Baba Yaga
Slavic-Russian forest witch.
In the popular assassin movie, John Wick: Chapter 1, Keanu Reeve’s character is compared to “Baba Yaga.”
In Slavic and Russian folklore, Baba Yaga is a scary old woman with a long nose and exaggerated eyes and teeth. She eats children, and she hops around in a mortar (like a mortar-and-pestle used to grind pharmacy ingredients). She often carries a wooden staff or a broom.
She lives deep in the forest in a small wooden hut that stands on chicken legs.
The story of Baba Yaga has many similarities to the Brothers Grimm (and Disney) story about Hensel and Gretel.
As a forest creature, Baba Yaga knows a lot about herbs and roots, and some stories say that her potions can restore a person’s youth. Other stories also say that she and her sisters (also called Baba Yaga) guard the entrance to the fountain of youth.
Because of these powers, travelers often seek her advice and potions. Many stories present her as a demon figure who gives bad advice and tries to eat travelers. But other stories also present her as a helpful grandmother who guides lost travelers. In these instances, she gives travelers lucky gifts and potions.
Baba Yaga is a very popular character, and there are hundreds of stories about her. Baba Yaga was one of the first fantasy characters to be depicted in full-length Russian films, and she has appeared in popular modern American movies such as Hellboy.
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