Tradition: Belarusian mythology
Alternative Names: Volosen, Volosenya, Valasen, Valasenytsa
Category: Demon

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The Myth

Volosen is a supernatural being in Belarusian mythology that can appear in different forms. As a skin demon, it is associated with a purulent abscess that appears on the skin, most often on a finger. The Volosen is imagined as something unclean and otherworldly, associated with strange or misplaced hair.

The hair connected with Volosen may be hair that has remained in a river for three years, hair from a tangled or misplaced bundle, or simply a strand of hair carried away by a bird for its nest. Such supernatural hair was considered the cause of the skin disease. Lithuanians called this kind of hair “devil’s hair,” while Russians called it “zmeevets.”

A Volosen could be driven away through ritual treatment. One method involved pouring hot water through the ears of corn onto the affected area while reciting a special formula. Twisted hairs were also sought on ears of corn. Another method involved taking a bird’s nest full of hair, boiling it, and washing the affected area with the resulting liquid for three days until sunrise.

Another treatment involved melting wax in an old clay pot, adding lard and butter, mixing everything together, and pouring it into cold water. If the mixture spread quickly, it was applied to the affected area until the hair disappeared.

Volosen could also appear as a household evil spirit. In this form, it was described as a small, upright creature covered in thick, dark, long fur. It had large hands with seven fingers, each ending in a long nail. The Volosen scratched people’s faces and tickled their noses.

It was particularly troublesome to women and girls, whom it grabbed by the chest and hair. It could fall onto them with its shaggy body, ruffle their hair, and frighten children by buzzing in their ears or tickling their heels.

In some Belarusian folklore, Volosenya is therefore both a skin disease and a household spirit, ranging from something resembling an abscess on a person’s finger to a small hairy creature that torments people in their homes.

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Sources

“Волосень (Volosen).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 9, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/volosen

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Tradition: Belarusian Mythology
Alternative names: Lantuch, Lantukh, Lantuchakh
Category: Demon

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The Myth

Lantukhi are small, mischievous spirits in the folklore of Eastern European Jews. They are generally harmless but enjoy causing disorder and playing tricks on people. They are sometimes described as brownie-like beings and may leave footprints resembling those of a huge bird.

Lantukhi can also interfere with travelers, taking on the role of a troublesome goblin or water spirit. They may try to push travelers from bridges or confuse them in forests, laughing loudly when their tricks succeed.

In Jewish folklore from Belarus, the Lantukhi are associated with petty mischief and hooliganism rather than serious evil. Stories about them were especially popular among the Jews of Belarus.

One tale tells of a learned Talmudist who remained alone in a synagogue at night, reading the Gemara. Since he was forbidden to sleep, he relied on tobacco to stay awake, but he had none. Suddenly, a huge red tongue emerged from the women’s gallery and began moving about, as if offering him something to smell. The man took the tobacco, and the strange apparition immediately disappeared. The spirit was identified as a Lantuch, who had appeared to help the scholar with his work.

Another tradition describes a Lantuch as a playful demon possessing a very long tongue. It could frighten or tease people by pushing its tongue through a window. This form is closely related to the Belarusian character Lick, another frightening being whose unusually long tongue was said to lick disobedient children until they bled.

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Sources

“Lantukhi.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed August 30, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/Lantukhi

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Tradition: Belarusian Mythology
Alternative names: Zlydnya
Category: Demon

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The Myth

Zlydnya is a malevolent supernatural being appearing as an invisible woman without a tongue, eyes, or ears. She was once a snake, which was transformed into Zlydnya after a violent encounter with Lucifer.

The snake wrapped itself around its neck in a swamp and began to bite. During the struggle, Lucifer pulled the snake out and struck it with a saber. The snake then became Zlydnya.

Zlydnya has a particular love of soul-damning substances and keeps various abominations in a pot. She distributes these abominations among people, bringing them harm.

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Sources

“Zlydnya.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed August 30, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/Zlydnya

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