Folklore, Urban Legends, Myths, etc.

Domovoi - Russia

A Domovoi is a house spirit in Russian folklore, usually making its living place at the threshold under the entrance, under a stove or in the attic. It is usually said to resemble a tiny, hairy old man, though it can sometimes take the appearance of the current or the former owner of the house - there are stories of neighbours seeing the master of the house out on the yard tending to his land, when in reality he was asleep in his bed. The Domovoi can take on other forms as well, such as a cat, a dog or a snake.

Despite the vivid descriptions, a Domovoi rarely shows itself. Instead, it will announce its presence through bangs and knocks, as well as moving things around in a helpful or mischievous manner. In fact, legends say that seeing the Domovoi is a forewarning of death in the near future.Russian peasants used to try and win their Domovoi's favor by making offerings, such as leaving milk and biscuits or bread in the kitchen overnight. When moving to a new house, they would entice the Domovoi to move with them, as there are many benefits to its presence.A happy Domovoi is a friendly Domovoi. A spirit that is satisfied and on good terms with the members of the household acts as the guardian of the house, helping with chores, feeding the animals and protecting the residence from robbers. Small messes will get cleaned up when you're not looking, plants will stay healthy even if you forget to water them, and intruders will be in for some nasty surprises. A Domovoi also brings good fortune to the household in other, more subtle means.However, if you are thinking Domovye sound rather like house-elves from Harry Potter, you would be wrong. Respect and keeping good care of the house are essential in maintaining good relations with the spirit; it will not tolerate lazy layabouts or rude loudmouths. Profane language and disrespectful behavior are surefire ways to get you in its bad books.If you lose a Domovoi's favor, it will make its displeasure known in nasty ways. Banging doors and throwing objects around all night long is just the beginning. The retaliation will soon escalate to blighting the crops and killing livestock, and even suffocating members of the family in their sleep.Ignoring rules a Domovoi sets will also lead to vengeance. One story tells of woman whose Domovoi braided her hair every night and told her to never undo the braid. So, the woman went for thirty years without combing or washing her hair, until she finally decided to undo and clean it on her wedding night. This was a serious mistake. The Domovoi became so infuriated it strangled her to death with her own braid.Today, the Domovoi, like other beings of folklore, has mostly faded into myth and legend, though it is possible people in some remote rural areas still pay tribute to the spirit of the house.

Rather than being malevolent towards humans, the Domovoi are house spirit-guardians, linked directly to the family within the home rather than to the bricks and mortar under which they dwell.

So much so that the belief, amongst very traditional households, is that the elder of the family should even invite their Domovoi spirit along when moving house.

In appearance, the entity is described as a small, hairy, grey-bearded, humanoid that takes the general form of an elder male ancestor, or even resembles the present-day master of the house. Nothing too outlandish or disturbing there, though some descriptions also bestow Domovoi with optional 'pick-and-mix' extras: brow-less burning eyes, horse-ears, a tail and horns. Certainly enough for a good scare on a midnight trip to the fridge or bathroom!

It is also said that he can mask his appearance by adopting the form of a dog or cat – his true form may be a very bad omen indeed (see later). However, like the proverbial Victorian child; he is usually heard rather than seen, making his presence felt in harsh, hollow vocal tones or via the sounds of his activities.

Your Domovoi is said to dwell principally under the stove, at the centre of the house or beneath the threshold. Animal outhouses are possible alternatives, although somewhat ignominious by comparison. He seeks to maintain order and peace throughout the home and if treated well, helps with chores of the house and field. Small tokens of nourishment  and comfort are appreciated, even expected, such as: porridge, milk, bread, salt and tobacco. Maintaining good standards of living within the house will keep him happy, along with respectful behaviour and the avoidance of bad language at all times; especially so at the dinner table.

Certain other protocols should also be observed when dealing with your Domovoi, for the benefit of all concerned. Food or cutlery should not be left out overnight, lest the utensils be used by the spirit for his unfathomable purposes or the food made 'unclean' for human consumption. In any case he is a little light-fingered when it comes to useful tools and may take a few for purposes unknown.

A mark of respect should also be paid to the Domovoi if the house is to be left unoccupied for a while, perhaps for a . This is undertaken when family members "take a seat for the road", ie: sitting in respectful silence after everything is packed for the trip, as a way to say a temporary goodbye to their benevolent Domovoi.

If the human residents slip into slovenly behaviour and let household standards fall, then the Domovoi will resort to Poltergeist-style antics in order to show his displeasure. Worse still, he may 'smother' sleeping family members (presumably not to the point of death?!) to show that something is wrong, or seek to injure the family's cattle and horses as physical evidence of his anger – or perhaps as a misdirected punishment? In extreme cases he may desert the family altogether, a disastrous occurrence that removes his cohesive influence and leaves the disgraced home-dwellers to their own ruin.

Assuming that good relations (literally) are maintained, the Domovoi may communicate indirectly with the family through certain patterns of behaviour, indicating his mood or signalling portentous events to come. Signs of an ebullient Domovoi; laughing, joking around, dancing and singing all announce good times/fortune ahead, as does the warm touch of his furry hand. An impending marriage is signified by his strumming of a comb.

Darker messages may also be sent, however: a cold touch for instance foretells the coming of misfortune. Worse still: his snuffing of a candle, nocturnal wails or his visual manifestation all signify the approaching death of a family member, usually the head of the household. Fortunately this is a rare occurrence, and frankly there's usually not much you can do about it anyway, so best enjoy the good times.

Remember folks: keep your Domovoi happy at all times, then your livestock needn't worry.