Lazavik () is a creature of Belarusian mythology.
Description
Lazavik is a benevolent Belarusian mythological character that lives amid the
vine bushes ("laza" in
Belarusian language
Belarusian (, ) is an East Slavic languages, East Slavic language. It is one of the two Languages of Belarus, official languages in Belarus, the other being Russian language, Russian. It is also spoken in parts of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Polan ...
). In Belarusian
folk tales Lazavik is described as a small creature with one eye, a long beard and a very long whip in his hand.
Belarusian people used to say that when Lazavik walks through the marshland, his only eye shines like a light.
Mode of life
The creature Lazavik prefers to stay unnoticed by people, and constantly tries to hide in its house.
The house of Lazavik is small, with no windows and no doors.
In fact Lazavik is the guardian of Belarusian marshes.
It is believed that Lazavik dies if its
marshes
In ecology, a marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous plants rather than by woody plants.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p More in general ...
are drained. With its whip, Lazavik drives away small, harmful, and noisy Lozniks through the vine bushes.
[Цыбулькин В. В., Сивальнёв А. Н., Сердюченко М. Н. «Влесова книга»: Быль и мифы Славянской цивилизации. — К.: ЧП Зеленский В. Л., 2016.]
See also
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Damavik
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Dzedka
Dzedka"Magical World. From Belarusian Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales", Minsk, "Piatrus Brouka Belarusian Encyclopedia" Publishing House, 2008 (, , ) is a character of Belarusian mythology. Dzedka is a good mythological creature. It is considered to ...
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Shatans
Shatans () are odd-looking creatures of Belarusian folklore. Shatans are neutral characters and act as symbols of idleness and laziness.
Mode of life
Shatans lead a mindless way of life. All day long they wander about aimlessly without doing any ...
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Younik
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Zheuzhyk
Zheuzhyk () is a creature of Belarusian mythology. It is considered to be a good creature that lives deeply in the lake bed. Zheuzhyk is considered to be the guardian of rivers and lakes of Belarus.
Description
In Belarusian folklore Zheuzhyk is ...
*
Zhytsen
Zhytsen or Žycień () is a positive creature from Belarusian mythology said to live in fields. The name literally means "rye creature", from Belarusian ''жыта'', "rye".
Description
Zhyten is often called a spirit of wealth and wellbeing. It ...
*
Zlydzens
Zlydzens are small, hunchbacked, hazardous creatures in Belarusian mythology associated with gremlins. These mythological characters often live under the masonry stove.
Description
In the fairy-tales and myths of Belarusian nation Zlydzens a ...
References
Slavic legendary creatures
Slavic mythology
Belarusian folklore
Cyclopes
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