Baba Yaga

1 Etymology

For the lm, see Baba Yaga (lm).

In Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga is a supernatural being (or

Variations of the name Baba Yaga are found in the

languages of the Eastern Slavic peoples. The rst element, baba, is transparently a babble word, meaning 'woman', or, specically, 'old woman'. In modern
Russian, the word babushka (meaning 'grandmother') derives from it, as does the word babcia (also
'grandmother') in Polish or Ukrainian. Baba may also
have a pejorative connotation in modern Ukrainian and
Russian, both for women as well as for an unmanly,
timid, or characterless man.[3] In Polish, the term is
considered to be pejorative, meaning 'vicious or ugly
woman'.[4] In Czech both of those meanings apply. Similarly to other kinship terms in Slavic languages, baba may
be employed outside of kinship, potentially as a result of
taboo. For example, in variety of Slavic languages and dialects, the word baba may be applied to various animals,
natural phenomena, and objects, such as types of mushrooms or a cake or pear. This function extends to various
geographic features. In the Polesia region of Ukraine, the
plural baby may refer to an autumn funeral feast.[3]
These associations have led to variety of theories on the
gure of Baba Yaga, though the presence of the element
baba may have simply been taken as its primary meaning of 'grandmother' or 'old woman'. The element may
appear as a means of glossing the second element, iaga,
Baba Yaga as depicted by Ivan Bilibin (1902)
with a familiar component. Additionally, baba may have
also been applied as a means of distinguishing Baba Yaga
[3]
one of a trio of sisters of the same name) who appears from a male counterpart.
as a deformed and/or ferocious-looking woman. Baba While a variety of etymologies have been proposed for
Yaga ies around in a mortar, wields a pestle, and dwells the second element of the name, Yaga, it remains far
deep in the forest in a hut usually described as standing on more etymologically problematic and no clear consensus
chicken legs (or sometimes a single chicken leg).[1] Baba among scholars has resulted. For example, in the 19th
Yaga may help or hinder those that encounter or seek her century, Alexander Afanasyev proposed the derivation of
out. She sometimes plays a maternal role, and also has Proto-Slavic *o and Sanskrit ahi ('serpent, snake').
associations with forest wildlife. According to Vladimir This etymology has subsequently been explored by other
Propp's folktale morphology, Baba Yaga commonly ap- scholars in the 20th century.[5]
pears as either a donor or villain, or may be altogether Related terms to the second element of the name, Yaga,
ambiguous.
appear in various Slavic languages; Serbian and CroatAndreas Johns identies Baba Yaga as one of the most
memorable and distinctive gures in eastern European
folklore, and observes that she is enigmatic and often exhibits striking ambiguity.[2] Johns summarizes
Baba Yaga as a many-faceted gure, capable of inspiring researchers to see her as a Cloud, Moon, Death, Winter, Snake, Bird, Pelican or Earth Goddess, totemic matriarchal ancestress, female initiator, phallic mother, or
archetypal image.[3]

ian jeza ('horror, shudder, chill'), Slovenian jeza ('anger'),

Old Czech jz ('witch, legendary evil female being'),
modern Czech jezinka ('wicked wood nymph, dryad'),
and Polish jdza ('witch, evil woman, fury'). The term
appears in Old Church Slavonic as jza/jdza (meaning
'disease, illness). In other Indo-European languages the
element iaga has been linked to Lithuanian engti ('to do
something slowly, lazily') and nuengti ('to torture'), Old
English inca ('doubt, worry, pain'), and Old Norse ekki
1

3 SELECTED DEPICTIONS OF BABA YAGA

('pain, worry').[5]

Folklore

The heroine Vasilisa outside of the hut of Baba Yaga as depicted

by Ivan Bilibin (1902)

The rst clear reference to Baba Yaga (Iaga baba) occurs in 1755; Mikhail V. Lomonosov's Rossiiskaia grammatika ('Russian grammar'). In Lomonosovs grammar,
Baba Yaga is mentioned twice among other gures largely
from Slavic tradition. The second of the two mentions occurs within a list of Slavic gods and beings next to their
presumed equivalence in Roman mythology (the Slavic
god Perun, for example, appears equated with the Roman
god Jupiter). Baba Yaga, however, appears in a third section without an equivalence, attesting to perception of her
uniqueness even in this rst known attestation.[6]

Afanasyev, Ivan, a handsome merchants son, makes his

way to the home of one of three Baba Yagas:
He journeyed onwards, straight
ahead [...] and nally came to
a little hut; it stood in the open
eld, turning on chicken legs. He
entered and found Baba Yaga the
Bony-legged. Fie, e, she said,
the Russian smell was never heard
of nor caught sight of here, but it
has come by itself. Are you here
of your own free will or by compulsion, my good youth?" Largely
of my own free will, and twice
as much by compulsion! Do you
know, Baba Yaga, where lies the
thrice tenth kingdom?" No, I do
not, she said, and told him to
go to her second sister; she might
know.[8]
Ivan walks for some time before encountering a small hut
identical to the rst. This Baba Yaga makes the same
comments and asks the same question as the rst, and
Ivan asks the same question. This second Baba Yaga
does not know either and directs him to the third, but says
that if she gets angry with him and wants to devour you,
take three horns from her and ask her permission to blow
them; blow the rst one softly, the second one louder,
and third still louder. Ivan thanks her and continues on
his journey.[9]

After walking for some time, Ivan eventually nds the

chicken-legged hut of the youngest of the three sisters
turning in an open eld. This third and youngest of the
Baba Yagas makes the same comment about the Russian smell before running to whet her teeth and consume
Ivan. Ivan begs her to give him three horns and she does
so. The rst he blows softly, the second louder, and the
third louder yet. This causes birds of all sorts to arrive
and swarm the hut. One of the birds is the rebird, which
tells him to hop on its back or Baba Yaga will eat him.
He does so and the Baba Yaga rushes him and grabs the
In the narratives in which Baba Yaga appears, she displays rebird by its tail. The rebird leaves with Ivan, leaving
[9]
a variety of typical attributes: a turning, chicken-legged Baba Yaga behind with a st full of rebird feathers.
hut; and a mortar, pestle, and/or mop or broom. Baba
Yaga frequently bears the epithet bony leg (Baba Iaga
kostianaia noga), and when inside of her dwelling, she 3 Selected depictions of Baba Yaga
may be found stretched out over the stove, reaching from
one corner of the hut to another. Baba Yaga may sense
Baba Yaga riding a pig and ghting the infernal
and mention the Russian scent (russky dukh) of those
Crocodile early 17th century
that visit her. Her nose may stick into the ceiling. Particular emphasis may be placed by some narrators on the
Baba Yaga dancing with old man 18th century
repulsiveness of her nose or other body parts.[7]
Baba Yaga in her ying mortar from Vassilisa the
In some tales a trio of Baba Yagas appear as sisters, all
Beautiful by Ivan Bilibin 1899
sharing the same name. For example, in a version of "The
Maiden Tsar" collected in the 19th century by Alexander
Baba Yaga (on right) by Ivan Bilibin

3
Baba Yagas hut by Ivan Bilibin
Baba Yaga (illustration to Alphabet in pictures by
Alexandre Benois, 1904)

[9] Guterman (1973), p. 232.

[10] Johns (2004), p. 61-66.
[11] Johns (2004), pp. 68-84.

Baba Yaga by Ivan Bilibin 1911

Baba Yaga by Viktor M. Vasnetsov 1917

Related gures and analogues

A gure closely related to Baba Yaga appears in the folklore of the West Slavic peoples, Jeibaba. The name
Jeibaba and its variants are directly related to that of
Baba Yaga. The two gures may stem from a common
gure as far back as the medieval period, if not further, and both gures are at times similarly ambiguous.
The two dier in their appearance in dierent tale types
and dierences in details regarding their appearances.
Questions linger regarding the limited Slavic areaWest
Slavic nations, Slovakia, and the Czech landsin which
references to Jeibaba are recorded.[10]
Scholars have identied a variety of beings in folklore
and mythology who share similarities of varying extent
with Baba Yaga. These similarities may be due to either
direct relation or cultural contact between the Eastern
Slavs and other surrounding peoples. In Eastern Europe,
these gures include the Bulgarian gorska maika ('Forest
Mother'); the Serbian Baba Korizma, Gvozdenzuba ('Iron
Tooth'), Baba Roga (used to scare children in Croatia
and Bosnia), sumska majka ('Forest Mother'), and the
babice; and the Slovenian Baba Pehtra. In Romanian
folklore, similarities have been identied in several gures, including Muma padurii ('Forest Mother'). In neighboring Germanic Europe, similarities have been observed
between the Alpine Perchta and Holda or Holle in the
folklore of Central and Northern Germany, and the Swiss
Chlungeri.[11]

Notes

[1] Paul D. Steeves (1988). The Modern Encyclopedia of Religions in Russia and the Soviet Union. Academic International Press. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-87569-106-0.
[2] Johns (2004), pp. 1-3.
[3] Johns (2004), p. 9.
[4] Baba jaga - Sownik jzyka polskiego. Polish Scientic
Publishers PWN.
[5] Johns (2004), p. 10.
[6] Johns (2004), p. 12.
[7] Johns (1998), p. 21.
[8] Guterman (1973), p. 231.

6 References
Russian Fairy Tales. Guterman, Norbert (trans.).
Pantheon Books. 1973 [1945].
Johns, Andreas (1998). Baba Yaga and the Russian Mother. The Slavic and East European Journal
(American Association of Teachers of Slavic and
East European Languages) 42 (1).
Johns, Andreas (2004). Baba Yaga: The Ambiguous Mother and Witch of the Russian Folktale. Peter
Lang. ISBN 0-8204-6769-3.

7 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

7.1

Text

Baba Yaga Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_Yaga?oldid=667085028 Contributors: XJaM, Heron, Kaijan, Dominus, Liftarn,
Emperor, Amcaja, Scott, Sethmahoney, Raven in Orbit, Piolinfax, Itai, LMB, Dimadick, Branddobbe, Robbot, Pibwl, Altenmann, Forseti,
Romanm, KnightofNEE, Merovingian, Sheridan, Lysy, Xyzzyva, Fennec, Arved, Monedula, Mboverload, Avala, Wmahan, Emax, DragonySixtyseven, Gene s, Maximaximax, Kuralyov, Sam Hocevar, Joyous!, Neale Monks, Genesis, Ngc1976, Slady, SoM, Rich Farmbrough,
Guanabot, LeeHunter, Pavel Vozenilek, Phaust, Morcego, Darci, CanisRufus, Kwamikagami, Evil Andy, Stesmo, NetBot, Cmdrjameson,
Britomart, Cavrdg, Aquillion, Nk, Krellis, Nsaa, Alansohn, Tobych, Walter Grlitz, Miranche, Zyqqh, Mononoke~enwiki, Mo6eB, DrGaellon, T1980, Sleigh, Ghirlandajo, Zanaq, Woohookitty, Mindmatrix, Percy Snoodle, Bonus Onus, Tabletop, Mangojuice, Harac, Jhortman,
Lawrence King, Deltabeignet, Treeswithoutleaves, FreplySpang, Melesse, Zoz, Rjwilmsi, Jake Wartenberg, Nandesuka, FlaBot, PlatypeanArchcow, Itinerant1, Throbert McGee, Ahpook, Naar, Tylerwillis, YurikBot, Rtkat3, TodorBozhinov, MythicFox, Serinde, John Quincy
Adding Machine, Pigman, Gaius Cornelius, Dagobert~enwiki, Rsrikanth05, The Hokkaido Crow, Prime Entelechy, NawlinWiki, Bloodofox, Rjensen, Thiseye, Muu-karhu, BOT-Superzerocool, Asarelah, Thnidu, Vivafelis, SMcCandlish, Curpsbot-unicodify, Mikus, Nixer,
Eptin, Dandelions, Vanka5, True Pagan Warrior, SmackBot, Shikino, Unschool, KAtremer, Heptite, Pwillener, Bomac, KocjoBot~enwiki,
Dxco, Arny, J.J.Sagnella, Mujanovic, Siradia, Webwarlock, Ciacchi, Robbstrd, ERobson, Schi, Colonies Chris, StealthsneakII, Ishmayl,
Tsca.bot, Jojorocko, Hier0phant, Xerophyllum tenax, Konzack, Alton.arts, Artemisboy, MatthewBChambers, Greyson76, Evlekis, SashatoBot, Mukadderat, Hempick, Minaker, Nareek, SEWalk, Gobonobo, Sociotard, Mgiganteus1, The Man in Question, Illythr, Calibas, Jurohi,
Brian1121, Clarityend, Turtleheart, Ramshackle Man, Brohmn, Esn, Tawkerbot2, Dlohcierekim, George100, Agoodall, Bane Mozak, S
Hunter Haggard, Traitorsh, Urutapu, CmdrObot, JohnCD, Ibadibam, Melicans, Sir Lothar, Cydebot, Wikiz3, QuestionMark, Languagehat, Goldfritha, Gogo Dodo, Otto4711, Xlynx, DumbBOT, PreRaphaelite, Thijs!bot, JAF1970, Barticus88, Marek69, Okki, Dfrg.msc,
Shinji nishizono, Iulius, Andral, Scottandrewhutchins, AntiVandalBot, Conanchicken, Mayberrb, Sluzzelin, JAnDbot, Deective, Ivan Velikii (2006-2008), Yill577, Boleslaw, Homeworlds, Magioladitis, Kunderhill, VoABot II, Wormcast, Wrightaway, rdRuadh21, Nubula,
Urco, MartinBot, InnocuousPseudonym, CommonsDelinker, Pharaoh of the Wizards, Chickenchickenchicken, Fryslan0109, Vanished user
342562, Squeezeweasel, Dhshadow11, Mkruij, Garret Beaumain, Dmz5, Roslidh, BrettAllen, Gr8white, Inmongolia, Geekdiva, Aluevius,
JaJaGuy, CrazyRob926, Thismightbezach, Redtigerxyz, VolkovBot, Gamer112, Danbloch, Bovineboy2008, Cjhaacke, Sonicwav, Skyra to
Hollow, EntropyJim, Andreweth, Jotsko, Listya, AlleborgoBot, Deconstructhis, Jp858, Gbawden, SieBot, Jaksap, Walls bridges, Euryalus,
BotMultichill, Squerk, Deusdies, GabrielPragin, Jessealot, Keilana, MinorContributor, Swingballbros, GaryColemanFan, Ediedsith, Mr
Bondar, FredrikLhnn, Jeereysmith, Denisarona, Matthewlloydhill, Explicit, WMitty, ClueBot, MoCellMan, SeditiousBroom, Rjd0060,
Pants10, Pottymouth5, Johnchrist~enwiki, DanielDeibler, Staciludwig, Bobanni, Icensnow, DragonBot, 19hertz, V Verweij, Human.v2.0,
Ray and jub, Sweden555, Sun Creator, MacedonianBoy, Pyrofork, Kkarma, Lotusisrael, Mehudi, Papayaga, WTWASP, XLinkBot, Hegumen, Alexius08, Good Olfactory, Slowmotion7, Addbot, Fieldday-sunday, Cmkeating2, USchick, Nolelover, Setwisohi, Ws227, Bigzteve,
Taketa, Aviados, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Mauler90, Zevvi, Tempodivalse, AnomieBOT, Jim1138, Mintrick, Auranor, Pinball Wizard (The
Who), Ferrie, ArthurBot, Quebec99, LilHelpa, BoHenry, Potonik, Xqbot, , GrouchoBot, Zeldakitten, TaoJeannes, Tiyang,
D'ohBot, MGA73bot, Had438, LittleWink, MelissaFl, ^TauruS^, Tomcat7, MastiBot, Babaroga llc, Gfunk696, VenomousConcept, Adoonan, Jyggalag, Zeyra, Metaranha, Koemok, Tomaszwolf, Reach Out to the Truth, Ripchip Bot, Herbowicz, Phlegat, ,
CalicoCatLover, EmausBot, John of Reading, WikitanvirBot, Ndkl, GoingBatty, Dazman83, Animal-wiki, DisabledSpider, Asperchu,
Axxonnre, Stevopants, Helenanimator, Philafrenzy, Leireorduna, W-guy, Acekidder, SirSadiq, Fjrgynn, ClueBot NG, Jack Greenmaven,
MelbourneStar, Joefromrandb, ElisabethLeigh, Exceedingly Rare, Johny cage93, Anupmehra, Pluma, Helpful Pixie Bot, Damyan11, Luminatio, Nman190, Episeda, PhnomPencil, Starrman22, Felidofractals, Glacialfox, RoadSD, Buzancar, Majohnson10, DemirBajraktarevic, ShadowFighter88, SNAAAAKE!!, Harsh 2580, Drabarni, Jamin1129, Squatty418, Venustar84, Katieklo, Grumpix, Mr. Seafall,
Wethar555, IGraecus, PabloBeal, Vesnalazar, Curdies Song, Justinasvd, Lpirelli, HotelHat, Filedelinkerbot, Elicole21, Ghiutun, RadishHi,
Yoplatz, KasparBot and Anonymous: 630

7.2

Images

File:Bilibin._Baba_Yaga.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Bilibin._Baba_Yaga.jpg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?

File:Commons-logo.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg License: ? Contributors: ? Original
artist: ?
File:Vasilisa.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Vasilisa.jpg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist:
?

7.3

Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0