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 Some vampires can be committed to one woman and may even have a wife. The French consul in Janina and Thessalonika, Auguste Dozon, published Albanian folk tales and songs initially in the 1879 Manuel de la langue chkipe ou albanaise (Manual of the Shkip or Albanian Language) and in the 1881 Contes albanais, recueillis et traduits (Albanian Tales, Collected and Translated). Durham reports that supernatural happenings within Albania would act as a caution, with many refusing to travel anywhere near areas believed to be cursed and/or protected by the Ora.[26]. A shtriga ( Albanian: shtrig) is a vampiric witch in Albanian mythology and folklore that sucks the blood of infants at night while they sleep, and then turns into a flying insect (traditionally a moth, fly or bee ). On the other hand, some people strongly believe that shtriga can be killed when she is caughtfeeding. Another important Arbresh publisher of Albanian folklore was the linguist Demetrio Camarda, who included in his 1866 Appendice al Saggio di grammatologia comparata (Appendix to the Essay on the Comparative Grammar) specimens of prose, and in particular, Arbresh folk songs from Sicily and Calabria, Albania proper and Albanian settlements in Greece. Unlike with a female shtriga, however, we dont really get an explanation of how men turn into shtrigu. 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? 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. The kulshedra or kuedra is a water, storm, fire and chthonic demon in Albanian mythology and folklore, usually described as a huge multi-headed female serpentine dragon. 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. Should an Ora howl at a person, the threads of their fate would be cut. Mount Tomorr is a mountain range in central Albania. The reason why I wouldnt exclude her from the vampire category is that a shtriga is depicted as a blood-sucking witch in Albanian folklore. According to legend, only the shtrig herself could cure those she had drained (often by spitting in their mouths), and those who were not cured inevitably sickened and died. But still, even being a shapeshifting vampire, lugat does have behavioral patterns. Now you know about the general Balkan stories about lugat that are also told in some parts of Albania. Only the shtriga herself could cure those she had drained. In fact, according to the local lore, Shtriga can cure her victims by spitting in their mouths. Albanian Mythology Creatures: Vampires and Dhampirs Dhampirs are a widely-spread subject in Balkan folklore, which includes Albania, today's subject. For me, not only does it say something about its personality, but also raises questions. I hope youre ready to meet the dark side of Albanian culture! Read More. 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. "[59] In Ottoman times education in the Albanian language was forbidden. The German linguist and professor at the University of Graz, Gustav Meyer, published in 1884 fourteen Albanian tales in Albanische Mrchen (Albanian Tales), and a selection of Tosk tales in the 1888 Albanian grammar (1888). However, others have viewed her differently. Zmey are beings with vaguely human features. [26] Durhams studies within Albania reveal that no man has ventured within the cavern for many years. Have you visited any Balkan countries? Their characteristics depend on their nationalities. Thats right, the one that lugat feeds from can become tainted by its own desire to feed off other people. But wait, it gets even better! This list may not reflect recent changes . Any kind of partnerships and even a simple interaction could turn Albanians into vampires. : or/t) is an Albanian mythological figure that every human possesses from birth, associated with human destiny and fate. [20], The Albanian National Awakening (Rilindja) gave rise to collections of folklore material in Albania in the second half of the 19th century. In these circumstances, she somehow becomes vulnerable and can be killed when shes shot with iron bullets. The eldest sister died first so the other two bricked up her sea facing window. This particular one is called the Night Hag. [22], The first Albanian folklorist to collect the oral tradition in a more systematic manner for scholarly purposes was the Franciscan priest and scholar Shtjefn Gjeovi. Jubani's own first collection of folklorethe original Albanian texts of the folk songs published by Hcquardwas lost in the flood that devastated the city of Shkodra on 13 January 1866. Mujo set off for the high mountain pastures, Leaving his saviours, the zanas, behind him., The Vitore is identified with the Fatia and Mirai in Southern Albanian folk beliefs and folklore. Shefit Koboci Afrdita Armati Bardha Bindusi Bolla Baloz (monster) Constantin and Doruntin Accordingly, the male word for shtriga can be shtrigan or shtrigu. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". [59] Since its founding in 1912, Albania has been a secular state, becoming atheist during the Communist regime, and returning secular after the fall of the regime. They bound all his wounds and healed all of his ailments. Do you know any great stories or terrifying creatures? Her mother grew angry and cursed them both. Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (Halili Avenges Mujo), translated by Robert Elsie . You wont be able to avoid it when you visit. Albanian Mythology. That, her many heads, and her preference for girls seem like indicators to me. Obviously, no one wants to have dealings with shtriga in the first place. By some accounts, her form is repulsive. Its etymology is related to Latin Diana its also simil ar to the Bardha. The Drekavac is translated literally as the screamerorthe screecher. [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. The villagers of the mountain regions pass stories down to their children about how natural features of the land were created. Lets just hope you never meet it and dont become its sustainable source of blood. E Bukura e Dheut. [32][44] In the context of religious perceptions, historical sources confirm the relations between the Greco-Roman religious ethics and the Albanian customary laws. But, one by one, they all plummeted to the ground and died. Zana e ujit, Nusja Shapulic, Cuca e Liqenit, Ksheta, me diell (by sun), me dh (by earth), me zjarr (by fire), me fush (by field), me gur/gur-rrufeje (by stone/thunder-stone), me hn (by moon), me mal (by mountain), me qiell (by sky), me uj (by water), me toks (by snake), Nxiri: all-seing eyes that look at humans from the ground following their movements everywhere, considered to be the sight of the living Earth, Ditt e Plaks (Old Woman's Days, a belief about the last cold days of winter), Angu (shapeless ghost who appears in dreams), Avullushe (spirits that suffocate people with their breath), akalloz (mighty being, slightly deranged hero), Dhevshtruesi (half human and half animal), Katravesh (the four-eared one, man-eating monster), Makth (nightmare ghost that suffocates people during sleep), Through ritual processions, dances and songs (, The Barefaced Man and the Pasha's Brother, The Tale of the Youth who Understood the Language of the Animals, The Daughter of the Moon and Sun (version with, The Daughter of the Moon and Sun (version with the king's son), Seven Spans of Beard and Three Spans of Body, Revenge Taken on Kastrati a Legend of the Triepshi Tribe, The Founding of the Hoti and Triepshi Tribes, This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 21:57. Dhampirs are a widely-spread subject in Balkan folklore, which includes Albania, todays subject. Although they had never met, Vita used to sing from the top of the Big ridge while Lyulin would accompany her on his fiddle from the Long ridge. [42], Albanian folklore traces back to Paleo-Balkan mythology including a substrate of Illyrian religion. There was no one to wall it up after she died. [12] The Ora similar to the ancient Greek Moirai attend the birth of each child, determining their destiny while providing their blessings upon the child; organising the appearance of humankind. But her care and love for him was stronger than the storm, and she kept walking. Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (Mujo and Behuri), translated by Robert Elsie . Obviously, there is a good reason why sampiros eyes are the only thing that is not all covered up. 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. They appear also on later funerary monuments, including the medieval tombstones (steci) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the burial monuments used until recently in northern Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, southern Serbia and northern North Macedonia. When assuming the form of a child, the Drekavac predicts someonesdeath, while in its animal form, it predicts cattle disease. Very long! and I think Im going to have nightmares of Lamia, but this whole post was such a fun read. [27] From 1923 onward, Scottish scholar and anthropologist Margaret Hasluck collected Albanian folklore material when she lived in Albania. [20] A substantial contribution in this direction has been made by the Albanologist Robert Elsie. Henwen the White by Paige Carpenter. I know that if I was a kid and saw a giant, Id do the opposite. Apparently the Albanian, and in general Balkan legends, believe that the fruit of two genetically different species gains all the best that both can offer. In Lubias case, I *think* that she is meant to protect children from predatory people. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. But there are also those who have certainpreferences. We did establish that vampires are horny creatures, remember? But thats not all. [6], In an Albanian tale published by Post Wheeler with the title The Girl who took a Snake for a Husband, the Shtriga appears as "the grandmother of all witches" that lives in the Underworld, a place of a red sun, a green sky and black trees.[7]. Abaia: A magical eel (Melanesian Mythology) 47. Only the shtriga herself could cure those she had drained. So we have a little bit of background now, but every good storyteller knows that a story needs a face. [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]. Baba Tomorri has inflicted many wounds on the face of Shirag which can still be seen today. :B. Amazing post! [25] Edith Durham reports that the dried head of a snake, cut off with a large silver medjidieh (coin) is a very good charm against the Evil Eye. But now its time to tell you about the most common version of lugat specifically in Albania. 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. Slavic warrior Paji Harambashis encounters three white oras, mystical creatures in the mountains who revel and frolic as he searches for Mujo. They catch men to eat and women to fan the flies away. Save Balkan Folklore Discover the Fascinating Tales and Mythical Creatures for later by pinning the image below. The creature is known for not taking the lives of its victims, it only takes enough for it to satisfy the growling stomach. Walking out as a regular bug that cant fly would be too troublesome! I find myself with both and Im curious what you think about it! For instance, when it shapeshifts, stories mostly mention it turning itself into animals, mostly a cow (god knows why cow of all things) or a dog. Believe in God and youre protected! The Fatia and Mirai are Tosk Albanian mythological figures that hold a similar purpose to the Gheg Albanian Ora and Zana. The three Ora then seek the help of Mujo to seek revenge on Paji. Albanian myths can be divided into two major groups: legends of metamorphosis and historical legends. Serbia - Bauk is an animal-like mythical creature in Serbian mythology. Folklore of Northern Albania emphasizes that a shtriga is not born to be a witch. 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. The Prince was pleased with his monastery. Folk beliefs of the Southern Tosk Albanians reveal similar Albanian mythological figures of fate and destiny, the Mirai and Fatia. Zmeyare beings with vaguely human features. Albanian giants are as tall as pine trees, with black beards that reach to their knees. Unlike sampiro, however, lugat leaves its victims to deal with very serious consequences. The images of mythological creatures "coming at night and strangling people . This is a mythical creature inSouthSlavic mythology. It can even take weeks. In addition to that, lugats ability to fly and use the wind assomething like invisible transportation measure appears in the stories not any less common. According to Maximilian Lambertz (1882-1963), he is the relic of an ancient Illyrian god. According to Northern Albanian folklore, a woman is not born a witch; she becomes one, often because she is childless or made evil by envy. But yeah This one really gave me the creeps, even without a detailed description. [65][66] After the ban of all the Sufi orders in Turkey in 1925, the Bektashi Order established its headquarters in Tirana. 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. Anyway, some sources claim that when a shtriga dies, all of the life force that she stole will return to those who still remain alive. So what exactly does this concealment mean when referring to Jinns? I suppose its fine if it can save a life. Or it eats their food? Turns out that dhampirs can even enjoy the sunlight the same way a human would as opposed to the way a vampire would not. Zuku Bajraktar captures his mothers secret lover, Slavic warrior Baloz Sedlija, as his prisoner. As for lugats target, generally it could be anyone, although mostly its children. During construction the walls of the monastery would continuously crumble. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The defense against Night Hags is to close all keyholes to stop them from entering the room. Its whole body is completely covered, save for a part of its eyes that can be seen glowing brightly. With the Oras guidance Mujo slays his rival,[20] revealing the Oras ability to provide aid and guidance to its allocated person when they are in need. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Foreign scholars first provided Europe with Albanian folklore in the second half of the 19th century, and thus set the beginning for the scholarly study of Albanian oral tradition. Dino himself published Valt e Detit (The Waves of the Sea), which, at the time of its publication in 1908, was the longest printed book in the Albanian language. And yes, its a huge generalization once again, but in this particular case it also involves bad blood between Albania and the Turkish Ottoman Empire or the modern day Turkey. Such motifs are particularly related to the ancient cults of the Sun and Moon, survived until recently among northern Albanians. On his journey he encounters an Ora who assists him and guides him towards Tanusha. She published sixteen Albanian folk-stories translated in English in her 1931 Kndime EnglishtShqip or AlbanianEnglish Reader. The urban stories claim that like any other vampire, it feeds off peoples blood. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Turns out that not only can lugats bite cause mental and spiritual distress, but it can also lead to the victim becoming the predator. So at least 7 heads and even that is difficult to imagine. In fact, the creature enjoys the thrill of taking peoples lives in the weirdest way Ive ever heard of. The Czech linguist and professor of Romance languages and literature, Jan Urban Jarnik, published in 1883 Albanian folklore material from the region of Shkodra in Zur albanischen Sprachenkunde (On Albanian Linguistics) and Pspvky ku poznn ne albnskch uveejuje (Contributions to the Knowledge of Albanian Dialects). 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