I mentioned last week that positive spirits are somewhat less common than demons in Slavic mythology, but on this Slavic Saturday, we’re looking at one of those protectors: the Dworowy (or Dvorovoi to the Russians), the spirit of the courtyard.
(June 2021 Updated) Note: If you enjoy Slavic mythology, check out A Dagger in the Winds, the first book in my Slavic fantasy series called The Frostmarked Chronicles. You can also join my monthly newsletter for updates and free novellas (such as the prequel, The Rider in the Night) set in the world of the series.
Most who know anything about Slavic myths have at least heard of the Dworowy’s cousin, the Domowik (or Domovoy), a household spirit. While the Dworowy is less known, his role is just as important.
As the protector of the yard, the Dworowy was pictured as a wild animal among the domestic ones, sometimes as a snake with the head of a rooster and other times as an old man with a beard and multicolored hair. He was often friendly, but only to the animals. His favorites were dogs and goats because they were easy to influence and control, while he hated birds for their ability to fly away from his attempts to influence them. This is why they aren’t as kind to humans. They were neither the Dworowy’s to protect nor under the spirit’s control, so the Dworowy was often hostile, especially at night.
Oddly enough, the Dworowy’s preferences ranged arbitrarily as well. Some hated white animals and could torture and starve the animals they didn’t like. They would also tangle the manes and tails of those animals and ensure burs were caught in their fur. Horses could be targets of the Dworowy as well, but if a person saw their horse’s mane plaited by the Dworowy, they weren’t supposed to fix it. Those who fixed their horse’s mane would become ill and their hands made sore.
A Dworowy was an envious spirit. If the animals in neighboring households were doing better, then he would clash with the Dworowy of that house and try to sabotage their animals’ healths. This could impact the masters of the house too.
Despite the Dwowory’s moods, there were some ways for a person to appease him. First, some would hang a pine or spruce branch with many needles in the yard, offering a home for the Dwowory. Other offerings of beer and treating the animals well could also keep you in the spirit’s favor.
That’s all for this week’s Slavic Saturday. Be sure to keep a lookout for more posts next week, and if you haven’t seen the full series of posts, be sure to check them out.
*As always just a quick disclaimer. Slavic mythology is broad and not written in many if any primary sources, so there’s a variety of interpretations. The interpretations I’m using here are from the sources I’ve found to be reliable and as well as some creative freedom for my book series.