Witches in Croatian/Slavic mythology and folklore
In Croatian folklore and Slavic folklore in general, there are a lot of witches, sorceress’ and other magical feminine figures.
The most famous Slavic with is Baba Yaga (Granny Jaga), an old hag that lives in a cottage that stands on chicken legs (sometimes described as being surrounded by a spikey fence with skulls on it). In some stories she eats people, mostly children, which led to parents telling their children stories about her and scaring them so they would behave. Baba Jaga is often called Baba Roga, but sometimes Baba Roga is considered a seperate witch.
There a lot of names and origin stories for witches. In Istria (a part of coastal Croatia next to the Mediterrenian sea) a which is called ŠTRIGA. It’s described as an old granny that practises dark magic or just naturally is very powerful. They are also described as beautiful sometimes, taking that shape in order to lure in men. They can shapeshift into animals, so it’s said that if you ever see a white dog and a black dog fighting on a crossroad to leave. That’s štriga (black dog) fighting a KRSNIK (white dog, vampire/supernatural hunter born with a white placenta).Sometimes the name štriga is another word used for STRIGOI (a vampire).
Baba Yaga’s cottage
Baba Yaga
Štriga
Strigoi
