Tradition: Polish Mythology
Alternative Names: Złydnie
Category: House dweller
The Myth
Złydnie are malicious supernatural beings in East Slavic folklore that bring misfortune to households and their inhabitants. They are associated particularly with the space behind the stove, where they settle after entering a home in groups. Their presence is dangerous because they drive away the household’s guardian spirits and replace them with an atmosphere of disorder, fear, and evil influence.
Złydnie were imagined as small, hunched, emaciated creatures with faces resembling those of old children. They wore oversized, torn clothing, including rags, shoes, and hats. Despite their diminutive appearance, they could cause considerable suffering. At night, they made noises around the house, overturned objects, and whispered terrible things into people’s ears, encouraging them to commit evil deeds.
Their harmful influence extended beyond the household. Złydnie tormented domestic animals and could attack people working in the fields. In invisible form, they sat on workers travelling to their fields and drained their strength. Their presence was also blamed for extreme psychological torment, with stories claiming that they could drive people mad and push them toward suicide by hanging or drowning.
Getting rid of Złydnie was difficult because they could escape and find another home. According to the tradition, they had to be caught at night and drowned in a swamp, preferably in a neighbouring village. Even this measure did not guarantee a permanent solution, as the creatures could emerge from the water and immediately seek a new household to inhabit.
Złydnie represent the destructive opposite of benevolent household spirits. Rather than protecting domestic life, they displace its guardians, undermine people’s strength, torment animals, and spread misfortune wherever they settle. Their association with the space behind the stove makes the home itself a battleground between protective household powers and malicious supernatural intruders.
Sources
“Złydnia.” Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 18, 2026. https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z%C5%82ydnia