Episode 87: Witch and Wood - The Lore of Baba Yaga and the Leshy

In Eastern Slavic lore, there are two fearsome creatures that are said to lurk in the forests and woods: Baba Yaga and The Leshy. Baba Yaga appears in many tales since 1755, although believed to be in spoken lore much earlier. She lives deep in the woods, in a house that walks on chicken legs, goat legs or ram horns, with a fence made of human bones and a hunger for secrets. She’s been called a witch, a cannibal, a guardian of ancient magic. Baba Yaga is older than memory and far more dangerous than a fairy tale. But to those brave—or foolish—enough to knock on her door, Baba Yaga might offer wisdom... or ruin. Similar to Baba Yaga, the Leshy is not inherently good or evil. Sometimes a protector. Sometimes a prankster. And sometimes... something much darker. The Leshy is the guardian of the forest, said to play tricks on those lost or disrespecting the forest. There are ways to protect yourself from the Leshy however it is still revered as a spirit no one wants to cross. These supernatural beings have haunted and fascinated generations with their dual and mischievous natures.

 

Sources:

“Baba Yaga” by Joshua J. Mark on World History Encyclopedia on October 7, 2021 (https://www.worldhistory.org/Baba_Yaga/)

“Baba Yaga: The Wicked Witch of Slavic Folklore” by Riley Winters on Ancient Origins: Unravelling the Mysteries of the Past on February 25, 2023 (https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-europe/baba-yaga-confounding-crone-slavic-folklore-002836)

“Baba Yaga: The greatest 'wicked witch' of all?” by David Barnett on BBC on November 20, 2022 (https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20221118-baba-yaga-the-greatest-wicked-witch-of-all)

“Baba Yaga” by The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica on Britannica (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baba-Yaga)

“Baba-Yaga” a page from a 1904 Alphabet Book by Alexandre Benois 1870-1960 (https://ces.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/Baba-Yaga-informational-material.pdf)

“The Leshy: Slavic Monster that Inspired a TV Franchise” by Bipin Dimri on Historic Mysteries on January 28, 2022 (https://www.historicmysteries.com/myths-legends/leshy/23217/)

“Leshy” by The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica on Britannica (https://www.britannica.com/topic/leshy)

“Leshy” on Cryptid Wiki (https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Leshy)

“The Leshy” on Emmipants || Permit Hiatus (https://aminoapps.com/c/pagans-witches/page/item/the-leshy/pXk1_mnqfpI2Wm0Q1bWrxYBe3n4dVMxb1q)

“Gods & Monsters of the Fire Salamander World: Leshy” by N.M. Thorn (https://www.nmthorn.com/post/gods-monsters-of-the-fire-salamander-world-leshy)