Tradition: Russian Mythology
Alternative Names: Polewik, Polewiki
Category: House dweller
The Myth
Polevik is a field spirit in Slavic mythology, described as a deformed creature with differently coloured eyes and grass growing in place of hair. In South Russian folklore, Poleviki are also described as having green hair. They appear either at noon or at sunset, wearing suits that are entirely black or entirely white. Their strange appearance reflects their connection to open fields, where they pose a danger to people who wander or work alone.
Poleviki are known for misleading travellers and causing people to lose their way in the fields. They may also inflict diseases upon those who encounter them. According to local beliefs, they can ride over people with their horses if they discover someone sleeping in a field. Those who fall asleep while working after drinking are particularly vulnerable, as a Polevik might murder them. These beliefs portray the spirit as a dangerous presence that punishes carelessness and leaves people exposed to the hazards of the countryside.
People could appease the Poleviki through a specific offering. Two eggs, a rooster, a toad, and a crow had to be placed in a ditch while no one was watching. The unusual combination of offerings suggests that dealing with these spirits required secretive ritual actions rather than ordinary gestures of hospitality.
Polevik is contrasted with Poludnisa, the female demoness associated with midday. Poludnisa appears as a tall, beautiful girl dressed in white and is known for pulling the hair of peasants working in the midday sun. She also leads young children astray in cornfields. Although their appearances differ, both spirits are associated with the dangers of working or wandering in fields, particularly around the middle of the day.
Polevik represents the threatening side of the agricultural landscape in Slavic folklore. Fields were places of work and sustenance, but they could also become dangerous when people lost their way, neglected their duties, or fell asleep while exposed to the elements. The spirit gave supernatural form to these dangers, warning people to remain alert and careful while working in the countryside.
Sources
“Polevik.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 18, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polevik