Inside the Legend- Shtrigas & Albanian Folklore
What is a Shtriga?
Shtrigas are Albanian type witches who suck spirtus vita'e (Latin for “breath of life”) from a person while they are sleeping. Legends of this creature date back to Ancient Rome. They will feed off of anyone, but they prefer children because they have a stronger life force than adults. They are said to take the form of a flying insect when they're hunting. Only Shtrigas can cure the people they've drained blood from. The children who remain uncured will get extremely sick, go into comas, and then ultimately die. Shtriga's take the form of a human when they are not hunting, usually that of an elderly woman.
How do you protect yourself from a Shtriga?
There are several ways you protect yourself from a Shtriga. You can place a cross made of bones in the entrance of a church on Easter Sunday. If a shtriga is inside the church at the time, she will be unable to leave the room. After a shtriga drains blood from a victim, she will usually go off into the woods to vomit it all up. According to Albanian belief, if you soak a silver coin in this blood and wear it wrapped in a cloth around your neck, you will have permanent protection from any shtriga.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
In the early twentieth century, there was an outburst of unexplained infant deaths in Albania . People blamed shtrigas for these deaths. Parents became extremely over-protective of their children. Many parents would wrap their kids' blankets. These kids eventually died from lack of fresh air and sunshine.
Bolla
In Albanian folklore, a Bolla is a snake-like creature that sleeps throughout the entire year. This creature awakens only on Saint George's Day and will devour any human in its immediate sight. After a twelve-year cycle, it mutates into a fire-breathing dragon with nine tongues called a Kulshedra. This creature can cause a shortage of water and requires human sacrifice to be satisfied.
The Tale of the Eagle This Albanian folklore tale explains how Albania received its name.
A young boy was hunting in the woods one day and saw an eagle flying high above him, carrying a snake in its beak. After a while, the eagle flew away from its nest. The boy then climbed up the tree. When he reached the nest, he saw a baby eaglet playing with the snake. However, the snake only appeared to be dead. It revealed its fangs ready to feast on the eaglet. The boy decided to take the eaglet out of the nest to safety. As he headed for home, he heard the loud whir of the eagle's wings. The eagle asked the boy why he was stealing his child. The boy graciously handed the eaglet back to the eagle. To thank him, the eagle soared above the boy for protection for the remainder of life when he was in the woods hunting. The people of the land elected him king and called him Shquipetar which translates to “Son of the Eagle” and the town became known as Shqiperia, or “Land of the Eagles”.
The Witching Hour
The witching hour is said to be the time when all supernatural creatures are the most powerful and black magic is most effective. Usually this time is midnight . Some cultures believe that the witching hour only occurs at midnight on the night of a full moon.
Witches' Mark
Also known as a Devil's mark, a witches' mark indicates whether a person is a witch. These marks can be in the form of moles, scars, and birthmarks. Individuals accused of being witches were punished brutally because people believe these people were indicators of a pact with Satan.
Other Famous Mythological Witches
- Aradia
- Baba Yaga
- Bozaloshtsh
- Circe
- Freyja
- Hecate
- Lilith
- Morgan le Fay
- The Witch of Endor
Sources
|
