Russian Fairy Tales Terminology Cards

The traditional beliefs, legends, customs, etc. of a people; lore of a people; collected wisdom of a people (oral, ritualistic; associated with nature, agrarian aspects of a given culture; associated with calendar feasts and rites of passage).

A story involving supernatural people or events (not necessarily fairies). Narrowly defined, fairy tale refers to folk or popular fairy tales, which lack a specific author or time of composition. Texts similar to folk fairy tales but written by a specific author are qualified as literary fairy tales.

1. The belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls or consciousness. 2. The belief that souls may exist apart from bodies.

Ascribing human form or attributes to a being or thing not human, esp. to a deity.

Any practice or pattern of behavior repeated in a prescribed manner (e.g., religious ritual).

“Double faith” or “double belief.” The simultaneous subscription to two different, and possibly even contradictory, belief systems. Characteristic of early Russian Christianity, where people observed Christian rites but nonetheless continued to adhere to certain pagan beliefs and practices.

A complete change of form, structure, or substance as transformation by magic or witchcraft.

A descriptive adjective used unvaryingly to qualify a noun, frequent in Homer’s epics and in folklore genres, e.g., oxen-eyed Hera, wine-red sea, open field, bright falcon, beauteous maiden. Note also fixed formulae, such as “run as a gray wolf” in Russian

The Nature Spirits Manifestations of the unclean force, harmful to peasants. Folk Spirits (stressed syllable in bold) Domestic Spirits The protectors of the house and the farmstead.

Magic Numbers 1, 2, esp. 3, 7, and their multiples, e.g., 3 x 3. The Number Three Triad: A group of three, esp. of three closely related or associated persons or things.
Trebling: Repetition in groups of three (e.g., three siblings, three tasks).

Examples from Ivanits, chapter 1: Cyclicity (ring, egg, drawing or walking in circles around something, circle dances), fertility (egg, seed, tree), purity (fire, water), bounty (livestock, grain, fruits and vegetables, bread, feasting), return of the sun after winter (fire, birds, pussy willows, early bloomers), personifications of holidays (effigies), etc.

A well-wishing spirit of the house who helped with domestic chores. Domovoi played tricks on people only when the owners were lazy or negligent, and lived in harmony with things from the church. Appearance: An old peasant with a long gray beard; also appeared as a cat or a dog. Tricks: Stole neighbor’s oats; if unhappy, was known to mess up the yard, tangle needlework, spread manure on the door, or, in extreme cases of anger, suffocate the victim.

A female spirit that, in some regions, was believed to be the wife of the domovoi.

Bathhouse A dangerous spirit known both to protect peasants and to kill them by suffocating them or peeling their skin.

A very evil and dangerous domestic spirit, lived in the threshing barn. Also called gumennik and ryzhnyi khoziain.