These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The creature is known for not taking the lives of its victims, it only takes enough for it to satisfy the growling stomach. Nothing about vrykolakas makes much sense to me and it sounds like a classic case of the broken telephone. [65][66] After the ban of all the Sufi orders in Turkey in 1925, the Bektashi Order established its headquarters in Tirana. Kind of like a drunk sexual predator. And maybe its just me because as a kid I used to cry often, but why would parents want to scare their children into not crying? [6] The earliest attested cult of the Albanians is the worship of the Sun and the Moon. They are often depicted spinning, measuring, and cutting thread, revealing their control over human life. Ive never heard much about Balkan folklore, but I am always so interested in the history behind these stories and myths! But there are also those who have certainpreferences. Scary! In various tales there is a certain degree of Pellazgian influence, some mythological figures derive from pellazgian mythology. [51] Some Albanians living in the mountains, who were only partially affected by Romanization, probably sank back into the Classic Paganism. Their name derives from Fate. It is considered to be home of thegods and Baba Tomorri, or Father Tomorr, is the human representation of the Mount. A Lamiais a creature said to be half woman, half serpent. Both the Ora and Vitore are widely represented as a serpent with golden horns who brings gold.[9] Albanian stories describe beliefs associated with the protective serpent Oras. They can live either in caves or mountain tops, and are particularly intelligent. Islams God? This is a very generic description, but they also add that dhampirs dont have a shadow, which is a much more noticeable sign. In the northern cultures, the kucedra is believed to have the . Unlike sampiro, however, lugat leaves its victims to deal with very serious consequences. It is said that lugat tends to lure its victims to its dark home and can even murder people in their sleep. He hired Master Manole and nine of his men for the job. It keeps its eyes closed . Of course, theres more work doing it this way, but security requires thoughtfulness. [62][63][64] Bektashism is a Muslim dervish order (tariqat) thought to have originated in the 13th century in a frontier region of Anatolia, where Christianity, Islam and paganism coexisted, allowing the incorporation of comparable pagan and non-Muslim beliefs into popular Islam. Should an Ora howl at a person, the threads of their fate would be cut. Children may have a coin tied to their forehead, or blue glass beads could be attached to the hair of both children and horses. The three Ora then seek the help of Mujo to seek revenge on Paji. Albanian folklore evolved over the centuries in a relative isolated tribal culture and society,[4] and although several changes occurred in the Albanian belief system, an ancient substratum of pre-Christian beliefs has survived until today. [4], The Ora reside towards the north of the Drin River in Northern Albania. Hadhayosh: Gigantic land Creature (Persian Mythology) 45. Only the shtriga herself could cure those she had drained. [42], Albanian folklore traces back to Paleo-Balkan mythology including a substrate of Illyrian religion. The kucedra or kulshedra is a mythological creature in Albanian mythology that is usually depicted as a large, multi-headed dragon with 7 heads. In addition to that, for an unknown reason, sampiro also wears high heels and is therefore swaying as it walks. A large abandoned ancient city remains within the cavern, with a bazar stocked with all of the finest and best fruit, flesh, fish, and fair raiment. the Bolla dragon. We did establish that vampires are horny creatures, remember? The Drekavac is translated literally as the screamerorthe screecher. Of the three sea facing windows, only the one belonging to the youngest sister remained. All we have is that Buba is some kind of a serpentine monster. Clearly, the superpowers come from the vampire parent but we all know that vampires have weaknesses too. more appealing. The town of Berat sits in the foothills of Mount Tomorr and is closely guarded by Baba, as its his favourite city and great source of pride. In Albanian mythology, physical events, substances, and things are linked to mythical creatures. Zuku, taunted and captured is blinded by his mother. This version attacks the children at a summer camp and poses as a camp counselor. Often you could even call this family business (yes, like Sam & Dean), as the young dhampirs learn the craft from their own parents and grandparents. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Vitore is a household deity known as the woman who spins[4] spinning out the destiny of each person when they are born. [10] A widespread folk symbol is the serpent, a totem of the Albanians associated with earth, water, sun, hearth and ancestor cults, as well as destiny, good fortune and fertility. All Rights Reserved | This is really interesting! They also have the tail of a snake, golden wings and incredible physical strength. 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. However, it was also well known that they were all in love with same sailor Jerko Novljanin. The three sisters Nera, Bianca and Rosa Bucca often stayed at the familys summer house. Kee-wakw: Cannibalistic Giant half-human and half-animal (Abenaki Mythology) 46. [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. And you wouldnt be wrong for seeking that because of what in Albanian is called syliga. [4], With the birth of each child many Oras gather in the night towards the cliffs to decide upon the qualities that child would receive. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, in Albania arrived also the Bektashi Sufi order[61] which spread widely among Albanians because of its traditional tolerance and regard for different religions, practices and beliefs and because it allowed itself to be a vehicle for the expression of Crypto-Christian, Christian and pre-Christian pagan beliefs and rituals. It may not be the first time you hear the word shtriga. Depending on the culture, the appearance and abilities of the mythological creature may differ. But what bothers me is the part of scaring children into not crying. [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. Folklore of Northern Albania emphasizes that a shtriga is not born to be a witch. [2] British poet Lord Byron (17881824), describing the Albanian religious belief, reported that "The Greeks hardly regard them as Christians, or the Turks as Muslims; and in fact they are a mixture of both, and sometimes neither. [4] 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, lands formerly inhabited by Albanians like Montenegro and South Serbia and among the Arbresh in Italy and the Arvanites in Greece. Eventually, as you got a bigger picture, you would also notice her face disfigurement and possibly a cape that she tends to wear. Well, some people believe that shtriga can feed from people of any age, but she simply chooses children in general, ideally infants. According to popular belief, they returned to the area to search for their lost limbs. The stories surrounding lugat vary quite a bit, especially when it comes to how dangerous it can be. Read More. While vampires are commonly known as blood-thirsty and horny beings, dhampirs, in some stories, arent depicted too differently from humans in terms of behavior. Another important figure in Norse mythology is the god Thor, who is known for his strength and his weapon, the mighty hammer Mjolnir. While Jin is a general reference to concealment, al-janin refers specifically to a fetus that is concealed in its mother's womb. Bo's friends search for the creature after figuring out that the shtriga had bitten Bo in its moth form, leaving her comatose and dying as it feeds on her fears. I suppose its fine if it can save a life. It can even take weeks. They travelled through the northern Albanian mountains and recorded folkloric materials which were published in French translation in the 1858 Hcquard's pioneering Histoire et description de la Haute Albanie ou Gugarie (History and Description of High Albania or Gegaria). More specifically, dhampirs are known for their immortality, sharp senses, extremely efficient regeneration abilities, ability to control animals, detect invisible vampires and other supernaturals, and they even have the ability to practice sorcery. The inhabitants of the Dukagjini Mountains believed that three types of Fates existed: e Bardha (The White One) distributes good luck and wishes humans well, e Verdha (The Yellow One) distributes bad luck and casts evil spells, and e Zeza (The Black One) who decides death. According to legends, dhampirs are the result of intimacy between a human and a vampire. Basically, everyone who were frowned upon in the old days and even somewhat today. Most legends claim that dhampirs possess great powers. Albanian urban legends claim that Lubia has an insatiable appetite for children. And its not afraid to show it. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Mythological Creatures Coming at Night and Strangling People. Abaia: A magical eel (Melanesian Mythology) 47. The three fates of Greek Mythology, the Moirai, are represented similarly to the Ora as three goddesses who determine human destiny. 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. But yeah, its that simple. I love hearing mythology and folklore stories, especially ones Ive never heard from new places. List of legends, myths, ballads, and characters Some of the best known legends, concepts, ballads, songs and/or characters of Albanian mythology are: Besa Bolla Bajloz or Katallan ( giant) Constantin and Doruntine Dhampir Djall ( devil) Drangue Gjergj Elez Alia Kacamisri (similar to Tom Thumb) Karkanxhol ( werewolf) Keshete ( naiad) Kukudhi A cross made of pig bone could be placed at the entrance of a church on Easter Sunday, rendering any shtriga inside unable to leave. [1] The term shtriga is used also with the common meaning of "witch", referring to a bad and ugly old woman who casts evil spells upon people. How else would it hunt, right? Now you know about the general Balkan stories about lugat that are also told in some parts of Albania. After WW2, rumours circulated about chilling apparitions which were named Prepasti. Henwen the White by Paige Carpenter. [8] Fire worship is associated with the cult of the Sun, the cult of the hearth and the cult of fertility in agriculture and animal husbandry. Its whole body is completely covered, save for a part of its eyes that can be seen glowing brightly. On his journey he encounters an Ora who assists him and guides him towards Tanusha. Anyway, just being a Turk was not where it all ended. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Some scarier than others. A shtriga was featured in the Lost Girl episode "Follow the Yellow Trick Road." I think you already know the answer and you can thank Hollywood for that. 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