MermaidMermaid

MermaidMermaid

• In In SlavicSlavic mythologymythology, a , a mermaidmermaid was a female was a female ghostghost, water , water nymphnymph, , succubussuccubus or or mermaidmermaid-like -like demondemon that dwelled in a waterway. that dwelled in a waterway.

MermaidMermaid• According to most According to most traditions, the traditions, the mermaidsmermaids were fish- were fish-women, who lived at the women, who lived at the bottom of rivers. In the bottom of rivers. In the middle of the night, they middle of the night, they would walk out to the would walk out to the bank and dance in bank and dance in meadows. If they saw meadows. If they saw handsome men, they handsome men, they would fascinate them would fascinate them with songs and dancing, with songs and dancing, mesmerize them, mesmerize them, and and then lead the man away then lead the man away to the river floor to his to the river floor to his death.death.

OriginOrigin

In most versions, the In most versions, the mermaidmermaid is an unquiet dead being, is an unquiet dead being,

associated with the "unclean force". According to Zelenin, associated with the "unclean force". According to Zelenin, people who die violently and before their time, such as young people who die violently and before their time, such as young women who commit suicide because they have been jilted by women who commit suicide because they have been jilted by their lovers, or unmarried women who are pregnant, must live their lovers, or unmarried women who are pregnant, must live out their designated time on earth as a spirit. out their designated time on earth as a spirit.

OriginOrigin

• The ghostly version is the The ghostly version is the soulsoul of a young woman who had of a young woman who had died in or near a river or a lake and came to haunt that died in or near a river or a lake and came to haunt that waterway. This waterway. This undeadundead mermaidmermaid is not invariably malevolent, is not invariably malevolent, and will be allowed to die in peace if her death is avenged.and will be allowed to die in peace if her death is avenged.

OriginOrigin

• MermaidMermaid can also come from unbaptized children, often can also come from unbaptized children, often those who were born out of wedlock and drowned by their those who were born out of wedlock and drowned by their mothers for that reason. Babymothers for that reason. Baby mermaids mermaids supposedly wander supposedly wander the forest begging to be baptised so that they can have the forest begging to be baptised so that they can have peace. They are not necessarily innocent, however, and can peace. They are not necessarily innocent, however, and can attack a human foolish enough to approach them. attack a human foolish enough to approach them.

DescriptionDescription While her While her

primary dwelling primary dwelling place was the place was the body of water in body of water in which she died, which she died, the the mermaidmermaid could come out could come out of the water at of the water at night, climb a night, climb a tree, and sit tree, and sit there singing there singing songs, sit on a songs, sit on a dock and comb dock and comb her hairher hair..

DescriptionDescription• Though in some versions of Though in some versions of

the myth, the eyes shine like the myth, the eyes shine like green fire, others describe green fire, others describe them with extremely pale and them with extremely pale and translucent skin, and no visible translucent skin, and no visible pupils. Her hair is sometimes pupils. Her hair is sometimes depicted as green or golden, depicted as green or golden, and often perpetually wet. The and often perpetually wet. The MermaidMermaid could not live long on could not live long on dry land, but with her comb dry land, but with her comb she was always safe, for it she was always safe, for it gave her the power to conjure gave her the power to conjure water when she needed it. water when she needed it. According to some legends, According to some legends, should the rusalka's hair dry should the rusalka's hair dry out, she will die. out, she will die.

DescriptionDescription• MermaidMermaid llike to have men ike to have men

and children join in their and children join in their games. They can do so by games. They can do so by enticing men with their enticing men with their singing and then drowning singing and then drowning them, while the children them, while the children were often lured with were often lured with baskets of fruit. Men baskets of fruit. Men seduced by the rusalka seduced by the rusalka could die in her arms, and could die in her arms, and in some versions hearing in some versions hearing her laugh could also cause her laugh could also cause death. Alternatively, they death. Alternatively, they would attract men, mainly would attract men, mainly bachelors, and tickle them bachelors, and tickle them to death. to death.

DescriptionDescription

• Specifics pertaining to Specifics pertaining to mermaidmermaid differed within regions. differed within regions. Although in most tales they lived without men, in Ukraine they Although in most tales they lived without men, in Ukraine they were often linked with water, while in Belarus they were linked were often linked with water, while in Belarus they were linked with the forest and field. Where land was fertile, the maidens with the forest and field. Where land was fertile, the maidens appeared naked and beautiful. In harsher areas of Great appeared naked and beautiful. In harsher areas of Great Russia, they appeared as "large breasted amazons" (Hubbs). Russia, they appeared as "large breasted amazons" (Hubbs). And often, in the north, they were ugly and covered in hair.And often, in the north, they were ugly and covered in hair.

Mermaid Mermaid weekweek

Max VasmerMax Vasmer notes that the very word notes that the very word mermaidmermaid originally referred to the dances of girls at originally referred to the dances of girls at WhitsuntideWhitsuntide. The word is derived through Greek . The word is derived through Greek from "rosalia", the Latin term for Whitsuntide from "rosalia", the Latin term for Whitsuntide week (originally it meant "the festival of roses").week (originally it meant "the festival of roses").

• The The mermaidmermaid were believed to be at their most dangerous were believed to be at their most dangerous during the during the MermaidMermaid WeekWeek in early June. At this time, they were in early June. At this time, they were supposed to have left their watery depths in order to swing on supposed to have left their watery depths in order to swing on branches of birch and willow trees by nights. Swimming during branches of birch and willow trees by nights. Swimming during this week was strictly forbidden, lest mermaids would drag a this week was strictly forbidden, lest mermaids would drag a swimmer down to the river floor. A common feature of the swimmer down to the river floor. A common feature of the celebration of celebration of Mermaid WeekMermaid Week was the ritual banishing or burial was the ritual banishing or burial of the of the mermaidmermaid at the end of the week, which remained as at the end of the week, which remained as entertainment in Russia until the 1930s.entertainment in Russia until the 1930s.

Mermaid Mermaid weekweek