Back
The dead
The dead in Ukrainian demonology are the souls of the dead who have not found peace or were summoned from their graves due to certain circumstances. They can appear before the living in the form of ghosts or bodies that have returned to life. The dead are one of the most frightening creatures in folk beliefs, because their appearance usually symbolizes misfortune, death or punishment for sins.
According to folklore, the Dead can appear in various forms, from pale, translucent shadows to living bodies rising from their graves at night. Their purpose is to avenge an unjust death, warn of danger, or cause fear in the living. It was believed that the Dead are especially active on days associated with the afterlife, such as memorial holidays or the night of Ivan Kupala.
The dead could also appear due to violations of burial traditions or if they were not properly honored after death. In some regions it was believed that people who died a violent death or were not buried according to the Christian rite became the Dead.
Protection from the Dead included various rituals and charms. People usually kept consecrated icons or crosses in the house, it was believed that prayers help keep the Dead at a distance. It was especially important to observe all burial rites so that the soul of the deceased would find peace and not return to the world of the living.
An interesting feature was that for protection against the Dead, hidden prickly objects such as needles or pins were sometimes used under the door or under the bed to prevent the spirits from returning to the home. There was also a tradition of putting some earth or coal under the head of the deceased so that he could not return from the world of the dead.
According to folklore, the Dead can appear in various forms, from pale, translucent shadows to living bodies rising from their graves at night. Their purpose is to avenge an unjust death, warn of danger, or cause fear in the living. It was believed that the Dead are especially active on days associated with the afterlife, such as memorial holidays or the night of Ivan Kupala.
The dead could also appear due to violations of burial traditions or if they were not properly honored after death. In some regions it was believed that people who died a violent death or were not buried according to the Christian rite became the Dead.
Protection from the Dead included various rituals and charms. People usually kept consecrated icons or crosses in the house, it was believed that prayers help keep the Dead at a distance. It was especially important to observe all burial rites so that the soul of the deceased would find peace and not return to the world of the living.
An interesting feature was that for protection against the Dead, hidden prickly objects such as needles or pins were sometimes used under the door or under the bed to prevent the spirits from returning to the home. There was also a tradition of putting some earth or coal under the head of the deceased so that he could not return from the world of the dead.