Tradition: Romani Mythology, Russian Mythology
Alternative Names: Vošako manuš, Vošesko manuš, Vošetko, Vošetko
Category: Forest dweller
The Myth
Veshitko is a forest spirit who appears as a short, grey-haired old man with a long beard and extraordinary strength. He wears simple clothing and has a playful, mischievous nature. Despite his small stature, he can grow until he towers above the tallest trees. He is closely associated with the forest, where he wanders among the trees and encounters travellers, woodcutters, and people who enter his domain.
The Veshitko is known for his fondness for teasing people, provoking arguments, and challenging others to tests of strength. He may appear beside a road or in the woods, growing taller and taller until his head rises above the treetops. He enjoys frightening those who mock him or attempt to challenge his power. Although he can be playful, his strength makes him dangerous, and those who disrespect him may find themselves helpless before him.
The forest spirit can also interfere with travellers by leading them into thickets, where he may torment or even kill them. Among the Romani, stories of Veshitko serve as warnings about the dangers of the forest and the consequences of treating its inhabitants with contempt. He is also known as the wood goblin, and some traditions associate him with horse thieves, Gypsy women, and the fate of travellers who disappear in the woods. In other tales, he is a protector of the forest, punishing those who steal horses or mistreat its inhabitants.
Sources
“Pfifar.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Österreich (Vorarlberg, Dornbirn). Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/oesterreich/vorarlberg/dornbirn/pfifar.htm