Baba Yaga. Saria and Bridget had a whole night of jubilation devoted to Baba Yaga. Looking through a mythology encyclopedia, her name caught their attention. But, her story was even more interesting. In Slavic mythology, Baba Yaga is the wild old woman, the dark lady, and mistress of magic. She is also seen as a forest spirit, leading hosts of spirits.
In Russian tales, Baba Yaga is portrayed as a witch who flies through the air in a mortar, using the pestle as a rudder and sweeping away the tracks behind her with a broom made out of silver birch. She lives in a log cabin that moves around on a pair of dancing chicken legs. Bridget and Saria’s activities included using colored pencils to draw this house on chicken legs. The keyhole to her front door is a mouth filled with sharp teeth; the fence outside is made with human bones with skulls on top — often with one pole lacking its skull, so there is space for the hero’s. In another legend, the house does not reveal the door until it is told a magical phrase: Turn your back to the forest, your front to me.
In some tales, her house is connected with three riders: one in white, riding a white horse with white harness, who is Day; a red one, who is the Sun; and a black one, who is Night. She is served by invisible servants inside it, but while she will explain the riders, the hero’s refusal to ask about the servants is wise, because she would kill for it.
She is sometimes shown as an antagonist, and sometimes as a source of guidance; there are stories where she helps people with their quests, and stories in which she kidnaps children and threatens to eat them. Seeking out her aid is usually portrayed as a dangerous act. An emphasis is placed on the need for proper preparation and purity of spirit, as well as basic politeness.
According to some versions of the myths, Baba Yaga ages a year every time someone asks her a question. This is why she is often portrayed as a cranky old hag — she is frustrated and angry about having been asked so many questions. The only way for her to de-age herself is by drinking a special tea she brews from blue roses. Heroes who bring her a gift of blue roses are often granted wishes as reward for their aid.
