The Russian fairy tale witch is a fascinating character that has captivated audiences for centuries. In Russian folklore, witches are often depicted as old, haggard women who possess magical powers. They are known for their cunning and deceitful nature, using their magic to achieve their own selfish desires. One of the most famous Russian fairy tale witches is Baba Yaga. She is portrayed as a grotesque old woman who lives deep in the forest in a hut that stands on chicken legs. Baba Yaga is often described as having iron teeth and a long nose that reaches down to her chin.
Baba Yaga is often described as having iron teeth and a long nose that reaches down to her chin. She is infamous for her cannibalistic tendencies and her propensity for kidnapping and devouring young children. Despite her terrifying appearance and actions, Baba Yaga is not always portrayed as purely evil.
Baba Yaga
Once upon a time there was a man and woman who had an only daughter. When his wife died, the man took another. But the wicked stepmother took a dislike to the girl, beat her hard and wondered how to be rid of her forever. One day the father went off somewhere and the stepmother said to the girl, "Go to your aunt, to my sister, and ask her for a needle and thread to sew you a blouse." The aunt was really Baba Yaga, the bony witch.
Now, the little girl was not stupid and she first went to her own aunt for advice. "Good morrow. Auntie," she said. "Mother has sent me to her sister for a needle and thread to sew me a blouse. What should I do?" The aunt told her what to do. "My dear niece," she said. "You will find a birch-tree there that will lash your face; you must tie it with a ribbon. You will find gates that will creak and bang; you must pour oil on the hinges. You will find dogs that will try to rip you apart; you must throw them fresh rolls. You will find a cat that will try to scratch your eyes out; you must give her some ham." The little girl went off, walked and walked and finally came to the witch's abode.
There stood a hut, and inside sat Baba Yaga, the bony witch, spinning. "Good day. Auntie," said the little girl. "Good day, dearie," the witch replied. "Mother sent me for a needle and thread to sew me a blouse," said the girl. "Very well," Baba Yaga said. "Sit down and weave." The girl sat at the loom. then Baba Yaga went out and told her serving-maid, "Go and heat up the bath-house and give my niece a good wash; I want to eat her for breakfast." The serving-maid did as she was bid; and the poor little girl sat there half dead with fright, begging, "Oh, please, dear serving-maid, don't bum the wood, pour water on instead, and carry the water in a sieve." And she gave the maid a kerchief.
Meanwhile Baba Yaga was waiting; she went to the window and asked, "Are you weaving, dear niece? Are you weaving, my dear?" "I'm weaving, Auntie," the girl replied, "I'm weaving, my dear." When Baba Yaga moved away from the window, the little girl gave some ham to the cat and asked her whether there was any escape. At once the cat replied, "Here is a comb and towel. Take them and run away. Baba Yaga will chase you; put your ear to the ground and, when you hear her coming, throw down the towel?and a wide, wide river will appear. And if she crosses the river and starts to catch you up, put your ear to the ground again and, when you hear her coming close, throw down your comb ? and a dense forest will appear. She won't be able to get through that."
The little girl took the towel and comb and ran. As she ran from the house, the dogs tried to tear her to pieces, but she tossed them the fresh rolls and they let her pass. The gates tried to bang shut, but she poured some oil on the hinges, and they let her through. The birch-tree tried to lash her face, but she tied it with a ribbon, and it let her pass. In the meantime, the cat sat down at the loom to weave?though, truth to tell, she tangled it all up instead. Now and then Baba Yaga would come to the window and call, "Are you weaving, dear niece? Are you weaving, my dear?" And the cat would answer in a low voice, "I'm weaving. Auntie. I'm weaving, my dear."
The witch rushed into the hut and saw that the girl was gone. She gave the cat a good beating and scolded her for not scratching out the girl's eyes. But the cat answered her, "I've served you for years, yet you've never even given me a bone, but she gave me some ham." Baba Yaga then turned on the dogs, the gates, the birch-tree and the serving-maid, and set to thrashing and scolding them all. But the dogs said to her, "We've served you for years, yet you've never even thrown us a burnt crust, but she gave us fresh rolls." And the gates said, "We've served you for years, yet you've never even poured water on our hinges, but she oiled them for us." And the birch-tree said, "I've served you for years, yet you've never even tied me up with thread, but she tied me with a ribbon." And the serving-maid said, "I've served you for years, yet you've never even given me a rag, but she gave me a kerchief."
In this most comprehensive collection of classic Russian tales available in English we meet both universal fairy-tale figures—thieves and heroes, kings and peasants, beautiful damsels and terrifying witches, enchanted children and crafty animals—and such uniquely Russian characters as Koshchey the Deathless, Baba Yaga, the Swan Maiden, and the glorious Firebird. The more than 175 tales culled from a centuries-old Russian storytelling tradition by the outstanding Russian ethnographer Aleksandr Afanas’ev reveal a rich, robust world of the imagination that will fascinate readers both young and old.
Price - $16.62
Paperback: 672 pages
Publisher: Pantheon Books;
Reissue edition (1973)
Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.3 x 9.2 inches
In some stories, she is depicted as a wise and powerful figure who provides guidance to the protagonist. She often tests the bravery and resourcefulness of those who seek her help, rewarding those who pass her tests with knowledge or magical gifts. The character of the Russian fairy tale witch embodies the dual nature of human beings and explores the themes of good vs. evil, temptation, and the power of magic. The witch is a symbol of the unknown and the supernatural, representing the fears and desires of the human imagination. In conclusion, the Russian fairy tale witch is a complex and intriguing character that plays a significant role in Russian folklore. Baba Yaga, with her distinctive appearance and her magical powers, serves to both frighten and fascinate audiences. She is a symbol of the dark side of human nature and the mystery and enchantment of the supernatural world..
Reviews for "Russian Fairy Tale Witches: A Source of Inspiration for Artistic Creations"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I didn't enjoy "Russian fairy tale witch" at all. The story was confusing and all over the place. There were too many characters introduced without proper development, making it hard to follow along. The writing style felt rushed and lacked depth, leaving me feeling disconnected from the narrative. Overall, it was a disappointing read and I wouldn't recommend it.
- John - 1 star - "Russian fairy tale witch" was a complete waste of time. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, filled with cliches and overused tropes. The characters were poorly written and lacked any real depth or complexity. The dialogues felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with any of the characters. I found myself skimming through the pages, hoping for something interesting to happen, but it never did. I do not understand the hype around this book.
- Emily - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "Russian fairy tale witch," but it fell short in many aspects. The pacing was incredibly slow, dragging out the story unnecessarily without adding any depth or suspense. The world-building was lackluster and underdeveloped, leaving me with more questions than answers. The characters lacked personality and seemed to blend into one another. It was a frustrating reading experience, and I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging fantasy read.
- Michael - 2 stars - "Russian fairy tale witch" had an interesting premise, but the execution was lacking. The writing style was convoluted and difficult to follow, with excessive descriptions that didn't contribute to the overall story. The plot had potential, but it became overly complicated and contradictory. The characters felt one-dimensional, lacking any real growth or emotional depth. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointing and confusing read.