How a kikimora appeared in the Vyatka province, what a commotion she did and how it all ended

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

In Slavic mythology, there are a large number of creepy creatures, gods and spirits. Even children loved some characters, others frightened the most daring men. The latter was Kikimora. In the modern world, few believe in their existence, and kikimora in a dismissive manner is called a funny person who has an absurd appearance.

What is the meaning of the word "kikimora" in mythology

Kikimora is a mythological creature, usually female, living next to a person in his house or other buildings, spinning at night and bringing misfortune and harm to both household members and people entering the house.

The etymology of her name indicates that Kikimora is not a primordially Slavic image. The closest "ancestor" of the lexeme "kikimora" is the ancient Finnish word for "scarecrow" - "kikke mörkö". This evil spirit is a purely feminine being. Kikimora could have been sent by a sorcerer, or workers who built a house and for some reason harbored a grudge against the owners. The Kikimors were greedy for "unclean" places. This was the name for the burial places of not inveterate deceased. These creatures lived in houses, where they hid behind stoves, in chambers, in attics and other dark places.

The Kikimora were reputed to be annoying creatures that caused a lot of trouble. A person who saw this creature promised misfortune. So, if she cries, then trouble will soon happen, and if she spins, then soon one of the inhabitants of the house will die. The prediction can be clarified by asking the kikimora, then she will definitely answer, but only with a knock.

There are various descriptions of Kikimora's appearance, but she is often portrayed as a small ugly old woman in rags. To some, she appears in the form of a girl with a long braid in a shirt on her head or completely naked.

What events took place in the Vyatka province in 1798

During Great Lent in 1798, strange things began to happen in the village of N, Vyatka province. In the house of the peasant Efim Raznitsyn from the Oryol province, a creature appeared, which is popularly called Kikimora. She created disorder in the house and instilled fear in the owners, but at the same time, local residents began to turn to her in an attempt to find out about various disappearances, squabbles and other incidents.

As a token of gratitude, "Kikimora" was offered a dozen chicken eggs, half a pound of honey, freshly baked bread and pies. The more affluent peasants could afford to express their appreciation with a couple of coins. The "miracles" stopped when Commissar Shurmanov arrived at Butyrsky ten for a check. In the tales of the "kikimor" he suspected deception, and his accusations fell on Yefim's wife Akilina Raznitsyna.

Investigative proceedings in the case of "Vyatskaya kikimora"

The State Archives of the Kirov Region still contains the "Case of Kikimor" from 1798. This document makes it possible to study the entire course of the criminal process against the peasant woman Akilina Raznitsina, who "committed illegal deeds" under the "name of kikimora". It is not only an interesting source of information about Russian legal proceedings and the investigative process of the 18th century, but also an object of study in folklore.

The text of the document can be used to reconstruct the course of the investigation. The proceedings began on June 26 in connection with the statement of the zemstvo commissar Shurmanov. Approaching Efim Raznitsin's hut, the commissioner witnessed a strange scene: peasant Terenty Shikhov, standing at a fellow villager's house, asked (probably the kikimora) if his lost money would be found, and a heart-rending cry was heard from the hut.

The commissioner, based on rumors and from his own observations, concluded that at least two offenses were taking place in Efim Raznitsyn's house. Hooliganism and "predictions" to peasants for deceiving purposes. Both the first and the second were associated with the emergence of the local "kikimora".

A candidate for the role of a suspect was found immediately. So, Shuramanov witnessed how, after the incident with Terenty, Akilina came out of the cellar, along with this the "voices" stopped.

The Commissioner took Akilina under surveillance and then began a series of interrogations. On suspicion of complicity, the neighbor Anna Korchemkina, "agreed" by Akilina, and her "household" - husband Yefim and mother-in-law Ustinya Averkieva got caught. The investigation conducted face-to-face confrontations and a "general search" of the Raznitsyn family in order to find out about the life and behavior of the suspects before the incident and their reputation among the settlers.

What really happened in the Vyatka province

Interrogations of the suspect and the testimony of witnesses do not give an unambiguous interpretation of the events.

Witnesses, talking about strange phenomena that happened in the house, do not name the subject (or subjects) of the action, but confirm that strange things happened there. It is impossible to unambiguously interpret what happened in the house of Efim Raznitsyn, at the same time, the specificity of the investigative document (the multiplicity of points of view) makes it possible to reveal the features of different languages of description and different strategies for interpreting the case.

In the testimony of the suspect, there is an intermediate moment between the phenomenon of "kikimora" Akilina and their joint pogroms at home, namely: a certain creature teaches Akilina to break pots and predict the future.

However, even at the first interrogation, Akilina's testimonies are self-revealing. The woman confesses to fraud for profit. She calls her neighbor's servant "Anna Korchemkina."