monsters from all over the world (folklore)

II.Poroniec i Alkanost

Violent and premature death caused great anxiety and fear among people in the Middle Ages. Such persons were accused of having contact with unclean forces. This is how the poroniec was created, i.e. the souls of children who parted with the world while still in their mother's womb or after birth, but before baptism. Such prematurely deceased children were to be driven by enormous jealousy that they could not enjoy their lives.Moreover, they were usually buried almost everywhere, in isolated places, so that no one would find the corpse. Their souls were subjected to eternal damnation, turning into bird babies, flying at night and attacking pregnant women and young children to ... suck their blood. It was supposed to be a reward for the harm they had suffered.Meeting a bird at night, however, can be a meeting with another Polish mythical being, i.e. Alkanost. However, instead of a child's head, these night birds had the face of a beautiful woman. They were the demons of women who committed suicide after killing their child. The singing of Alkanosts would lure men, driving them insane. While they were laying their eggs on the beach, a huge, uncontrolled storm hatched!