Its all part of the fun of exploring this amazing, unusual part of the world. And if you tried to distract yourself from her stare somehow, you would very quickly notice her crooked nose. The German physician Karl H. Reinhold collected Albanian folklore material from Albanian sailors while he was serving as a doctor in the Greek navy and in 1855 he published Noctes Pelasgicae (Pelasgian Nights). Amongst the creatures that the Henwen gave birth to were a bee, a piglet, a wolf cub and an eagle. They are known in Albania specifically by their names and not the general vampire title. [20] A substantial contribution in this direction has been made by the Albanologist Robert Elsie. Apparently the storytellers even saw interactions with the Turks as a risk that could turn anyone else into a vampire. [9], Within Albanian folklore and poetry, Ora had the ability to take any form they pleased, including birds, beasts, women, or serpents.[10], In Northern Albania, Oras often appear as serpents. similarly to the Southern Albanian deity Vitore. The eldest sister died first so the other two bricked up her sea facing window. Now all you need to do is pick the one you like the best! All of these versions stem from the Latin word strga, which translates into evil spirit and witch. I love hearing mythology and folklore stories, especially ones Ive never heard from new places. [3] Ancient Illyrian religion is considered to be one of the sources from which Albanian legend and folklore evolved,[29][30][31] reflecting a number of parallels with Ancient Greek and Roman mythologies. However, I couldnt be more wrong. Nov 14, 2017 - Explore Margarett Bridge's board "Albanian Mythology" on Pinterest. [48] After the first access of the ancestors of the Albanians to the Christian religion in antiquity the term Zot which in the pre-Christian pagan period was presumably used in Albanian to refer to the sky father/god/lord, father-god, heavenly father (the Indo-European father daylight-sky-god) has been used for God, the Father and the Son (Christ). On the other hand, some people strongly believe that shtriga can be killed when she is caughtfeeding. It doesnt take one to be a wolf expert to know that a wolf is a wild and free animal that doesnt take orders from humans, so youll probably need to think of an indirect way to complete your mission. So worst-case scenario, you were chosen by sampiro. Other Indo-European scholars who collected Albanian folklore material were German linguists Gustav Weigand and August Leskien. Between the 7th and 12th centuries a powerful network of cult institutions were revived completely covering the ecclesiastical administration of the entire present-day Albanian-speaking compact area. But thats not all. Do you know any great stories or terrifying creatures? For me, not only does it say something about its personality, but also raises questions. Their characteristics depend on their nationalities. The Dictionary of Albanian Religion, Mythology, and Folk Culture makes available for the first time a wealth of knowledge about Albanian popular belief and folk customs. Youll need to make a cross from pig bone and then make sure its placed at the entrance of a church. This reminds me of Annabelle. And you wouldnt be wrong for seeking that because of what in Albanian is called syliga. Varieties of the symbols of the Sun that Christian orders brought in the region found in the Albanian highlands sympathetic supporters, enriching the body of their symbols with new material. If you were killed by a vampire or even ate the meat of an animal that wasnt properly slaughtered, or it was killed accidentally You guessed, these things make you a vampire too. Vita turned down every other suitor in the hope of marrying Lyulin. [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. Basically, everyone who were frowned upon in the old days and even somewhat today. :B. Amazing post! [56] In a text compiled around the beginning of the 11th century in the Old Bulgarian language, the Albanians are mentioned for the first time with their old ethnonym Arbanasi as half-believers, a term which for Eastern Orthodox Christian Bulgarians meant Catholic Christian. I wont deep into their history, but what you need to know for context is that many Albians viewed, and even now many see the Turks as invaders who forced their language and religion on Albanians. This list may not reflect recent changes . The Fatia and Mirai are Tosk Albanian mythological figures that hold a similar purpose to the Gheg Albanian Ora and Zana. the albanian history. Apparently, parents tell their loud children that Buba will get them if they dont quiet down. Baba is woken by his four eagles and makes sure Earthly Beauty is taken to safety before setting off to battle Shpirag. [15] The characters in Albanian tales, legends and myths include humans, deities, demigods, monsters, as well as supernatural beings in the shapes of men, animals and plants. Her favorite target is infants and she typically hunts during the night when infants (and their parents, for that matter) are sleeping. In addition to that, the word Dhampir itself has a few slightly different ways to be spelled such as dhamphir and dhampyr. [42], Albanian folklore traces back to Paleo-Balkan mythology including a substrate of Illyrian religion. Kind of like a drunk sexual predator. [2] Albert Doja refers to the studies of Maximilian Lambertz, revealing that the faces of the Oras change depending on the degree of happiness they bestow upon the newborn child. Surprisingly, they agreed and decided that the first wife to bring lunch for her husband should be the one to be encased into the walls of the monastery. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. And yet vrykolakas sits on them? From 1848 he served as interpreter to French consul in Shkodra, Louis Hyacinthe Hcquard, who was very interested in, and decided to prepare a book on, northern Albanian folklore. But lets start with its appearance. Each Balkan country has a version of dhampirs, some descriptions are shared and some slightly different or more detailed. If you are unfortunate enough to be attacked in your slumber by a Night Hag, you will become restless, grunt, move around, have difficulty breathing, experience a tight chest and, when you wake, it will feel like something was strangling you in your sleep. Of the three sea facing windows, only the one belonging to the youngest sister remained. One must never disturb a snake, even if its found within a babys cradle as it is the ora that belongs to the house and the baby. The kucedra or kulshedra is a mythological creature in Albanian mythology that is usually depicted as a large, multi-headed dragon with 7 heads. [] HER HEAD WAS SERPENT, BUT AH, BITTER-SWEET! The pagan cult of the Sun was almost identical to the Christian cult in the first centuries of Christianity. Wandering aimlessly in the mountains, the blind Zuku is met by an ora who restores his sights with some herbs and tells him to take vengeance. Category:Albanian legendary creatures Help Pages in category "Albanian legendary creatures" The following 16 pages are in this category, out of 16 total. For the Realm of the Christians hes long since departed, But come over here, young man, in my direction. They can roar like thunder, make the earth shake, and snack on grown people. He is often depicted as a fierce warrior who fights against giants and other monsters to protect the people of Midgard, the mortal world. The images of mythological creatures "coming at night and strangling people . Very long! In fact, it is said that women who submit to envy and for some reason dont bear children are the ones who turn into shtrigas. [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. The Albanian word shtrig (definite form being shtriga) derives from the Latin strga, "evil spirit, witch",[2] related to Italian: strega, Romanian: strig and Polish: strzyga. Try our ghost stories from Scotland article or visit this great site for all things ALBANIAN FOLKLORE. In Norse mythology, the Helm of Awe (also known as the Helm of Terror) is a magical item worn by the dragon Fafnir, who attributes much of his invincibility to its power. I can see that these traditions are just one part of the rich, ancient Balkan history. [69] Folk tales, myths and legends have been orally transmitted down the generations and are still very much alive in the mountainous regions of Albania, Kosovo and western North Macedonia, among the Arbresh in Italy and the Arvanites in Greece.[20][70]. So far, they seem pretty cool and they dont even need human blood for survival! He clenched it and squeezed it and crushed it to pieces., Mujos brother Halili sets out to search for the only one he wishes to marry, Tanusha - the daughter of the King in the Realm of the Christians. Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (Zuku Bajraktar), translated by Robert Elsie , And make your eyes as you once had them., Syri i Keq is one of the curses of Albania; the Evil Eye. This is a mythical creature inSouthSlavic mythology. [45], Prehistoric Illyrian symbols used on funeral monuments of the pre-Roman period have been used also in Roman times and continued into late antiquity in the broad Illyrian territory. Only the shtriga herself could cure those she had drained. Mount Tomorr is a mountain range in central Albania. The Ora are often described as good mythological figures that offer their protection and help, but in several tales are depicted as negative and dangerous creatures. Nothing about vrykolakas makes much sense to me and it sounds like a classic case of the broken telephone. [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. This method would trap shtriga inside, giving you the opportunity to kill her, though Im not entirely sure how anyone would do this since sources claim that she cant be killed using regular weapons and methods. Apparently, these two factors make them evil and the word shtriga itself is used to describe someone as evil. The defense against Night Hags is to close all keyholes to stop them from entering the room. hopefully they are just myths haha! How can you fight back? You wont be able to avoid it when you visit. Vrykolakas would find someone who is asleep and then crush and suffocate them by sitting on them. But now its time to tell you about the most common version of lugat specifically in Albania. As soon as the creature chooses a food source in the foggy streets, it will immediately proceed to follow this person. All Rights Reserved | Well, apparently vrykolakas can be pretty judgemental too. In Albanian mythology, she is usually attacked and defeated by a drangue, a divine being who is regarded as the protector of mankind. I mean, it would make more sense if it was the evil nose, but fair enough. The drekavac will avoid dogs and bright light, and if the shadow of drekavac falls upon a person then that person will become ill and die. [32] Albanian legend also shows similarities with neighbouring Indo-European traditions, such as the oral epics with the South Slavs and the folk tales of the Greeks. He recorded thirty-five Albanian folk tales from Albania and Corfu and published them in the 1895 Albanesische Texte mit Glossar (Albanian Texts with Glossary). According to popular belief, they returned to the area to search for their lost limbs. The Drekavac is translated literally as the screamerorthe screecher. This compilation was a milestone of Albanian folk literature being the first collection of Albanian material of scholarly quality. 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 As for the origins of vrykolakas and how you can turn into one, wellhold on tight, the list is long. This person must be loved either by him or by one of his masons. I love these stories! 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. For a cover? Baba Tomorri has inflicted many wounds on the face of Shirag which can still be seen today. Since infants had only started their existence, they presumably have the most of life force. They also have the tail of a snake, golden wings and incredible physical strength. Yes, in popular creativity, it mostly symbolizes good fortune and the coming of a time of prosperity. Lets go! Sebastian Franck: Albania: A Mighty Province of Europe", "Einheitlichkeit und Spaltung im Laufe des Christianisierungsprozesses der Albaner. [17][18], Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (The Marriage of Halili), translated by Robert Elsie . Some people find it funny, others are creeped out by it. After that, all youll need to do is throw the salt into direct flames while also saying syt i dalin syt i plain. If you watch South Park, you may feel a deja vu as you read the part with the nickname, as Cartman from South Park has assigned this exact nickname to people with red hair who can walk in the sunlight without being scared of its effects on them. [34] Albanian folk beliefs and mythology also retained the typical Indo-European tradition of the deities located on the highest and most inaccessible mountains (Mount Tomor),[35] the sky, lightning, weather and fire deities (Zojz, Perndi, Shurdh, Verbt, En, Vatr, Nna e Vatrs),[36][37] the "Daughter of the Sun and Moon" legend (E Bija e Hns dhe e Diellit),[38] the "serpent-slaying" and "fire in water" myths (Drangue and Kulshedra), the Fates and Destiny goddesses (Zana, Ora, Fat, Mira)[39] the Divine twins (Muji and Halili),[40][41] and the guard of the gates of the Underworld (the three-headed dog who never sleeps). I cant wait to visit the Balkans one day and just love learning about this area . 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