Mythology!

Ubume

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Ubume, Ubugame, Guhuo Bird (姑獲鳥)
Category: Ghost, Bird

The Myth

The Ubume is the restless spirit of a woman who died during childbirth. She appears at night along lonely roads, bridges, and riverbanks, carrying an infant in her arms. Dressed in blood-stained clothing, she weeps and asks passersby to hold her child for a moment while she fixes her hair or prays for salvation.

Anyone who accepts the baby soon discovers that it grows heavier and heavier. In some tales, the child eventually transforms into a stone or a bundle wrapped around a straw hammer. Other stories say that a person who fulfills the Ubume’s request and faithfully carries the child receives extraordinary physical strength as a reward. In Akita Prefecture, this supernatural power was known as Obōjikara.

The Ubume is one of Japan’s oldest ghostly beings and was already known during the time when the Konjaku Monogatari-shū was compiled. During the Edo period, it became closely associated with the Chinese Gu Huo Bird, since both were believed to originate from women who had died while pregnant or giving birth. Because of this connection, the two creatures gradually became confused with one another.

Most depictions portray the Ubume as a sorrowful woman holding a baby while wearing blood-soaked garments. Some illustrations, however, give her bird-like features, with wing-shaped arms wrapped protectively around the child.

Though feared, the Ubume is not considered a malicious spirit. She is remembered as a tragic mother unable to abandon her child, forever wandering the night and seeking someone willing to carry the burden she herself could no longer bear.

Sources

TYZ. (n.d.). Ubume [産女]. In 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑. Retrieved June 20, 2026, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010652594.html

Heathen Maiden

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Tradition / Region: Slovenian Mythology
Alternative names: Ajdovska deklica, Pagan Maiden
Category: Nymph

The Myth

High upon the northern face of Mount Prisojnik in the Julian Alps rests the image of the Heathen Maiden, a giant stone face looking out over the mountains near Kranjska Gora. According to tradition, the face belongs to a mountain nymph who once lived among the peaks.

The nymph possessed the gift of prophecy. One day she foretold that a newborn child would eventually bring about the death of Goldenhorn, the legendary white chamois with golden horns who guarded the treasures of the mountains.

The other mountain nymphs were horrified by her prediction. Angered by what she had revealed, they punished her for speaking of Goldenhorn’s fate.

As punishment, the prophetic maiden was transformed into stone. Her face remained fixed upon the mountain, where it can still be seen gazing over the valleys below.

Thus the Heathen Maiden endures eternally in the cliffs of Mount Prisojnik, a silent reminder of the prophecy that foretold the downfall of Goldenhorn.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Heathen Maiden. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathen_Maiden

Wild Hunt of Gottschee

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Tradition / Region: Slovenian Mythology
Alternative names: Bilde Jochd, Bildai Jogkd
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Wild Hunt of Gottschee is a terrifying phantom procession said to roam the forests and fields during the night. Long before it is seen, people hear its approach: the howling of dogs, the cries of strange animals, and the sound of distant gunfire. Witnesses speak of bears, hares, and foxes fleeing ahead of the hunt, followed by packs of hounds and finally by the ghostly hunters themselves.

The Hunt moves like a whirlwind across the countryside. Those unfortunate enough to stand in its path risk being torn apart or killed. To survive an encounter, people traditionally crossed their hands or lay down inside wagon tracks until the terrible procession had passed.

Stories tell of a man returning home late at night with wine loaded on his horse. His relatives warned him not to travel, but he ignored their advice and set out. Near midnight, villagers later found his horse standing alone, still carrying the wine but missing its tail. Searching the forest, they discovered the man lying dead upon the road, his face blackened and the horse’s severed tail clenched tightly in his hand. It was said that the Wild Hunt had killed him. A cross was later erected at the place where his body was found.

Another tradition explains the nature of the phantom riders. They were once hunters who preferred chasing game to attending Mass and hunted even on Sundays while church services were being held. After death, they were condemned to ride forever through the darkness, accompanied by their hounds and the sounds of the chase.

Crosses were often raised at places where the Wild Hunt was known to pass, and travelers avoided lonely roads at night, fearing the ghostly hunters whose punishment would never end.

Sources

SAGEN.at. (n.d.). Die Wilde Jagd in der Gottschee. In SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/slowenien/wildejagd.html

Kulpa Lindworm

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Tradition / Region: Slovenian Mythology
Alternative names: Lintwurm
Category: Dragon

The Myth

The Kulpa Lindworm was a fearsome dragon that lived in a deep hole in the valley of the Kulpa River. From its lair, the creature brought terror to the surrounding countryside and was blamed for many disasters.

The monstrous serpent preyed upon livestock, devouring sheep and cattle and causing great hardship to the local people. Its hunger grew so terrible that one day it seized a child directly from its cradle and swallowed it.

Unable to endure the creature’s attacks any longer, the people resolved to seek divine protection. They built a church above the entrance to the lindworm’s hole and dedicated it to Saint George, the dragon-slaying saint.

From that time onward, the terrible scourge ceased, and the people of the valley were freed from the fear and destruction caused by the monstrous Lindworm of the Kulpa.

Sources

SAGEN.at. (n.d.). Die Kulpafrau. In SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/slowenien/kulpa.html

Gul-yabani

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Tradition / Region: Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kyrgyz and Tajik folklore
Alternative names: Gul, Ghul, Desert Demon
Category: Demon, Zombie

The Myth

The Gul-yabani is a fearsome spirit of the wild places, known throughout parts of Central Asia and the Turkic world. Its name means “Desert Demon,” and it is regarded as a dangerous being that inhabits lonely steppes, cemeteries, deserts, forests, and remote mountains. Travelers who encounter it after sunset are said to face terror or death.

The creature is usually described as gigantic, standing three to four meters tall and covered in gray or black fur. It possesses an overpowering animal-like stench, backward-facing feet or clawed limbs, and often appears in the form of an enormous shepherd or hairy man. Its arrival is accompanied by shrill whistling in the darkness.

Among Turks and Azerbaijanis, Gul-yabani wanders cemeteries and desolate places at night. It frightens travelers and is especially known for riding horses, tangling their manes before vanishing into the darkness. In some parts of western Azerbaijan it was even identified with harmful water spirits. It was believed that if a Gul-yabani could be captured and pierced with a needle, it would become bound to its captor and perform work for them, although often doing the opposite of what was intended.

The Kyrgyz of the Eastern Pamirs and the Tajiks believed the creature lived in deserts and mountain forests. Although monstrous in appearance, it speaks with a human voice and often challenges strong men to wrestling matches. Only exceptionally powerful individuals are capable of fighting it as an equal.

Stories tell of a man near Tajikabad who encountered a giant shepherd after sunset. The two wrestled throughout the night, neither able to defeat the other. When dawn arrived, the stranger was revealed to be covered in wool. The creature gifted the man a piece of its fur and promised friendship, telling him that burning the hair would summon it. A mullah later explained that the mysterious shepherd had been a Gul-yabani and warned that revealing the encounter could bring death.

The Gul-yabani is said to understand every language, though it communicates through thoughts rather than spoken words. Those who establish contact with it may gain unusual powers, and only extremely pious mullahs are believed capable of seeing the creature clearly.

Hunters seldom encounter Gul-yabani because the monster greatly fears gunfire and can smell gunpowder from many kilometers away. One story tells of a police chief resting beside his car in the mountains when a tremendous force began shaking the vehicle. Looking outside, he saw an enormous hairy being devouring meat from a basin. The creature pressed its giant hands against the rear window of the car before fleeing when the officer fired his pistol. Two massive handprints were said to remain on the glass.

Mysterious, foul-smelling, and immensely powerful, the Gul-yabani is remembered as one of the great monsters of Turkic folklore—a giant hairy demon that roams the lonely wilderness and appears only when night falls.

Sources

Bestiary.us. (n.d.). Gjul-Jabani. In New Bestiary: Encyclopedia of Imaginary Beings. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://www.bestiary.us/gjul-jabani

Çahık

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Tradition / Region: Turkic mythology
Alternative names: Alban, Chahik, Ozor, Körmös, Körmöz, Körmös Spirit
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Çahık is one of the many forms of the Kormos spirits found in Turkic mythology. These beings are wandering souls and supernatural entities associated with the earth, the heavens, and the underworld. Some are protectors, some are servants of darkness, and others exist in a state of endless misery between the two.

Çahıks are often described as the souls of the damned. They are shape-shifters capable of taking different forms, making them difficult to recognize. Their hands are stained with blood, their eyes are dry and lifeless, and their words themselves are deadly. Merely listening to their speech is considered dangerous.

Kormos spirits are ruled by Körmös Khan and are divided into three kinds. Arug Körmös are benevolent spirits under the command of Ülgen, helping righteous people and maintaining balance in the world. Caman Körmös are demonic servants of Erlik who dwell in Tamag, the underworld, where they torment and abduct humans. Between these two are the Kal Körmös, wandering ghosts neither wholly good nor evil, condemned to roam the earth in sorrow and suffering.

A soul may become a Kormos after death. The spirits of ancestors are known as Ozor, while the souls of those who died violently or by suicide are called Alban. Because of this connection with the dead, Kormoses are often linked to ancestral spirits and ghosts.

Çahıks and other Kormos spirits are believed to appear most often at sunrise and sunset. These moments are regarded as dangerous, and people are traditionally warned not to remain outside or awake during these hours. The spirits are said to seize human souls and carry them away.

Although demonic Kormoses serve Erlik in the underworld, they are not necessarily damned forever. A soul transformed into one of these spirits may eventually escape torment and ascend to Uçmag, the heavenly realm, if the good within it proves stronger than its evil.

Among the wandering spirits of Turkic belief, the Çahık is one of the most feared—a shape-shifting soul with bloody hands and deadly words, forever caught between damnation, suffering, and the possibility of redemption.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Kormos. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kormos

Vizunas

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Tradition / Region: Lithuanian Mythology
Alternative names: None commonly recorded
Category: Dragon

The Myth

Vizunas is a fearsome dragon of ancient Lithuanian tradition that dwells beneath the sacred mountain of Anafiolis, also called Anapilis. From its lair beneath the inaccessible peak, the monster waits for the souls of the dead that fail in their ascent to the world above.

After death, every soul is destined to climb the steep and rocky mountain of Anafiolis, where a divine judge resides at the summit. There the deeds of each person are weighed, and rewards or eternal punishments are given according to justice.

The journey upward is difficult. Riches acquired during life become a burden upon the soul, making the climb harder. Weapons, horses, servants, and earthly possessions offer no true advantage. A poor and virtuous person, light as a feather, may rise swiftly, while those weighed down by greed and sin struggle upon the mountain’s slopes.

When sinful souls lose their grip and fall from the heights, they descend into the abyss below, where Vizunas lies in wait. The dragon devours the fallen dead without mercy. Rich sinners are consumed by the beast, while poor sinners may be swept away by evil winds before they ever reach the summit.

Thus, Vizunas serves as the terrible guardian beneath the mountain of the dead, a monstrous dragon that punishes those unable to overcome the weight of their earthly sins. While the righteous ascend to judgment above, the wicked risk falling into the jaws of Vizunas, never to reach the divine realm of Anapilis.

Sources

Bestiary.us. (n.d.). Vizūnas. In New Bestiary: Encyclopedia of Imaginary Beings. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://www.bestiary.us/vizunas

Baubas

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Tradition / Region: Lithuanian Mythology
Alternative names: None commonly recorded
Category: Demon

The Myth

The Baubas is a sinister spirit feared throughout Lithuanian folklore. It is said to lurk in dark corners of houses, beneath carpets, under beds, or anywhere shadows gather. Children were taught to fear it, and parents often warned that the Baubas would come for those who misbehaved.

The creature is described as dark or black in color, with glowing red eyes, long thin arms, and wrinkled fingers. It hides silently and waits for an opportunity to trouble humans.

The Baubas is particularly dangerous at night. It harasses sleeping people, pulls their hair, and is sometimes said to sit upon their chests and suffocate them. Its touch brings terror, and few who encounter it ever clearly see its full form.

For children, the Baubas serves much the same role as the bogeyman in English-speaking traditions. Threats such as “Behave, or the Baubas will come and get you” were commonly used to frighten unruly youngsters into obedience.

Thus, the Baubas remains one of Lithuania’s most feared household spirits—a shadowy being with red eyes and grasping fingers that waits in the darkness for the careless and the disobedient.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). List of Lithuanian gods and mythological figures. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Lithuanian_gods_and_mythological_figures

Eintykára

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Tradition / Region: Paraguay Mythology
Alternative names: Golden Honey Bee
Category: Insect

The Myth

The Eintykára are stingless bees renowned for producing golden honey with unusual properties. Their hives are marked by long tubular entrances, and the bees possess a remarkable power: by gathering together in great numbers, they can take the form of a human being.

Long ago, an elderly unmarried woman passed the same Eintykára hive every day. Fascinated by its shape, she often joked and fantasized aloud, wishing that the hive were a handsome man who could become her husband. Over time, she began speaking to the hive affectionately and even referred to it as her husband.

One night, a stranger appeared before her. He was extraordinarily handsome, with milky-white skin and hair the color of golden honey. He revealed that he was Eintykára, the very hive she had spoken to for so long, and that he had come to take her as his wife and provide for her people.

The two married and had children. Eintykára proved to be unusually wise and tireless, becoming admired throughout the village. He seemed never to eat. Instead, he would disappear into the forest, transform into a swarm of bees, gather nectar, and then return to human form. From his labors came beeswax and golden honey, which he generously shared with everyone. According to tradition, some fair-skinned members of the Chamacoco people are descendants of Eintykára and his children.

Another Eintykára once joined a different Chamacoco settlement and lived among the people. However, the village was attacked by enemies who set the houses ablaze. As the bee-man attempted to escape by transforming into a swarm, too many of his bees were consumed by the flames. Unable to survive the loss, he perished alongside the people he had chosen as his own.

Thus, the Eintykára are remembered not merely as magical bees, but as shapeshifting beings capable of becoming human, bringing prosperity and honey to those they love, and even founding entire bloodlines among the Chamacoco people.

Sources

A Book of Creatures. (2015, July 10). Eintykára. Retrieved June 13, 2026, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/07/10/eintykara/

Pombero

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Tradition / Region: Paraguay Mythology, Brazilian Mythology, Argentine Mythology
Alternative names: Pomberito, Karai Pyhare, Pyrague, Kuarahy Jára, Cho Pombé, Lord of the Night
Category: Goblin

The Myth

The Pombero is a mysterious nocturnal being that inhabits forests, abandoned houses, barns, and lonely rural places throughout the Guaraní-speaking world. Usually active after dark, he is known as the Lord of the Night and is one of the most feared and respected figures in Paraguayan folklore.

He is commonly described as a short, ugly humanoid with extremely short arms and hairy hands and feet. His feet allow him to move silently through the forest, while the touch of his hairy hands is said to send a cold shiver through those he touches. The Pombero possesses many supernatural abilities, including invisibility and the power to squeeze through impossibly narrow openings.

Before appearing, he often announces his presence with strange whistles and the songs of nocturnal birds, which he can imitate perfectly. Because of this, he is regarded as a protector of birds and is said to punish children who hunt them with slingshots.

Although generally considered a mischievous spirit rather than an outright monster, the Pombero delights in causing trouble. He steals eggs, honey, and chickens, scatters grain and food stores, releases livestock, and frightens horses so that riders are thrown to the ground.

He is also associated with mysterious pregnancies and is sometimes blamed for fathering children born unusually hairy or unattractive. In darker traditions, he is said to kidnap lonely or ungrateful young women, force his affection upon them, and violate them. Similar stories are also attributed to the Guaraní being Kurupi.

Because of his unpredictable nature, people seek to appease the Pombero with offerings. Cigars and rum are his favorite gifts, though honey is also considered acceptable. Families in rural Paraguay often leave these offerings outside at night to prevent his mischief.

Those who regularly honor him may gain his friendship. A satisfied Pombero is believed to protect homes, animals, and possessions, and sometimes rewards his benefactors with small gifts of his own.

Thus, the Pombero remains one of the most enduring figures of Guaraní folklore—a silent lord of the forests who walks unseen through the night, bringing either mischief or protection depending on how he is treated.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Pombero. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 13, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pombero