The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RUSSIAN PEOPLE ACCEPTED CHRISTIANITY I BELIEVE IN
760 A.D. BEFORE THAT THERE WASN'T ANY ORGANIZED
RELIGION BUT THEY BELIEVED IN SOME SPIRITS OR GHOSTS.
ONE IS DOMOVOY. "DOM" IN RUSSIAN MEANS HOUSE; DOMOVOY
IS THE HOUSE SPIRIT. HE IS A VERY SMALL OLD MAN, ABOUT
THE SIZE OF A FIVE YEAR OLD CHILD. HE HAS LONG HAIR
AND A LONG BEARD. HE ALWAYS WEARS BOOTS AND CAFTAN
(A RUSSIAN HOUSE COAT WITH A LONG TIE-ROPE AROUND
THE WAIST). HE LIVED IN THE ATTIC AND EVERY HOUSE HAD
ITS OWN DOMOVOY. HE WASN'T A BAD FELLOW BUT HE WAS
ALWAYS PLAYING TRICKS. IF SOMEONE FELL OFF THE STEPS
THEN DOMOVOY PUSHED HIM. IF SOMETHING FELL OFF THE SHELF
THEN DOMOVOY PUSHED IT. HE WAS ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE UNEXPLAINED ACCIDENTS.
ANOTHER SPIRIT IS LESOVOY. "LES" IN RUSSIAN MEANS
FOREST; LESOVOY IS THE SPIRIT THAT LIVES IN THE WOODS.
HE IS SMALL AND HAIRY AND WEARS HIGH BOOTS AND A JACKET.
HE LIVED IN HOLLOW TREES AND ONE VERY SELDOM SAW HIM.
BY THE TIME I WAS SIX OR SEVEN YEARS OLD I STOPPED
BELIEVING IN THESE SPIRITS. I NEVER HEARD OF THEM IN
THE BIG CITIES, ONLY IN SMALL VILLAGES AND TOWNS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills