MAZURIAN LEGENDS – beliefs written down for generations

The native inhabitants of Masuria were very connected with their land. No wonder that the development of Mazur’s soul was influenced by forest forests, the depths of lakes and the mystery of nature.

According to the beliefs of the Masurian people, the lakes are inhabited by “topichy” luring people to drag them into the depths, and over the marshes there are “fluorescent lamps” – similar to meltwater – which ruin stray wanderers.

The greatest fear of the Masurians was “Kołbóg”, sometimes called a chobołd. He is probably a remnant of Slavic beliefs – the deity of the hearth. A monster that comes out from behind the chimney, escapes through its opening and takes on various forms if necessary, mostly birds. Kołbóg likes to play tricks, but when the inhabitants of the house take care of him, he tries to be useful. After all, people are not very fond of him, and are even afraid of him.

The most common fears are nightmares, that is, the blaze that suffocates a person in a dream; werewolves – evil spirits taking the form of humans and wolves, they wreak havoc on farms. On the other hand, belief in “the devil” is universal, and his deeds have been commemorated in numerous legends. Children were frightened with babo Jędza – who lives in the fields of rye.