Aridnyk

Aridnyk is the supreme spirit of the Beyond, the ancestor of the Carpathians. He has the appearance of a terrible spirit with huge horns, covered with gray skin, with yellow, fiery eyes. Aridnik is a guardian of fields and crops, but at the same time it can cause harm by taking away the energy of plants and polluting them.

He is subordinated to all Polonynian spirits, such as chugaysters, mavkas and foresters. When it was necessary to ward off hail or a storm, the molfars turned to Aridnyk, asking for his help to protect the harvest and their land. This address emphasizes his power and influence on nature, as well as the respect he was given in popular beliefs.

To protect themselves from Aridnyk, people used various rites and rituals. The consecration of fields and the arrangement of a harvest festival, where the owners thank the gods for the gifts, were also considered effective methods of protection. The use of charms such as red thread or fertility symbols also helped scare away this creature.