If you watch South Park, you may feel a deja vu as you read the part with the nickname, as Cartman from South Park has assigned this exact nickname to people with red hair who can walk in the sunlight without being scared of its effects on them. But what about the personality and hunting methods? But that would need an article of its own. Other Indo-European scholars who collected Albanian folklore material were German linguists Gustav Weigand and August Leskien. Fatit. [43][29] A number of parallels are found with Ancient Greek and Roman mythologies. [11], From Albanian literature translated by Robert Elsie -. In Lubias case, I *think* that she is meant to protect children from predatory people. But even if you do come across an evil dhampir, there is a bright side legends tell us that its possible to identify dhampirs as such. Be it for their food, or to murder them. [59] Since its founding in 1912, Albania has been a secular state, becoming atheist during the Communist regime, and returning secular after the fall of the regime. [10] A widespread folk symbol is the serpent, a totem of the Albanians associated with earth, water, sun, hearth and ancestor cults, as well as destiny, good fortune and fertility. Clotho spun the thread of life determining the destiny of each person, Lachesis measured the thread determining how long ones life would last, and Atropos cut the thread signifying the end of ones life. Perhaps thats the best way to undo her damage? Some people find it funny, others are creeped out by it. However, others have viewed her differently. [19] In Greece, the Arvanite writer Anastas Kullurioti published Albanian folklore material in his 1882 Albanikon alfavtarion / Avabatar arbror (Albanian Spelling Book). He swore that he would marry the sister who waited for him to return. By the way, if you happen to be interested in vampire lore around the world, you may enjoy a book called The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead, written by J. Gordon Melton. [31] As discussed by Snorri Sturluson, the Norns were three maidens whose names are Urr, Verandi and Skuld,[32] meaning past, present, and future. Whenever vrykolakas saw people going to a church, it would loudly and openly mock the people of faith and on some occasions even throw rocks at them to emphasize his disapproval. But, one by one, they all plummeted to the ground and died. his belt. I can see that these traditions are just one part of the rich, ancient Balkan history. [28] As revealed in Albanian epic poetry, the Zana observe Albanian battles, offering their assistance and protection where needed. So unlike sampiro and lugat, vrykolakas doesnt bother to spare its victims. [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. Dean manages to kill the monster by shooting it in the head with concentrated iron bullets while it was feeding on Sam. Basically scaring them to listen to rules, or else the terrible boogeyman will show up. On a final note about a lugat, I just wanted to add that basically there is no positive way to see the creature. Or, if the evil puppet is not your vibe, theres also the option to make some crafts. 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. mythological creatures, parallels of which are found in the Balkans (Nopa, 1913a, 1913b; Tirta 2003, 2004 . [11] As the Ora provided protection, their appearance as a serpent could also foretell unfortunate events. Lets start by dissecting the name shtriga and the meaning behind it! [20], The Albanian National Awakening (Rilindja) gave rise to collections of folklore material in Albania in the second half of the 19th century. while sleeping" are very widespread among the Balkan peoples. And did I mention that this strategy can only be implemented on Easter Sunday? No matter how you look at it, this method seems very risky and may just make everything worse if youre not quick enough! The three fates of Greek Mythology, the Moirai, are represented similarly to the Ora as three goddesses who determine human destiny. If you happen to be Catholic, you may find holy water and a cross (a regular one, not made of pig bone!) Dhampirs are a widely-spread subject in Balkan folklore, which includes Albania, todays subject. Am I the only one wondering how those heads are placed on the body? So worst-case scenario, you were chosen by sampiro. Most believe he is visible only at night, especially during thetwelve days of Christmasand in the earlyspring. [15], Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (Mujos Oras), translated by Robert Elsie -, Oh oras, to whom do you render assistance?. Hold on, this is going to be *very* different. The villagers of the mountain regions pass stories down to their children about how natural features of the land were created. Lets go! Folklore of Northern Albania emphasizes that a shtriga is not born to be a witch. Nothing about vrykolakas makes much sense to me and it sounds like a classic case of the broken telephone. The hard part is getting her to actually do it. Category:Albanian legendary creatures Help Pages in category "Albanian legendary creatures" The following 16 pages are in this category, out of 16 total. According to popular belief, they returned to the area to search for their lost limbs. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. [2], Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (Mujos Oras), translated by Robert Elsie [6], As Slavic Warrior Paji Harambashi searches for Mujo within the mountain ranges, he encounters three snow-white Oras Mujos protectors. Part 2 of creepy urban legends from Albania will be out soon. Thanks Jenny. [24] Throughout Albania people would wear many types of charms to ward off the evil oras and devils. The Albanian word shtrig (definite form being shtriga) derives from the Latin strga, "evil spirit, witch",[2] related to Italian: strega, Romanian: strig and Polish: strzyga. Yes, these stories are found all across the Balkans. One of the early Albanian collectors of Albanian folklore from Albania proper was Zef Jubani. I dont think there has been a building constructed without some sort of tale behind it! Any kind of partnerships and even a simple interaction could turn Albanians into vampires. Unlike sampiro, however, lugat leaves its victims to deal with very serious consequences. I love when history is THIS interesting! The Zana is a mythological figure within Northern Albanian Gheg folk beliefs and oral epics. [3] Albanian folklore evolved over the centuries in a relatively isolated tribal culture and society. Note that the parent vampire is not a dhampir, but a 100% vampire. Thanks for sticking to the end, I hope you enjoyed the Albanian creepy legends and Albanian mythology creatures so far! Our favourite is a tale of two love struck shepherds Vita and Lyulin. Follow Dark Scope on social media for the updates! Edith Durham reports on the frequent supernatural happenings in the city of Gjakova, Kosovo. 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? Melton is a bright and educated man and I genuinely found his book a very interesting read. 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. This is a method that, according to Albanian urban legends, can protect you from the evil eye of shtriga. This is the sad tale of Meterul Manole. 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. Yes, in popular creativity, it mostly symbolizes good fortune and the coming of a time of prosperity. 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. Albanian Mythology Creatures: Vampires and Dhampirs Dhampirs are a widely-spread subject in Balkan folklore, which includes Albania, today's subject. Now, Im not sure *which* God this is referring to. He recorded thirty-five Albanian folk tales from Albania and Corfu and published them in the 1895 Albanesische Texte mit Glossar (Albanian Texts with Glossary). De Rada and Camarda were the two main initiators of the Albanian nationalist cultural movement in Italy. Her skills include shape-shifting, predicting the future, andwitchcraft. [1][2] Often depicted as three female deities, the Ora maintain the order of the universe and enforce its laws[3] organising the appearance of humankind.[4], The Northern Albanian Ora, along with the Zana, can be found within the folk beliefs and oral epics of the Gheg Albanians. All the children it attacked return to normal. While vampires are commonly known as blood-thirsty and horny beings, dhampirs, in some stories, arent depicted too differently from humans in terms of behavior. [7] She did not die and re-emerged on a different isle. InEastern Serbia,the Drekavac has been described in the form of a humanoid canine creature that walks on its back legs. They can live either in caves or mountain tops, and are particularly intelligent. This list may not reflect recent changes . However, I wouldnt rule out the possibility of sexual attraction. 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. When exploring the area, it seems there is a story behind almost every building, mountain or village. She accepted, for some reason, but she soon realised that this was not a game. The birthing sow became to be a bad omen due to a prophecy, so the people of the isle chased her until she ran into the waters. [28] Robert Elsie described the Zana as muses of the mountains - as every mountain has its own Zana. It does not store any personal data. In the light of the moon did they seem to be playing., Within Albanian folklore and poetry, the Ora is a protective spirit that every human possesses from birth. More specifically, dhampirs are known for their immortality, sharp senses, extremely efficient regeneration abilities, ability to control animals, detect invisible vampires and other supernaturals, and they even have the ability to practice sorcery. As you now know, this lugat vampire is a tricky one. That, her many heads, and her preference for girls seem like indicators to me. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Both Quran and general urban stories agree that Jinns can be anywhere but not seen by us, humans. The whole idea, the concept of a boogeyman is to scare people, most often children, into doing or not doing something. I could go on for days on what can turn you into a vrykolakas. Jubani's own first collection of folklorethe original Albanian texts of the folk songs published by Hcquardwas lost in the flood that devastated the city of Shkodra on 13 January 1866. Henwen the White by Paige Carpenter. The kucedra or kulshedra is a mythological creature in Albanian mythology that is usually depicted as a large, multi-headed dragon with 7 heads. Some vampires can be committed to one woman and may even have a wife. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Foreign scholars first provided Europe with Albanian folklore in the second half of the 19th century, and thus set the beginning for the scholarly study of Albanian oral tradition. Serbia - Bauk is an animal-like mythical creature in Serbian mythology. But wait, it gets even better! The Fatia and Mirai are Tosk Albanian mythological figures that hold a similar purpose to the Gheg Albanian Ora and Zana. It is considered to be home of thegods and Baba Tomorri, or Father Tomorr, is the human representation of the Mount. [56] In a text compiled around the beginning of the 11th century in the Old Bulgarian language, the Albanians are mentioned for the first time with their old ethnonym Arbanasi as half-believers, a term which for Eastern Orthodox Christian Bulgarians meant Catholic Christian. While Jin is a general reference to concealment, al-janin refers specifically to a fetus that is concealed in its mother's womb. So we have a little bit of background now, but every good storyteller knows that a story needs a face. [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. [46], Among the Illyrians of early Albania the Sun was a widespread symbol. Kron-i/krua/kroi: living water, flowing water. The earliest church lexicon is mainly of Late Latin or Ecclesiastical Latin origin and, to a large extent, of native origin, which leads to the conclusion that the Christianisation of the Albanians occurred under the Latin-based liturgy and ecclesiastical order of the Holy See. A large abandoned ancient city remains within the cavern, with a bazar stocked with all of the finest and best fruit, flesh, fish, and fair raiment. Naturally, for that same reason children are warned to stay away from the wells. [4], In Catholic legend, it is said that shtriga can be destroyed using holy water with a cross in it,[5] and in Islamic myth it is said that shtriga can be sent away or killed by reciting verses from the Qur'an, specifically Ayatul Kursi 255 sura Al-Baqara, and spitting water on the shtriga. As soon as the creature chooses a food source in the foggy streets, it will immediately proceed to follow this person. List of legends, myths, ballads, and characters Some of the best known legends, concepts, ballads, songs and/or characters of Albanian mythology are: Besa Bolla Bajloz or Katallan ( giant) Constantin and Doruntine Dhampir Djall ( devil) Drangue Gjergj Elez Alia Kacamisri (similar to Tom Thumb) Karkanxhol ( werewolf) Keshete ( naiad) Kukudhi And how does it crush them by sitting on them? [6], In an Albanian tale published by Post Wheeler with the title The Girl who took a Snake for a Husband, the Shtriga appears as "the grandmother of all witches" that lives in the Underworld, a place of a red sun, a green sky and black trees.[7]. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Apparently, parents tell their loud children that Buba will get them if they dont quiet down. She further recorded the story that after draining blood from a victim, the shtriga would generally go off into the woods and regurgitate it. Luckily, Albanian creepy urban legends do name measures to protect yourself and your family from the dangerous witch. Often appearing on roads and meadows or next to rivers and creeks, they began as ambiguous, black mists, silhouettes and whirlwinds. So now you might be wondering what exactly is so creepy about dhampirs. Ooooh spooky! It keeps its eyes closed . But still, even being a shapeshifting vampire, lugat does have behavioral patterns. Can you see that Ora, standing at my bedside? Youll need to make a cross from pig bone and then make sure its placed at the entrance of a church. Neighbours of Albania Montenegro Kosovo North Macedonia Greece Questions & Answers Who is the national founder of Albania? All we have is that Buba is some kind of a serpentine monster. Zmeyare beings with vaguely human features. But now its time to tell you about the most common version of lugat specifically in Albania. Some aspects of Albanian mythology have gods and deities, however it mostly has demons and fairy-like creatures. The deities are generally not persons, but animistic personifications of nature. Kee-wakw: Cannibalistic Giant half-human and half-animal (Abenaki Mythology) 46. 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). [58], Islam was first introduced to Albania in the 15th century after the Ottoman conquest of the area. Albania is full of myths and legends about its beautiful landscape. There was no one to wall it up after she died. Zmey are beings with vaguely human features. And its not afraid to show it. The reason why I wouldnt exclude her from the vampire category is that a shtriga is depicted as a blood-sucking witch in Albanian folklore. Yeah, the Balkans are full of these tales! It facilitated the conversion process to the new Muslims and became the official order of the Janissaries. I dont know, I just think that its wrong to suppress emotions like that. The next boogeyman on the list is called Buba and we know even less about this one. In addition to that, for an unknown reason, sampiro also wears high heels and is therefore swaying as it walks. 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. Manole had to keep his promise and the beautiful monastery was built. It starts as an illness and it begins to progress, eventually ending with death. Kind of like a drunk sexual predator. Yes, you read that right. Jerko, from Herceg Novi, could not choose between the sisters and, instead, he set off on a long sea voyage which he hoped would make the decision easier. female eagles and the winds are his servants. See more ideas about mythology, fantasy, fantasy art. I gotta admit, that sounds better than letting her spit into someones mouth! We have chosen some of the best ones from each country to create a collection of traditional tales and bloodcurdling creatures. E Bukura e Dheut. So you already know that a shtriga typically targets infants for some weird reason. Afraid of Zukus strength, his mother offers to blind her son. Both the Ora and Vitore are widely represented as a serpent with golden horns who brings gold.[9] Albanian stories describe beliefs associated with the protective serpent Oras. [12], Albanian myths and legends are organized around the dichotomy of good and evil,[13] the most famous representation of which is the legendary battle between drangue and kulshedra,[14] a conflict that symbolises the cyclic return in the watery and chthonian world of death, accomplishing the cosmic renewal of rebirth. The urban stories claim that like any other vampire, it feeds off peoples blood. [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. [22] At midnight, Zuku slays Slavic warrior Baloz Sedlija, and burns his mother to her death. The Vitore is a household deity known as the woman who spins[4] spinning out the destiny of each person when they are born. Slavic warrior Paji Harambashis encounters three white oras, mystical creatures in the mountains who revel and frolic as he searches for Mujo. They also have the tail of a snake, golden wings and incredible physical strength. Baba is woken by his four eagles and makes sure Earthly Beauty is taken to safety before setting off to battle Shpirag. [8] Fire worship is associated with the cult of the Sun, the cult of the hearth and the cult of fertility in agriculture and animal husbandry. It has to be one with wings, typically either a fly, a bee, or a moth. 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. The Albanians of the Balkan Peninsula associate these creatures with female characters, whose names differ from one district of Albania to . The elements of Albanian mythology are of ancient Paleo-Balkanic origin and almost all of them are pagan. But Im getting ahead of myself. In some regions of Albania, people have used garlic (Albanian: hudhr); to send away the evil eye or they have placed a puppet in a house being built to catch the evil. Most legends claim that dhampirs possess great powers. When assuming the form of a child, the Drekavac predicts someonesdeath, while in its animal form, it predicts cattle disease. In this article youll discover other types of boogeymen from the Albanian folklore and what theyre known for. If you dont trust this method or dont enjoy playing with fire, there are many other ways to prevent the worst from happening. Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (Halili Avenges Mujo), translated by Robert Elsie . I havent heard of any of these, but they are so cool! I cant say thats its surprising to see shtriga being used in pop culture because it appears not only in Albanian folklore, but in Polish, Romanian, Italian, and many others too. In Albanian mythology, this dragon is called a Bolla. This is so interesting! Their name derives from Fate. Turns out that not only can lugats bite cause mental and spiritual distress, but it can also lead to the victim becoming the predator. [26] Durhams studies within Albania reveal that no man has ventured within the cavern for many years. Giving him back all his might and his power. [28], The elements of Albanian mythology are of Paleo-Balkanic origin and almost all of them are pagan. This person must be loved either by him or by one of his masons. Anyway, whenever I talk about local boogeymen from different countries, I always add a reminder, so here goes. A well of clear water, named after Manole, is believed to mark the spot where Manole himself fell. [27] From 1923 onward, Scottish scholar and anthropologist Margaret Hasluck collected Albanian folklore material when she lived in Albania. Baba Tomorri has inflicted many wounds on the face of Shirag which can still be seen today. Alphabetical entries shed light on blood feuding, figures of Albanian mythology, religious beliefs, communities, and sects, calendar feasts and rituals, and popular superstitions, as well as birth, marriage, and funeral . Traditionally sung in the far north of Albania,[13] Albanian oral literature has preserved many archaic elements, revealing traces of Greco-Roman mythology within, including the mythical Ora. Shefit Koboci Afrdita Armati Bardha Bindusi Bolla Baloz (monster) Constantin and Doruntin [59] In the 16th century the Albanians are firstly mentioned as worshippers of the Sun and the Moon. The two main categories of Albanian mythology are factual stories and transformation tales. Surprisingly, they agreed and decided that the first wife to bring lunch for her husband should be the one to be encased into the walls of the monastery. In Norse mythology, the Helm of Awe (also known as the Helm of Terror) is a magical item worn by the dragon Fafnir, who attributes much of his invincibility to its power. But her care and love for him was stronger than the storm, and she kept walking. In these circumstances, she somehow becomes vulnerable and can be killed when shes shot with iron bullets. As a matter of fact, these stories tell us that dhampirs are just regular members of our societies that also happen to be Albanian mythology creatures. The creature has been described as an undead man that left his grave during the night to haunt people. Is it the Christian God? I think you already know the answer and you can thank Hollywood for that. 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. Its time to meet some of North Macedonias mythical creatures! By some accounts, her form is repulsive. : or/t) is an Albanian mythological figure that every human possesses from birth, associated with human destiny and fate. Zuku, taunted and captured is blinded by his mother. Zanas are depicted as mountain fairies, and similarly to the Ora, live near springs within the highlands of Northern Albania. They catch men to eat and women to fan the flies away. And its not pretty. 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. Travelling anywhere in the Balkan region, you are almost certain to be told one of these folklores or hear about a mythical beast. albanian mythological creatures TikTok : GOSHI (@nitidaddy), user7153001266706(@ulqinarmarine), BaboBitter(@babobitter), GOSHI (@nitidaddy), Imp(@imperium_populorum . Also, why would shtriga go to a church? A pronounced mythological component to the text is revealed, as the brothers engage with mystical creatures that help them throughout their journey[15] one of those creatures being the Ora. I actually remember similar sayings from my childhood too, but even back then it was confusing to me because I couldnt understand what the creature would get out of this.
Wrigley Field Seat View,
Vulcano Asteroid Astrology,
Care Jobs In Tenerife,
Articles A
