Deep in the forests of Slavic folklore stands a hut on chicken legs, surrounded by a fence of human bones. Inside waits Baba Yaga, the iron-toothed witch of Eastern European legend who might eat you or might help you, depending on how you behave when you step through her door.Content warning: This episode includes traditional folk tales involving harm to children, death, and human remains.
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Source
- Afanasyev / Magnus: the source of Vasilisa and Finist. Essential.
- Blumenthal: the source of your orphans tale. Essential.
- Johns: the main scholarly book on Baba Yaga. Most of the research on her origins, appearance, and villain/helper roles traces back to him. Essential.
- UF Center for European Studies: a summary built on Johns. It supplied a lot of detail, but if you’re cutting for space, Johns covers it.
- Spisak: supports one detail, the blank space beside her name in Lomonosov’s table. Keep it, since nothing else on the list backs that claim.
- World History Encyclopedia: also draws on Johns, for the 1755 date and Levshin. It’s optional if Johns is listed.
- Atlas Obscura: supports the Soviet cartoons. Keep it.
