Tradition: Polish Mythology
Alternative Names: Bieda
Category: Demon
The Myth
Bieda is an immortal demon who brings poverty, hardship, worries, and misfortune upon people. She appears as a thin, emaciated woman who drains the vital strength from those she afflicts.
Bieda can also enter and become an ordinary object, such as a piece of wood. Once misfortune has taken this form, the best way to get rid of it is to pass the object on to an enemy.
Sources
“Bieda (demon).” Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia (Polish Wikipedia). Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 9, 2026. https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bieda_(demon)