Tag Archives: Serbian

Baba Yaga

Informant: The story of Baba Yaga is a rather famous one around the world. My informant said that most people have probably heard of it, which I had as well. Nonetheless my informant told me a small bit about the Baba Yaga story. The story goes of Baba Yaga was an ugly creature that would capture kids who were alone at night, especially ones in the forest and eat them. She would grind them up with a mortar and pastel and then eat them. She also had with her a broom.

Context: my Informant and his sister were told stories from a young age about the Baba Yaga from their father. They would go hiking in various trips around Slavic countries and their father would tell them the story of Baba Yaga when they were camping at night. And then their father would often run off into the woods and hide from my informant to play tricks on him and his sister. My informant remembers fondly of the memories associated with the Baba Yaga.

Analysis: The Baba Yaga story, although my informant said he thinks is Russian in origin and not Serbian like his home country, is one that carries good purpose in his life. It reminds him of his father and the times he and his sister used to spend with him. The Baba Yaga was certainly intended as a story in order to teach kids to be safe at night and to not be alone either.

Karakondula

Informant: The myth of the Karakondula started in the Eastern parts of Serbia. The myth is of a small ugly creature called the Karakondula. The creature would assault and attack men late at night after they came home from the bar. It would primarily seek out men late at night hop on their back and choke them, while also stealing their pocket money. It was a myth because the men from these eastern parts of Serbia were actually really drunk and trying to convince their wives as to why they were home so late. These men were passing out in the roads and coming home late late into the early morning.

Context: I had a short interview with my informant and his sister and they recounted the folklore that they learned from their serbian father. He would tell them these stories. Later in their life the Karakondula became a sort of inside joke with their father.

Analysis: This gave me some more insight not only into my friend’s relationship with his sister and his father but also a bit into the folklore of Serbian culture. The karakondula is a trickster just like many others in folklore all around the world. It was a story completely made up by men to try and trick people so their bad behaviors go unnoticed. In reality these men might actually be the real tricksters here.