Likhoradka ( Russian: ''Лихорадка'',

Serbian Serbian may refer to: * someone or something related to Serbia, a country in Southeastern Europe * someone or something related to the Serbs, a South Slavic people * Serbian language * Serbian names See also * * * Old Serbian (disambiguation ...

: ''Милоснице'' or ''Milosnice'') or tryasavitsa is a female spirit in

Slavic 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 Bal ...

. Likhoradka was purported to be able to possess a person's body and cause sickness. In some tales, she is considered a creation of the dark deity

Chernobog Chernobog ( "Black God") and Belobog ( "White God") are an alleged pair of Polabian deities. Chernobog appears in the Helmold's ''Chronicle'' as a god of misfortune worshipped by the Wagri and Obodrites, while Belobog is not mentioned – he was ...

. Later Russian legends describe 12 Likhoradkas, with individual names associated with special illnesses. In modern Russian, the word likhoradka has obtained the meaning "

fever Fever, also referred to as pyrexia, is defined as having a temperature above the normal range due to an increase in the body's temperature set point. There is not a single agreed-upon upper limit for normal temperature with sources using val ...

". As a mythological figure, Likhoradka was related to the figure of Chuma, which in modern Russian is the term for

plague Plague or The Plague may refer to: Agriculture, fauna, and medicine *Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' * An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural) * A pandemic caused by such a disease * A swarm of pes ...

. Likhoradka was sometimes portrayed as a tall woman with disheveled hair, a pale face and a white dress, who brought sickness to people she tried to touch or to kiss. The word likhoradka comes from ancient Russian ''likho'' (harm or bad luck) and ''radet'' which means to endeavor.

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{{Slavic mythology Female legendary creatures Slavic legendary creatures