Lazavik ( be, Лазавік) is a creature of
Belarusian mythology
Slavic mythology or Slavic religion is the religious beliefs, myths, and ritual practices of the Slavs before Christianisation, which occurred at various stages between the 8th and the 13th century. The South Slavs, who likely settled in the Balk ...
.
Description
Lazavik is a benevolent Belarusian mythological character that lives amid the
vine bushes ("laza" in
Belarusian language
Belarusian ( be, беларуская мова, biełaruskaja mova, link=no, ) is an East Slavic language. It is the native language of many Belarusians and one of the two official state languages in Belarus. Additionally, it is spoken in some p ...
). In Belarusian
folk tales Lazavik is described as a small creature with one eye, a long beard and a very long whip in his hand.
Belarusian people used to say that when Lazavik walks through the marshland, his only eye shines like a light.
Mode of life
The creature Lazavik prefers to stay unnoticed by people, and constantly tries to hide in its house.
The house of Lazavik is small, with no windows and no doors.
In fact Lazavik is the guardian of Belarusian marshes.
It is believed that Lazavik dies if its
marshes
A marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p Marshes can often be found at ...
are drained. With its whip, Lazavik drives away small, harmful, and noisy Lozniks through the vine bushes.
[Цыбулькин В. В., Сивальнёв А. Н., Сердюченко М. Н. «Влесова книга»: Быль и мифы Славянской цивилизации. — К.: ЧП Зеленский В. Л., 2016.]
See also
*
Damavik
In the Slavic religious tradition, Domovoy ( Russian: Домово́й, literally "he oneof the household"; also spelled ''Domovoi'', ''Domovoj'', and known as pl, Domowik or Serbian and ua, Домовик, translit=domovyk) is the household ...
*
Dzedka
Dzedka"Magical World. From Belarusian Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales", Minsk, "Piatrus Brouka Belarusian Encyclopedia" Publishing House, 2008 ( be, Дзедка, russian: Кладенец, pl, Skarbnik) is a character of Belarusian mythology. Dz ...
*
Shatans Shatans are odd-looking creatures of Islamic mythology. In accordance with Islamic folklore, Shatans are humanoid projections of the devil. Spreading the knowledge of dark magic among their followers. On the contrary with Christian believes, Islam d ...
*
Younik
The Ovinnik (russian: Овинник), Joŭnik or Jownik ( be, Ёўнік) is a malevolent spirit of the threshing house in Slavic folklore whose name derived from ''ovin'' 'barn'.Dixon-Kennedy, Mike (1998). ''Encyclopedia of Russian and Slavic ...
*
Zheuzhyk
Zheuzhyk is a creature of Belarusian mythology. It is considered to be a good creature that lives deeply in the lake bed. Zheuzhyk is considered to be the guardian of rivers and lakes of Belarus.
Description
In Belarusian folklore Zheuzhyk is de ...
*
Zhytsen
Zhytsen or Žycień ( be, Жыцень) is a positive creature from Belarusian mythology said to live in fields.
Description
In Belarus, Zhyten is described as a little old man with a beard. A distinctive feature of Zhytsen is the third eye in ...
*
Zlydzens
Zlydzens are hazardous creatures in Belarusian mythology. These mythological characters often live under the masonry stove.
Description
In the fairy-tales and myths of Belarusian nation Zlydzens are usually described as small, humpbacked and ...
References
Slavic legendary creatures
Slavic mythology
Belarusian folklore
Cyclopes
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