Tradition: Russian Mythology
Alternative Names: Bukusetka
Category: House dweller
The Myth
Bukaritsa is a mysterious creature in Russian folklore that lives underground within a house. It is also known as a frightening figure used by adults to scare children. Although its exact appearance is not described in the available account, its unusual dwelling place distinguishes it as a supernatural inhabitant of the home.
Bukaritsa is associated with the idea of a hidden creature living almost directly beneath people’s feet. A saying recorded in Tobolsk province warns that when someone begins talking about a neighbour, the neighbour may tell them about another beetle who lives almost in the same underground space. This expression evokes the strange presence of unseen beings dwelling beneath ordinary domestic life.
The creature is described as similar to the susedka, a Russian household spirit, as well as to the bogeyman. In Transbaikalia, a comparable being is known as Bukusetka. These similarities place Bukaritsa among the supernatural figures associated with the home and with frightening children, although the available account provides little further detail about its behaviour or powers.
Sources
“Bukarica.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). https://www.bestiary.us/bukarica