Tradition: Serbian Mythology
Alternative Names: Kuga, Kuma, Teta
Category: House dweller
The Myth
Čuma is the personification of plague in Serbian mythology, imagined as an old woman dressed in white, although she is occasionally described as young. Her appearance gives human form to a deadly disease, transforming an invisible threat into a supernatural figure capable of travelling between communities and bringing illness to their inhabitants.
Čumas were believed to live in a distant land from which they set out to infect people. Their arrival threatened entire households and communities, making the spirit a figure of fear during outbreaks of plague. Because people avoided mentioning Čuma by her name, they used euphemisms such as kuma, meaning godmother, and teta, meaning aunt. These alternative names allowed people to refer to the dangerous being without directly invoking her name.
Despite her destructive role, Čuma was believed to follow particular preferences. She hated dirtiness and was especially eager to infect unclean houses. When plague appeared nearby, people therefore believed that every household and its inhabitants had to be thoroughly cleaned. This custom had a practical benefit, as improved cleanliness could help reduce the spread of disease.
People could also make offerings to Čuma in an attempt to appease her. These offerings included food, clean water, basil, and a comb. Such gifts reflected the belief that the plague spirit could be approached through acts of respect and ritual care, even though her arrival brought potentially devastating consequences.
Čuma represents the personification of a feared epidemic in Serbian traditional belief. Her white clothing and human appearance gave plague a recognizable supernatural identity, while the customs surrounding her reveal attempts to understand and manage the threat of disease. The emphasis on cleanliness also demonstrates how folklore could encourage practices that had practical value, even when those practices were explained through beliefs about supernatural beings.
Sources
“Čuma.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 18, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%8Cuma