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Perria
Perria or Pehria is a fairy-like mountain figure in Albanian mythology and folklore. Etymology From the Albanian word ''përrua'' ("brook"). From Proto-Albanian ''*pVrē/ān-'', or Proto-Albanian ''*per-rāno'', possibly a prefixed derivative of ''rrua''. Compare Romanian ''pârâu'' (“torrent, stream”), assimilated to ''râu'' (“river”). Alternatively, from Old Albanian ''përruo'', from Bulgarian ''порой'' (poroj, “torrent”). Other similar words include the English language word ''poar''. Description Perria, is generally a protective figure, however she can also do harm. In Albanian popular belief, she is depicted as female mountain-spirits clad in white. Their duty is to punish anyone who is wasteful with bread by disfiguring the person and making him a "crooked hunchback". See also * Zana e malit * Shtojzovalle * Ora * Fatia * Bardha * Nëna e Vatrës * E Bukura e Dheut * Prende * Kulshedra The kulshedra or kuçedra is a water, storm, fire and cht ...
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Albanian Folk Beliefs
Albanian folk beliefs ( sq, Besimet folklorike shqiptare) comprise the beliefs expressed in the customs, rituals, myths, legends and tales of the Albanian people. The elements of Albanian mythology are of Paleo-Balkanic origin and almost all of them are pagan. Albanian folklore evolved over the centuries in a relatively isolated tribal culture and society. Albanian folk tales and legends have been orally transmitted down the generations and are still very much alive in the mountainous regions of Albania, Kosovo, western North Macedonia, ex-Albanian lands of Montenegro, and southern Serbia, and among the Arbëreshë in Italy and the Arvanites in Greece. In Albanian mythology, the physical phenomena, elements and objects are attributed to supernatural beings. The deities are generally not persons, but personifications of nature, which is known as Animism. The earliest attested cult of the Albanians is the worship of the Sun and the Moon. In Albanian folk beliefs, earth is the ...
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Albanian Mythology
Albanian folk beliefs ( sq, Besimet folklorike shqiptare) comprise the beliefs expressed in the customs, rituals, myths, legends and tales of the Albanian people. The elements of Albanian mythology are of Paleo-Balkanic origin and almost all of them are pagan. Albanian folklore evolved over the centuries in a relatively isolated tribal culture and society. Albanian folk tales and legends have been orally transmitted down the generations and are still very much alive in the mountainous regions of Albania, Kosovo, western North Macedonia, ex-Albanian lands of Montenegro, and southern Serbia, and among the Arbëreshë in Italy and the Arvanites in Greece. In Albanian mythology, the physical phenomena, elements and objects are attributed to supernatural beings. The deities are generally not persons, but personifications of nature, which is known as Animism. The earliest attested cult of the Albanians is the worship of the Sun and the Moon. In Albanian folk beliefs, earth is the ...
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Zana E Malit
Zana (''Zanë'' in Gheg or ''Zërë'' in Tosk, pl. ''zanë(t)/zërë(t)'', see other variants below) is an Albanian mythological figure usually associated with mountains, springs and streams, forests, vegetation and animals, and sometimes destiny. Zana is thought to have been originally a pre-Roman deity, and an Illyrian goddess equivalent of the Ancient Greek Artemis and Roman Diana. Innumerable Albanian folk poems, myths and legends that are dedicated to Zana and her friends have been handed down to modern times. The zana are thought to have observed the speeches at the League of Prizren at 1878. Similar Albanian mythological figures with fairy-like attributes are: Ora, Bardha, Shtojzovalle, Mira and Fatí. Name Variants The name of the mythological figure is an old Albanian word. Therefore, several Albanian dialectal variants exist, such as ''zânë'', ''zënë'', ''zërë'', ''xanë'', ''xânë'', etc. (and their definite forms: ''zâna'', ''zëna'', ''zëra'', ''xa ...
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Shtojzovalle
In Albanian mythology, the shtojzovalle, also known as shtojzorreshta, shtozote is a small creature with supernatural powers and of extraordinary beauty. They are invisible woodland creatures, which can be seen by humans only on rare occasions and are fond of song and dance. Name The term ''shtojzovalle'' derives from the Albanian language, Albanian words ''shtoj'' (English language, English: add), ''zot'' (English language, English: god, deity) and ''valle'' (English language, English: dance), with the term meaning in English "may God give increase to their dance" or "multiply, God, their choirs". The name ''shtojzovalle'' is a product of Paganism, Pagan and Christianity, Christian religious syncretism. The alternative term ''shtojzorreshta'' means "may God give increase to their rows" in English. Traits The shtojzovalles are small male and female creatures of extraordinary beauty. They live in forests and pastures and spend their time singing and dancing. They have the abil ...
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Ora (mythology)
The Ora ( Albanian: orë, definite form: ora, pl.: orë/t) is an Albanian mythological figure that every human possesses from birth, associated with human destiny and fate. Often depicted as three female deities, the Ora “maintain the order of the universe and enforce its laws” – “organising the appearance of humankind.” The Northern Albanian Ora, along with the Zana, can be found within the folk beliefs and oral epics of the Gheg Albanians. Folk beliefs of the Southern Tosk Albanians reveal similar Albanian mythological figures of fate and destiny, the Mirai and Fatia. Geographic location of the Ora The Ora reside towards the north of the Drin River in Northern Albania. Within Central Albania it was believed that the Ora were present everywhere, “listening to people’s blessings and curses, which they would then aim to quickly fulfil”. Outside of Central Albania Oras live in forests and mountains, residing in streams, lakes, and caves. Baron Franz Nopcsa r ...
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Fatia
The fatia ( Albanian ''fatí'', definite form: ''fatía'', pl.: ''fatí/të''; English: ''fate'') is an Albanian mythological figure associated with human destiny. Often depicted as three female deities, the essential function of the fatí is to maintain the order of the universe and to enforce its laws. Along with the mira, they can be found in the folk beliefs of Tosk Albanians. Albanian mythological figures related to fate and destiny can also be found in the folk beliefs of Gheg Albanians with the name of ora and zana. Appearance The fatí are visualized as riding on butterflies. On the third day after a child has been born, three Fatits approach the baby's cradle and determine that child's fate. They are also known as ''Miren'', possibly from the Greek ''Moirai''. See also * Ora * Bardha * Zana e malit Zana (''Zanë'' in Gheg or ''Zërë'' in Tosk, pl. ''zanë(t)/zërë(t)'', see other variants below) is an Albanian mythological figure usually associated with mountain ...
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Bardha
Bardha ( en, 'the white one') is an Albanian mythological creature. According to old folklore, to propitiate them one strews cakes or sugar on the ground. It is similar to Zana e malit Zana (''Zanë'' in Gheg or ''Zërë'' in Tosk, pl. ''zanë(t)/zërë(t)'', see other variants below) is an Albanian mythological figure usually associated with mountains, springs and streams, forests, vegetation Vegetation is an assemblage ....Lurker, Manfred. ''The Routledge Dictionary Of Gods Goddesses Devils And Demons''. Routledge. 2004. p. 30. Appearance In Albanian popular belief they are pale, nebulous figures who dwell under the earth. References Bibliography * * Albanian legendary creatures Fairies {{europe-myth-stub ...
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Nëna E Vatrës
Nëna e Vatrës or Nana e Votrës ("The Mother of the Hearth") is the goddess of the fire hearth (''hyjnia e zjarrit të vatrës'') in Albanian mythology and folklore, associated with fire worship, the cult of the ancestor and the cult of the woman-centered family life. Names and etymology Nëna e Vatrës is the deity of the hearth fire ( Albanian: ''hyjni e zjarrit të vatrës'') commonly found in the folk beliefs of the Albanians, thus there are many dialectal variations, singular or plural: ''Nëna e Vatrës/Nana e Votrës'', ''E Ëma e Vatrës/E Ama e Votrës'', ''Mëma e Vatrës/Mama e Vatrës'', ''Shtriga e Vatrës/Votrës'', ''Plaka e Vatrës/Votrës'', ''Mëmat e Vatrës/Mamat e Votrës'', ''Xhuxhet e Vatrës'' etc. The first element ''nënë/nanë'' or ''ëmë/amë'', means "mother"; while the last element ''vatër/votër'', means " hearth", "fireplace", and is related to the Avestan ''atar'', "fire". Folk beliefs In Albanian folk beliefs, Nëna e Vatrës is the pro ...
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E Bukura E Dheut
E Bukura e Dheut (the "Beauty of the Earth" or "Earthly Beauty") is a character in Albanian mythology and folklore, depicted in some traditions as a crafty fairy, and in other traditions as a chthonic/earth goddess, the counterpart of e Bukura e Detit (the Beauty of the Sea) and i Bukuri i Qiellit (the Beauty of the Sky). In some Albanian traditions she is regarded as the sister of e Bukura e Detit and the consort of Baba Tomor. The quest for the ''e Bukura e Dheut'' is a very popular and frequent motif in Albanian folktales: the princely hero must search for or rescue the Earthly Beauty, even going into her mystical underworld palace. Role ''E Bukura e Dheut'' is beauty itself, golden-haired, but may also appear in the form of an ''arap'' with black skin. She may be a good spirit or (more often) evil, with magical powers the derive from her dress, and lives in the underworld, where her palace is guarded by a three-headed dog, a kuçedra and all sorts of other weird and wonde ...
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Prende
Prende (also ''Prenne'', ''Premte'' or ''Petka'') is the dawn goddess, goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and protector of women, in the Albanian pagan mythology. She is thought to have been worshiped by the Illyrians in antiquity. In Albanian folklore she is referred to as "Lady Prenne" or "Lady of Beauty" ( Albanian: ''Zonja Prende'' or ''Zonja e Bukurisë'', in Gheg Albanian: ''Zoja Prenne'' or ''Zoja e Bukuris''), while her sacred day is Friday, named in Albanian after her: ''e premte''. Her name is cognate with the Ancient Greek ''Persephatta'', a variant of Persephone. Prende is identified with the cult of Venus and she was worshipped in northern Albania, especially by the Albanian women, until recent times. Originally a pre-Christian deity, she was called "Saint Veneranda" (''Shënepremte''), identified by the Catholic Church as Saint Anne, mother of Virgin Mary. She was so popular in Albania that over one in eight of the Catholic churches existing in the late 16th and th ...
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Kulshedra
The kulshedra or kuçedra is a water, storm, fire and chthonic demon in Albanian mythology and folklore, usually described as a huge multi-headed female serpentine dragon. The kulshedra is believed to spit fire, cause drought, storms, flooding, earthquakes and other natural disasters against mankind. In Albanian mythology she is usually fought and defeated by a drangue, a semi-human winged divine hero and protector of mankind. Heavy thunderstorms are thought to be the result of their battles. In northern beliefs, the kulshedra can take possession of the sun and moon. In southern beliefs, she is described as an enormous female serpent who surrounds the world. According to this version, if she were ever to touch her tail with her mouth, she could destroy the whole world. It is said that she requires human sacrifices for accepting to postpone the natural disasters and catastrophes. According to folk beliefs, the kulshedra's earlier stage is the bolla, which has the appearance of ...
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Albanian Legendary Creatures
Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country *Pertaining to other places: **Albania (other) **Albany (other) **St Albans (other) *Albanian cattle *Albanian horse *''The Albanian'', a 2010 German-Albanian film See also * *Olbanian language *Albani people *Albaniana (other) *Alba (other) Alba is the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland. Alba or ALBA may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional characters * Alba ''(Darkstalkers)'', a character in the Japanese video game * Alba (''The Time Traveler's Wife''), a chara ... {{Disambiguation Language and nationality disambiguation pages ...
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