Kikimora, Domovoi, Baccoo, and Other Strange and Spooky Creatures

This Halloween staff of the Word Languages Collection at Mid-Manhattan Library would like to introduce our readers to some unusual creatures from around the globe.

Russia's rich folkloric tradition stems from a deeply ingrained pagan belief in magic forces that rule all aspects of one's existence. A great number of fascinating creatures inhabit Russian woods and lakes. If you live in a Russian countryside, you might be sharing your home with Kikimora and Domovoi.

Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Kikimora is a female house spirit, frequently believed to be wedded to Domovoi, a male house spirit of greater powers and standing.In the Russian lore, Kikimoras have been portrayed anywhere from a grotesquely deformed elf-like tiny woman to a fair maiden with a long braid. However, all portrayals have several common traits; Kikimoras tend to have various degrees of noticeable physical deformities (i.e. chicken extremities) and also appear to haunt the dwellings, where a child has died or the body of a child lies beneath the structure.They also can represent children that died unbaptized and other maternal misfortunes.

Kikimoras are elusive and tend to inhabit the crevices behind the hearth, large brick stoves, under the floor boards, or in the attics. In the lore of certain regions, Kikimoras can also live in the swamps and forests, where in other tales they inhabit various places, according to the season of the year. They are elusive creatures of great mischief, who make all sort of subtle, but very disturbing noises, gravely effecting humans and the domestic animals inside their dwellings. At times, they leave wet footprints on the house floor.

Their favorite pastime is spinning the yarn, especially during major religious holidays such as Christmas, when such activity is not advised to humans. Yard spinning can continue all night long with absolutely no results to show for in the morning.

Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Domovoi is a benevolent spirit, keeper of the dwelling and all its belongings. He has an appearance of a leprechaun-like, tiny old man with a long beard. According to the folklore, Domovoi lives his life in reverse, where he is born old and progresses through life becoming younger, reaching his demise as a newborn. Domovoi inhabits crevices behind the hearth, below the porch, in the attics and other out the way hiding places. Being the guardian of the dwelling, he looks after its occupants,defending them against evil spirits and mischief. Domovoi can become annoyed when the house is unkept, or if there's infighting in the family and makes his presence known through a series of unexplained and terrifying noises.

Baccoo is Domovoi's Caribbean cousin, residing chiefly in Guyana. This tiny misshapen bearded man inhabits the dwelling of his temporary patron. Unlike Domovoi, Baccoo, sometimes spelled Bacoo, comes into much closer contact with human beings. While he can be loyal and obliging, this creature is known for being incredibly demanding and impatient.To properly care for your Baccoo, you must feed him enormous quantities of milk and bananas. In exchange for food Baccoo might fulfill a particular wish or reward you with riches. Just like Domovoi, Baccoo is very found of causing all sorts of mischief. Ignore a Baccoo at your own peril, for he is capable of causing serious accidents. It is rumored that one unsatisfied and venguful Baccoo living Brooklyn, caused a house to burn down. It is quite difficult to get rid of a Baccoo. Baccoo can be trapped in a bottle, but doing so requires skill and patience. A bottle containing trapped Baccoo is usually given to fishermen to be discarded into the great depths of the ocean.

Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Bodies of water were particularly revered by in ancient Russia. Access to lakes and river is ultimately controlled by Vodyanoi, the ruler of the aquatic domain. Unlike his western counterpart, Vodyanoi does not resemble a human being. While some sources claim that he looks like an elderly men with a protruding belly, he is most often depicted as an amphibian of sorts. Vodianoi resides in an underwater castle, located next an abandoned water mill or under a whirlpool. Vodyanoi controls access to water and frowns upon people that disobey his rules of staying away from lakes and rivers at noon and after dark. Some describe him as a dangerous creature, for he loves to pull the bathers undert the water. It is rumored that he marries women that drown. If the new bride does not suit Vodianoi, her body will be found floating. Unrecovered bodies of drowned women attest to the fact that Vodyanoi does not wish to part from his new brides.

Latin America's rich folkloric tradition describes an equally intimidating denizen of lakes and rivers. The popular legend of La Llorona narrates a story of a woman that is feared by many in Mexico and several other Latin American countries. A proud woman commits a terrible deed of drowning her children in the river only to immediately regret the awful deed. She can't stop weeping for them even after her death. According to the popular belief, it is dangerous for children to wander alone late at night, as La Llorona is always on the lookout for her children and may take them instead.

For the last twenty years there have been rumors of a terrible blood-sucking beast roaming around the pastures of an island in the Carribean. Chupacabra, literally translated as a "goatsucker," is rumored to be responsible for the slaughter of domesticated animals in Puerto-Rico. It's difficult to envision this creature, as it is been alternatively described by witnesses to resemble an alien and a furry coyote-like animal, standing on two strong hind legs. The situation in Puerto Rico was causing so much concern, it is rumored that certain officials wished to intoduce a resolution asking for an official investigation into the existence of Chupacabra. Benjamin Radford wrote his personal account of an investigation into the the existence of this creature in Tracking the Chupacabra: The Vampire Beast in Fact, Fiction, and Folklore by Benjamin Radford.

Another fearsome beast wonders dark cobblestone streets of several Central American towns. El Cadeho is a dog-like creature that stalks the lonely travelers after dark. According to some versions of this legend, El Cadeho is found of hypnotizing his hapless victims with his fiery glowing red eyes. If you fall under his spell, your soul might be lost forever. Hector Gaitan, a popular writer from Guatemala, collected and recorded eyewitness accounts of encounters with El Cadeho in his book La calle donde tu vives.

According to other versions of a story in Guatemalan folklore there are two cadejos, black and white. White cadejo represents a spirit of light that protects all faithful believers, especially kids, from black cadejo. It's commonly agreed upon that that black cadejo can be kept away with the smoke of incense.

Nobel Prize-winning author Miguel Angel Asturias, included the story of El Cadeho into his popular Leyendas de Guatemala. New York Public Library owns a translated version of this book The Mirror of Lida Sal: Tales Based on Mayan Myths and Guatemalan Legends.

Sources and References

This blog was written by Marianna Vertsman and Elie Weitsman, with  assistance of Vilma Alvarez and Sayani Pilgrim. Special thanks to Jay Vissers, Raymond Khan and Elena Kilinsky of Mid-Manhattan's Picture Collection.

Comments

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Domovoi

Hello, I'm doing research on Slavic creatures. Could you tell me where you found this bit of information: "Domovoi lives his life in reverse, where he is born old and progresses through life becoming younger, reaching his demise as a newborn." I have not be able to find that in any of the sources I have looked at.

Hi Ronesa, That particular

Hi Ronesa, That particular bit is found in one of the titles in provided in Bibliography. Новая Абевега русских суеверий. Иллюстрированный словарь. М.Власова.

Hi I'm interested in knowing

Hi I'm interested in knowing More of how to get rid of a bacoo, what exactly is placed in the bottle??? I viewed a couple sites that also mention the bottle, but not its content. Do you have any idea!!!