Mavka
Grouping | Female legendary creatures |
---|---|
Folklore | Slavic paganism |
Other name(s) | Ukrainian:Нявка |
Country | Ukraine |
Region | Ukrainian Carpathians |
Mavka(Ukrainian:Мавка[ˈmau̯kɐ]) alsoNyavka[1](Ukrainian:Нявка) is a type of female spirit in Ukrainian folklore andmythology.The Mavka is a long-haired figure, a Soul of the Forest, typically depicted as temptress figures who lure men to their deaths.[2][3][a]
Terminology
[edit]There is variation in the names and spelling, includingUkrainian:Мавка,mavka,[4]навка,navka,[5]нявка,nyavka.[6]However, depending on telling, there are differences between the Mavka andNyavka.These terms all derive fromProto-Slavic*navь'the dead', and arecognatewithBulgarian:нави,navi(plural).
Folklore
[edit]The spirits known by this term represented the souls of girls who had died unnatural, tragic or premature deaths, particularly unchristened babies.[4]Mavkas often appear in the form of beautiful young girls who entice and lure young men into the woods, where they "tickle" them to death.[7]Mavkas have no reflection in water, nor do they cast shadows. In some accounts, they were also said to help farmers by looking after cattle and driving out wild animals.
A subtype of the Mavkas are theNyavkas,which behave the same except for having "no back", meaning that their spine and some other insides can be seen;[b]the most defining feature between determining Mavkas andNyavkasis whether or not the insides are visible from the back.
Mavkas andNyavkaswere believed to live in groups in forests, mountain caves, or sheds, which they decorated with rugs. They made thread of stolen flax and wove thin transparent cloth for making clothes for themselves. They loved flowers, which they wore in their hair. In the spring, they planted flowers in the mountains, to which they enticed young men, whom they tickled to death. OnPentecost(known asNavka's Easter,Ukrainian:На́вський Вели́кдень),[8]they held games, dances, and orgies. Ademonaccompanied them on afluteorpipes.
To save anunchristenedbaby's soul, one must throw up a kerchief duringPentecostholidays, say their name and add "I baptise you". The rescued soul would then go toheaven.If the soul lived up to seven years and did not go to heaven, the baby would turn into amavkaand haunt the earth.
Popular culture
[edit]- Mavkas are depicted in literature, most notably inLesia Ukrainka'sThe Forest Songand nyavkas are depicted inMykhailo Kotsiubynsky'sShadows of Forgotten Ancestors.[9]
- In modern culture the Ukrainian music band,Mavka,is named after the mythological creature.[10]
- In 2022, Ukrainian singer Eria released the song "Mavka".[11]
- The 2023 filmMavka: The Forest Song,is based onUkrainian mythology.[12][13]
See also
[edit]- Mavka: The Forest Song(2023 animated film)
- The Forest Song(1917/1918 play byLesya Ukrainka)
- Forest Song(1963 film)
- Mavka (song by Authentix)
- Mare (folklore)
- Naiad
- Nymph
- Revenant
- Succubus
- Nixie (folklore)
- Skogsrå
Notes
[edit]- ^Kushnir (2014),quote: "Mavka is different from other types of female spirits in that her evil is not intentional. At the sight of a young man, she falls into a trance and realizes her actions too late to change anything. Mavka is a very beautiful young maiden with very long hair..."
- ^Those were more often called "Nyavka" and they were believed to live inWestern Ukraine,which has more dangerous mountain rivers thanCentral Ukraine,while Mavkas, who were believed to live in Central Ukraine, had their backs.
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^"Михайло Коцюбинський — Тіні забутих предків (аналіз, паспорт твору)"[Mykhailo Kotsyubynskyi — Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (analysis, passport of the work)].www.ukrlib.com.ua(in Ukrainian).
- ^Bilodid (1973),p. 587, volume 4.
- ^Kushnir (2014).
- ^abHrinchenko (1958),volume 2, article 395.
- ^Hrinchenko (1958),volume 2, article 471.
- ^Hrinchenko (1958),volume 2, article 573.
- ^Halaichuk (2016),pp. 181–183.
- ^Hrinchenko (1958),volume 2, article 474.
- ^Набока, Марічка; Джулай, Дмитро (2019-06-04)."Чарівні істоти з прадавніх українських міфів. У що вірили пращури".Радіо Свобода(in Ukrainian).Retrieved2023-05-11.
- ^"Mavka".Discogs.January 6, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 6,2024.
- ^ERIA - MAVKA (Official Music Video) Eurovision 2022 Ukraine 🇺🇦,12 January 2022,retrieved2023-05-11
- ^Malamuzh, Oleh; Ruban, Oleksandra; Yermak, Yevheniy (2023-08-15),Mavka: Lisova pisnya(Animation, Adventure, Comedy), Sarah Natochenny, Mike Pollock, Marc Thompson, Animagrad Animation Studio, FILM.UA Group, Ukrainian State Film Agency,retrieved2024-01-07
- ^Ide, Wendy (2023-07-30)."Mavka: The Forest Song review – formulaic Ukrainian animation makes a plea for nature".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.Retrieved2024-01-07.
Works cited
[edit]- Buynova, Tatyana Yuryevna (2008).Дети Сварога: Мифы восточных славян[Children of Svarog: Myths of East Slavs] (in Russian). Akvilegia.ISBN9785901942611.OL33980381M.
- Bilodid, Ivan Kostyovych, ed. (1973).Словник української мови: в 11 томах[Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language: in 11 volumes] (in Ukrainian).
- Halaichuk, V. (2016).Українська міфологія[Ukrainian Mythology] (in Ukrainian). Клуб Сімейного Дозвілля.
- Hrinchenko, B. (1958).Словарь української мови / Упор. з дод. влас. матеріалу Б. Грінченко: в 4-х т.[Dictionary of the Ukrainian language / Ref. with addn. own material by B. Hrinchenko: in 4 volumes — K.] (in Ukrainian). Академії наук Української РСР.
- Kushnir, Dmitriy (2014).Creatures of Slavic myth.USA.ISBN978-1-5056-2802-9.OCLC1003859523.
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:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
External links
[edit]- "Mavka"— Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine
- "Kostroma"— Encyclopedia of Mythology(in Russian)