Most of the surviving folklore/mythology of the village I originally come from (I was born, raised, and live in a city, though) is centered around women, interestingly enough.
There are three kinds of supernatural creatures that people (elders specifically) claim to have encountered (or at least have heard of such an encounter from their contemporaries):
This is an elder woman who may or may not practice magic as well, and she shapeshifts into a cat. Notably, she usually does not have a husband (and children) or is a widow. She avoids people and lives alone in her own house.
The sole purpose of shapeshifting is the freedom of moving around undetected, in an environment where your personal business is treated as a public property. She hides when shifting.
The magic that she practices serves her personal goals, and only on rare occasions, motivated by other's ill-intended actions towards her, will she use it for harmful purposes.
The regular magic of a shapeshifter does not specifically conform to the moral spectrum of good and evil. Nevertheless, this is a woman that others do not accept completely. She is not liked by them and is somewhat of a social outcast, though she'll be treated politely in daily life.
The villager first spreading the rumor of a woman being a shapeshifter is usually a man, also older, like the shapeshifter in question. This man will claim he saw her shapeshifting and will put his best efforts in convincing others of what he claims.
This is an exceptionally beautiful young woman. This anthropomorphical creature is like a human woman of late twenties or early thirties. She has long hair and dark eyes, and she's tall and slim but strong and with feminine curves. She wears a long dress, spends her time in nature and loves animals, and plays with them often. She likes to braid horse's hair, so she may visit someone's farm to interact with horses. She never initiates any connection with humans, and is never seen interacting with one.
If a human man meets a siren, and she sees him and looks him in the eye, this man will fall ill and dye in several days. There is no cure for that. Thus, if a man sees a siren and she does not notice him, he must leave immediately for his own safety.
These are the creatures of the night. They gather in groups in the woods, in some isolated area, put fire, and sing and dance and feast until morning. Then they disappear.
Physically, they have heads like the beasts, their bodies are like humans', with torso and limbs.
If a human man accidentally encounters them during their nighttime feast, the devils will invite him to join. This man must avoid being seen and invited, as he is a mere tool of amusement to the devils, and their invitation may end fatally.
