Kikimora

Kikimora features intricate spun cotton craftsmanship, capturing the essence of Slavic folklore with vintage fabric textures in a unique textile figurine.

KIKIMORA (KEE-KEE-MOR-A)
Amidst the whispering shadows of twisted Slavic lore, resides the story of the helpful Kikimora, an elderly, malevolent house spirit.
Kikimora, like her husband, Domovoi, plays the role of the protector of her chosen home and family. Kikimora can be are very helpful as long as she and her environment are honored and treated with respect.
When the moon is fierce, and the sky dark, the lonely Kikimora rises out of her cold, mossy cave in the swamp, and enters a nearby home through it’s keyhole.
Once inside a home, Kikmora will live happily in the corners of the home, or under the threshold where she will protect the home from harm or evil spirits that may enter through its doorways.
It is said that once the kindly Kikimora sneaks into a home, she will pitch in with the household chores, helping the family to keep it in order. In the evenings Kikimora can be heard spinning wool into yarn, a favorite chore of hers.
It was believed that Kikimora will cause trouble if the house is in constant disarray or if it’s residents are badly behaved.
When angered she can be quite mischievous, causing minor annoyances like knocking over objects or just making more noise at night.
She may make scratching or whistling sounds, or just breaking treasured items in the home. She enjoys hiding household items in odd places resulting in the homeowner searching for days for the items.
Children were taught not to make noise at night otherwise the Kikimora would take their breath away as they slept, give them nightmares or even worse, take them away.
When she feels that the homeowner has learned their lesson and begin to keep the home clean she will return the items.
Sleep paralysis causing death was once believed to be a Kikimora sitting on the chest of an untidy victim who would not change their ways.
Folklore has it that a new Kikimora comes into being with every stillborn or dead child.
It is believed that Kikimora travels at night between the occupants bedrooms in the home, slipping in through their keyholes.
Some people put the keys or pieces of paper in the keyholes to keep her from visiting in their sleep where she may give them nightmares.
The dwellers of the house will know when she is there because of the wet footprints she leaves behind.
Kikimora is powerful and at times can be mean. An efficient defense against this grumpy spirit is to keep the home clean in the hopes that she would get bored, leave and find someone else to bother. 
Amidst the whispering shadows and twisted tales of Slavic lore lie a reminder of the consequences we all must face when we transgress against the natural world.
Kikimora’s story reminds us that a cluttered or messy environment can be stressful and overwhelming.