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''Baba-Yaga'' (''Баба Яга'' in Russian and also translated Baba Jaga) is a witch-like character in Slavic folklore. She flies around using a giant mortar and pestle, kidnaps (and presumably eats) small children, and lives in a forest hut, which stands on chicken legs. In modern days, she is often depicted not as a villainous, but simply a sociopathic or even gentle and friendly person. And in almost any tale she knows much. The 'Baba' word can be translated as impolite 'old woman' or 'big woman' or simply 'woman' -- usually the first one is correct for this trope; while 'Yaga' is a form of a certain name, it is thought to be a corruption of Slavic root for 'hag', making 'Baba Yaga' mean something like 'old hag', or perhaps '[[Department of Redundancy Department|hag hag]]'. Baba Yaga is depicted as an old, knowledgeable, and geeky character with mystical servants.
''Baba-Yaga'' (''Баба Яга'' in Russian and also translated Baba Jaga) is a witch-like character in Slavic folklore. She flies around using a giant mortar and pestle, kidnaps (and presumably eats) small children, and lives in a forest hut, which stands on chicken legs. In modern days, she is often depicted not as a villainous, but simply a sociopathic or even gentle and friendly person. And in almost any tale she knows much. The 'Baba' word can be translated as impolite 'old woman' or 'big woman' or simply 'woman' -- usually the first one is correct for this trope; while 'Yaga' is a form of a certain name, it is thought to be a corruption of Slavic root for 'hag', making 'Baba Yaga' mean something like 'old hag', or perhaps '[[Department of Redundancy Department|hag hag]]'. Baba Yaga is depicted as an old, knowledgeable, and geeky character with mystical servants.


She is a common antagonist in Slavic folklore, known for kidnapping and eating children (and serving as a cautionary tale for small children against wandering off or talking to strangers). Some tales alternatively revolve around characters seeking her out for her wisdom or having her offer guidance to lost souls, though they are notably less in number.
She is a common antagonist in Slavic folklore, known for kidnapping and eating children (and serving as a cautionary tale for small children against wandering off or talking to strangers). Some tales alternatively revolve around characters seeking her out for her wisdom or having her offer guidance to lost souls, though they are notably less in number.


The character of Baba Yaga has made dozens of appearances in popular culture and modern works including [[Orson Scott Card]]'s novel ''[[Enchantment]]'', the ''[[Fables]]'' and ''[[Hellboy (comics)|Hellboy]]'' comic series, innumerable Russian cartoons and tales, [[Runescape]], [[Quest for Glory]], and (as "Barbara Jagger") [[Alan Wake]]. Baba Yaga is also a brand of beer from the Massachusetts-based brewery.
The character of Baba Yaga has made dozens of appearances in popular culture and modern works including [[Orson Scott Card]]'s novel ''[[Enchantment]]'', the ''[[Fables]]'' and ''[[Hellboy (comics)|Hellboy]]'' comic series, innumerable Russian cartoons and tales, [[RuneScape]], [[Quest for Glory]], and (as "Barbara Jagger") [[Alan Wake]]. Baba Yaga is also a brand of beer from the Massachusetts-based brewery.
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=== Associated tropes: ===
=== Associated tropes: ===
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* [[All Witches Have Cats]]: Has one, at least in some stories. But she has other animals as well.
* [[All Witches Have Cats]]: Has one, at least in some stories. But she has other animals as well.
* [[Bizarrchitecture]]: Baba Yaga's chicken-legged home. It even apparently moves.
* [[Bizarrchitecture]]: Baba Yaga's chicken-legged home. It even apparently moves.
** [[Truth in Television]]: The [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Sami_Storehouse.jpg Sami] evidently used this style of architecture.
** [[Truth in Television]]: The [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Sami_Storehouse.jpg Sami] evidently used this style of architecture.
* [[Black Magic]]
* [[Black Magic]]
* [[Cool Old Lady]]: In the stories where she is a helpful character rather than the villain.
* [[Cool Old Lady]]: In the stories where she is a helpful character rather than the villain.
* [[Eats Babies]]: Most of the time.
* [[Eats Babies]]: Most of the time.
* [[Evil Uncle|Evil Aunt]]: In some stories, Baba Yaga has a beautiful, younger (but still evil) sister who seduces and marries widowed fathers in order to send her new stepchildren off to their new "aunt." Don't worry, they will usually escape with the help of their dead mother or something...
* [[Evil Uncle|Evil Aunt]]: In some stories, Baba Yaga has a beautiful, younger (but still evil) sister who seduces and marries widowed fathers in order to send her new stepchildren off to their new "aunt." Don't worry, they will usually escape with the help of their dead mother or something...
* [[Evil Old Folks]]
* [[Evil Old Folks]]
* [[Familiar]]: Usually has several, either animals, or her invisible servants, or both.
* [[Familiar]]: Usually has several, either animals, or her invisible servants, or both.
* [[Flying Broomstick]]: Sometimes, but she's usually depicted flying with the mortar and pestle.
* [[Flying Broomstick]]: Sometimes, but she's usually depicted flying with the mortar and pestle.
* "[[Hansel and Gretel]]": Localised varieties of this fable sometimes make her be the witch the two meet.
* "[[Hansel and Gretel]]": Localised varieties of this fable sometimes make her be the witch the two meet.
* [[Iconic Item]]: She flies around in a giant ''mortar and pestle''. Some later tales (and toys) depict her flying with the usual for witches - a broomstick.
* [[Iconic Item]]: She flies around in a giant ''mortar and pestle''. Some later tales (and toys) depict her flying with the usual for witches - a broomstick.
** The hut on bird legs is also quite iconic.
** The hut on bird legs is also quite iconic.
* [[Never Mess with Granny]]: She is an old powerful witch after all. Though in some stories, she suffers from [[Badass Decay]].
* [[Never Mess with Granny]]: She is an old powerful witch after all. Though in some stories, she suffers from [[Badass Decay]].
* [[Public Domain Character]] Has shown up in [[Dungeons and Dragons]], [[Quest for Glory]] and [[Fables]].
* [[Public Domain Character]] Has shown up in [[Dungeons & Dragons]], [[Quest for Glory]] and [[Fables]].
* [[Sapient House]]: Her hut is able to move on its own with its chicken legs.
* [[Sapient House]]: Her hut is able to move on its own with its chicken legs.
* [[Wicked Witch]]
* [[Wicked Witch]]
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[[Category:Fairy Tale]]
[[Category:Fairy Tale]]
[[Category:Oral Tradition]]
[[Category:Oral Tradition]]
[[Category:Baba Yaga]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Revision as of 09:10, 10 April 2017

Baba-Yaga (Баба Яга in Russian and also translated Baba Jaga) is a witch-like character in Slavic folklore. She flies around using a giant mortar and pestle, kidnaps (and presumably eats) small children, and lives in a forest hut, which stands on chicken legs. In modern days, she is often depicted not as a villainous, but simply a sociopathic or even gentle and friendly person. And in almost any tale she knows much. The 'Baba' word can be translated as impolite 'old woman' or 'big woman' or simply 'woman' -- usually the first one is correct for this trope; while 'Yaga' is a form of a certain name, it is thought to be a corruption of Slavic root for 'hag', making 'Baba Yaga' mean something like 'old hag', or perhaps 'hag hag'. Baba Yaga is depicted as an old, knowledgeable, and geeky character with mystical servants.

She is a common antagonist in Slavic folklore, known for kidnapping and eating children (and serving as a cautionary tale for small children against wandering off or talking to strangers). Some tales alternatively revolve around characters seeking her out for her wisdom or having her offer guidance to lost souls, though they are notably less in number.

The character of Baba Yaga has made dozens of appearances in popular culture and modern works including Orson Scott Card's novel Enchantment, the Fables and Hellboy comic series, innumerable Russian cartoons and tales, RuneScape, Quest for Glory, and (as "Barbara Jagger") Alan Wake. Baba Yaga is also a brand of beer from the Massachusetts-based brewery.

Associated tropes:

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