Belarusian Mythology

Zlydzens

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Tradition: Belarusian Mythology, Ukrainian Mythology
Alternative Names: Злыдні (Belarusian), Злидні (Ukrainian)
Category: Goblin

The Myth

The Zlydzens are small, hunchbacked and troublesome creatures in Belarusian and Ukrainian mythology, associated with gremlins and misfortune. They are often said to live beneath the masonry stove in a house, hiding in their shelter until the inhabitants leave. They are described as nasty little beings resembling a mixture of cats and dogs, sometimes wearing oversized boots and hats with earflaps. Despite their small size, they bring disorder and damage wherever they go.

Zlydzens are notorious for their destructive mischief. When the owner of a house is away, they emerge from hiding and create chaos, damaging household utensils, spilling milk from pitchers, and sending pans flying around the room. Their activities can be so disruptive that their cries are heard throughout the village. They rarely act alone, preferring to cause trouble in groups because they are considered too cowardly to carry out their mischief individually.

In Belarusian folklore, Zlydzens are sometimes attracted to the homes of people who seek to become rich quickly or whose greed makes them vulnerable to misfortune. Their presence brings damage and disorder rather than prosperity, making them fitting symbols of the troubles that accompany greed. Constantly eager to ruin things and disturb domestic life, these creatures turn the household into a scene of confusion whenever they have the opportunity.

Sources

“Zlydzens.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zlydzens

Plachka

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Tradition: Belarusian Mythology
Alternative Names: Plachka
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Plachka is a ghostly female figure from Belarusian folklore, particularly associated with the northern and northwestern regions of the country. She appears as an extraordinarily beautiful woman dressed in white, with a black headdress and a black kerchief draped over her shoulders. Her clothing is as white as snow, making the dark garments around her head and shoulders especially striking. Although she appears human, her presence is supernatural, and her beauty conceals a sorrowful and unsettling nature.

Plachka is known for her constant tears and mournful voice. Her face, tanned by the sun and wind, is described as beautiful and expressive, yet her eyes are always filled with emotion, and tears are perpetually falling from them. She most often appears in houses where no one lives anymore, in empty churches, and among ruins. She may also be seen beneath trees or in the middle of a field. When she sits on a stone, laments, or approaches people, she speaks in a plaintive voice and bursts into tears.

Those who encounter Plachka may hear her warn them not to trust the secret of their hearts to anyone. Her sorrowful appearance and mysterious words make her a haunting figure associated with abandoned places, loneliness, grief, and the dangers of revealing one’s innermost thoughts.

Sources

“Plachka.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). https://www.bestiary.us/plachka

Lizun

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Tradition: Belarusian Mythology
Alternative Names: Lickun, Slime
Category: Frog

The Myth

Lizun is a frightening supernatural creature said to live in wells and gardens in the northeastern Vitebsk region of Belarus and the neighbouring areas of Russia’s Pskov region. It is described as a long-tongued, slime-covered being that lurks in dark wells, waiting for unsuspecting children. Some accounts describe it as a pale, slippery mass resembling a finger, while others imagine a terrifying creature with an enormous tongue. Its tongue is said to be capable of licking children until they bleed, leaving them helpless and terrified.

Lizun is especially associated with warnings used to frighten naughty children and keep them away from dangerous wells and water sources. Adults would threaten that the creature was waiting in the well and would drag children into the water if they approached too closely. In some stories, Lizun sits beside a well with a tongue resembling a grater, ready to seize anyone who comes within reach. Other versions describe it simply as a slime that waits in hidden places, threatening to lick anyone who ventures too near.

The creature’s long, deadly tongue is central to its terrifying reputation. Children were warned that once Lizun had licked them until their skin bled, no doctor could cure them. These frightening tales made the creature an effective guardian of forbidden places, ensuring that children stayed away from wells, gardens, and other locations where they might get into danger.

Sources

“Лизун (Lizun).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). https://www.bestiary.us/lizun

Zhabalaka

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Tradition: Belarusian Mythology
Alternative Names: Zhabataka, Koštalačen’
Category: Frog

The Myth

Zhabalaka is a shapeshifting being in Belarusian mythology that can take the form of a toad or frog. Despite its amphibian appearance, it is a werewolf-like creature capable of changing its shape. It belongs to a group of supernatural beings that may also appear as cats, blurring the boundary between animal and human forms.

Zhabalaka is associated with the Frog Princess of Slavic fairy tales. In these stories, a princess or other enchanted figure may be trapped in the form of a frog until a spell is broken. The frog’s skin acts as a magical covering, concealing the beautiful woman beneath it. Burning the skin can release her from the enchantment, although doing so may have unexpected consequences for the transformation.

In one tale, the hero Koschei encounters an enormous toad with bulging, heavily made-up eyes. The toad offers to carry him wherever he wishes, promising to help him escape his troubles. Koschei reluctantly accepts, preferring the strange creature to the other dangerous beings lurking nearby. The encounter presents Zhabalaka as an uncanny shapeshifter whose grotesque animal form conceals a supernatural nature.

Sources

“Zhabalaka.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). https://www.bestiary.us/Zhabalaka

Lozniki

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Tradition: Belarusian Mythology
Alternative Names: Willow-Eaters, Willow-Growers
Category: Forest Dweller

The Myth

The Lozniki are small, mischievous evil spirits that live among vine bushes and willow thickets near bodies of water. They are associated with both the surface and underwater world, though they are primarily known for inhabiting dense bushes of intertwined willows. Their appearance is sometimes described as that of little devils, while other accounts portray them as ghostly, charming beings. They are closely connected with the growth and destruction of vegetation, particularly vines and willows, whose fate is intertwined with their own existence.

The Lozniki delight in causing trouble for people who venture into their territory. They may lead travellers into dangerous marshes, where the dense vegetation and treacherous ground can cause them to become trapped. The spirits sometimes enlist the help of other supernatural beings, including water spirits, swamp spirits, and the Bugnik, to drown their victims. They treat these encounters as a cruel game rather than an act of deliberate revenge, tormenting people for their own amusement. Their victims may find themselves surrounded by reeds, calamus, and tangled vines, unable to escape the watery wilderness.

Despite their malicious nature, the Lozniki are also vulnerable to the destruction of the vegetation they inhabit. Their existence is tied to the growth of the vine bushes and willows, and when these plants are destroyed, the spirits may perish along with them. In some traditions, the Lozniki are associated with the Lozovik, another spirit connected with vine growth, and are sometimes said to live beside it. Their fate remains bound to the thickets they haunt, making them guardians of a dangerous natural world in which seemingly harmless vegetation conceals mischievous and deadly supernatural beings.

Sources

“Лозники (Lozniki).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/lozniki

Kaduk

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Tradition: Belarusian Mythology, Polish Mythology
Alternative Names: Kaduk, Kaduk Spirit
Category: Forest dweller

The Myth

Kaduk is an ancient and terrifying spirit associated with sickness, misfortune, and seizures. It is neither fully human nor beast, but resembles a monstrous creature with a huge, shaggy head, a wide throat, and long, powerful limbs. Its enormous mouth is filled with large teeth and a long, forked tongue, while its hands end in broad, curved claws. Its body is covered in thick, dark fur, and its eyes glow ominously in the darkness. Kaduk is said to dwell in the deepest forests and in lonely swamps, where its presence brings fear and danger to those who wander into its territory.

Kaduk is considered one of the oldest and most powerful evil spirits. It can cause people to lose their way, wander aimlessly, and become trapped in swamps or dense woodland. Those who fall under its influence may experience confusion, madness, or sudden fits. The spirit is particularly associated with seizures and other afflictions that seem to strike without warning. In some accounts, Kaduk is said to ride upon a person during the night, bringing illness and misfortune until it finally departs. Its presence may be difficult to distinguish from other supernatural forces, as it often hides in the darkness or disguises itself among the natural surroundings.

Although Kaduk is feared for its malevolent power, it is also described as a spirit that punishes wrongdoing. It may target those who behave dishonestly or harm others, while sparing people who show kindness and respect. Some traditions claim that Kaduk is especially dangerous to children, whom it may frighten or torment. Its name is often invoked in curses and expressions of misfortune, and the spirit is blamed when sickness or sudden calamity strikes. Kaduk remains a dreaded presence in the forests and swamps, embodying the mysterious dangers that can overwhelm people who lose their way or fall victim to supernatural mischief.

Sources

“Kaduk.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/kaduk

Leshy

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Tradition: Russian Mythology, Polish Mythology, Ukranian Mythology, Croatian Mythology, Belarusian Mythology, Serbian Mythology
Alternative Names: Lesovik, Lesovoy, Lesnik, Leshak, Lesun, Borovoy, Gayevoy
Category: Forest Dweller

The Myth

Leshy is a powerful guardian of the forest and hunting, a supernatural being whose appearance reflects the wild woodland he rules. He often takes the form of a man with long, tangled hair in shades of grey, green, or red, a thick beard, and skin resembling tree bark. His hair may look like branches, while his beard may be covered in lichen. He can also appear as a towering giant, a tiny figure no larger than a blade of grass, or an ordinary man. Some tales describe him with green eyes, blue skin, one eye, a long face, or a leg turned backwards. He may wear a wide-brimmed hat, a fur coat, a rough caftan, or enormous bast shoes, although he sometimes appears naked or takes the shape of a tree, stump, bush, mushroom, or other part of the forest.

Leshy can change his size and disguise himself as almost anyone, including a traveller’s friend, a family member, or even someone who has died. He can also transform into animals such as bears, wolves, owls, crows, horses, black cats, and goats. Sometimes he appears as a horned, goat-legged creature covered in black fur. He may travel as a whirlwind or manifest through storms, rain, fog, and powerful winds. His presence is often announced by strange sounds echoing through the trees: whistling, laughter, clapping, bellowing, singing, or the cries of animals. He can imitate familiar voices and create false sounds to confuse those who enter his domain.

Leshy delights in misleading travellers, making them lose their way in forests they know well. He may lead people in circles, conceal paths, or disguise himself as someone they trust. He can also frighten those who disturb the woodland, striking people with twigs, causing trees to split, and unleashing powerful winds. His attitude towards humans depends on how they behave towards the forest and its creatures. Although he can be dangerous and temperamental, he also protects the woodland and its animals. In some tales, he carries away children who have been mistreated by their families, taking them to the mysterious realm of forest-dwelling beings. Leshy is sometimes said to have a wife and children of his own, living hidden among the trees. He embodies the forest’s untamed power, capable of protecting its inhabitants, punishing intruders, and making anyone who enters his domain feel lost in a world beyond human control.

Sources

“Leshy.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leshy

Hajouki

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Tradition: Belarusian Mythology
Alternative Names: Hajouki, Hajowki
Category: Forest dweller

The Myth

Hajouki are merry and playful woodland spirits who appear as young, beautiful girls. They are the granddaughters of Hajun and live among the trees, where they delight in nature, animals, and the beauty of the forest. They wear white garments that resemble snow in winter, and their skin and features are so delicate that they seem almost unreal. Their beauty is supernatural: anyone who sees them may find that ordinary young girls suddenly appear more beautiful by comparison.

The Hajouki love all living things and are especially fond of birds. They sometimes help people who care for nature, guiding them towards medicinal herbs and other useful plants. However, they are shy and elusive, and it is nearly impossible to catch one. If someone attempts to seize a Hajouka, she can disappear before the person reaches her. They also enjoy playing tricks on people who wander through the woods, particularly those who try to capture them.

The spirits are fond of festivities and may visit young people’s gatherings, where they watch the dancing and admire the colourful clothing and decorations. Sometimes they join in the merriment, dancing and enjoying themselves alongside humans. They are also known to appear when people build bonfires or collect healing herbs in the forest. If someone wishes to attract a Hajouka, they may try offering her a beautiful flower, but the spirit must be approached gently, for she will vanish if she feels threatened.

Sources

“Pfifar.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Österreich (Vorarlberg, Dornbirn). Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/oesterreich/vorarlberg/dornbirn/pfifar.htm

Wiła

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Tradition: Ukrainian Mythology, Russian Mythology, Belarusian Mythology
Alternative Names: Samowiła, Samodiva, Vila, Wila
Category: Fairy

The Myth

The Wiły were beautiful supernatural spirits associated with the wild places of the natural world. They were believed to originate from the souls of young women who died, and could inhabit forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, and even clouds. Forest Wiły were called samowily, while others were associated with mountains, waters, or clouds. They could appear as beautiful winged girls with pale, almost transparent bodies, usually naked or lightly clothed, but were also able to take the forms of horses, swans, falcons, and wolves. They could transform themselves into whirlwinds and were sometimes associated with serpent-like forms. In groups, they moved through the wilderness and could even ride upon clouds or move them simply by fixing their gaze upon them.

The Wiły were capricious toward humans and could be either helpful or dangerous. They might assist young men in finding wives, warn people of approaching hailstorms, help farmers in need, or reveal knowledge of the future. Their favor could therefore bring protection and prosperity, but their anger was feared. When offended, they could unleash hail, powerful winds, or drought upon fields, destroying crops and bringing hardship to entire communities. They were especially dangerous to people who encountered them directly, as they could dance with men until they died, blind them, drive them mad, or fill them with overwhelming and impossible desires.

In Western Slavic tradition the Wiła could eventually become associated with a more sinister kind of supernatural being, particularly one that brought madness to humans. The old meaning of the word itself became connected with madness, reflecting the belief that encountering these spirits could drive a person out of his senses. Their nature therefore stood between the beautiful and the terrifying: they were alluring spirits of forests, mountains, waters, and storms who could aid mortals when treated well, but whose supernatural beauty concealed a dangerous and unpredictable power.

Sources

“Wiła.” Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia (Polish Wikipedia). Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 5, 2026.
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi%C5%82a

Ostrovets Tsmok

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Tradition: Belarusian Mythology, Lithuanian Mythology
Alternative Names: Ostrovets Tsmok, Tsmok
Category: Dragon, Cow

The Myth

The Ostrovets Tsmok has the body of a snake and the head of a cow. It is a strong and frightening creature, with a large body and horns resembling those of a cow. The Tsmok lives in forests and underground burrows, and is associated with hidden places, rivers, caves, and buried treasures.

The most famous Ostrovets Tsmok comes from the village of Voleikiški in the Ostrovets district. It was said to live in ancient times in a remote forest near the village. One legend says that it was a very kind creature, despite its frightening appearance. It helped people who were poor, and it was said to have guarded treasure hidden underground.

Another tradition says that the Tsmok was a dangerous creature. It lived in a forest or underground and would sometimes emerge from its burrow. People were warned not to approach it. Some stories describe a red snake living beneath the ground, with one such creature inhabiting each forest.

One local story tells of children who were forbidden to swim in the Viliya because a cow-headed creature lived there. The Tsmok was said to emerge from the water and suck the blood of swimmers.

Other stories connect the Tsmok with cattle. In one tale, a child was herding cows when he suddenly heard a sharp mooing sound. He followed the sound and discovered that one of the cows had a strange bite on its lip. No one could explain what had bitten it.

The Tsmok was also associated with hidden treasure. One legend says that gold was concealed beneath a pile of stones in the forest. The treasure was guarded by a Tsmok, which frightened away anyone who attempted to retrieve it. People said that whoever was brave enough to defeat the Tsmok could take the treasure.

The creature was particularly associated with underground places. Stories describe Tsmoks living in burrows and caves, sometimes hiding beneath hills or near rivers. One tradition even says that Tsmoks could construct stone barriers in rivers, marking dangerous shallows and places where the water was difficult to cross.

The Ostrovets Tsmok was therefore connected with both the natural landscape and the hidden world beneath it: forests, rivers, underground passages, buried treasure, cattle, and dangerous places.

Sources

“Ostrovetskii Tsmok.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 19, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/ostrovetskii-tsmok