Tradition: Ukrainian mythology
Alternative Names: Likho, Liho, Lykho, Лихо, One-Eyed Likho
Category: Demon
The Myth
Likho is an embodiment of evil fate and misfortune. It is commonly depicted as a one-eyed, old and skinny woman dressed in black, known as One-Eyed Likho. In other traditions it appears as an evil male forest goblin. In Ukrainian folklore, it can also cling to a person’s neck.
Likho appears in fairy tales as a bringer of misfortune. A person who encounters it may attempt to deceive or escape from it, but their greed or foolishness can lead to disaster. In one tale, a person escapes from Likho while being pursued, but then sees something valuable and grabs it. Their hand becomes stuck to the object, forcing them to cut off their own hand.
In another tale, Likho tricks a person and climbs onto their neck. The person attempts to drown the creature by jumping into a river, but drowns themselves instead, while Likho survives and floats away to pursue other victims.
Likho can also be passed from one person to another, with someone receiving or giving away the creature as though it were a gift.
According to popular superstition, Likho comes to eat people, and stories of it were particularly used to frighten children. Its very nature is associated with bad luck: encountering Likho means becoming caught in misfortune from which escape may come only through cleverness, while greed or poor judgment can make the situation even worse.
Sources
“Likho.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 12, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Likho