Zlydzens are hazardous creatures in
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 ...
. 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 nasty creatures that remind one of cats and dogs at the same time. They often wear big boots and hats with earflaps.
Mode of life
These creatures are engaged in all sorts of harmful and damaging activities and ruin everything around them, quickly trying to make a mess. In Belarusian folklore it is said that Zlydzens are sometimes drawn to the homes of individuals who want to become rich quickly and of greedy owners.
Zlydzens play their nasty tricks in groups because, like many other small and harmful creatures, they are cowards and are afraid to act alone. When the owner leaves the house, Zlydzens emerge from their shelter and make a mess. They damage utensils, pour milk from pitchers; pans fly around the house. Cries of Zlydzens are heard all around the village. Zlydzens are always engaged in all sorts of harmful and damaging activities, and are constantly making a mess.
[Цыбулькин В. В., Сивальнёв А. Н., Сердюченко М. Н. «Влесова книга»: Быль и мифы Славянской цивилизации. — К.: ЧП Зеленский В. Л., 2016.]
See also
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Boggart
A boggart is a creature in English folklore, either a household spirit or a malevolent '' genius loci'' (that is, a geographically-defined spirit) inhabiting fields, marshes, or other topographical features. Other names of this group include ''bu ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Gremlin
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Lazavik Lazavik ( be, Лазавік) is a creature of Belarusian mythology.
Description
Lazavik is a benevolent Belarusian mythological character that lives amid the vine bushes ("laza" in Belarusian language). In Belarusian folk tales Lazavik is des ...
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Poltergeist
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
References
Mythology
Slavic mythology
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