Domovye

 

The Grabdfather

  Well now, here is one abnormality of the supernatural world that begs explaining. Ranging in domain from Russia to as far as Poland, this creature is known by a variety of names. However, for the purpose of keeping this letter short, we shall only be exploring the Russian version of this creature, otherwise known as Domovoi.

  One thing that should first be recognized about the Domovoi is that it is rarely called by that name, either when spoken to or spoken about. More common titles used when addressing this peculiar spirit are "grandfather" or "fellow;" however, when speaking about and not to the Domovoi, people use such terms as "master," "well-wisher," "he," or "that one." This is due to the respect that Domovye [plural] comand due to their placement in people's everyday lives.

  Most Domovye are homebound creatures, enjoying treats from the humans who share their house and pranking its human inhabitants. Although, unlike the Kikimora (who is said to be his wife), the Domovoi is actually welcomed with open arms. To win a Domovye's favor, however, and to live with an unfriendly Domovoi are two entirely different circumstances. A Domovoi who favors his current family may bring good fortune and warnings to its family, as well as protection from some other spirits. On the other hand, a Domovoi who does not like you will cause you nothing but trouble and (occasionally serious) harm. Winning over a Domovoi or, rather, trying to win over a Domovoi, can sometimes make the difference between waking up to find simple chores done and waking up to find yourself black and blue with bruises.

  Enticing a Domovoi can be as simple as leaving out a piece of salted bread wrapped in a white cloth, or taking good care of your stove. The Domovoi loves breads, but even more he loves his stove. Although said to be fond of hallways and certain doorsteps, there is no Domovoi without a stove. The reason for this is not something that I have managed to research successfully, but there is reason to believe that Domovoi is as fond of his stove as he is fond of the element of fire. Legends say that Domovoi were cast from the heavens as a sort of "fallen angel" in mythology, and while some adapted to their new homes and each to their respective elements, the Domovoi that became what we know as our house spirits and retained most of their original characteristics and fiery elements.

  Ah, but I have forgotten to describe this creature! The Domovoi is a relatively shy creature and would rather not be seen, but those who have passed on accounts of their sightings describe these creatures as hairy and small in size, often with a resemblance of the master of the house, or deceased ancestors or relatives of the household's current family. One trick that the Domovoi is especially fond of playing, and is perhaps most appreciated for, is mimicking the master of the house while doing some of his chores. To many this may sound unincredible, but when you see someone doing their chores who otherwise leaves them to other people's hands, you too might not believe your eyes. Chances are this person doing their work is not the human operating under a bout of responsibility, but a Domovoi having fun.

  There are so many amazing facts that I could write about for a Domovoi, but first comes more research, and then a longer paper to fit everything on. Perhaps next time I can include a thicker letter, but I am afraid that for now I do not have the funds to be spending on lavish postings; the cost of stamps has risen again, and I have left most of my wallet at home. I'm currently writing form a northern part of the hemisphere, so you will have to excuse me if this letter arrives late. There are no other people - and no postal office! - except for a far walk from where I am making camp. What am I doing here? I'm on my way to ask a few friends about a special creature - but hush! Don't ask what it is. Save the questioning for a time when I can write without my pen freezing over.

       Until warmer days,  

              The Friendly Steampunk

Credits to Google Images for the picture 

Changelings

Changelins - The Unwanted Children

  Hello hello, and welcome back my friends! I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting for me; I hope you did not wait long. For the past few months I have been (somewhat unsucessfully) trying to chase down more details of the creatures that so many like to party with with, or fae. (Although, with all due respects, time passes differently when you're that far into the forest.)

  Ah, but you want to hear of the creatures! Well, while we are on the subject of Fae, there is another little group of trouble makers that have caught my eye, and quite recently too recently. However, they are not a topic that many can stomach speaking of, since many alleged "changelings" were not actually of the fairy realm. Yes, I say "changelings" I will give warning, and only once, for those who are easily sickened by the slightest of violence. I will do my best to keep my words breif and to the point, but I will not omit facts simply beacuase they are created out of human kind's uncivil nature.

  A basic sumary of a changeling is a fairy that has been subsituted for a human child. But that is only a basic sumary, and barely scratches the surface of these troubleome beings. Situated in European folklore as early as the middle ages (as far as I have been able to tell), changelings have been known as replacement, or unwanted, children. It is said that fairy mothers subsitute their own sickly offsping for that of a healthy, robust human child. Sometimes they leave other objects in place of the human boy or girl, but more oft then naught they leave their own children in the human's place. And although this is the more common circumstance imagined when a person says "changeling", fairy folk will also let an elderly volunteer stay with the human family. These older counterparts would mirror the stolen child's appearance and stay far longer with their human families than the young fairy children.

  I have attatched no picture of this type of creature for the sole purpose that any one may imitate many faces. And, with all due respects, would have the courage to ask a fairy to stand still long enough for them to have their picture taken? And when these creatures are so well addapted in changing their faces at will, when will you know which face to take a picture of? And how? Thankfully, there is an easier way to identify a changeling than its appearance. These particular beings are very fond of food. They may, quite literally, eat you out of house and home. No no, I do not mean that they eat humans, I mean that no matter how much the fairy eats it will always seem to be hungry. There is a story of a child who went and asked a neighbor for money to go to the market while his parents were out. When the mother of the child came home she went to ask the neighbor for money to buy food from the market. The neighbor naturally thought the woman was mad, and explained that she had already given her boy the money. The mother claimed this was not true, since the boy could hardly speak - let alone walk. Yet both she and the neighbor drew up a plan to watch the boy over the next few days. When the mother faked going out to work one morning the child stood, walked over to the table where the mother had earlier left out a large sum of food, and ate every single thing down to the very last crumb! Both the mother and neighbor (both of whom had been watching) were struck speachless. So remember, if you're younger brother eats too much, he's just a growing boy.

  Ah, but on to the more serious matter of these creatures! Many were not quite so pleasantly discovered as the changeling mentioned in the story above. Fire was a very common tool in "detecting" changelings for what they truely were. Either submersing the suspected changelling in fire, or burning it with a hot mealt, were both practices that were believed to exorcised the fairy and bring back the human child. Other inhumane methods of either getting rid of, or exposing, the changelings are (but are not limited to) leaving the suspected fairy exposed on a hillside or dungheap, and pelting the suspected with iron nails. As I said, I will not leave out the facts, no matter how uncivil they are. There is, however, a method or two to "test" the suspected changeling without actually physically harming the fairy. In some instances the mothers whose children had been stolen were advised to be kind to the changelings in return for their child. And, happily, in most cases the kindness of the mother was repayed with the return of their child.

  Due to the age of the children that were typically stolen, it was said that babies left unattended before they had been baptized were the more common targets of these theiving fairies. It should therefor not be so surprising when I tell you that one of the less brutal ways of discovering a changeling involves a cross. Whether made of silver or wood (although wood was far less likely), a cross was placed on a shovel, along with salt, and baked over a fire. Once again, fire was belived to have helped in the exorcism of the fairy.

  The oil that fuels my lamp is quickly running low, so I shall leave you with one more fact of these fairy creatures. This, happier by far, is another test that people believed in. To make a changeling laugh was believed to be the cure and end to the false child. One clever mother took an egg, broke it in half, threw away the contents of the egg, filled the shells with water, and set them in front of the fire to boil. This made the changeling howl with laughter and cry, "In my thousand years I have never seen such madness!" Then, in the next instant, the changeling was gone. Most accounts of this event say that the human child was returned to its proper mother, hance giving the tale a happy ending.

  Changelings and children; a pairing that never seems to become old. Let us hope, however, that both are treated with kindness that is due to them. I'll write again once I have refuled this dratted lamp. Until then; gooday, and goodnight.

       Until the next adventure,  

              The Friendly Steampunk

Credits to Google Images for the picture 

Friendly House Spirits

 From near and far

  I'm sorry for not posting a letter last week, but I do intend to make up for my lack of attention next week. I will be writing another letter on the supernatural to be sent over the weekend, and hopefully it will not disappoint. In the mean time however...

  Now, straight to the point - I do not know and have never met a household spirit (to the best of my knowledge), and do not intend to let that bias my judgement. If you know these anomalies by different names than the ones that I have listed them by then, by all means, feel free to let me know. I do not speak some of these languages so please don't criticize me if I write the wrong names. I only know what I have read.

Zashiki Warashi - Japanese

  This small spirit may have different names depending on the region of Japan it is found in, but I know it by the name zashiki warashi. Japanese in origin, this friendly yokai (or supernatural monster/spirit) takes on the looks of a ghost-like child, sometimes with the appearance of only five to six years of age. Girl zashiki can be found wearing child-sized flowered kimonos, while the boys are dressed in small warrior costumes.

  Though they love mischief and are known for their childlike pranks, zashiki are actually good spirits. If treated with the proper respects, zashiki have been known to bring good fortunes and great wealth. On the other hand, when treated poorly, these friendly spirits may become fiendly, taking your good luck with them as they leave to find another residence.

Smok - Slavic

  Though the above picture might not be an accurate representation, a smok (or smotzi in the plural) is a fairly simple house spirits that come in the form of a snake. Usually the guardian of a house, smok only appear to children and those who own the home.

  Very similar to the zashiki, smok are able to bring tidings of both good luck and bad luck depending on how they are treated. But instead of candies, this spirit prefers to drink the milk that working parents leave out for their children.

  Stories say that when parents leave home to work in the fields they left some food out where their children could reach it - usually milk and bread - so that the children have something to eat. In many cases the food would disappear, but the child or children would grow thinner. When the parents find out that a smok has been drinking and eating the food instead, reactions become somewhat mixed. But, (since I'd like to look on the bright side), we'll see this to a positive end. If the parents see that the smok is not harming the child or children, they will leave it be; otherwise, on the rare occasion that the circumstances should differ for the worse, the parents would chase away the smok, driving it out of the house and all the good luck with it.

  Ah, but now I feel that I've been rambling a bit...

  It's a late hour and I haven't much more time before my eyes see only smeared blurs (I spent too long chasing a vampire around X St. last night. Before I knew what had happened, moonlight had become sunlight) so I'll say goodnight for now. I promise I'll write soon in a few short days.

        Sincerely for the sake of everything nonsensical,

              The Friendly Steampunk

Credits to Google Images for the pictures

Kikimori

A Brief Analysis

  Kikimora (or kikimori for plural) is a very interesting spirit that I've recently discovered so I'm afraid I can't give much detail on this topic. But I've done some basic research and have found it to be a very intriguing subject.

  Traditionally found in inhabited buildings, a kikimora is a creature of Eastern European superstitions and folklore. She is usually female in gender, though male kikimori do exist. Originating mainly in Slavic countries, the kikimora can often be depicted as both a good and bad spirit that may help with household chores: whether her help is wanted or not. If a kikimora begins a project, she will never really believe it is finished; and, if she does not finish it, consider yourself lucky. Projects undertaken by a kikimora may become entangled or horribly undone, so be thankful if she leaves her work unfinished when the sun rises.

  Famous for living behind stoves and inside cellars, a kikimora can be far easier to expose when compared with other spirits. If you hear scratching sounds coming from the floors, the noises of objects falling in the night, or whining coming out of the walls then the chances that a kikimora haunts your house are considerable.

  It is said that a kikimora only roams from dusk until dawn, for she is afraid of sunlight. Yet, while she is active, a kikimora's powers can be incredible. Despite being constantly restless, she can see long distances, become invisible, and run very fast.

  I'm tempted to write how a kikimora is created, but I feel that some of the means might be distressing as they refer to the deceased. Yet a simple way for a kikimora to be created is when a child has been kidnapped by a kikimora for her to raise as her own; and often times the kikimora will leave her own child as an exchange (if not some enchanted object).

  I will do more research on kikimori in time, but for now this is all that I have managed to establish as fact. And, until I retain more information, I'm afraid I'll have to leave you. I seem to have forgotten I was making tea...

       Forever grateful for your support, 

              The Friendly Steampunk

Credits to Google Images for the picture