] meaning past, present, and future. You wont be able to avoid it when you visit. Now all you need to do is pick the one you like the best! Prepasti often manifested in places where the soldier had lost a body part. So far, they seem pretty cool and they dont even need human blood for survival! All the children it attacked return to normal. According to Maximilian Lambertz (1882-1963), he is the relic of an ancient Illyrian god. Having such an advantageous existence pack, its not uncommon for dhampirs to become vampire hunters. [67][3][68] Ancient paganism persisted among Albanians, and within the inaccessible and deep interior it has continued to persist, or at most it was partially transformed by the Christian, Muslim and Marxist beliefs that were either to be introduced by choice or imposed by force. In Albania, Romania and Hungary, some people believe that if a snake lives long enough and is not seen by a human, it will eventually turn into a dragon. One must never disturb a snake, even if its found within a babys cradle as it is the ora that belongs to the house and the baby. But what bothers me is the part of scaring children into not crying. And honestly, people are guessing, but no one really knows for sure why this vampire includes the kissing sounds in all of this. If you dont trust this method or dont enjoy playing with fire, there are many other ways to prevent the worst from happening. This serpent slithers over my wounds to heal them. Thanks Jenny. Naturally, every country has its own version of the word, though its easy to tell that they are referring to the same creature. Manole had to keep his promise and the beautiful monastery was built. Albanian folklore evolved over the centuries in a relative isolated tribal culture and society,[4] and although several changes occurred in the Albanian belief system, an ancient substratum of pre-Christian beliefs has survived until today. 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. The defense against Night Hags is to close all keyholes to stop them from entering the room. But going back specifically to the Albanian version of shtriga, there is one particular characteristic of shtriga that caught my attention. 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 Very long! This game involved building walls around her body. It is said that lugat tends to lure its victims to its dark home and can even murder people in their sleep. E Bukura e Dheut - Earthly Beauty; Beauty of the Earth E Bukura e Dheut, Queen of Albania's Fairies, rules . The shtriga is often pictured as a woman with a hateful stare (sometimes wearing a cape) and a horribly disfigured face. As for lugats target, generally it could be anyone, although mostly its children. Its time to meet some of North Macedonias mythical creatures! She accepted, for some reason, but she soon realised that this was not a game. To kill a sampiro, you need to stake it in the heart. Most legends claim that dhampirs possess great powers. The following day, Manole looked out and sadly saw his wife, Ana, walking towards the site. She further recorded the story that after draining blood from a victim, the shtriga would generally go off into the woods and regurgitate it. The Czech linguist and professor of Romance languages and literature, Jan Urban Jarnik, published in 1883 Albanian folklore material from the region of Shkodra in Zur albanischen Sprachenkunde (On Albanian Linguistics) and Pspvky ku poznn ne albnskch uveejuje (Contributions to the Knowledge of Albanian Dialects). New!! Prince Radu the Black dreamed of building the most striking monastery in Romania. Unlike sampiro, however, lugat leaves its victims to deal with very serious consequences. Zuku, taunted and captured is blinded by his mother. [3] Albanian folklore evolved over the centuries in a relatively isolated tribal culture and society. It goes without saying that because of its seemingly wicked character and powerful abilities lugat is seen as a dangerous and extremely violent creature that wishes to inflict violence and cruelty upon people. The pagan cult of the Sun was almost identical to the Christian cult in the first centuries of Christianity. Anyway, lets end this part in the most fitting way for the occasion: how does one kill a vrykolakas? Albanian folk tales were first recorded in the middle of the nineteenth century by European scholars such as Johann Georg von Hahn, the Austrian consul in Janina (Ioannina), Karl H. Reinhold and Giuseppe Pitr. Read More. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Serbia - Bauk is an animal-like mythical creature in Serbian mythology. Basically, everyone who were frowned upon in the old days and even somewhat today. Folk beliefs of the Southern Tosk Albanians reveal similar Albanian mythological figures of fate and destiny, the Mirai and Fatia. The same motifs were kept with identical cultural-religious symbolism on various monuments of the early medieval culture of the Albanians. If a silver coin were to be soaked in that blood and wrapped in cloth, it would become an amulet offering permanent protection from any shtriga. 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. Scary! 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. Balkan Folklore - North Macedonian Mythical Creatures It's time to meet some of North Macedonia's mythical creatures! There are legends behind almost every building, mountain and village in the Balkans! Eventually, as you got a bigger picture, you would also notice her face disfigurement and possibly a cape that she tends to wear. The next vampire creature did not originate in Albania, but in Greece. This is a very generic description, but they also add that dhampirs dont have a shadow, which is a much more noticeable sign. And did I mention that this strategy can only be implemented on Easter Sunday? Their stare would make people uncomfortable, and people were supposed to avoid looking them directly in the eyes because they have the evil eye (Albanian: syliga). [65][66] After the ban of all the Sufi orders in Turkey in 1925, the Bektashi Order established its headquarters in Tirana. Yup, thats it! She might be able to do it in different ways too, but for now, spitting is the only way that is mentioned. So you do get to keep your life, thats the good news. 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. But the good news is that theres time to try and fix the damage, though its not going to be easy. During the day, Earthly Beauty spends time with her sister, Sea Beauty, and in the evening the wind returns her to Baba Tomorri. Her mother grew angry and cursed them both. But, one by one, they all plummeted to the ground and died. Jerko never returned from his voyage and his fate remains unknown. Also, why would shtriga go to a church? Dean manages to kill the monster by shooting it in the head with concentrated iron bullets while it was feeding on Sam. Only the shtriga herself could cure those she had drained. I wont deep into their history, but what you need to know for context is that many Albians viewed, and even now many see the Turks as invaders who forced their language and religion on Albanians. Miren, another name used for them, derives from the Greek Moirae . In addition to that, lugats ability to fly and use the wind assomething like invisible transportation measure appears in the stories not any less common. [34] Albanian folk beliefs and mythology also retained the typical Indo-European tradition of the deities located on the highest and most inaccessible mountains (Mount Tomor),[35] the sky, lightning, weather and fire deities (Zojz, Perndi, Shurdh, Verbt, En, Vatr, Nna e Vatrs),[36][37] the "Daughter of the Sun and Moon" legend (E Bija e Hns dhe e Diellit),[38] the "serpent-slaying" and "fire in water" myths (Drangue and Kulshedra), the Fates and Destiny goddesses (Zana, Ora, Fat, Mira)[39] the Divine twins (Muji and Halili),[40][41] and the guard of the gates of the Underworld (the three-headed dog who never sleeps). We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. [16] A very common motif in Albanian folk narrative is metamorphosis: men morph into deer, wolves, and owls, while women morph into stoats, cuckoos, and turtles. In Albanian mythology, physical events, substances, and things are linked to mythical creatures. Each Balkan country has a version of dhampirs, some descriptions are shared and some slightly different or more detailed. [24] Throughout Albania people would wear many types of charms to ward off the evil oras and devils. [28] As revealed in Albanian epic poetry, the Zana observe Albanian battles, offering their assistance and protection where needed. I love hearing mythology and folklore stories, especially ones Ive never heard from new places. I love these stories! All of these versions stem from the Latin word strga, which translates into evil spirit and witch. He clenched it and squeezed it and crushed it to pieces., Mujos brother Halili sets out to search for the only one he wishes to marry, Tanusha - the daughter of the King in the Realm of the Christians. All Rights Reserved | In these circumstances, she somehow becomes vulnerable and can be killed when shes shot with iron bullets. Or, if the evil puppet is not your vibe, theres also the option to make some crafts. And yet vrykolakas sits on them? The drekavac will avoid dogs and bright light, and if the shadow of drekavac falls upon a person then that person will become ill and die. The interesting part in the vampire habits and behavior is that according to Balkan creepy urban legends, male vampires are involved with mortal women much more often than female vampires are with male mortals. So an encounter with shtriga doesnt end with her victims immediate death. Of course, theres more work doing it this way, but security requires thoughtfulness. The problem is that this may be even more difficult than getting her to cure people, as she is not easily killed. Apparently the Albanian, and in general Balkan legends, believe that the fruit of two genetically different species gains all the best that both can offer. 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 is the part where I just want to point something out. Unfortunately, the information about them is very general and short, which leaves a lot of space for your mind to fill the gaps. [18], One of the first Albanian collectors from Italy was the Arbresh writer Girolamo De Rada whoalready imbued with a passion for his Albanian lineage in the first half of the 19th centurybegan collecting folklore material at an early age.

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