Episode 353 - Holiday Cryptids | The Derry Fairy & Baba Yaga

Summary

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Two Girls One Ghost

Episode 353 – Holiday Cryptids: The Derry Fairy & Baba Yaga
December 21, 2025
Hosts: Corinne Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga

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Episode Overview

In this festive-yet-spooky holiday episode, Corinne and Sabrina delve into two winter cryptids: the little-known Derry Fairy of New Hampshire and the legendary Slavic witch Baba Yaga. Through their trademark mix of banter, deep storytelling, and folklore analysis, the hosts explore how winter can inspire both comfort and terror — and how its darkest nights are ripe for tales of the strange, protective, and terrifying.

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Opening Banter: Surviving the Holidays & Emotional Release

• [02:04]–[04:55]: Corinne and Sabrina start by discussing the holiday season — its emotional toll, seasonal sickness ("tis the season to be sick"), and rituals for emotional release, such as Sabrina’s recent experience with vagus nerve breathing meditation and a “two-day cry-a-thon.”
  • Sabrina shares:

  “I was aware that I was blocking a lot of emotions, so I decided to do a vagus nerve breathing meditation. … And I had a two day cry-a-thon.” ([02:44])

• They swap stories about alternative healing, emotional self-knowledge, and planning for future self-care — “Good to know yourself.” ([04:55])

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The Derry Fairy: New Hampshire's Strangest Holiday Legend

The Hallmark Romance Setup...with a Twist

• [05:00]–[08:37]: Corinne sets up a parody Hallmark Christmas romance—before veering into the eerie origin of the Derry Fairy legend:
  • “It was the first real snowfall of the season in Derry, New Hampshire... But then, a low, rasping screech from the woods. … One of New England’s strangest Christmas legends: the Derry Fairy.” ([06:07])

The Real Encounter

• [08:37]–[12:33]: Corinne shares the actual story from 1956, when Alfred Horn encountered a bizarre creature while in the woods near Beaver Lake:
  • 2 feet tall, green-skinned and wrinkled, with floppy "basset hound" ears, eyes with a film, stubby hands, and toeless feet.
  • The creature watched Alfred for 20 minutes, then screamed when he tried to catch it—prompting both to flee.
  • “The screech is so scary sounding that it scares Alfred.” ([12:33])
• The locals later dubbed the creature “the Derry Fairy.”

Possible Origins and Connections

• [12:59]–[16:49]:
  • Discussion about possible alien/cryptid connections, noting the famous nearby Betty and Barney Hill UFO abduction in 1961.
  • Local lore includes Shinito, a fairy/hunter spirit who protects lost people in the forest — could the Derry Fairy be a reinterpretation?
  • Reflection on how the human brain perceives (or ignores) the strange:

  “How many times do we accidentally see something that we shouldn't see? … Does your brain rewrite your experience and you're actually seeing things more than you know?” – Sabrina ([15:17])

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Family Stories, Odd Jobs, and Holiday Ghosts

• [16:49]–[19:13]: The hosts pivot to personal stories about family secrets, random jobs, and hidden personal histories that emerge at family gatherings.
  • Both suggest holiday gatherings are a great time to ask elders about strange encounters (“Ask your families this Christmas if they've ever seen anything weird out in the woods.” – Corinne [17:12])
  • Classic Two Girls One Ghost banter about accidentally hiding pain and vulnerability.

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Baba Yaga: The Dual Nature of the Winter Witch

Atmospheric Storytelling

• [23:06]–[28:08]: Sabrina transports listeners to 1500s Russia for a chilling tale about Baba Yaga's 12-day reign during the darkest part of the year.
  • Vivid, horror-inflected narrative:

  “A hut with chicken legs… The front door swung open and the witch stepped out: Baba Yaga. Long iron teeth, skin as gray as ash... ‘Little mouse, why do you wander during the 12 days when the world belongs to me also?’” ([26:53])

Who is Baba Yaga?

• [28:49]–[34:58]:
  • Baba Yaga is introduced as a multi-faceted figure: a Slavic witch who both devours and helps, living in a hut on chicken legs, flying in a mortar and pestle, and often targeting children alone in the woods.
  • Notable quote (from a Grunge article):

  “Baba Yaga is a voracious swamp witch who wants only to gobble up fat children after forcing them to do chores for her.” ([29:55])

  • Her home is fearsome on the outside (bones and skulls fence) but warm and inviting within.
  • Comparing her to other Christmas “scary figures” such as Krampus, Frau Perchta, and Gryla.

The Four Faces of Baba Yaga

• [43:44]–[48:11]: Sabrina outlines the four archetypes found in Baba Yaga stories:
  1. The Devourer: Burns away what doesn’t serve, punishing the lazy or deceitful.
  2. The Tester: Sets impossible tasks to push people to their limits for self-discovery.
  3. The Gatekeeper: Guards thresholds and boundaries, protecting against venturing where you don’t belong.
  4. The Helper: Offers aid and magical gifts to those who show respect.

Which Baba Yaga Are You? – Listener Quiz

• [48:11]–[50:44]: Fun quiz segment with lively discussion:
  • Sabrina: “Which Baba Yaga are you? The Gatekeeper, the Helper, the Devourer, or the Tester?”
  • Corinne identifies as the Gatekeeper:

    “You are the Baba Yaga of boundaries and thresholds. You guard what is sacred. Your time, your energy, your people.” ([50:26])

  • Sabrina: the Helper—“People feel safe with you.” ([50:44])

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Baba Yaga in History, Symbolism, and Modern Pop Culture

• [51:11]–[59:56]:
  • First documented in the 1500s as a “known and talked about being.”
  • Interpreted as nature personified—cruel, wise, fiercely independent—often viewed as a feminist icon and symbol of women’s power outside traditional norms.
  • Modern appearances:
    • John Wick’s nickname is “Baba Yaga.”
    • Featured in "Spirited Away" and Neil Gaiman’s "Sandman" comics.
    • Anthology “Into the Forest” compiles 23 women-penned Baba Yaga tales.

Notable Quotes

• “She is woman. She is every part a woman that society has for centuries feared. … She answers to none, truly.” – Sabrina ([54:16])
• “She can wreak havoc, she can help, she can heal, and she can give aid to those who seem deserving.” – Sabrina ([54:01])
• “She thrives when the sun is the weakest. She tests us when the veil is the thinnest. And when you find yourself in the darkest of times, you must face Baba Yaga before the light returns.” – Sabrina ([59:56])

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Concluding Thoughts: Lessons from Winter Cryptids

• Both the Derry Fairy and Baba Yaga are “protective beings in the woods,” guardians as much as monsters. The episode ends with the idea that what seems terrifying in winter folklore also contains wisdom, protection, and the necessity of transformation.
• Fun holiday encouragement to let listeners discover which Baba Yaga archetype they embody.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Ask your families this Christmas if they've ever seen anything weird out in the woods.” – Corinne ([17:12])
• “Let us know what Baba Yaga you are in the comments if you took the quiz and let us know what your favorite, maybe lesser known Christmas holiday, winter solstice creatures and cryptids are.” – Sabrina ([61:08])
• “I want to be her. She's. Call me Baba Yaga. A voracious swamp witch.” – Sabrina ([60:54])

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Timestamp Guide to Major Segments

• [02:04] – Holiday banter and “emotional work” chat
• [05:00] – Comedy Hallmark intro & Derry Fairy story begins
• [08:37] – The real Alfred Horn encounter
• [12:59] – Aliens and ancient spirits: Possible Derry Fairy origins
• [16:49] – Personal/family stories and listener prompt
• [23:06] – Baba Yaga narrative begins
• [28:49] – Baba Yaga’s nature and attributes dissected
• [43:44] – The Four Baba Yagas explained
• [48:11] – "Which Baba Yaga are you?" quiz
• [51:11] – Historical and cultural significance
• [58:16] – Baba Yaga in modern media
• [59:56] – Lessons and symbolism for winter and transformation

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Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, and witty.
• Equal parts cozy and creepy, moving from joking asides to lush, atmospheric storytelling.
• Openly feminist and celebratory of the power found in folklore and embracing one’s complexity.

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For Listeners/Newcomers

This episode offers richly researched, character-driven stories of under-the-radar holiday cryptids, plus thoughtful insights into why we tell these tales in the darkest time of year. It blends engaging narrative, pop culture connections, and personal reflection, all in the uniquely spooky and supportive voice that has made Two Girls One Ghost a cult favorite.

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Listener Engagement Prompt:
Let the hosts know which Baba Yaga you got in the quiz, and share (in the comments or by email) your favorite obscure winter cryptid or family holiday ghost story for next year’s episode!

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Transcript

[A]

Hi, everyone. It's JVN from Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness. This season we've been talking a lot about hope. Not the fluffy kind, but the grounded, gritty. We're actually doing something kind. One of the places I term for that is Americans United for Separation of Church and State. They're this quiet and mighty force that's been working to keep religion and government separate so all of us can live as ourselves and believe as we choose, as long as we don't harm others. Church, state, separation touches so many of the things we care about. LGBTQI plus rights, marriage equality, reproductive freedom, and abortion access. Americans United is out here being one of the vital voices of reason, fighting in the courts and in Congress and pushing back against Christian nationalist efforts to force everyone to live by one narrow set of beliefs. You can learn so much more about what AU does and how to support their work at AU.org gettingbetter your support, no matter the amount, helps to safeguard our freedoms. Americans United is fighting for freedom without favor and equality without exception. You can start a chapter in your hometown today. You can volunteer money or time, get involved in your community. Learn [e-mail] Better close your eyes, exhale.

[B]

Feel your body relax and let go.

[C]

Of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh, my gosh, they're so fast.

[B]

And breathe.

[C]

Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw.

[B]

The discount they gave me on my first order.

[C]

Oh, sorry. Namaste.

[B]

Visit 1-800-contacts.com today to save on your first order. 1-800-contacts. Oh, yeah.

[C]

Very spooky.

[B]

Hello.

[C]

Merry holidays.

[B]

Merry holidays.

[C]

Merry, happy everything. Or not. You know what?

[B]

You know also, tis the season to be sick. So if you see my.

[C]

I thought you were going to say, tis the season to be sad.

[B]

Oh, I watered down OJ that too. And my bowl of Cheerios. Just ignore. We do what we can.

[C]

We're trying to survive. I will say, if you listen to the Patreon bonus that comes out on Christmas, anytime around this episode, you're going to be like, oh, these are two very different Sabrinas. Because in that episode, I was like, oh, the emotional valve has been turned off. It was fucking activated this past week. I cried.

[B]

Did something happen?

[C]

Like a baby. Well, I was aware that I was blocking a lot of emotions, so. So I decided to do a vagus nerve breathing meditation.

[B]

Oh, God, that gives me anxiety just thinking about It.

[C]

Oh, and I had a two day cry a thon.

[B]

Jesus. Anyway, so how did you find this exercise? Was it just like on YouTube or something?

[C]

Yeah, I looked up on YouTube. I'll link the one. I mean she has like 400,000 views on her video, so.

[B]

Oh, I thought you made 400,000 videos. I was like, jesus Christ.

[C]

Maybe, I mean, I don't know. But it's the four count breath in, six count out.

[B]

Isn't it crazy just like what the human body does? Yeah, that's like I told you about the chiropractor that I used to go to when I was in high school and that they were like, woo, woo chiropractors magic. So they wouldn't crack your back, they would just like tap you in certain spots and then you'd breathe through it and like people would weep. And I remember like fighting, laughing fits, fighting myself crying like multiple times. I don't know what the hell they were releasing in our bodies by just tapping us. And you're not in a private room either. You're lined up. There were like five chairs.

[C]

You're lined up.

[B]

So we're just like all laying there like. And then your back cracks and they're like, okay, you're good to go.

[C]

I really, I've been interested in. I don't know that I necessarily want to do it right now at this time of my life because I'm. Despite having felt the last couple of days, I do feel like I am not in a place where I'm like, oh, I need to do more emotional work.

[B]

Yeah. Did you feel released from it?

[C]

Uh, somewhat.

[B]

Or are you like, shit, I shouldn't have done that right now.

[C]

No, I mean I spent like the whole weekend in bed so that, that was annoying. Cause I don't like being depressed. But no, there's like all these rituals and retreats. I think a lot of them are like Southeast Asia where you go and they're like predominantly women. And there's like all these like healing and like baths and these like women like leading you through it.

[B]

So cool.

[C]

And I've always wanted to do one, but. You should. I'm not emotionally available.

[B]

That could be your holiday gift for yourself. And then you plan it for like six months out and then you've got six months to mentally prepare your birthday gift. Eight months.

[C]

It's not a this year, it's not a next year thing. Maybe, maybe in like 3 years.

[B]

Good to know yourself.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Right.

[C]

But today's episode is all about the holidays.

[B]

Yeah. What I'm about to share with you. Just pretend that this is coming out of my mouth in kind of a sexy way.

[C]

All right, all right. I have my sexy Corrine ears on.

[B]

Just. You're not going to get that, but pretend that that's what you're hearing. It was the first real snowfall of the season in Derry, New Hampshire. The kind that coats the old stone walls and makes every pine tree look like it belongs on a postcard. Holly Danvers, I love her name. I made it up. Had sworn she'd never come back. She had a good job, a tiny apartment in New York City, Hallmark movie, and exactly zero time for nostalgia. Trying to make it pretty corny when her mother called asking for help running the family's Christmas tree farm.

[C]

Of course, this is finally a Hallmark movie.

[B]

Holly had to pack her bags and head home to the farm. On her first morning back, bundled in borrowed flannel, she trudged through rows of evergreens toward a man sawing at a fir tree near the wood's edge. She recognized him, not the man from high school. He used to be friends with her older brother, but she hadn't seen him in years and wow, he'd really grown into himself.

[C]

Wow.

[B]

Rugged, quiet. The kind of man who still chopped with the old fashioned way.

[C]

Of course, they all do.

[B]

God, he was handsome. Perhaps she should say something. Well, no. What's the point? She doesn't even live here anymore. She's to return to the city in a few weeks, but she hasn't really been with anyone for a while, so her mind wanders and she begins to think of his strong hands covering the entirety of her back, her flannel slipping gently to the floor. The heat of his soft lips on her neck warms her just enough before they her fantasy suddenly interrupted by a sound. Her eyes darted back to the man who was now frozen, staring just past her into the opposite tree line. His axe slipped from his glove and Holly turned, expecting maybe a deer, maybe some mist, but instead she saw nothing, but the man's breath quickened, his eyes wide with terror. And then from somewhere between the pines came a sound. Low rasping screech, not belonging to any animal or man, but to one of New England's strangest Christmas legends, the Dairy Fairy. Okay, so obviously I made up the beginning part.

[C]

Wait, but what happens?

[B]

Do they get together?

[C]

What's the whole we need a happy ending?

[B]

Have sex?

[C]

Does she leave the big city?

[B]

For her.

[C]

For her small town?

[B]

She's a tree farm. They split time, half city, half rural. I don't know New York. I don't know where I said this.

[C]

Somewhere between the Pines. Sounds like a TV show.

[B]

Somewhere between the Pines in the Pines. Isn't that a spooky book?

[C]

Maybe. Sounds like it should be. Probably is.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I also couldn't. My narrative couldn't be more opposite.

[B]

I did write smut. It was an entire page. I really kept going.

[C]

I love it.

[B]

Okay, so I.

[C]

Sorry.

[B]

Not clearly exaggerated at the beginning.

[C]

We should write, like a creepy Hallmark holiday movie.

[B]

Oh, my God, I'd love that. Hallmark movies are so. Well, I don't mean to insult anyone. I was gonna say easy. They're cheesy to write. It's like, what's the corniest thing? But, like, you enjoy the corniness of it. Okay, but not all of this was made up because there really was a man in the woods, and his name was Alfred Horn. I don't know if Alfred Horn wore flannel or was super sexy, but it's.

[C]

New Hampshire and it's winter, so.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. I said, I don't know where I set this. As if it wasn't in Derry, New Hampshire. I'm already forgetting things. But that was fact.

[C]

Derry, New Hampshire.

[B]

Okay, so Alfred Horn, he encountered something very strange in Derry, New Hampshire, while he was in the woods harvesting Christmas trees. So that was not totally false. I don't know if he was harvesting Christmas trees just for his own property or if this was like sort of the thing where he, like, you know, was slinging Christmas trees on the edge of the road or whatever, but he was in the woods. According to legend, on December 15, 1956, Alfred was specifically in the woods near Beaver Lake. He had an axe in his hand, and he was on the hunt for the perfect Christmas trees. And while in the woods, Alfred spotted something. It was an animal, but it also kind of wasn't because this creature was something like he'd never seen before. It was about 2ft tall, green skinned, with wrinkled folds like an elephant skin. Like, you don't like that. Tough, kind of like wrinkly, but green. It was about 2ft tall. Yes, 2ft. It had floppy ears like basset hound ears, tiny holes where the nose should be. I know this is like the most bizarre looking creature. And eyes that looked somewhat like they had almost like a film over them. Like, I'm almost picturing, you know, like when. Like a. When, like a dog goes blind or.

[C]

I was like, a newborn, too. Like a. Not like a kitten and dog. They have, like that little, like, film over their eyes for a couple of days before they can actually, like, fully see.

[B]

Right. Which, like, if he saw all of this, he was super close to this thing.

[C]

I also feel like when something's so traumatic or also just, like, off putting, you almost memorize details. You either memorize details way more or you block it all out.

[B]

Block it all out? Yeah. The creature's arms and legs were really short, which makes sense. It was only standing 2ft tall, and it ended in stubby hands and toeless feet. So it just kind of had, like, nubs. How did it pick anything up with its mind, probably.

[C]

Oh, okay.

[B]

So he's like, this is impossible. This animal does not exist. What the fuck am I saying?

[C]

Right?

[B]

Yet standing there in the woods, this thing is really close to him, and it's watching him silently. So Alfred's like, okay, I'm just gonna keep. And then start singing. You can give requests. Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle rock. It watches him for 20 minutes. 20 minutes. It just stands there watching it.

[C]

Meaning he's watching it for 20 minutes.

[B]

Yeah, he keeps doing what he's doing. And it's, like, aware of this goblin.

[C]

Went home and was like, you'll never.

[B]

Believe what I saw in the woods. Truly? Truly. And, like, I think Alfred really scared this thing, too. So Alfred, aware of this creature the entire time, decided perhaps he needed to capture it. Because as he was thinking about it, he's like, no one's ever going to believe me that this is what I saw and that this thing is staying here. And this thing wasn't really moving. So he's like, it's tiny. It's stationary. I can totally get this thing.

[C]

It reminds me kind of of the Squonk, Especially the folded skin kind of.

[B]

Oh, what if it was, like, the Squonk's cousin who lives in New Hampshire?

[C]

He's a little green up there. I mean, it is a bit greener. Yeah, right?

[B]

He's got to blend into the trees more.

[C]

Yeah. We know nothing.

[B]

So I'll say.

[C]

I don't think we said, this is two girls, one ghost this year.

[B]

This is two girls, one ghost.

[C]

Hey, Sabrina. Corinne.

[B]

Nice to meet you.

[C]

Back to it. Nice to meet you. Pleasure.

[B]

Pleasure is mine. That's like when my brother came into town for Thanksgiving, and as he was leaving, I hugged him and I said, nice to see you. And he said, like, you as well or something. And I was like, this is the most formal goodbye ever. It's awkward now. Okay, so Alfred, he lunges at this creature, and the poor thing is so scared, it lets out this terrifying Screech. But the screech is so scary sounding that it scares Alfred.

[C]

Good, good.

[B]

So Alfred runs. I assume the creature ran too, and that they're both like, both parties left the woods in haste. But Alfred then reports exactly what he had seen. And he goes to the news and he's like, I saw a goblin or a fairy or something in the woods.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So based on the description Alfred gave, the entity soon earned the name the Derry Fairy because it was in Derry.

[C]

New Hampshire and it rhymes.

[B]

Yep. This was an interesting thing because while they were calling it a fairy and it did have like goblin like characteristics, some people wondered if he actually encountered an alien. Because the length of New Hampshire, I guess if you're driving from north to south is only like three hour drive. It's a small state if someone's never been there. Maybe like hour and a half to two hours away from where this was drive wise was the Betty and Barney Hill abduction.

[C]

What year did that happen? I thought that was 65. I could be totally wrong.

[B]

Oh, it was 1961. And this happened 57, 56. So I'm assuming that from what I read, this was like an afterthought. Yeah, it must be an afterthought. Yeah. Because it wasn't.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

But basically some people are like, oh, is this another example of the little green man existing in New Hampshire?

[C]

Right.

[B]

But the lore of this region and of Beaver Lake is much older than these 20th century encounters and could potentially explain what was seen by Alfred on this winter day in the search of Christmas trees. There are a few retellings and different versions of this. And I didn't go into full detail because it involves some, like, less favorable narratives about like, native people in the area. And I just don't want to include that. But one of the potential matches to the Dairy Fairy that I will say is that there is a tale of Shinito, a Fae hunter and spirit protector associated with this lake and this region. And according to legend, it says that this fairy, Shinito, lives in the woods here and looks out for people in distress, using its powers and magic to help and save people who find themselves in a rough spot in the woods. So could Alfred have been watched by the Derry Fairy who was really Shinito, who is like this spirit, forest spirit, who is out there, like, protecting people and making sure people who are alone there are.

[C]

Okay, I think about this a lot. Like how many times objectively, as humans we are limited. Even our eyesight is limited. We can't see the like, atoms moving in the air. Like, we can't see everything. How many times do we accidentally see something that we shouldn't see? Oh, and is this an example of it?

[B]

And, like, do our brains correct it most of the time? Or we're like, oh, that could. That was like. It was just a flash of something, and then you pretend that it's something else? Like, does your brain rewrite your experience and you're actually seeing things more than you know? Hmm.

[C]

Well, then I think about this entity, too, that, like, is there an entire. Whole species or category of beings that literally live in the unseen?

[B]

I think yes.

[C]

He was like, I was seen today.

[B]

Yeah. Isn't that, like, the whole thing where there was, like, that one piece of glass or something? I don't know if this is a conspiracy or not. There's, like, a piece of glass and people were making, like, glasses out of it or whatever, but they could see into another dimension.

[C]

Never heard this.

[B]

What? You gotta get deeper into your career.

[C]

Conspiracy TikTok.

[B]

No, but it was like, yeah. Once you can see the other plane, you see how much exists and all the different creatures and things in, like, other cities, like, amongst ours, but it just exists in another plane. But we're all together, stacked on top of each other, but somehow.

[C]

Huh.

[B]

Dude, I don't understand.

[C]

I mean, I believe that. I just haven't heard that of the glass.

[B]

Yeah. Okay, wait, let me do a quick Google. I'll tell you what the glass is called.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

I think Google is trying to steer me away from conspiracies because the type of glass is not coming up. But it does exist. Someone will know on the Internet somewhere. Anyway, that's the Derry Fairy. It's very short, but it's a little tale of some strange creature lurking in the woods of Derry, New Hampshire. Interesting. In the winter, looking at people harvesting.

[C]

Christmas trees, I'm so curious where this man is now.

[B]

Harvesting. The right word. I keep saying. Harvesting. Cutting down Christmas trees.

[C]

Yeah. Harvesting sounds. I feel like we're kind of killing the trees.

[B]

We're killing the trees.

[C]

Yeah. I wonder where this man is now.

[B]

I don't know.

[C]

Like, I want to talk to him. I want to hear. I want to hear the story from him. Like, what if that's your grandpa? How cool would that be?

[B]

That would be really cool.

[C]

Or your dad.

[B]

Yeah. Ask your families this Christmas if they've ever seen anything weird out in the woods.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I honestly feel like you'll be surprised, because I feel like so many people. I think because of our positions of where we are with this podcast like, we do get told things, but, like, people that I'd known for years or, like, family members or whatever suddenly tell the tale of, like, seeing something strange. I'm like, you saw Bigfoot? Or, like, you saw a lake monster.

[C]

Your dad constantly has new stories.

[B]

Oh, God, I can't even. This past Thanksgiving, my dad was talking about how he was had, like, a high score on one of the arcade games. And he's like, but, you know, it's not, like, that impressive because, like, I worked at the arcade. So I'd ask, We're like, when did you work at the job at the arcade? And I was like, christian, did you know this? And my brother just shakes his head, and he's like, nope. But classic dad fact. Like, just learn a big part of his life in childhood at some other time.

[C]

Doesn't it make you sad? You'll literally never know. Even, like, everyone in your life, the closest people in your life, you'll never actually know their whole story, everything.

[B]

I'm like, why had that never come up?

[C]

Because he had lots of jobs. I don't know. I've had a lot of weird, odd jobs that I probably haven't shared. Cause I don't think they're that interesting. Did I tell you I was a referee for soccer? Sounds like, literally, for years and years, I worked under the table at a couple restaurants. I once chopped off a piece of my finger and hit it because I was so scared. I literally was using a knife, not a piece of my finger. It was like a slice of my skin. And I, like, literally held a paper towel on my thumb, like, the entire day. Just kept working.

[B]

Sabrina, have you told your therapist this.

[C]

Probably or, like, equivalent to that? Cause that's, like, metaphor for my whole life.

[B]

That's why I was like, oh, this is one of the early examples of you not showing your pain. Do not hide to anyone.

[C]

Hold it together for everyone. They depend on you. This is a great transition into my story because this is a figure, a Christmas winter being that I want to learn from and embody moving forward in my life.

[B]

Okay, well, now I'm very curious, because you have once said that you wanted to be the Squonk. So I'm like, that's the answer. The cries. I am the squad. The Squonk.

[C]

Baba Yaga.

[B]

Baba Yaga, I feel like, is who.

[C]

I ought to be.

[B]

Have we talked about Baba Yaga before?

[C]

We have mentioned her in passing, and someone brought her up to us recently, but we've never covered her.

[B]

Mm.

[C]

Christmas. Christmas as we know it. Today, it's a time of cheer, family joy, hot chocolate, mulled wine, vegging out mulled wine, vegging out in Christmas pajamas, as we are doing currently. But that is not the Christmas I'm going to be sharing with you today. No, today I'm going to talk about Christmas of the past. The one where children didn't go to sleep thinking of toys beneath a Christmas tree, but instead went to sleep with fear that they might not wake in the morning. This Christmas story is about survival. I feel like if you are a pet owner, you can relate to this. All you want is the best for your pet. And if you want the best for your dog, we highly recommend switching to Ollie. They offer fresh protein packed meals made with real human grade ingredients. And they offer five tasty recipes, all slow cooked for top nutrition.

[B]

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[B]

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[C]

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[B]

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[C]

Rocket money, y'. All. It is the best. It makes their, their dashboard makes everything so clear. It does a breakdown of basically what you're spending, where you're spending it and it can help you create a budget to the point where I've set it up, where Rocket Money sends me a weekly synopsis of my spending to let me know how on track or possibly off track I have gotten.

[B]

Right. Yeah, you can use it for subscription management, budgeting, bill negotiation, financial goals. So many different things. It's honestly so awesome.

[C]

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[B]

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[C]

Really paint the picture, I'm going to take you back in time to the 1500s in Russia, where a young girl, or you, whoever's listening, as a child prepares for the most dangerous time of year.

[B]

That's so scary. It feels like the purge. Preparing for the most dangerous time of the year. And it's Christmas.

[C]

Like, yeah.

[B]

Ugh, used to be Black Friday before online shopping.

[C]

Oh God, it was still scary. Walking on Newbury street on Black Friday was scary. Okay, so instead of a Hallmark movie, I'm going to take you into a horror movie. Picture yourself huddled around a fire inside a small cottage that sits on the edge of the woods. A simple stew simmers above the flames. You watch as the sun sets outside. Not that it provided much light or warmth during the day that is coming to an end. You fear what comes after the sun disappears. Your ancestors have long warned of these days the most dangerous of all the 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany. These 12 days mark the days the sun is at its weakest. But it was never just the cold that they feared. It was what grew stronger as the sun grew weaker. The spirits for these 12 days were the most dangerous and the entire year where the nights are longer than the days, where the wolves walk upright, where the lost spirits linger, and where the witches snatch children from fields.

[B]

Jeez.

[C]

A chill runs through your spine as you think of what lurks just beyond your home and you turn your attention back to the flames in the hearth. You whisper a prayer, asking that the fire stay strong through the night because you've heard stories of what happened should the fire die. You've heard of the young boy named Mikhail. And even the thought of his tale frightens you. But now that you've thought it, you can't think it away. The story runs through your mind over and over. His family was just like yours. Simple, small, sitting around a fire, hoping to make it through the night. But on the ninth night of the 12 days, Mikhail and his family ran out of dry wood. There was nothing left and their fire was dwindling fast. Mikhail was sent into the forest to gather fallen branches. Doing as he was told, he walked into the trees. The silence was thick. He could hear the snowflakes as they landed beside him. He was nervous as he trudged through the woods looking for branches. And he couldn't help but notice that the moon wasn't out. Almost as if it too was was scared of the night. And that's when he heard it. A creaking, like a tree branch bearing weight. Then came the snap. Mikhail whipped his head around. Crunch. Crunch. Someone or something was upon him. He turned again, eyes wide, landing on it. A hut with legs. Not just legs. Chicken legs.

[B]

With Helens.

[C]

He couldn't believe what he was seeing. But sure enough, it was a house walking towards him, stomping through the woods on chicken legs.

[B]

What in the world? This is very wizard of Oz.

[C]

The detail was unmistakable. It was a house with a fence made of bones, walking in the woods. And he knew what came next. And the front door of this hut swung open and the witch stepped out. Baba Yaga. She was even more terrifying than the legend proclaimed. Long iron teeth glinting like needles. Skin as gray as ash. And then she spoke, a deep, raspy voice that, while small, echoed through his head. Little mouse, why do you wander during the 12 days when the world belongs to me also?

[B]

It feels like you could outrun a house trying to make its way through the woods.

[C]

Yeah, but I think the terror just stops you in its tracks.

[B]

Yeah, or what if it's magical and.

[C]

It like a house that's walking through the woods.

[B]

What if it's magical?

[C]

Mikhail had nearly forgotten his mission, the fear enveloping every inch of his body. He whimpered a response, telling her he's searching for firewood. And Baba Yaga seemed to grin then. And in silent orders, she commanded the house to bend down. And then Baba Yaga was face to face with Mikhail. She took a step towards him, so now he could see inside the front door. And the witch beckoned him inside. Then come burn your firewood. Mikhail moved as if in a trance, entering Baba Yaga's hut. And as the door shut, the forest swallowed the sound, and Mikhail with it, too. You shiver as you recall this tale, and then you turn to your own fire and count the logs of wood sitting beside the burning fire, only three remain.

[B]

Oh, my God. You've got about an hour.

[C]

You better hope they last through the night.

[B]

It won't. You ever seen a fire? It won't.

[C]

And that's my Hallmark movie.

[B]

Damn, that's terrifying. That's what's just like, what is the point of these Baba Yaga stories? Like, it's why? Why?

[C]

And who is she? That's a secret I'll never tell. Xoxo. Baba Yaga.

[B]

Baba Yaga.

[C]

Right. No, she sounds terrifying. And also, like, the imagery of this hut on chicken legs. It's a bit absurd and funny. Like, there's, like, a humor to it.

[B]

It's strange.

[C]

Like, why that?

[B]

Yeah, it does feel like it's like a picture book made for kids in a way to, like, scare them. Like, the house swallows you whole.

[C]

And she does sound scary, but then.

[B]

Also it's like, what are the lessons? Like, what makes Baba Yaga come for you?

[C]

Well, that's a good question. Who is she?

[B]

Who is she? What's her motive?

[C]

And she seems scary, but she's also a badass. And I hope that you'll leave this episode thinking, wow, what a badass witch Baba Yaga is. Okay, so we're going to talk about her, who she is according to the lore, and then I'll break down the history, the origins, and then her lasting impact. So in the very simplest of terms, Baba Yaga is an ancient Russian and Slavic witch spirit who lives in a magical hut on chicken legs and is a very complex being who challenges the people she encounters, which is mostly children. She is both a destroyer and giver of life and resembles the old hag and enjoys feasting on children. Although this is. Okay, this is a quote that I took from a grunge article because it's, like, my favorite description I came across, and I was like, why rewrite perfection? Yeah. Okay. Baba Yaga is a voracious swamp witch who wants only to gobble up fat children after forcing them to do chores for her.

[B]

Oh, my God. A voracious swamp witch. Yeah, I feel like that should be our new Instagram bios.

[C]

We are voracious swamp witches. No, I just loved that description of her and stole it, but gave credit. Her name, Baba Yaga Baba, means, like, old or like grandmother. But Yaga, I think, is, like, harder to translate, but so people call her the old woman witch, or like that's what it translates to. Or the old woman of horror, or old witch or the terrible grandmother.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[C]

And she shares a lot of similarities to the old crone, the old hag, or the evil old witch stereotype throughout history. But what I love about her is she is complex with duality. She is a woman with lots of dimensions. She's not like a two dimensional scary.

[B]

Character because I can't remember all the details. But I feel like the. You covered the woman from Iceland who would like collect children in her sack.

[C]

Right. So there's like Frau Petja.

[B]

I think that's. Oh, yeah.

[C]

Later on I referenced like a couple of them that we do that we have talked about in the past.

[B]

I feel like those are. It's harder to find redeeming qualities when.

[C]

They just steal children and run away.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But the thing is like. And we'll get to it, but with so many of the other Christmas scary creatures, they were like created to teach lessons, whereas this one wasn't.

[B]

But she's just like doing her thing.

[C]

She's just doing her thing.

[B]

But she also makes me almost believe. It feels less like it's a legend that was made up and more of like, was there a. Was there someone named Baba Yaga who was terrorizing the town and it like turned into this lore?

[C]

I believe she was a personification of something which we'll get to that over the years became something much larger.

[B]

Okay. I mean, this started in the 1500s, you said?

[C]

Yeah, or actually before that. But the first, like recorded writing of her is 1500s. Okay. She isn't two dimensional. She's a complex creature who doesn't do what you want her to do. She does what she wants to do. She behaves differently depending on the encounters. They vary throughout literature, but most scholars do agree upon the way she appears, her tools and her abilities. Baba Yaga is said to appear as a gaunt, skeletal, long nosed, iron toothed witch with hair like twigs or smoke. One of her legs is often stripped of flesh, stripped of muscle, stripped all the way down to the bone. Basically a reminder to those who see her that she is. You might be seeing her physically, but she has one foot literally in the grave. Like she is not of this world. It is said that her voice is like wind through dead branches and that her sunken eyes burn yellow or blue. She is often seen flying in her mortar and pestle, which I love this so much because it's like, I don't know where this falls in terms of like, the witch on a broom. Like lore, but she literally flies in a mortar, which is kind of like a cauldron.

[B]

Right. It's like a.

[C]

And then her pestle tub. Yeah. Right. And I love that. And then she's always seemingly accompanied by her hut, which. Yes. Stands on chicken legs and moves through the woods with her. Very much alive, but doesn't move with her.

[B]

She's a green witch. She's all. She's ready to just, like, grind her herbs, her children.

[C]

So this is one drawing.

[B]

She's smiling.

[C]

Cause she's happy.

[B]

She certainly looks dead, but she's dead.

[C]

Her life how she wants or her afterlife, but yeah. So this house, this hut on chicken legs also has a yard of its own, which I love. Like, she travels with her house in her yard. This house doesn't operate without her. So it's not like you could just see her chicken leg hut in the woods. Like, if you see it, you see her.

[B]

Okay, so it only appears when she's there.

[C]

Yeah, as far as I know. And aside from the standout chicken legs, her hut moves by Baba Yaga's command. It will spin, and it will turn. It will dance when she asks it to. And it has a yard, like I said. And this yard is surrounded by a fence of human bones. And every other, like, fence post is topped with a skull.

[B]

Oh, geez. Wow.

[C]

Should you go inside and make it out alive, you would think that the interior would be corresponding to the terrifying exterior, but no. You step inside, and it is in direct contrast. It is. It is your grandmother's house. It is comfortable. It smells like apples and cinnamon. It's always warm. It's a delight. Inside her house.

[B]

This is making me wonder if Sarah J. Maas, who wrote A Court of Thorns and Roses, got any inspiration from Baba Yaga for the Weaver, which is, like, a creature that kind of looks like her, that lives, like, deep in the woods in this hut, but is, like, blind. And her house is really kind of cozy inside and has a lot of stuff. And she spends her days, like, weaving similar but will kill you if she catches you in her house.

[C]

It is kind of similar. And I do feel like Baba Yaga's house is very similar to her. The exterior does not seem inviting, but at the core, inside, there's warmth.

[B]

Mm.

[C]

This was a terror. And this mortar and pestle has multiple purposes. It is to fly. It is her vessel that she flies in, but it's also the perfect place for her to grind up the bones of her next meal. She carries with her a Birch broom to sweep away any mess she's keeping.

[B]

A tidy home.

[C]

She likes a tidy home. Exactly. She also has magical fire, like an eternal flame, which, if you keep in mind.

[B]

Where is it?

[C]

She just has the ability to have it.

[B]

Oh, oh.

[C]

And I think she keeps it in, like, a skull. And then also in her hearth, in her home. By all accords.

[B]

So really, people wouldn't need to go chop firewood if she would just share the eternal flame, so.

[C]

Exactly. So some people do seek her for fire.

[B]

Ah, it's all coming together.

[C]

Yeah. By all accords, she totally embodies the witch trope. Like the old scary witch in the woods. She controls, commands nature. She can fly. She can shapeshift. She knows of herbs. She can cast spells using herbal tinctures. And she can foresee the future.

[B]

She literally has, like, an herb garden.

[C]

Totally.

[B]

She travels with.

[C]

She travels with. And I also love this idea that, like, because sometimes traveling. The worst part about traveling is, like, you can't bring your home with you. Like, the comforts of home. You can't bring your cats and stuff. She's like, I have a solution. Pick it up on chicken legs.

[B]

She is the original mobile home.

[C]

She is. The chicken legs is a choice. I don't know what, why, but that's how it is.

[B]

Because she's a green witch and she probably has chickens on her property, too.

[C]

That's true.

[B]

Your favorite chicken, probably. And it's like, last breath of life. She's like, I will find a way to make you live forever.

[C]

Auntie made it her home.

[B]

Be a part of my home forever. Chicken wings.

[C]

The chicken carries the house. And like I said, from the narrative I shared in the beginning, and also most narratives that do include Baba Yaga, she is quite terrifying. And also, this is kind of going back to what we were just talking about, the Christmas winter legends we've shared in the past. You would assume that maybe Baba Yaga is created to teach a lesson, to teach children to be good girls and good boys, like Graila. Maybe Grayla's the one who I covered.

[B]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Grylla is the one that carries children in her sack.

[C]

Krampus. And then there's Frau Percha, which I think you.

[B]

Percha or Pecta. I do remember her.

[C]

I put an R in there, but I could have just added it by for fun. Funsies. But Baba Yaga is much older and quite frankly, doesn't give two skulls about Christmas, two schools. She rules the 12 days Dec. 25 to Jan. 5. She's not directly tied to it. But over the years she's become more tied to it because she's considered to rule during the winter when the sun is the weakest.

[B]

So she exists always, but she's strongest and most frequently seen in the winter.

[C]

Most frequently written about regarding the winter. So now this could be a whole different episode, but there's a history of a pagan festival called Coliata that was celebrated during this time. So it's like pre Christianity. This is in Slavic countries. Briefly though it's very similar to the Yule or winter solstice, a time of warding off evil spirits in the darkest time of year and welcoming the new sun. And just a little side side fun fact. During Koliata, like a way to celebrate, people would go perform ritual caroling. They'd go house to house to bless and drive away dark spirits, but they would like show up in masks and costume. And it's like one of those traditions that has kind of turned into what we now know as Christmas caroling.

[B]

Wait, remember that the carolers with the. We covered this one of the Christmas episodes. Yeah, it's in Ireland.

[C]

Well, so that's part of the Yule traditions. A lot of them are very similar. They are like pagan traditions. But yes, Coliata is a little bit different than Yule, but they symbolize very similar things, just like a regional difference. But it is important to note that while Baba Yaga rules and reigns strongest during the 12 days, she is not explicitly tied to Koleada. But many who have studied her origins and her happenings believe that she embodies everything of the winter season. She's strongly tied to the darkest part of the year, but can appear anytime. Whenever someone crosses into the forest or into the supernatural realm, Baba Yaga can appear. And while most of us, I'll speak for myself, suffer from depression, especially running rampant in the winter when it's dark and cold and we choose to hunker down, stay inside, hibernate. Baba Yaga, she thrives. She is winter. Winter is her season. These days life is jam packed and I feel like it's really hard to make time to take care of yourself. But that is why hers is here to support you as a woman along your journey. Whether it's anxiety medication or a weight loss journey, hers is here for you.

[B]

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[B]

Oh, thank you.

[C]

What's your secret?

[B]

Well, I did use the brilliant eye brightener from Thrive Cosmetics.

[C]

I love Thrive Cosmetics.

[B]

Yeah, I have a few shades of it and I feel like the, I use like the copper one as an actual like eyeshadow but there's a a really light colored one that I've been trying to and like the inside of my eyes to make me look a little more awake.

[C]

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[B]

Technical question. As communities start to eat away at some of the forests to create residences and towns and stuff.

[C]

She doesn't like that.

[B]

Does she still consider that her domain? Her woods, her territory?

[C]

I'm sure she puts up a Real fricking fight and doesn't make it easy. But I think she does rule. She's kind of like stuck in the woods or that's where she feels safest.

[B]

Hidden from the evils of man.

[C]

Baba Yaga you encounter depends on you and why you enter the woods. She does target children mostly, but this is also because in old Slavic life, children were the ones who were mostly sent into the woods to go gather things like firewood, to fetch water, to herd the animals, which meant that as a child, you were often alone in the woods. And Baba Yaga is basically the representation of that very real danger that they could encounter. I'll get into, like, the metaphors more in a bit, but sometimes these encounters in the woods would change the children forever. They might enter the woods innocent, starry eyed, and if they do return home, they might return changed, transformed. It all depended on traumatized what version of Baba Yaga they encountered. Throughout the years and across the many iterations of stories, there are four types of Baba Yagas that seem to be most popular. And after I tell you about all four, I have a quiz for you.

[B]

Oh, God.

[C]

For you to find out what Baba Yaga you are.

[B]

Oh, I like this.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Okay, we're like Seventeen magazine, like, very.

[C]

I was like, I just having fun with it.

[B]

Which juicy pants are for you?

[C]

Which Baba Yaga are you? Okay, so these are the four. The Devourer. I don't know why that's so hard to say. The Devourer.

[B]

Whoa.

[C]

Right?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

The tester, the gatekeeper, or the helper. So we'll start with the Devourer. It sounds so wrong and it feels so wrong coming out of my mouth. But this type of Baba Yaga burns away what no longer serves her. So basically, if someone comes into the woods with, like, bad intentions, she is very just. She's all about justice. She will threaten to cook or eat those who fail her tests. And in this iteration and this encounter, her stove is like that in Hansel and Gretel, large enough for children. But she is not cruel or evil. She doesn't just eat and kill for the sake of it. She's very just. She only burns those who are lazy, foolish, disrespectful, or deceitful.

[B]

Then see, that's tough, because I feel like in trying to survive, deceit is like part of trying to trick the witch to let you free.

[C]

But if you're doing it for bad intentions, like, if you're going into the woods to do something maybe menacing, and.

[B]

You lie or try to Hurt her or something.

[C]

Yeah. Okay. Then there is the tester. This Baba Yaga likes to give visitors impossible tests, like separating grains or retrieving supplies from dangerous places. She likes to push people to their limits, challenging them to do more than they thought they were capable of. So it is kind of like if.

[B]

You have to pass the test to not be eaten. She's setting people up for failure in a way.

[C]

I think she's trying to make people.

[B]

Find the motivation within.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah. She kind of serves as a mirror. Like, look back at yourself and see yourself, who you really are. And if you don't like what you're seeing, why is that interesting?

[B]

Because the weaver's brother in Acotar has a mirror that basically does the same thing.

[C]

Interesting. Sarah, you have a good memory for Acotar.

[B]

I still haven't finished the series.

[C]

Well, it's funny, because when you had Noah was when we were reading it for Patreon Book Club, and I didn't love it, so I feel like I didn't keep it up.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

People are waiting for you. Okay. The third type of Baba Yaga is the gatekeeper. And this Baba Yaga guards many things. She guards the boundary between life and death. She guards nature, specifically water and animals. She is a physical barrier blocking those venturing where they do not belong. So in, like, some iterations, she's like the troll under the bridge. And if you can get past her, you earn her respect and she will gift you deeper wisdom. But other times, trying to pass her makes her bare her teeth and devour you. Mm.

[B]

Great.

[C]

But if you're catching the theme here, it does seem it's a lot about respect of the land.

[B]

Yeah. And just, like, stay out of the forest. Don't tempt her. Why are you there to begin with? It seems like most people don't just happen upon her. It seems like they seek her out.

[C]

Some people have sought her out, but others come upon her for a reason that maybe they didn't know. Like, for example, someone's venturing out into the woods, and there is this, like, wild stream ahead that, as a child, you would have to cross. But first, you actually come in contact with Baba Yaga, and her purpose is actually to prevent you from crossing that dangerous dream. Because it's dangerous.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But you don't know that because you haven't reached it yet.

[B]

But then you do the wrong thing and you die by the hands of Baba Yaga. When maybe you would have survived crossing the stream. Maybe. I don't know. It's tricky.

[C]

Baba Yaga is a mythical creature, so she's not necessarily killing children. I think she represents the things that were killing children or people wanted to make a stand in for it. Okay, but. So this helper version of Baba Yaga appears when treated with respect and honor. And these usually end with pleasant endings, happy endings, and end with gifts rather than death. She will guide those who are lost, gift them magical items, bestow fire, or whatever is needed. So basically, she'll either eat you or be kind and bestow knowledge upon you.

[B]

Give you a magical toy.

[C]

Okay, so here's the time for the quiz. I have a quiz for you.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

And you can all follow along, keep track of your answers and let us know in the comments what Baba Yaga you are. And there's also. I made a. Like, this is a three question one, but I made an eight question one for Patreon. Ooh. So if you want to take a longer quiz. Okay, but question one. When someone crosses your boundaries, what are you most likely to do? A, cut them out immediately. B, test them. C, set the boundary again, but louder. Or D, give them a chance to fix it. A. C. Okay, I'm a. D. Yeah.

[B]

I'm a C. But like, also an A. Like, I'm a C. I know I.

[C]

Was gonna say, like, I'll be like.

[B]

Oh, that wasn't cool. But then I will. You give second chances, not talk to that person for like the rest of the day or whatever, but it's not forever. Okay, but you're C. I think I'm more C. I start with C. Answer with your gut. Yeah.

[C]

Okay, so you're C. Question 2. You're lost in the woods at night. A strange hut on chicken legs approaches you. What do you do? A, walk inside. If it eats you, that's cool. Cool. Way to go. B, knock with confidence. You're prepared to face them. You think you can outsmart them. Circumstances. Circle the hut to see what you're dealing with before you enter. D, make an offering and hope that you have something they'll want. There is no running away option.

[B]

Yeah, I would probably say C. I'm A. I was going to say you're a. 100%. You're a. I'm a.

[C]

Okay. Question three. Your friend comes to you in a crisis. How do you naturally respond? A, tell them the hard truth, no sugar coating. B, ask them questions to help them see the answer for themselves. C, protect them. Tell them you'll handle this and help them through it. Or D, offer warmth, advice, and maybe a protective spell.

[B]

I feel like, at times I could do all of those. But B is more my. Like, more go to.

[C]

Okay. But you're mostly Cs. So you entered two Cs, one B. Yeah. So mostly Cs. You are the gatekeeper. You are the Baba Yaga of boundaries and thresholds. You guard what is sacred. Your time, your energy, your people.

[B]

That feels right.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

This is a good quiz, Cosmo.

[C]

I did mostly Ds.

[B]

Was your last one D? Because you did D A. And then what was your last one?

[C]

I'm D. So if you're mostly Ds, you are the helper. You are the guardian witch. Warm in the shadows. People feel safe with you.

[B]

Oh, that's so nice.

[C]

If you're mostly A's, you are the devourer. God damn. You are the Baba Yaga who burns away what no longer serves. People find you intense, but they also admire you. If you are mostly bees, you are the tester. The Baba Yaga who initiates growth. You can see potential long before others do.

[B]

See these all, like, reading the descriptions, they all seem positive, right? It's like, I never want to try.

[C]

To make you the devourer Baba Yaga, because, yes, she is portrayed as the scary witch in the woods, but she is actually nature personified. So like many spirits before that we've discussed, she's here to protect what we, as humans, disrespect. She can be both cruel and generous, wise and terrifying, indifferent and yet passionate. She's got depth and her roots date very far back. So, like I said, the first known documentation of Baba Yaga is written in the 1500s. 1547. There's a book called the Book of the Great and Terrible Tsar Ivan Velvelich. I said that wrong. But it's a historical religious text where there's a list of demonic evil beings. And Baba Yaga is listed on this.

[B]

Now, I feel kind of bad for her.

[C]

Right. But she's just listed. So that means. And it implies that Baba Yaga is a known and talked about being in this time in the world. So her legend now predates 1547.

[B]

It's amazing that it's still talked about, you know, Like, I feel like so many things are dropped off and, like, never talked about again.

[C]

Right.

[B]

I am curious, like, from this era, what will remain? Because now it's inundated with records and.

[C]

Right. Well, and then also one thing that people talk about a lot is like, so because she kind of comes from like a pagan ish background, there's also keep in mind that With Christianity, they tried to, like, wipe away a lot of the pagan practices. So there are all these, like, pagan goddesses and deities that we don't hear about often. But it's almost like Baba Yaga, while she's not specifically a pagan deity, she is like an amalgamation of those deities who were erased, which is also cool in its own way.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Baba Yaga starts appearing in written texts in the 17th century when a lot of Russian scholars would go around and collect oral stories to try to document them. And then she starts appearing in a lot of folktales. Everyone kind of agrees that she is the personification of nature's cruelty, but is also wisdom. This old woman who is feared and revered. She symbolizes nature, Mother Earth, and the relationship of women to the wild, which. I love that part.

[B]

Yeah. Because it's kind of like the depiction of, like, which is like the women naked, like, dancing in a circle with their long, scraggly hair.

[C]

And also, I feel like women were demonized so much that when you did something that didn't conform with societal norms, you were depicted as ugly and hideous.

[B]

And yet people still need you and need things that you provide. And so they still end up seeking you out, but will spread rumors about you anyway.

[C]

Totally. And Baba Yaga survived. So above all else, she is woman. She is every part a woman that society has for centuries feared, independent, powerful. She answers to none, truly. Over the years, Baba Yaga has become a feminist icon, which I love.

[B]

Damn.

[C]

I don't think she was initially created for that purpose, but she was so long demonized. The witch in the woods. Something to be literally afraid of. But she persisted and continued to do whatever the heck she wanted. She can wreak havoc, she can help, she can heal, and she can give aid to those who seem deserving. There are two scholars, Marina Warner and Andrea Johns, who have both written in depth about how Baba Yaga is like feminism. So I'm going to give them credit because this is where a lot of this came from. But they showcase how she represents the wild, anti domesticated woman who devours whatever no longer serves her and embodies the ungovernable woman, which I love and also is another reason why I want to embody Baba Yaga moving forward in my life. But she also does symbolize the transformation from child to adult. So like I said before, like, a lot of stories with Baba Yaga take place in a time where old Slavic cultures would send children out into the woods and there were so many real life dangers that they could have faced. Yeah, that I think these tales were written where Baba Yaga was the stand in for what they actually were experiencing and what they actually were facing.

[B]

And a lot of them, bears and man.

[C]

Exactly. So some children would not return home from the woods, but if they did, they almost lost their adolescence and they had to step into adulthood. But when they lose childhood, they gain something else. Right? You gain. Yes, you might gain trauma, but you probably also learn lessons. You get courage, you get wisdom. In some way, you learn something new that you bring into adulthood with you. And Baba Yaga is that representation. She's like, let me take away your childhood, but I'm going to give you a lesson to take into your adulthood.

[B]

Oh, man. I feel bad for every child that I know existed all the time. Like, I wish that you could just create a perfect childhood. No hurt, no harm.

[C]

I know, but it's. I don't want to get into that conversation because I think about it daily.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But anyway, back to Baba Yaga. I'm going to tie this back into winter. So the way that childhood disappears, the story symbolizes winter equaling the loss of childhood, where you emerge from the darkest days, but days then come longer. Like, you emerge from childhood. You come into adulthood with wisdom and lessons. A little bit of a rebirth for both. And there are so many famous tales of Baba Yaga, but I'll just share one. Actually, there's one that's very much like Hansel and Gretel. This man encounters Baba Yaga and he, like, tricks her to, like, burning herself in the stove. And he's like, I don't know how to lay down in this. Like, show me how to. He, like, tricks her.

[B]

Deceit.

[C]

Deceit, yes. Okay, then. This one is called Vasilisa the Beautiful. And it was first shared in the 19th century collection of most significant Baba Yaga tales. As the story goes. And you'll recognize it kind of has Cinderella vibes. Vasilisa is the young girl who is mistreated by her stepmother, and she ventures into the forest seeking fire. But she specifically goes out in search of Baba Yaga because she knows Baba Yaga has eternal flame, so she seeks her out. Upon encountering her, Baba Yaga says she will grant the fire to Vasilisa if she completes some near impossible tasks. And she's able to complete these tasks with the help of a magical doll that her late mother had gifted her. As she works on the impossible task, like sorting grain, she sees three horses and riders who gallop outside the window, one after another. Upon completion, Baba Yaga is impressed Gifts Vasilisa, this skull lantern that burns with eternal fire. And before returning home, Vasilisa asks who the riders were. Baba Yaga reveals that they were the day, the sun and the night, her faithful servants. After this, Vasilisa returns home and she uses the eternal fire and the knowledge she gained from Baba Yaga to destroy her stepmother.

[B]

Damn.

[C]

Yeah. So a lot of her stories read like fairy tales. Yeah, like Grimm's fairy tales.

[B]

That's exactly what I was just saying thinking.

[C]

So there are many iterations of her, and they've only grown in modern time. She has transcended time. She is something that people talk about still to the day. She is even mentioned in the John Wick movies. Really? John Wick's nickname is Baba Yaga by his enemies, like, basically calling him, like, this boogeyman.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

She's also in the movie Spirited Away, if you remember how.

[B]

With the horse.

[C]

That's her.

[B]

Oh, I don't remember that.

[C]

Then Neil Gaiman also used her in his Sandman comics for dc. Even her in her chicken hut. Oh, look at her.

[B]

Chicken hut.

[C]

Yeah. And then more recently, this anthology of short stories was released called into the Forest, and it features 23 interpretations of the Baba Yaga character.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

All written by women horror writers. Yeah. But now to tie it up in a little bow and put it under the Christmas tree. Baba Yaga, while doesn't really care about Christmas eggnog, she is celebrated especially during the winter season. She's a wise old woman who keeps the world honest in the darkest of times. And in Russian folklore, when she was talked about, she was often kind of faced up against Morozko, who's a winter wizard. His name is often translated to Father Frost. And they kind of would, like, battle against each other, which is how she has become more tied into Christmas narratives over the years. Oh, interesting. Yeah.

[B]

That would be a crazy Christmas movie.

[C]

Baba Yaga versus Marzoko.

[B]

Yeah. Or like Father Frost.

[C]

Yeah. There probably are Russian versions of that.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But Baba Yaga thrives when the sun is the weakest. She tests us when the veil is the thinnest. And when you find yourself in the darkest of times, you must face Baba Yaga before the light returns. And while facing her might not be easy, she promises to help you shed what is no longer necessary so you can emerge anew, just like is symbolized with the winter solstice. In the time of winter, you have to get through it to emerge anew in the light of spring.

[B]

Beautiful.

[C]

Yeah, that's popping up.

[B]

A lovely Christmas tale.

[C]

A Little creepy starting out really creepy. But it's delightful.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, I didn't know how we were going to turn around and end up liking her for, like, a good half of that.

[C]

Do you like her now?

[B]

Yeah, I do like her.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I like what she stands for.

[B]

Right.

[C]

I wouldn't necessarily want to encounter her in the woods.

[B]

No. I might want to be her, though.

[C]

But exactly. Yeah, I want to be her. She's. Call me Baba Yaga. A voracious swamp witch.

[B]

The voracious. I can't even say it.

[C]

The Devourer.

[B]

The Devourer.

[C]

Everyone sit it in your home, wherever you are, your office, say that word out loud multiple times.

[B]

It's hard.

[C]

It doesn't feel good. It doesn't feel right on your mouth.

[B]

Anyway, happy holidays.

[C]

Let us know what Baba Yaga you are in the comments if you took the quiz and let us know what your favorite, maybe lesser known Christmas holiday, winter solstice creatures and cryptids are.

[B]

Yeah, because we do this every year, so we do give us ideas for next year.

[C]

I actually, I'm excited for my one next year.

[B]

You already picked one out.

[C]

Well, because I was between Baba Yaga and Christmas Werewolves. Oh, yeah, I did see that. There's just a bunch of, like, little stories, a teaser for next year. You'll all remember that a year from now, I. We'll be talking about Christmas Werewolves. Unless I change my mind, which I'm allowed to do.

[B]

And we do it often.

[C]

We do, but we don't change our mind on one thing. It's that we love you all and.

[B]

We love doing this podcast and we.

[C]

Are never, ever gonna stop.

[B]

No. So we'll see you next year, which will be in a couple weeks because we're taking the holiday hiatus.

[C]

But if you do join into the.

[B]

Woods with Baba Yaga for a couple.

[C]

Weeks, it's funny because we do take, like, time off, but I feel like we work the whole time because we're preparing for the.

[B]

For when we come back.

[C]

And then also we have episodes that come out one week early and ad free on Patreon. And then also the Apple plus subscription and a Patreon bonus that comes out on Christmas. So you have ways.

[B]

We say we're taking two weeks off.

[C]

But we're never far.

[B]

If you find us in different platforms, we're not.

[C]

We're creeping. We're watching you.

[B]

We're always watching. Always watching.

[C]

I hope you encounter the Dairy Fairy.

[B]

I know. We both kind of picked protective beings in the woods.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I would rather come in contact with the dairy fairy for sure. Yeah.

[C]

Because the one encounter is just a.

[B]

Stare off and then a scared scream and a run. Little workout classic.

[C]

But yeah, we love you. Please email us any of your encounters to2girls1ghost podcastmail.com and if you want episodes ad free and one week early join us on Patreon. Plus bonus if you want those everything we just basically said we're on YouTube. You can watch us there and we.

[B]

Hope you have a wonderful holiday.

[C]

Stay safe. Totally fine if you don't celebrate the way everyone else does. You do you. We love you. You're part of this community and we.

[B]

Will see you on the other side. Very spooky Limu game. And Doug here we have the Limu imu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[C]

Cut the camera.

[B]

They see us.

[A]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty.

[C]

Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Very unwritten by.

[A]

Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates.

[C]

Excludes Massachusetts.