#DailySpookLore

2025-05-13

In East Slavic lore, the drowned emerge from their wet graves during summer nights to dry off under the moonlight. This is the reason for the taboo against saying something like "the night is so light, I can see everything". #FairyTaleTuesday #dailyspooklore #folklore Image: K. Makovskyi

The painting "Mermaids" (also known as "Russalki") is by Konstantin Makovsky, an important Russian painter of the 19th century who belonged to the realism movement and was known for his historical and mythological scenes. This work depicts a group of mermaids, so-called Russalki, who are considered seductive and dangerous water nymphs in Russian folklore. Depicted in a nocturnal, mystical landscape, they dance and play in the water, surrounded by a dense forest and mysterious light, which contributes to the magical and eerie atmosphere.

Text: masterpieceoils.com
2025-05-13

In East Slavic lore, hair/fur contains one’s soul. It was customary for farmers to make a deal with Leshy (the forest lord): they promised to give him a "one-furred" cow, which referred to the animal's soul, and in return, he would spare the rest of their livestock. #dailyspooklore #folklore l

Wood Spirit or "Leshy" as called in Slavic folklore. Oil painting on wood
www.zsaati.com
2025-05-11

Selma is a Norwegian cousin of Nessie. This cryptid inhabits Seljordsvannet, where it is reportedly described by locals as a massive, snake-like creature with glowing eyes. The first encounter with Selma was registered in 1750 🐍 #swampsunday #dailyspooklore #folklore Image: Hugo Heikenwaelder

The illustration depicts a man frantically attempting to escape from a serpent-like creature that has emerged from the depths of the water, with the man clinging to a small boat for dear life.
2025-05-10

In the lore of the Udmurts, Obyda is a demonic forest woman with the ability to suffocate solitary travelers. Her ankles are said to be sprained – a characteristic that signifies her connection to the other world. #dontgointothewoods #dailyspooklore #folklore

A woman is depicted wearing a white, transparent dress as she rides on the back of a fox through the woods.

Original artwork: an_batori
2025-05-09

The Faroese sleep paralysis demon is known as Marra. Marra sometimes takes the shape of a beautiful woman. Yet not only causes she nightmares but also has a more sinister habit – she counts the teeth of her victims. If she completes this task before dawn, you die in their sleep. #dailyspooklore

Depiction of a female hand with long nails emerging from a Victorian closet.
Original photo by Nona Limmen
2025-05-08

In Slavic lore, rye is associated with rusalkas. If you need to cross a rye field, watch out for ladies in white, especially, if the field is covered with cornflowers, which they’re fond of. The dead run fast, and so do they because that’s what rusalkas are. #folklorethursday #dailyspooklore

Depiction of a rusalka walking into the water. 
Original artwork: J. Pstrak (1914)
2025-04-11

In Egyptian mythology, after the god Set killed his brother Osiris, he fought Osiris' son Horus for control of Egypt. Eventually, the supreme god Ra decided to give Set 97% of Egypt but let Horus choose his 3% first. Horus chose the fertile Nile Delta, leaving Set with the desert.
🎨 Hamish Steele

#FolkyFriday #31DaysofHaunting #BookChatWeekly #DailySpookLore #Mythology #EgyptianMythology #Folklore #EgyptianFolklore #Egypt #GraphicNovel #Comics #HamishSteele #Pantheon

The god Horus kicks his uncle Set in the dick. The cover of Hamish Steele's "Pantheon," a retelling of Egyptian mythology with a focus on the war between Horus and Set.
2025-04-11

According to the Goetia, Paimon is a king of Hell commanding 200 demonic legions. He roars when summoned, and is accompanied by a retinue of demonic musicians. Paimon teaches all arts and sciences, and the mysteries of earth, air, and water. He also can control minds. Paimon rides a dromedary.
🎨 Louis Le Breton

#FolkyFriday #31DaysofHaunting #BookChatWeekly #DailySpookLore #Mythology #Folklore #Occult #Sorcery #Devil #Demon #Demonology #Goetia

King Paimon of Hell riding his dromedary. An illustration by Louis Le Breton for Jacques Collin de Plancy's "Dictionnaire Infernal."
2025-04-02

When a strange light is seen at night in the Welsh wilderness, often it's a pwca's candle. These black-furred goblins love to play nasty tricks. Sometimes pwcas turn into animals (such as horses), other times they use their candles to lead travelers into bogs or off cliffs.
🎨 Huw Aaron

#WyrdWednesday #31DaysofHaunting #DailySpookLore #DontGoIntoTheWoods #Mythology #WelshMythology #CelticMythology #Folklore #WelshFolklore #CelticFolklore #Celtic #Wales #Fairy #Goblin

A pwca holds his magic candle. Illustration by Huw Aaron for the card game "Legends of Wales."
2025-04-02

There is a belief registered among the Selkup people, according to which, human souls after death would go underground and transform into spiders 🕸️🕷️🕸️ #dailyspooklore #folklore Image: Taymar.M

a spider hanging with blue, white and black colours giving a nice old fashioned and dark theme. it is acryclic painting in thick paper.

Description by artpal.com
2025-04-01

In East Slavic tradition, laughter is tied to the life itself. The ability to laugh is how you can tell the living apart from the walking dead, as the latter can’t laugh anymore. Laughter also was used in folk-magic and healing rituals. #dailyspooklore #aprilfools #folklore Image: Ternovye

Depiction of a woman with black hair, her face conveying a sense of sadness. She stands behind a group of birch trees at night, with a black snake in the foreground. Above her head, four black crescent moons are visible in the sky.
2025-03-31

If there's a theatre, there are ghosts! When a theatre is empty, a ghost light is left on the stage for safety reasons. But some people believe that the true purpose of it is to allow spirits to perform on stage, thereby preventing them from disturbing the living. #mythologymonday #dailyspooklore

Depiction of a ghost light onstage of an empty theatre. Black and white photo by The Michigan Daily.
2025-03-30

In Greek mythology, the Eleionomae are described as the naiads of swamp and marshes. They are known for sending visions to solitary travelers, often with the intention of either seducing them or luring them to their death. #swampsunday #dailyspooklore #folklore Image: Alexandra Dvornikova

Depiction of a crowned lady in the swamp surrounded by water lilies (original illustration in green and brown)
2025-03-30

An old East Slavic superstition warns that bringing home cattails or reeds can summon the wrath of swamp spirits. And then they will retaliate by causing illnesses and misfortune to affect your family… #SwampSunday #dailyspooklore #folklore Image: Fizdi Prints

A dreamy forest scene with ethereal figures blending into the mist, invoking a mystical and serene atmosphere.

Theme:
The painting explores the mystical connection between nature and the spiritual realm, represented through ghostly figures emerging from the mist in a forest setting. It evokes a sense of mystery, transcendence, and the ethereal presence of spirits in the natural world.

Style:
The style is impressionistic with soft, diffused brushstrokes that emphasize light and atmosphere over details. The transitions between forms are fluid, giving the painting a dreamlike quality. The figures are semi-abstract, contributing to the elusive and otherworldly effect.

Description by Fizdi prints

The Isle of Mull has its own kelpie legend: A man saw a horse near Cruloch at night and was tempted to ride it home. But upon noticing water-weed around its legs, he decided against it. The horse then said that it would have killed him if he hadn't been so friendly. #SwampSunday #dailyspooklore

Depiction of a mysterious dark horse standing in water. Original digital artwork by Dana Martin
2025-03-23

In Vyatka, women used to perform a good luck ritual that involved consuming a hen who mothered 3 generations of chickens, and burring her bones in a swamp. #dailyspooklore #swampsunday #folklore Image: Natalie Wargin

“I placed the hens in a barn yard which is fairly accurate but I added a very small image of a church that's not anywhere near where I spotted the hens.  You can see it in the background on one of the hills.  This particular church is Dutch Reform and very old & colonial in design”

Natalie Wargin about her painting “THREE BLACK HENS IN CLOVER”
2025-03-19

A dead witch riding on the back of a mortal is another motif of East-Slavic folk-tales employed in my #thesevenofwands In East Slavic lore, witches are never actually dead. Buried in the woods and swamps, they can attack by-passers and even bend them to their will. #dailyspooklore #wip #folklore

The Three Witches from Macbeth (Elizabeth Lamb, Viscountess Melbourne; Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire; Anne Seymour Damer) by Daniel Gardner.

This unusual group portrait depicts three of the most politically influential and socially notorious women of the period. They are, from left to right, the society ladies and political hostesses Elizabeth Lamb, Viscountess Melbourne, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire and the sculptor Anne Seymour Damer.

Description: National Portrait Gallery
2025-03-15

In Komi lore, Gurenka is a dangerous female entity that can be encountered if you go to a sauna at night. Gurenka is capable of burning people alive and consuming their flesh. However, she is quite small and often takes the shape of a cat. #dailyspooklore #caturday #folklore Image: Kain White

Depiction of a mysterious black cat (original painting in brown and black by Kain White)
2025-03-13

According to the records, in the 14th century, the marriage of Simeon of Moscow and the Princess Eupraxia Feodorovna had been cursed by a witch, so whenever they were alone, his wife took the shape of a bear. This motif is typical for East Slavic folk-tales. #folklorethursday #dailyspooklore

Depiction of a lady dressed in a black dressed with floral ornament, with a bear skin with the teeth still attached, on her head (original artwork by Alexandra Dvornikova)

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