Domovoi

Домовой

Domovoi

Minor Spiritwell-documentedSlavicRussiaUkraineBelarus
Origin

The Domovoi is the spirit of the first ancestor who built the house, or a small portion of the household's collective soul that solidified into an independent being. He lives beneath the threshold or behind the hearth and was propitiated at every meal.

Appearance

Rarely seen, but described as a small old man, very hairy, sometimes with a long beard. His hair matches the hair color of the head of household. In some regions he takes the form of a cat.

Abilities

Protects the family from fire, illness, and malicious spirits. Guards livestock. Predicts calamities through moaning or weeping. Becomes malicious when a family disrespects him or fails to feed him.

Weaknesses & Wards

Weaknesses

  • condition
    A family that does not acknowledge him will be abandoned by him

Wards

  • ritual
    Leave offerings of salt bread and porridge at the hearth on Thursdays
  • ritual
    When moving house, invite the Domovoi to follow with: Come to the new house, grandfather
Sources
  1. [1]
    Russian Folk Belief. Ivanits, Linda J. 1989. Russian Folk Belief. M.E. Sharpe.academic
  2. [2]
    The Peasant in Nineteenth-Century Russia. Vucinich, Wayne S. (ed.). 1968. The Peasant in Nineteenth-Century Russia. Stanford University Press.folk
well-documented