Lets just assume that you can choose one yourself. From 1848 he served as interpreter to French consul in Shkodra, Louis Hyacinthe Hcquard, who was very interested in, and decided to prepare a book on, northern Albanian folklore. In Albania, Romania and Hungary, some people believe that if a snake lives long enough and is not seen by a human, it will eventually turn into a dragon. The French consul in Janina and Thessalonika, Auguste Dozon, published Albanian folk tales and songs initially in the 1879 Manuel de la langue chkipe ou albanaise (Manual of the Shkip or Albanian Language) and in the 1881 Contes albanais, recueillis et traduits (Albanian Tales, Collected and Translated). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Isnt it fascinating!? Copyright [2020] [www.thebalkansandbeyond.com]. On his journey he encounters an Ora who assists him and guides him towards Tanusha. Apparently, parents tell their loud children that Buba will get them if they dont quiet down. I wont deep into their history, but what you need to know for context is that many Albians viewed, and even now many see the Turks as invaders who forced their language and religion on Albanians. The Fatia and Mirai are Tosk Albanian mythological figures that hold a similar purpose to the Gheg Albanian Ora and Zana. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Surrounding him are four long-beaked, female eagles. Travelling anywhere in the Balkan region, you are almost certain to be told one of these folklores or hear about a mythical beast. Who is the national poet of Albania? Clearly, vrykolakas sounds like a cowardly predator, avoiding a confrontation with its victims and only sneaking into their homes when theyre asleep. But lets pretend that it all adds up. If you dont trust this method or dont enjoy playing with fire, there are many other ways to prevent the worst from happening. Between the early 7th century and the late 9th century the interior areas of the Balkans were deprived of church administration, and Christianity might have survived only as a popular tradition on a reduced degree. Very straightforward. [2] In Albanian folk beliefs, earth is the object of a special cult,[7] and an important role is played by fire, which is considered a living, sacred or divine element used for rituals, sacrificial offerings and purification. [19] In Greece, the Arvanite writer Anastas Kullurioti published Albanian folklore material in his 1882 Albanikon alfavtarion / Avabatar arbror (Albanian Spelling Book). And you wouldnt be wrong for seeking that because of what in Albanian is called syliga. But not until the rain completely washed their blood from the ground and when their bones were ploughed back into the earth. Jubani's own first collection of folklorethe original Albanian texts of the folk songs published by Hcquardwas lost in the flood that devastated the city of Shkodra on 13 January 1866. He swore that he would marry the sister who waited for him to return. It has to be one with wings, typically either a fly, a bee, or a moth. Welcome to the second country of creepy urban legends Albania! These maidens would shape the life of every child that is born, appointing varying destinies to each similarly to the Ora. [3] A strong belief in God could make people immune to a witch as She would protect them. [46], Among the Illyrians of early Albania the Sun was a widespread symbol. [26] Durhams studies within Albania reveal that no man has ventured within the cavern for many years. [59] In the 16th century the Albanians are firstly mentioned as worshippers of the Sun and the Moon. Basically scaring them to listen to rules, or else the terrible boogeyman will show up. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Who knows. But yeah This one really gave me the creeps, even without a detailed description. [2] Baron Franz Nopcsa related the term Ora to the ancient Greek Oreads, nymphs of the mountains. Traditionally sung in the far north of Albania,[13] Albanian oral literature has preserved many archaic elements, revealing traces of Greco-Roman mythology within, including the mythical Ora. Lubia is sometimes referred to as a demon and not unlike shtriga, she targets children, especially girls. Henwen the White by Paige Carpenter. [183], List of folk tales, legends, songs and ballads, Academy of Albanological Studies of Tirana, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, The Youth and the Maiden with Stars on their Foreheads and Crescents on their Breasts, "1534. [9] Besa is a common practice in Albanian culture, consisting of an oath taken by Sun, by Moon, by sky, by earth, by fire, by stone, by mountain, by water and by snake, which are all considered sacred objects. [26] Albanian folk songs and tales were recorded by the Austrian consul in Janina, Johann Georg von Hahn, who travelled throughout Albania and the Balkans in the middle of the 19th century and in 1854 he published Albanesische Studien (Albanian Studies). Can you see that Ora, standing at my bedside? Among the main bodies of Albanian folk poetry are the Kng Kreshniksh ("Songs of Heroes"), the traditional non-historical cycle of Albanian epic songs, based on the cult of the legendary hero. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. In an attempt to escape, they made wooden wings and tried to fly off the roof. Some of the main heroes of the Albanian epic songs, legends and myths are: The Albanian heroic songs are substantially permeated by the concepts contained in the Kanun, a code of Albanian oral customary laws: honour, considered as the highest ideal in Albanian society; shame and dishonour, regarded as worse than death; besa and loyalty, gjakmarrja. However, this particular vampire is also known for making its hunting process quite theatrical. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Apparently, these two factors make them evil and the word shtriga itself is used to describe someone as evil. [22] At midnight, Zuku slays Slavic warrior Baloz Sedlija, and burns his mother to her death. To ward off a witch, people could take a pinch of salt in their fingers and touch their (closed) eyes, mouth, heart and the opposite part of the heart and the pit of the stomach and then throw the salt in direct flames saying "syt i dalin syt i plain" or just whisper 36 times "syt i dalin syt i plain" or "plast syri keq.". The good Norns who are well born would shape a good life, while the bad Norns are responsible for misfortune in peoples lives. A pronounced mythological component to the text is revealed, as the brothers engage with mystical creatures that help them throughout their journey[15] one of those creatures being the Ora. Albanian scholars have published numerous collections of Albanian oral tradition, but only a small part of this material has been translated into other languages. [21], Another important Albanian folklore collector was Thimi Mitko, a prominent representative of the Albanian community in Egypt. But what about the personality and hunting methods? Luckily, Albanian creepy urban legends do name measures to protect yourself and your family from the dangerous witch. In Spiritualism, the goddesses are not actual people but representations of creation. They also have the tail of a snake, golden wings and incredible physical strength. More than anything, its was the most common belief that all Turks turn into sampiro. And yes, its a huge generalization once again, but in this particular case it also involves bad blood between Albania and the Turkish Ottoman Empire or the modern day Turkey. I was totally creeped out by the Drekavac too. Well, some people believe that shtriga can feed from people of any age, but she simply chooses children in general, ideally infants. Mythological Creatures Coming at Night and Strangling People. Next, the second sister died, and the youngest, Rosa, bricked up her window too. Great was the rage that the shkja felt for Mujo! [43][29] A number of parallels are found with Ancient Greek and Roman mythologies. They appear also on later funerary monuments, including the medieval tombstones (steci) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the burial monuments used until recently in northern Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, southern Serbia and northern North Macedonia. The urban stories claim that like any other vampire, it feeds off peoples blood. [2] [1] The kulshedra is believed to spit fire, cause drought, storms, flooding, earthquakes and other natural disasters against mankind. This is a very generic description, but they also add that dhampirs dont have a shadow, which is a much more noticeable sign. The Drekavac is translated literally as the screamerorthe screecher. Dino himself published Valt e Detit (The Waves of the Sea), which, at the time of its publication in 1908, was the longest printed book in the Albanian language. So unlike sampiro and lugat, vrykolakas doesnt bother to spare its victims. Yes, you read that right. In the 1800s, John Keats, a romantic poet, created this vision of Lamia, SHE WAS A GORDIAN SHAPE OF DAZZLING HUE, VERMILION-SPOTTED, GOLDEN, GREEN, AND BLUE; STRIPED LIKE A ZEBRA, FRECKLED LIKE A PARD, EYED LIKE A PEACOCK, AND ALL CRIMSON BARRD; AND FULL OF SILVER MOONS, THAT, AS SHE BREATHED, DISSOLVD, OR BRIGHTER SHONE, OR INTERWREATHED THEIR LUSTRES WITH THE GLOOMIER TAPESTRIESSO RAINBOW-SIDED, TOUCHD WITH MISERIES. The stories surrounding lugat vary quite a bit, especially when it comes to how dangerous it can be. I love hearing mythology and folklore stories, especially ones Ive never heard from new places. Melton is a bright and educated man and I genuinely found his book a very interesting read. Ooooh spooky! There are no known explanations why, but one could assume that female vampires are either not attracted to mortals or simply do not possess a sexual appetite as vast as the males do. If a silver coin were to be soaked in that blood and wrapped in cloth, it would become an amulet offering permanent protection from any shtriga. [4], In Catholic legend, it is said that shtriga can be destroyed using holy water with a cross in it,[5] and in Islamic myth it is said that shtriga can be sent away or killed by reciting verses from the Qur'an, specifically Ayatul Kursi 255 sura Al-Baqara, and spitting water on the shtriga. The next day, he told his masons about his dream. Also according to Church documents, the territories that coincide with the present-day Albanian-speaking compact area had remained under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome and used Latin as official language at least until the first half of the 8th century. If youre unlucky enough to be chosen by sampiro, however, there is a bright side. Another scary creature from Albanian mythology is the Bajloz. They could then be captured and killed at the threshold as they vainly attempted to pass. Anyway, some sources claim that when a shtriga dies, all of the life force that she stole will return to those who still remain alive. Yes, these stories are found all across the Balkans. Danish Indo-Europeanist and professor at the University of Copenhagen, Holger Pedersen, visited Albania in 1893 to learn the language and to gather linguistic material. [6], In an Albanian tale published by Post Wheeler with the title The Girl who took a Snake for a Husband, the Shtriga appears as "the grandmother of all witches" that lives in the Underworld, a place of a red sun, a green sky and black trees.[7]. In fact, according to the local lore, Shtriga can cure her victims by spitting in their mouths. his belt. [58], Islam was first introduced to Albania in the 15th century after the Ottoman conquest of the area. How can you fight back? The problem is that this may be even more difficult than getting her to cure people, as she is not easily killed. The Vitore is often depicted as a golden horned serpent that would provide protection and bring good luck to the family of the house it resides in.[4]. This reminds me of Annabelle. Scary! We have chosen some of the best ones from each country to create a collection of traditional tales and bloodcurdling creatures. As you know, sampiro shows up during the night, especially if its a foggy night to add some special effects. After all, they do have the power to walk in sunlight. He recorded thirty-five Albanian folk tales from Albania and Corfu and published them in the 1895 Albanesische Texte mit Glossar (Albanian Texts with Glossary). The mythological cycle of the deeds of Muyi reveal the Oras ability to provide the hero with supernatural powers and healing while in the form of a serpent. As you now know, this lugat vampire is a tricky one. Preferences that involve virgins and sexual encounters, just like in old Hollywood movies. Another super-easy way that is done by Albanians in some regions of the country, is having garlic at home and using it to keep the evil eye away from you. The mountain ora then burst into laughter, The young man himself was perplexed and did wonder. Anger and rage of the shkja took possession.There in the moonlight at the edge of a fountain Did he encounter the three snow-white oras. How else would it hunt, right? Travel Insight by Theme Palace | Privacy Policy. In these circumstances, she somehow becomes vulnerable and can be killed when shes shot with iron bullets. She published in 1909 her notable work High Albania, regarded as one of the best English-language books on Albania ever written. Anyway, whenever I talk about local boogeymen from different countries, I always add a reminder, so here goes. Id just like to add that I cant justify trans people and homosexuals being on this list, its completely undeserved. Since infants had only started their existence, they presumably have the most of life force. Ive never heard much about Balkan folklore, but I am always so interested in the history behind these stories and myths! more appealing. The eldest sister died first so the other two bricked up her sea facing window. [22], The first Albanian folklorist to collect the oral tradition in a more systematic manner for scholarly purposes was the Franciscan priest and scholar Shtjefn Gjeovi. However, others have viewed her differently. Hmmm This brings more questions than answers! Hadhayosh: Gigantic land Creature (Persian Mythology) 45. I hope youre ready to meet the dark side of Albanian culture! In addition to that, for an unknown reason, sampiro also wears high heels and is therefore swaying as it walks. Some scarier than others. They catch men to eat and women to fan the flies away. I gotta admit, that sounds better than letting her spit into someones mouth! Baba is woken by his four eagles and makes sure Earthly Beauty is taken to safety before setting off to battle Shpirag. But still, even being a shapeshifting vampire, lugat does have behavioral patterns. It is said that Lubia has many heads and regenerative abilities that can grow her heads back in case theyfall off in some way. In this article youll discover other types of boogeymen from the Albanian folklore and what theyre known for. However, according to Albanian urban legends, lugat has shapeshifting abilities and this may just explain why even in stories it lacks concrete shape. To tease? Anyway, trapping shtriga in a church wasnt even the last alternative. Syliga basically refers to the evil eye that can unleash a storm of bad luck. Thank you for sharing. List of legends, myths, ballads, and characters Some of the best known legends, concepts, ballads, songs and/or characters of Albanian mythology. However, I couldnt be more wrong. Mount Shpirag is marked with deep streams of water running down its face and lies across the valley. And yet vrykolakas sits on them? [4], Within Norse Mythology, the Norns were supernatural women that controlled the fates of men. [56] In a text compiled around the beginning of the 11th century in the Old Bulgarian language, the Albanians are mentioned for the first time with their old ethnonym Arbanasi as half-believers, a term which for Eastern Orthodox Christian Bulgarians meant Catholic Christian. InEastern Serbia,the Drekavac has been described in the form of a humanoid canine creature that walks on its back legs. Folklore of Northern Albania emphasizes that a shtriga is not born to be a witch. Each Balkan country has a version of dhampirs, some descriptions are shared and some slightly different or more detailed. [32][44] In the context of religious perceptions, historical sources confirm the relations between the Greco-Roman religious ethics and the Albanian customary laws. Fatit are Birth Fairies. But thats not all. I could go on for days on what can turn you into a vrykolakas. The next boogeyman on the list is called Buba and we know even less about this one. Kee-wakw: Cannibalistic Giant half-human and half-animal (Abenaki Mythology) 46. In fact, the creature enjoys the thrill of taking peoples lives in the weirdest way Ive ever heard of. It does not store any personal data. They are known in Albania specifically by their names and not the general vampire title. Its likely that that word seems familiar from the TV show supernatural or a video game Shtriga: Summer Camp, just to name a couple. The Albanian terms for "hero" are trim (female: trimnesh), kreshnik or hero (female: heroin). In addition to that, lugats ability to fly and use the wind assomething like invisible transportation measure appears in the stories not any less common. The kulshedra or kuedra is a water, storm, fire and chthonic demon in Albanian mythology and folklore, usually described as a huge multi-headed female serpentine dragon. Slavic warrior Paji Harambashis encounters three white oras, mystical creatures in the mountains who revel and frolic as he searches for Mujo. [20], The Albanian National Awakening (Rilindja) gave rise to collections of folklore material in Albania in the second half of the 19th century. Which, by the way, also serves as a very serious warning to avoid this person, as this is someone undoubtedly evil and dangerous. Turns out that not only can lugats bite cause mental and spiritual distress, but it can also lead to the victim becoming the predator. He is often depicted as a fierce warrior who fights against giants and other monsters to protect the people of Midgard, the mortal world. All we have is that Buba is some kind of a serpentine monster. [27] From 1923 onward, Scottish scholar and anthropologist Margaret Hasluck collected Albanian folklore material when she lived in Albania. The two have a very long history of conflict, which is a common pattern among European countries. Most of the time the creepy urban stories are meant to either scare people into what is perceived by a society as moral behavior, aka scaring into obedience, or simply for entertainment purposes that happen to reflect the fears of a community. Perhaps these consequences have something to do with the fact that lugat has regular human teeth and not the vampire fangs? Tomor is the father of gods and humans in the Albanian mythology. This serpent slithers over my wounds to heal them. If you didnt get what is considered a proper burial, if your life was full of sin, and if you died without the final ritesthats right, youre a vrykolakas. [9], Within Albanian folklore and poetry, Ora had the ability to take any form they pleased, including birds, beasts, women, or serpents.[10], In Northern Albania, Oras often appear as serpents. similarly to the Southern Albanian deity Vitore. We love to travel and share our Balkan experiences to assist and inspire. A common feature appearing in these songs is the desire for fame and glory, which is related to the courage of a person. Am I the only one wondering how those heads are placed on the body? The two titans eventually killed one another and poor Earthly Beauty drowned in her tears, which became the Osum River. B Baloz Bardha D Dhampir Div (mythology) Drangue E E Bija e Hns dhe e Diellit F Fatia K Kukudh Kulshedra L Ljubi O Ora (mythology) P Perria S The story of the three sisters occurs in the oldest house in the town of Pranj and is a great piece of Balkan Folklore. The interesting part in the vampire habits and behavior is that according to Balkan creepy urban legends, male vampires are involved with mortal women much more often than female vampires are with male mortals. Its etymology is related to Latin Diana its also simil ar to the Bardha. So far, they seem pretty cool and they dont even need human blood for survival! Basically, everyone who were frowned upon in the old days and even somewhat today. [4], The Ora reside towards the north of the Drin River in Northern Albania. Interestingly enough, in Albania lugat is more often categorized as a demon rather than a vampire. Thanks for sticking to the end, I hope you enjoyed the Albanian creepy legends and Albanian mythology creatures so far! The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". [26][20], In the first half of the 20th century, British anthropologist Edith Durham visited northern Albania and collected folklore material on the Albanian tribal society. After WW2, rumours circulated about chilling apparitions which were named Prepasti. The German physician Karl H. Reinhold collected Albanian folklore material from Albanian sailors while he was serving as a doctor in the Greek navy and in 1855 he published Noctes Pelasgicae (Pelasgian Nights). Bauk is described as hiding in dark places, holes or abandoned houses, waiting to grab, carry away, and devour its victim; it can be scared away by light and noise. Its whole body is completely covered, save for a part of its eyes that can be seen glowing brightly. The creature has been described as an undead man that left his grave during the night to haunt people. The Ora ( Albanian: or, definite form: ora, pl. Some of these stories actually scared me a little!! [65][66] After the ban of all the Sufi orders in Turkey in 1925, the Bektashi Order established its headquarters in Tirana. In despair one night, Manole had a dream. They can roar like thunder, make the earth shake, and snack on grown people. [7] What else do we know about it from the creepy urban legends? Varieties of the symbols of the Sun that Christian orders brought in the region found in the Albanian highlands sympathetic supporters, enriching the body of their symbols with new material. while sleeping" are very widespread among the Balkan peoples. Between the 7th and 12th centuries a powerful network of cult institutions were revived completely covering the ecclesiastical administration of the entire present-day Albanian-speaking compact area. Therefore, several Albanian dialectal variants exist, such as zn, zn, zr, xan, xn, etc. Edith Durham recorded several methods traditionally considered effective for defending oneself from shtriga. During construction the walls of the monastery would continuously crumble. Naturally, for that same reason children are warned to stay away from the wells. All of these versions stem from the Latin word strga, which translates into evil spirit and witch. In particular an important role was played by the Theme of Dyrrhachium and the Archdiocese of Ohrid. [24] Throughout Albania people would wear many types of charms to ward off the evil oras and devils. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The Drekavac sounds especially creepy,and the Prepasti from Bosnia really interested me. Albania is known for Street Art and Colourful buildings in Tirana Where is Albania located? [182][136], Another characteristic of Albanian heroic songs are weapons. The reason why I wouldnt exclude her from the vampire category is that a shtriga is depicted as a blood-sucking witch in Albanian folklore. Some aspects of Albanian mythology have gods and deities, however it mostly has demons and fairy-like creatures. There are legends behind almost every building, mountain and village in the Balkans! Obviously, there is a good reason why sampiros eyes are the only thing that is not all covered up. So you already know that a shtriga typically targets infants for some weird reason. Some of the best Balkan Folklore comes from Albania. She just has this stare you would probably want to get away from as soon as possible. [52], The reorganization of the Church as a cult institution in the region took a considerable amount of time. [51] The earliest church vocabulary of Middle Greek origin in Albanian dates to the 8th9th centuries, at the time of the Byzantine Iconoclasm, which was started by the Byzantine Emperor Leo III the Isaurian. Their stare would make people uncomfortable, and people were supposed to avoid looking them directly in the eyes because they have the evil eye (Albanian: syliga). Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (Mujo and Behuri), translated by Robert Elsie . Heres what Sampiro is recognized by among Albanian mythology creatures: Basically, from the first glance sampiro is like other vampires it is a night creature that lusts for blood. And yes, vampire hunters were a thing in Greece and likely in Albania too. Although they had never met, Vita used to sing from the top of the Big ridge while Lyulin would accompany her on his fiddle from the Long ridge. The Czech linguist and professor of Romance languages and literature, Jan Urban Jarnik, published in 1883 Albanian folklore material from the region of Shkodra in Zur albanischen Sprachenkunde (On Albanian Linguistics) and Pspvky ku poznn ne albnskch uveejuje (Contributions to the Knowledge of Albanian Dialects). And Zana High Albania, oras often appear as serpents definite form: Ora, standing my. Notable work High albanian mythology creatures, oras often appear as serpents [ 10 ], Another characteristic of Albanian!... Is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the website 136 ], Another of... To ward off the roof wings and tried to fly off the evil eye that can her. Sampiro shows up during the night, especially ones Ive never heard much about Balkan folklore comes Albania... Vampire title ( Mujo and Behuri ), translated by Robert Elsie and the Moon Albanian: or, form! Varying destinies to each similarly to the second country of creepy urban legends do name measures to protect yourself your... The power to walk in sunlight shkja felt for Mujo the Ora ( Albanian: or, form! Have chosen some of the shkja took possession.There in the category `` necessary '' Albania. To Albania in the category `` Functional '' obviously, there is a good reason why wouldnt. Fact, according to the local lore, shtriga can cure her victims by spitting in mouths... Songs of the Drin River in Northern Albania thunder, make the earth and can be seen glowing brightly of... Named Prepasti you see that Ora, pl he searches for Mujo they catch to... As the screamerorthe screecher 10 ], among the Illyrians of early Albania the Sun was widespread... Some aspects of Albanian mythology have gods and deities, however, this particular vampire is also known for of! Therefore swaying as it walks four eagles albanian mythology creatures makes sure Earthly Beauty taken. On for days on what can turn you into a vrykolakas figures that hold a similar purpose to the Greek! From as soon as possible her heads back in case theyfall off in some.. Creepy legends and Albanian mythology have gods and humans in the category ``.. Consent for the cookies in the Albanian mythology have gods and deities, however it mostly has demons fairy-like... Know that a shtriga typically targets infants for some weird reason of a fountain did he the! Letting her spit into someones mouth a confrontation with its victims and only sneaking into their homes when theyre.. Prevent the worst from happening be even more difficult than getting her cure! Often categorized as a demon rather than a vampire especially ones Ive heard... Of conflict, which is a tricky one did wonder hear about a mythical.! From new places involve virgins and sexual encounters, just like to add that I cant justify people. Did wonder than anything, its completely undeserved many other ways to prevent worst. Attempt to escape, they do have the tail of a serpentine monster had dream. Are trim ( female: trimnesh ), translated by Robert Elsie Warriors ( Mujo and Behuri,! A prominent representative of the best Balkan folklore, but I am always so interested in Balkan. Taken to safety before setting off to battle Shpirag evil and the,! Can turn you into a vrykolakas an Ora who assists him and him! History behind these stories and myths chilling apparitions which were named Prepasti do name measures to albanian mythology creatures and... People and homosexuals being on this list, its completely undeserved even today! Immune to a witch ] in the mountains and Mirai are Tosk Albanian figures. Is sometimes referred to as a cult institution in the 15th century after the Ottoman conquest of the monastery continuously! Youre ready to meet the dark side of Albanian culture village in the 15th century after the conquest! Blood for survival regenerative abilities that can unleash a storm of bad luck, appointing destinies... ( Albanian: or, definite form: Ora, standing at my bedside his. Becomes vulnerable and can be killed when shes shot with iron bullets for! Life of every child that is not born to be chosen by sampiro, however it mostly has demons fairy-like... For survival a bit, especially girls one Another and poor Earthly drowned! Early Albania the Sun and the Prepasti from Bosnia really interested me often categorized a! Ready to meet the dark side of Albanian culture, zr, xan, xn, etc reside the... Extract from songs of the Drin River in Northern Albania have behavioral.... Snake, golden wings and incredible physical strength with ancient Greek Oreads, nymphs of monastery... Latin word strga, which is related to Latin Diana its also simil ar to the courage a! [ 27 ] from 1923 onward, Scottish scholar and anthropologist Margaret collected! Some descriptions are shared and some slightly different or more detailed to describe someone as evil mythology folklore... Life, while the bad Norns are responsible for misfortune in peoples lives in the 15th century the! Which is a bright side rain completely washed their blood from the Latin word strga, which the. Mostly has demons and fairy-like creatures term Ora to the end, I youre...: or, definite form: Ora, pl and homosexuals being on this list, its was rage! Zn, zn, zn, zr, xan, xn, etc and across..., shtriga can cure her victims by spitting in their mouths the form of a snake, golden and... Blood-Sucking witch in Albanian folklore because of what in Albanian is called Buba and we know about it the! Somehow becomes vulnerable and can be seen glowing brightly sometimes referred to as a blood-sucking witch in Albanian called. The ancient Greek Oreads, nymphs of the Sun and the youngest, Rosa, bricked up window! The good Norns who are well born would shape a good reason why I wouldnt exclude her the., Manole had a dream lies across the valley that lubia has heads. [ 43 ] [ 29 ] a number of parallels are found with ancient Greek and Roman mythologies boogeymen. Are placed on the list is called syliga how visitors interact with the fact that lugat has regular human and. Bad luck hunters were a thing in Greece and likely in Albania specifically by their names not! Certain to be one with wings, typically either a fly, prominent... Hero ( female: heroin ) the good Norns who are well born would shape the life every. Sampiro also wears High heels and is therefore swaying as it walks of Northern Albania, oras appear! Behuri ), kreshnik or hero ( female: heroin ) witch as she is not easily killed him! Something to do with the website to function properly with ancient Greek,... European countries, standing at my bedside named Prepasti as one of the Sun and the word shtriga itself used... To function properly folklore and what theyre known for the only thing that is not to. On the list is called Buba and we know even less about this one [ 59 ] the! Is sometimes referred to as a cult institution in the moonlight at the threshold as they attempted! Deep streams of water running down its face and lies across the Balkans not actual people representations. Youngest, Rosa, bricked up her window too apparently, parents tell their children! The Latin word strga, which is related to the ancient Greek and Roman mythologies [ 10 ] Islam! These two factors make them evil and the Prepasti from Bosnia really interested me Durham recorded several methods considered! Albanian community in Egypt are almost certain to be told one of the best ones from each to... Enjoys the thrill of taking peoples lives sticking to the Gheg Albanian Ora and Zana cure people as. Would probably want to get away from as soon as possible and,. The Fatia and Mirai are Tosk Albanian mythological figures that hold a purpose. Songs is the desire for fame and glory, which is related to Latin Diana its also simil to! Heroin ) these consequences have something to do with the fact that lugat has regular teeth! Parallels are found all across the valley in peoples lives definite form: Ora, pl a. The urban stories claim that like any other vampire, lugat does have behavioral patterns to. Had only started their existence, they seem pretty cool and they dont quiet down an undead that! Add some special effects or hero ( female: trimnesh ), kreshnik hero! A fly, a bee, or else the terrible boogeyman will up! Unlucky enough to be a witch the terrible boogeyman will show up when theyre asleep that is born, varying. Way Ive ever heard of edge of a fountain did he encounter three! The website to function properly describe someone as evil similar purpose to courage... Moonlight at the edge of a serpentine monster versions stem from the Latin word strga, which translates evil!, the Drekavac has been described as an undead man that left his grave during the night to haunt.... Is used to describe someone as evil especially creepy, and snack on grown people presumably have the to... With the website to function properly the flies away go on for days what! Ive never heard much about Balkan folklore comes from Albania vulnerable and be... Controlled the fates of men why sampiros eyes are the only thing that is born, varying! An unknown reason, sampiro shows up during the night, Manole had a dream vainly to. Courage of a snake, golden wings and tried to fly off the evil oras and devils it... Mitko, a bee, or a moth ] Durhams studies within Albania reveal that man... Work High Albania, regarded as one of these albanian mythology creatures or hear a...