Kikimora

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Kikimora (also known as Shishimora or Šiši) is a female house spirit in Slavic mythology, sometimes said to be married to the Domovoi.

In the Slovak language, the word "šiši" is sometimes also used as a slang term for someone who is considered a little bit crazy. Image:Kikimora.jpg

[edit] Nature

[edit] Description

In some tales Kikimora is said to have a head as small as a thimble and a body as thin as straw. In other tales, she is an average woman with her hair down (Slavic women typically kept their heads covered). She may also be described as a small humpbacked woman in dirty dress.

[edit] Behavior

Kikimora is said to look after the chickens and the housework if the home is well kept. If not, she will tickle, whistle, and whine at the children at night. She also comes out at night to spin. It is said that a person who sees Kikimora spinning will soon die. To appease an angry Kikimora, one should wash all the pots and pans in a fern tea.

She usually lives behind the stove or in the cellar of the house where she haunts. Kikimora can also be found in a swamp or forest.

The Kikimora is the subject of a fairy tale for orchestra by Anatoly Lyadov.

Slavic mythology

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