Mavka

There is variation in the names and spelling, including {{langx|uk|Мавка}}, {{transl|uk|mavka}},{{sfnp|Hrinchenko|1958|loc=volume 2, article 395}} {{lang|uk|навка}}, {{transl|uk|navka}},{{sfnp|Hrinchenko|1958|loc=volume 2, article 471}} {{lang|uk|нявка}}, {{transl|uk|nyavka}}.{{sfnp|Hrinchenko|1958|loc=volume 2, article 573}} However, depending on telling, there are differences between the Mavka and Nyavka. These terms all derive from {{proto|sla|navь|the dead}}, and are cognate with {{langx|bg|нави}}, {{transl|bg|navi}} (plural).

The spirits known by this term represented the souls of girls who had died unnatural, tragic or premature deaths, particularly unchristened babies.{{sfnp|Hrinchenko|1958|loc=volume 2, article 395}} {{transl|uk|Mavka}}s often appear in the form of beautiful young girls who entice and lure young men into the woods, where they "tickle" them to death.{{sfnp|Halaichuk|2016|pp=181–183}} {{transl|uk|Mavka}}s have no reflection in water, nor do they cast shadows. In some accounts, they were also said to help farmers by looking after cattle and driving out wild animals.

File:Mavka.jpg

A subtype of the Mavkas are the Nyavkas, which behave the same except for having "no back", meaning that their spine and some other insides can be seen;{{efn|Those were more often called "Nyavka" and they were believed to live in Western Ukraine, which has more dangerous mountain rivers than Central Ukraine, while Mavkas, who were believed to live in Central Ukraine, had their backs.}} the most defining feature between determining Mavkas and Nyavkas is whether or not the insides are visible from the back.

File:Мавки - лендарт, Луцьк 2021.jpg

Mavkas and Nyavkas were believed to live in groups in forests, mountain caves, or sheds, which they decorated with rugs. They made thread of stolen flax and wove thin transparent cloth for making clothes for themselves. They loved flowers, which they wore in their hair. In the spring, they planted flowers in the mountains, to which they enticed young men, whom they tickled to death. On Pentecost (known as {{transl|uk|Navka}}'s Easter, {{langx|uk|На́вський Вели́кдень}}),{{sfnp|Hrinchenko|1958|loc=volume 2, article 474}} they held games, dances, and orgies. A demon accompanied them on a flute or pipes.

To save an unchristened baby's soul, one must throw up a kerchief during Pentecost holidays, say their name and add "I baptise you". The rescued soul would then go to heaven. If the soul lived up to seven years and did not go to heaven, the baby would turn into a {{transl|uk|mavka}} and haunt the earth.

File:POSTER MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG.png]]

• {{transl|uk|Mavka}}s are depicted in literature, most notably in Lesia Ukrainka's The Forest Song and nyavkas are depicted in Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky's Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors.{{Cite news |last1=Набока |first1=Марічка |last2=Джулай |first2=Дмитро |date=2019-06-04 |title=Чарівні істоти з прадавніх українських міфів. У що вірили пращури |language=uk |work=Радіо Свобода |url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/29430833.html |access-date=2023-05-11}}
• In modern culture the Ukrainian music band, Mavka, is named after the mythological creature.{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2024 |title=Mavka |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/6955896-Mavka |access-date=January 6, 2024 |website=Discogs}}
• In 2022, Ukrainian singer Eria released the song "Mavka".{{Citation |title=ERIA - MAVKA (Official Music Video) Eurovision 2022 Ukraine 🇺🇦 | date=12 January 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfkXSHUBCpA |access-date=2023-05-11 |language=en}}
• The 2023 film Mavka: The Forest Song, is based on Ukrainian mythology.{{Citation |last1=Malamuzh |first1=Oleh |title=Mavka: Lisova pisnya |date=2023-08-15 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6685538/ |type=Animation, Adventure, Comedy |access-date=2024-01-07 |others=Sarah Natochenny, Mike Pollock, Marc Thompson |publisher=Animagrad Animation Studio, FILM.UA Group, Ukrainian State Film Agency |last2=Ruban |first2=Oleksandra |last3=Yermak |first3=Yevheniy}}{{Cite news |last=Ide |first=Wendy |date=2023-07-30 |title=Mavka: The Forest Song review – formulaic Ukrainian animation makes a plea for nature |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jul/30/mavka-the-forest-song-review-ukrainian-animation |access-date=2024-01-07 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}
• The 2024 Dark Fantasy Series, Bane War, by Jeffer Nightwind, features mavka superheroines, inspired by Ukraine's symbols and mythology.{{cite web |title=Bane War, Epic Dark Romantasy |date=2024-12-23 |url=https://banewar.com/ |access-date=2024-12-24}}{{cite web |title=About Me |website=Bane War – Epic Dark Romantasy |url=https://banewar.com/about-me/ |access-date=2024-12-24}}

• Mavka: The Forest Song (2023 animated film)
• The Forest Song (1917/1918 play by Lesya Ukrainka)
• Forest Song (1963 film)
• Mavka (song by Authentix)
• Mare (folklore)
• Naiad
• Nymph
• Revenant
• Succubus
• Nixie (folklore)
• Skogsrå

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}

• {{Cite encyclopedia |year=1973 |url=http://sum.in.ua/s/mavka |editor-last=Bilodid |editor-first=Ivan Kostyovych |language=uk |trans-title=Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language: in 11 volumes |script-title=uk:Словник української мови: в 11 томах}}
• {{Cite book |last=Halaichuk |first=V. |url=https://archive.org/details/miff2016 |publisher=Клуб Сімейного Дозвілля |year=2016 |language=uk |script-title=uk:Українська міфологія |trans-title=Ukrainian Mythology}}
• {{Cite encyclopedia |year=1958 |publisher=Академії наук Української РСР |url=http://hrinchenko.com/slovar/znachenie-slova/29878-navskyj.html |last=Hrinchenko |first=B. |language=uk |trans-title=Dictionary of the Ukrainian language / Ref. with addn. own material by B. Hrinchenko: in 4 volumes — K. |script-title=uk:Словарь української мови / Упор. з дод. влас. матеріалу Б. Грінченко: в 4-х т.}}
• {{Cite book |last=Kushnir |first=Dmitriy |title=Creatures of Slavic myth |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-5056-2802-9 |location=USA |publisher=Createspace |oclc=1003859523}}{{self-published inline|date=December 2024}}

{{Refend}}

• {{Cite book |last=Buynova |first=Tatyana Yuryevna |url=http://www.e-reading.mobi/bookreader.php/1020825/Buynova_-_Deti_Svaroga._Mify_vostochnyh_slavyan.html |publisher=Akvilegia |year=2008 |isbn=9785901942611 |ol=33980381M |language=ru |script-title=ru:Дети Сварога: Мифы восточных славян |trans-title=Children of Svarog: Myths of East Slavs}}

• [http://encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CM%5CA%5CMavkaIT.htm "Mavka"] — Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine
• [http://godsbay.ru/slavs/kostroma.html "Kostroma"] — Encyclopedia of Mythology {{in lang|ru}}

{{Slavic mythology}}

Category:Culture of Ukraine

Category:Demonology

Category:Female ghosts

Category:Nav'

Category:Nudity in mythology

Category:Pentecost

Category:Slavic culture

Category:Slavic legendary creatures

Category:Slavic paganism

Category:Spirits

Category:Supernatural legends

Category:Ukrainian folklore

Category:Ukrainian mythology

Category:Undead