Mythoslavic

Sit with me here, near the fire, and listen to one of the most beautiful Slavic fairytales about Vasilisa the beautiful.Hosted by KarmenSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

What is it about werewolves that makes them so captivating? Is it their transformation from human to beast? The idea of being out of control and murderous when the moon is full? Or is it something more primal and basic, something to do with our fear of the wild and the unknown? Hosted by KarmenMusic: Efter Storm by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com)Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

Imagine divine, steep and white cliffs standing defiantly over majestic waves. Its tops are made of rich green carpet and low vegetation is the only thing that has managed to resist strong gusts of wind for years. In the middle, like a magical fortress, stands a wooden temple surrounded by palisades. The walls of the temple were decorated with paintings and there was only one entrance. There were two rooms in the building, one of which consisted of several pillars and beautiful curtains, contained the temple's most revered idol - Svetovid and his full combat equipment: the sword, as well as the bridle and saddle of his horse, which was kept here in the temple.This was Jaromarsburg famously know as Arkona – the majestic Slavic temple that stood defiantly against Christians, just as the cliffs it was built on stood over waves.Hosted by KarmenMusic: Fantasy Ambience Music by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com)Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Sources:https://www.spottinghistory.com/https://6region.ru/Support the show

Enjoy beautiful Slavic fairytale Bridesman Sun and Bride Bridekins by Ivana Brlić-MažuranićMusic by Jonathan SegevSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

They are beauties from fairytales, almost always in long white dresses, with long golden yellow combed hair, with blue or green eyes, with a floral garland on the head, a sweet voice, swift and slender. They're the epitome of beauty.  It is said that they seduced young men by contacting them in their sleep. It is also narrated that someone would fall in love with them and spend their whole life looking for them. They are fairies, or in our case – Vile.Music by Darren CurtisSupport the show

We've all heard stories of vampires, werewolves and witches, but there is a breed that remains virtually unknown and often misunderstood. Krsnici are not what you think them to be.Far from being spell casters or creatures of the night, they are actually the opposite — a powerful race chosen by birth to battle the demons of the world. They have exceptional spiritual and physical strength, heightened senses, and an innate ability to control and often times manipulate the forces of nature.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

She is the patron saint of women and women's affairs, the steward of our destinies and the goddess of fertility. They imagined her as a woman with a big head and long arms who visits houses and oversees everything, rewarding those who are valuable, and punishing those who are not. The great mother earth— the goddess Mokosh.Music by Darren CurtisSupport the show

Hundreds of years ago, Slavic peoples lived in scattered villages far from the light and warmth of the big cities. In that time, myths, traditions and folk tales were passed down from generation to generation. The Slavs believed that mysterious creatures inhabited the forests, mountains, field and lakes around them. As centuries went by, enchanting fairytales were born, creating a still-living mythology full of magical tales.This is one of them.The Laughing PrinceJugoslav Folk and Fairy TalesNotes: Contains 14 folktales of the Slavic people. As the author of this book states in the preface, these folk and fairy tales do not relate only to the people inhabiting the lands of ex-Yugoslavia, but rather to all Slavic people (Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Ukraine).Author: Parker FillmorePublished: 1921Publisher: Harcourt, Brace And Company, USASupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

The forest is mysterious, yet enchanting. For thousands of years, ancient civilizations have looked upon the evergreen woodlands as a magical place for healing, foraging, and revere as sacred ground. Throughout our history, since ancient times, it has been a magical place that awakens the imagination and hides the world of amazing, magical beings. Nature has always been an ally of men, satisfying our different needs. Starting from spiritual ones such as peace, tranquility and silence to material ones such as firewood, food source, tools and weapon materials, or simply – shelter. Myths and superstitions of the ancient Slavs represented nature in a different way from that of the modern world in which we live. Today, the forest still hides an amazing world in which plants, animals, trees and numerous mystical creatures continue to play an essential role, which, at least in Slavic oral traditions, have been especially important and influential since ancient times evoking both fear and respect.We are the last ones who can still remember these times. We spread the knowledge acquired over hundreds of years, developing skills and being a link between the past and present. Once upon a time, the world of forests was no less mysterious than that of the oceans, thick and impenetrable, as stories of strange encounters made their way around the campfire. This is one of these stories. A story about magical creatures of Croatia's forests and fields. Host: Karmen FodrekMusic: Darren CurtisSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

Among the ancient Slavs there was a general conviction that in the sky heights, above the clouds, there was an almighty deity who governed lightning and thunder, rain and storms, but also ruled the earthly world.  Very early on, the myth of the thundering god, the lord of lightning, was born in the heavenly vault, creating noise while riding in his magical carriage.Talking about the supreme Slavic pantheon, we can't escape the power and fame of this god. His reign is both heavenly and ethereal, dark and bright, rainy and sunny. He's the god who left the richest legacy in our lore. In personal names, poems, stories, in the names of villages, mountains and plants, as well as on people themselves. He is a representative of stormy skies followed with magnificent thunders – the almighty Perun.Music by Darren CurtisSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

The first interview episode is here! Meet Dimitrije, the admin of Slavic History & Mythology instagram page, a master of humanities and a historian who works as a history professor in Serbian school.Join us, sit by the fire and find out what is the most frightening creature lurking in Serbian forests, what is the most famous Serbian creature that gave Dimitrije nightmares as a kid, what is his upcoming book about, and be sure to stick around and hear his own personal horror story!Guest:Dimitrije Denićinstagram.com/slavic_history_mythologySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

When the cold winds under the end of the fourth quarter of the season triggered gloomy clouds and drove them over the lands of ancient ancestors, the Slavs believed that she filled them with snow and ice.Since then, throughout the winter there has been sorrow on earth and darkness in the world, as the earth becomes shackled with ice and all the fruits of summer die.Snow crackles at her feet as the cold caresses her. Black hair frames her pale face while falling down her back. She smirks. Her wolf fangs flash in the glorious moonlight. Her torn, white dress flaunts in the cold wind and only the smell of winter and death remains behind her.She is Morana, the fairest of them all.Music by Darren CurtisSupport the show

Today we will get to meet a deity that, like many things in Slavic belief, is torn between dualities of being both good and bad, especially with the arrival of Christianity. A deity that is the protector of nature, wilderness, forests, and animals but also a fierce warrior. A deity with many powers, one of which is turning into animals, and most often he is depicted alongside a wolf or a deer. One of the supreme gods of the Slavic pantheon – the horned god Veles.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

Fate can be indifferent, but also both good and evil in turn. What befalls us, however, always arises from the necessity and the fact nothing happens by chance."Fate" denotes the condition under which man's will is held by an exterior force and to which he must submit, or in our case, the force destiny woven by three sisters – Suđenice.So who are the Fates and why do they get all the credit? The fates choose our lives before we're born. Our first breath, our first cry, our first steps… they are inescapable. What do the Fates look like?Take a listen and find out!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

When it comes to Slavs, magic has certainly had an important role in their lives, especially in the past. Sorcery was mostly used in medicine, combining spells and various herbs but it was a part of everyday life too. Women who practiced sorcery were capable of healing as well as of causing illness or even death to people and animals.In the Middle Ages, Eastern European witches (mostly Russian and Ukrainian) were mentioned for using so called white magic, invoking various saints and angels for help and protection. Meanwhile, black magic was used to conjure demons and other unclean sprits, placing hexes and various spells as well as harming others.So come on in and meet the most infamous Slavic witch who eats kids and lives in a hut that`s alive, Baba Yaga!Support the show

Hear you in January!Love, KarmenSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

Our Slavic ancestors gave great importance to their Christmas customs and traditions around holidays. They gathered around the fire and in those days were especially generous, gentle and calm. They tried to settle all debts, solve all the problems they`ve had over the year, staying in happiness and peace with their family, welcoming and celebrating New Year.In this episode we will explore the Christmas traditions of the ancient Slavs and learn how, even today in our modern lifestyle, we can keep some of those traditions alive, preserving their heritage and honoring them.Sources:-Story: The Legend of the Christmas Tree-Wikipedia-Visit Croatia-Sreten Petrović, Sistem Srpske mitologije Visit us on social platforms!FacebookInstagramTikTok- @mythoslavicpodcastSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

When we talk about the faith and beliefs of the ancient Slavs, there is much to say and in fact so little. Although we are a people with a rich tradition, history and customs, little or none of this was preserved from ancient times before the Christianization of these areas. Even if it was written, we can pretty much be sure that Christianity has gone out of its way to destroy all records about these “pagans” and their gods, making their god the ultimate and the only one.Why did I say there was a lot of everything said about it, and actually so little? Well, today more than ever we are encountering notions of Slavic mythology and faith everywhere around us. With the availability of the Internet and access to informations, it is very easy for everyone to become theorists, historians and excellent connoisseurs of the profession. Slavic mythology has gone mainstream, and not in a good way.Due to monetization and a greater need for fast earnings, the Slavic world has been flooded with books, texts and tv content getting closer but so far away from to the ancient Slavs and their beliefs, while in essence, there is so little authentic material that we can be sure of to prove it.With all this in mind, we must be aware that of course, the truth remains hidden to us forever but we can at least try to get closer to our past, the cults of worshiping of old gods and beings, customs and beliefs, reviving and honoring our ancestors and what is in our blood – Rodnovery.Visit us on social platforms!FacebookInstagramTikTok- @mythoslavicpodcastSources:-Mitologija Slavena , Franjo Ledić, 1969-Slovenska mitologija, Spasoje Vasiljev- Wikipedia- Meettheslavs.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

A house is not just a building. It`s a home, a sanctuary, and our ancestors treated it like their private castle. Sometimes, they treated it like a person too, claiming it has a soul and a heart thus tending to its needs, keeping it tidy, warm and neat. Also, in the Slavic regions it is said that every new house demands a victim in compensation for the trees that were cut down to build it so we can say the ancient Slavs took their homes very seriously.Every element of this building possessed magical and even religious meanings. The walls and the roof held great importance giving shelter from the winds, rain and the sun while the windows were there to ensure the connection to the outside world, putting a somewhat invisible barrier between the people and the evil that lurked outside.But sometimes, apart from the people that lived in it, amazing creatures lurked inside the house too, making the entire household their servants.Introductary story "Croatian tales from long ago" by Ivana Brlic Mazuranic. Snipper from "Stribor's Forest".Visit us on social platforms!FacebookInstagramTikTok- @mythoslavicpodcastSources:-A Study of Household Spirits of Eastern Europe , Ronesa Aveela, 2018-The Tradition of Household Spirits, Claude LecouteuxSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

In this episode we will talk about superstitions regarding items, plants and, well, some body parts.Did you know that in times of economic crises, social insecurity and wars, the rate of superstition in humans increases? In stressful times it reduces stress and anxiety and gives many a sense of control.  We certainly live in one of those times now.Unwritten but always respected beliefs from the earliest times have affected the lives of many people. In doing so, the decisive role was the ignorance of natural forces and the human tendency to somehow confront them, and we often do so very naïvely.There are usually no written clues about them, but they are certainly passed through generations.Episode written, edited and hosted by KarmenMusic by CO.AGVisit us on social platforms!FacebookInstagramTikTok- @mythoslavicpodcastSources:-Narodna sanjarica, Zola Emile, 2006Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

It is essential you spit three times when a black cat crosses your path so you can undo the action of the evil forces or to stay at home at Friday 13th so you don't get hurt or die. That kind of beliefs are rooted so deep into our culture, it's almost like we are connected with our ancestors with some kind of hive mind.But what if we stop for a moment and really wonder where it all started from and why are we doing these things? How are these things helping us to stay safe?Stay with me and discover the superstitions of the ancient Slavs, their origin and where it all began.Episode written, edited and hosted by KarmenVisit us on social platforms!FacebookInstagramTikTok- @mythoslavicpodcastSources:-Hrvatska Bajoslovlja, Vid Balog, 2011-Narodna sanjarica, Zola Emile, 2006And a big thank you to my friend Dimitrije for helpingSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

He took his victims by tying their legs with his whip or chains, dragging them to the bottom. In some parts, it was believed he had a tail, so he could use it to catch victims. The souls of the drowned were under his rule and people sacrificed cattle to him so they could swim safely.. Who is this creature and why was he so important to the Slavs? Take a listen and find out.Episode written, edited and hosted by KarmenVisit us on social platforms!FacebookInstagramTikTok- @mythoslavicpodcastSources:-Hrvatska Bajoslovlja, Vid Balog, 2011-Mitologija Slavena, Franjo Ledić, 1969-Encyclopedia of Russian and Slavic Myth and Legend,  Mike Dixon-Kennedy,  1998-The Vodyanoy story The Proud, Demanding Vodyanoy Rules Russia's Rivers and Lakes / Atlas ObscuraSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

There once was a Queen who lived in the castle on the hill. She was the most beautiful queen the country had ever seen. Long black hair framed her face and her white skin highlighted her aristocratic lineage, which went back a long way. But at the very mention of their Queen, people trembled in fear.This would certainly have been another story of kings and queens and their disputes at the court if Barbara hadn't been regarded as a witch, a heretic, an alchemist, a murderer, a torturer and lastly as a vampire..Episode written, edited and hosted by KarmenVisit us on social platforms!FacebookInstagramTikTok- @mythoslavicpodcastSources:-Alkemijski pokusi kraljice Barbare Celjske, SNJEŽANA PAUŠEK-BAŽDAR,  Antropološki centar HAZU, 2016, Zagreb- In Search of the Lesbian Vampire: Barbara von Cilli, Le Fanu's "Carmilla" and the Dragon Order, Raymond T. McNall, 2001- PP Medvednica / NP Plitvička jezera- Many thanks to my dear friend Gabrijela on sending her private notes about Black Queen.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

We all know thousands of stories about most famous bloodsucking creature there is, a vampire. Pop culture embraced them in its fullness, folktales enriched them, music, art, books and even cartoons took them to a completely new level, making them maybe even less scary than they ought to be and certainly so much more romantic. It is a creature known to people from ancient times and cultures and to so many different parts of the world, but what if I told you two Slavic countries claim the first vampire ever? Episode written, edited and hosted by KarmenGuest appearance - Dimitrije Denic @slavic_history_mythologyVisit us on social platforms!FacebookInstagramTikTok- @mythoslavicpodcastSources:Matthew Bunson (1993). The Vampire Encyclopedia. London: Thames & HudsonFrombald (1725). Copia eines Schreibens aus dem Gradisker District in UngarnMilovan Glišić (1880). (After Ninety Years: The Story of Serbian Vampire Sava SavanovicVinšćak, Tomo (December 2005). "Štrige", "Štriguni" and "Krsnici" Studia ethnologica Croatica. Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology. Oral traditionsSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

It seems ancient Slavs found a monster for every part of the year, month or day and you are never safe. The darkness is always there, even in the broad daylight. You just have to find it before it finds you.Episode written, edited and hosted by KarmenVisit us on social platforms!Facebook InstagramTikTok- @mythoslavicpodcastSources:Manfred Lurker, The Routledge Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses, Devils and DemonsDixon-Kennedy, Mike - Encyclopedia of Russian and Slavic Myth and LegendTom McGowen. Encyclopedia of Legendary Creatures. Rand McNallyJones, Prudence; Pennick, Nigel. A History of Pagan EuropeSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

Come, sit by the fire with me..Cozy up, and let me tell you a story about Slavic notorious mermaids, unearthly beautiful and deadly - Rusalki.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/mythoslavic)

Welcome to Mythoslavic! Support the show