Does the brownie exist? This question is always asked, since people know that each house has its own magical master-protector, which. Or maybe this is a game of imagination?

In the article:

The brownie really exists

We have long known stories about amazing creatures that live in houses and protect them. Depending on the place where the myth is spread, magical creatures are called differently. You can hear the words: brownie, grandfather, baker, owner, wen, neighbor, guy, master, burnout, firefire.

Recently a new word has appeared - reel... So they began to call the brownie, who got angry and began to destroy everything around. If we turn to the history, folklore, myths of the Slavs, we can be sure that the ancestors firmly believed that the spirits of the house exist.

The Slavs not only could see these creatures, but also. People were afraid and respected the owners of the house, they always treated them, took care of them.

The emergence of the legend of the brownie

Almost every magical creature has a history of origin. The myth is widespread that in ancient times all the evil spirits in heaven united and, having chosen a demon as their leader, began to rebel, to rebel against the creator of the universe.

The lord of heaven was merciful, but decided to punish from the heavenly kingdom. The demon, along with his main henchmen, went to hell. But among all those who rebelled against the Creator, there were special beings.

They were not very guilty before the creator, and he decided to send them to earth so that they would spend their whole lives among people. This is how mermaids, gobies, brownies, water animals, kikimors, and other small evil spirits appeared.

Some spirits decided that it was better to be kind, they repented and asked permission to live with people in the same room. So they settled in the houses of the ancient Slavs. Uncleanness has changed, living with hardworking, frugal people.

The brownies did not try to annoy and harm, but, on the contrary, tried to help the peasants, to protect them from other demons. That is why the Slavs are so accustomed to these good-natured creatures that they could no longer call them evil spirits.

Are there really rears

To understand if a brownie exists, let's figure out who it is. For our ancestors, he was a real keeper of the family hearth. The spirit did not have wings, horns, or other distinctive features that could betray a demonic nature in it. The ancestors were sure that brownies can not only help, but also read the thoughts of those living next to them.

Attitudes changed with the advent of Christianity. This belief does not deny the existence of barabashka, but it classifies it as demons and does not consider it good helpers.

According to legend, a brownie lives in every family. But he cannot be in a consecrated room.

The age of the creature goes the other way around, not like that of humans. The ancestors believed that the rears are born wise and old, live for about seven hundred years, and die helpless babies.

Scientists have proven by attributing this to diseases that affect ordinary people. There is no doubt that there is in the world - their corpses have been found.

There is no confirmation of the existence of brownies. All we have are legends, myths, eyewitness accounts.

Are there energetic entities

Experienced psychics assure that the master of the house exists as a clot of energy. He is from the other world, he can take care of the tenants or cause harm.

A brownie (as an energy object) may not be just a figment of the imagination. There are examples when people managed to come into contact with such entities.

For many centuries there was a folk holiday Kudesy. It falls on February 10 - the day of the brownie. At 11 o'clock in the evening, the spirit was treated and placated.

On this day, they give sweets, small wooden chests, caskets with soft fabrics. They made the owner of the dwelling happy for Christmas, Easter, Maundy Thursday.

It can neither be confirmed nor disproved. It's up to you whether to believe in the widespread myth that such a magical spirit is in charge of the houses. Do not anger your kind grandfather, keep your home clean, keep comfort, do not quarrel and bring positive energy into the house.

The brownie lives in almost every house. Most often it can be found where several generations of the family have lived. It is not easy to reveal his presence, but if the brownie is not satisfied with something, he will definitely show his displeasure.

Brownie is a mystical entity that has guarded people's homes from time immemorial. He is able to protect against many misfortunes: fires, scandals, theft, ill-wishers. However, if the family begins to disrespect their home, makes a mess, the brownie may get angry, and then you will know for sure that he lives with you.

Signs of the presence of a brownie

1. Loud noise. Sometimes at night the brownie can prove himself by rearranging the dishes in the kitchen, slamming doors, stomping loudly. Usually he gets angry when the hostesses stop keeping order. In this case, the brownie is mischievous, hiding things, thereby calling for cleaning.

2. Pets. The most common pets, cats and dogs, always see and hear more than humans. If you notice that your dog sometimes looks warily into the corner, starts wagging its tail and tries to play as if with itself, most likely, she sees a brownie. Also, cats can suddenly freeze, and then begin to purr, arching their backs, as if they are stroking an invisible hand. However, if animals show anxiety, whine, hiss, or huddle under furniture, it is possible that in your house it is not a brownie at all, but an evil spirit. In this case, it is necessary to clean the house or apartment. Walk through all the rooms, sprinkling the space with holy water, put a little salt in each corner, and then walk with a lit candle.

3. Loss of sweets, small items. We often forget that the brownie also feels our mood and is ready to help us in difficult times. Left without a treat, he can steal a few sweets, the wrappers of which will periodically catch your eye in the most unexpected places. He can also shift keys, scissors and other objects out of harm. Pour in a small cup of milk, put the porridge and butter in a saucer and place in a corner. Ask the brownie for forgiveness for inattention and ask to guard your house with the same strength. Also ask to return the missing items in exchange, for example, for gummy.

4. Sleep. Brownies who love their home and owners often help them. For example, in a dream, they can tell you the solution to the problem, indicate who from the inner circle is hostile. In rare cases, the brownie indicates the place where the treasure is hidden. So he shows respect, thanks for the care, but most often it is gratitude for the fact that when you moved you did not forget about him and offered to go to a new home.

5. Security. Often we feel a state of anxiety, however, returning home, we notice that fears evaporate somewhere. There is a feeling of peace, warmth and comfort. And at night we are not tormented by nightmares, we easily fall asleep and wake up vigorous and rested. This is also an indirect sign of the presence of a brownie in the house, taking care of your safety and peace of mind.

6. Warning. Sometimes it also happens that in the middle of the night we suddenly wake up with a strong feeling of anxiety, and in a dream we feel that something has piled on us and presses. So the brownie warns of impending danger. He can also make a loud noise, slam the door, press the front door bell. In this case, you should take care of your safety and prevent gas, water or fire leaks by rechecking all important places in the house.

7. Guests. Often, before someone comes to visit you without warning, you have a presentiment of it. It may be intuition, but most often the brownie warns about all uninvited guests in advance. A soft knock or ringing phone warns of people with good intentions. Feeling anxious, a glass that suddenly breaks, and anxious pets signal that ill-wishers want to visit your home.

8. Children. If there are children in the house, take a close look at them as you play. Brownies treat the younger family members with special attention and respect, play with them and protect them. You can often notice that the child puts on an extra device for a puppet tea party, laughs loudly, tells something into the void. Young mothers often notice that a child who suddenly cries out in a dream becomes silent, his blanket is straightened, and the cradle is quietly swinging.

9. Feelings. When moving to a new home, you should carefully listen to your feelings, especially if someone lived in the house before you. Often the owners leave their apartments and houses without taking their spirit with them. In this case, the brownie is unlikely to be friendly to you. His trust must be earned. If the feeling of anxiety does not leave you, then leave a treat to the little spirit and offer friendship. As a gift, you can give him a piece of cloth, old clothes, hay, and a shoe. If this is a private house, then the brownie will definitely choose a secluded corner, where he will settle down with great comfort. It is more difficult for a housekeeper in apartments because of the small space, however, even here he can choose a place under the bathroom, on the mezzanine or in an old suitcase. If, over time, your life has improved, you feel calm and peace, it means that the brownie took you for the new masters and is ready to serve. If the feeling of anxiety grows, things disappear in the house, scandals become more frequent, it is worth thinking about how to drive out the evil spirit.

10. Appearance. On rare occasions, the brownie reveals itself. If a small gray or smoky kitten is persistently asking for your door, let him in. Brownies are often embodied in these animals. It also happens that the brownie warns of something significant so much that he dares to appear in front of us. It can be a small vague silhouette, a cat, a gray-haired old man. It is important at this point to focus and ask what news your home advocate brought. Feel the warmth - happy news awaits you; cold, chills, trembling or a sense of danger - expect trouble.

If you find the presence of a brownie in your house, try to make friends with him. This little helper is able to improve your life, help you and protect you from any evil. However, if he is aggressive, does not give you peace, perform a ritual to expel the essence, because it may turn out that this is not a brownie, but an evil spirit. We wish you the best of luck and don’t forget to press the buttons and

Some people claim to have seen the brownie and even describe his appearance and character. Someone says that he is cute and cute, kind and funny. And someone, on the contrary, says that this is a terrible creature with a bad temper. But so far no one can prove its existence with certainty. In general, how to refute. One way or another, people have always been interested in what a brownie looks like, real photos of which even began to appear on the Internet. We made a review on this topic, and collected the available information, as well as pictures of this character.

Boot god: origin story

Clown god or brownie - the patron saint of the house among the Slavic peoples. It was believed that he provided the family's everyday life: well-being, health.

It was also called:

• Grandfather.
• Lived home.
• Bratanushko.
• Bakeware.
• Golbeshnik.

Usually a deceased family member who was appointed by God for his sins to this position - to serve living people, became a home owner.

According to the beliefs of the Slavs, his duties included:

• Help with the housework.
• Preserve property.
• Take care of livestock.
• Guard the house and yard.
• Warn about misfortunes.

This is if he loves his masters. If not, there will be discord and disorder in the house, and people may wake up with bruises, which the brownie at night teaches them from anger. In this case, it is necessary to appease him.

The image of the brownie varied greatly depending on the era and place of residence. For example, after the transition from paganism to Christianity, all gods were identified with demonic forces. And the brownie did not pass this fate, they began to call him: dashing, damn it, the other half.

Customs and signs

In Russia, he was one of the most important gods, he was given all kinds of honors, which some people observe to this day.

For instance:

• When the owners moved to a new house, they invited him there: they put 4 coins in the underground, 1 in each corner.
• They appeased him by laying out something tasty under the stove.
• Knives, forks, scissors were never left in the open at night. This prevented the housekeeper from putting things in order and fighting evil spirits.
• To make friends with the new "owner" the cat was first launched into the house.

But what are the signs by which you can understand what the brownie wants to tell us:

• If a guest at the table drops a cup - this person came with bad thoughts, be careful.
• If a cat or dog is looking at a place like someone is there, most likely the brownie wants to get your attention. See what's wrong there.

If this entity loves its masters, it sometimes shows itself to them. For example, when a disaster strikes in the house or someone dies.

It is said that small children can see it. He does not hide from them, since they will not tell anything. He takes care of the little ones, and if the child cried, and then suddenly stopped, perhaps it was your "master" who reassured him.

And this video confirms the reality of the existence of brownies, one of them was filmed by a CCTV camera in a supermarket:

What does a brownie look like: real photos, lively and kind type?

What is this brownie like? - a question that has always interested people. There is an opinion that he has several forms, which he changes, turning into various animals, insects, and sometimes into the owner himself. Many say that they saw him: now standing behind a curtain, now hiding in a dark corner or closet.

All witnesses describe it differently, but some of the signs are the same:

• Long unkempt hair.
• Beard.
• Big round eyes.
• Large pointed ears.
• Dressed in a long crumpled shirt and long pants, or even naked.

Some even post photos on the Internet, on which he really is: a kind peasant from fairy tales in felt boots or bast shoes. As in your favorite cartoon about Kuzyu. If he is angry with you, then his.

This is a classic description of a kind household helper. We probably want it to be that way. It's good when there is a household spirit in the house that you can count on. Yes, and it is necessary to somehow explain all the unusual things that happen sometimes.

What does a real brownie look like?

But there are photographs in which you can see a completely different character: more likely to inspire a shiver than a touching smile.

On them he:

• Tall and thin.
• Has a demonic appearance: sharp long teeth, luminous eye sockets.
• No beard or hair at all. Skull tightly covered with leather.
• With a big mouth.
• Sometimes it just looks like a hovering ghost.

You look at these pictures, and the frost runs over the skin. How this creature can become an assistant and keeper of the hearth. Perhaps it depends on the person himself who sees what he wants to see. What his imagination draws to him.

Of course, even after looking at the photographs, not everyone will believe in its existence. Especially in our time, when computer technology allows a lot. But, sometimes, putting the necessary thing in the top drawer of the table and finding it in the kitchen cabinet, you start to think: “ How it happened, who put it here. I remember exactly that I left it here Some devilry!»

How to summon a carnivore god?

You can try to call the brownie to make sure it is real. Here are a few ways that other curious people have already used:

1. If your householder is kind and caring, take advantage of this. Take your nice clothes, for example, and rip them up. Put it in a prominent place at night, pretend to go to bed. Wait, he must come and see what happened.
2. They are usually sweet tooth. Dip your hands in honey or jam, and beckon him to you. It is possible that he will be seduced. Then you will feel how he walks around, or even eats jam from his fingers.
3. Take a broom in your left hand, and a scoop in your right hand, say: “Father, hostess, come, clean up my room. Otherwise, guests will come to us soon, but I do not have time to sweep! " The entity will definitely come to the rescue, he hates the mess on his territory.

The brownie is a shy creature, if you felt his presence: rustle, stomp, meow or squeak, because he can come in any guise, do not turn around. He will get scared and run away.

Are there brownies? Brownie, truth or fiction?

Some people believe that brownies do not exist in the world, others firmly believe that some kind of creature lives next to them, which is constantly hiding somewhere. They believe in a brownie in many countries, however, everywhere they call him differently: "rarashek", "soussedko", "home spirit", "gentleman", "skrzhitek", etc.

Our ancestors have always respected and feared the owner of the house. It was believed that a brownie could both help and punish severely. If, for example, he saw that the hostess was trying, keeping the house clean, feeding the brownie and respecting him, he also helped her around the house. If the home spirit does not like the tenants or guests for something, it begins to do bad things - hides things, breaks dishes, scares at night. If he really does not like the person, he may even begin to choke him at night.

Nowadays there are many stories of strangulation. For example, the girl Marina was visiting her uncle and her relatives put her in the room with a small baby. At night, the girl woke up with a feeling of heavy weight on her chest. She could not move, she could only open her eyes. On her chest, she saw a hairy, evil creature the size of a five-year-old child. The girl was very frightened, but could not budge. At this time, the baby cried out, who was sleeping in the same room, the brownie, immediately disappeared.

Another student girl Larisa came to visit her grandmother, who had two houses in the village on one site, one of them lived, and the other was so old that it was used to keep chickens. The girl was looking for her grandmother and went into the old house, in the entryway she also heard rustles that came from the room. She went into the room hoping to see her grandmother, but there was no one there. As she was about to leave, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that a short, hairy creature had slipped past her. Screaming, she jumped out into the street and ran to the gardens to look for her grandmother. When she told the elderly woman about the strange vision, she only smiled and said that it was a brownie.

These are the real collisions of the brownie with people took place in the recent past.

Many people ask themselves the question of which houses the brownie lives in and is it possible to meet with him in the apartment? Yes, the spirit of home can live in apartments and in private houses, but not in new ones. First, the walls of the house must be saturated with everyday life and a certain energy of the living quarters. Very often it must take at least five or seven years before a brownie decides to settle in a particular apartment or house. Most people believe that the brownie has no appearance, that it is just a clot of living energy, which has its own desires, character and consciousness.

It is very difficult to see the brownie, but you can feel its presence; after twelve o'clock, groaning, noises, knocks, shuffling steps and other strange sounds usually begin in the kitchen.

If you know for sure that the brownie lives in the house, you need to appease him. In the old days, they did it as follows: they poured the freshest fatty milk into a beautiful saucer and put it in the darkest corner or behind the stove, next to the saucer they put delicious cookies, mint aromatic gingerbread, the best sweets.

Many people, moving from place to place, offer their housekeeper to go with them. What is a brownie for? And he needs it from damage and the evil eye in the house, for order. If the hostess is lazy, he will be dirty until the woman understands what is required of her and puts things in order.

Brownie - truth or fiction?

Many of us have thought about the existence of a brownie at least once in our lives. Some even claim to have seen him, or somehow sensed his presence.

So do brownies really exist or is it just a myth?

Let's first figure out who the brownie is.

From time immemorial ...

The brownie was known to the Slavs as a home spirit, the owner and patron of the house, providing a good life in the house under his control, the health of family members.

He was often friendly with pets, especially cats and dogs. He was nicknamed the brownie by his favorite place in the house: the partition behind the stove. However, it is almost impossible to find a stove in modern homes. Does this mean that there are no brownies at all now?

It turns out that the brownie moved to the pantry, and in the apartments he lives in the bathroom, or rather in the washing machine. Surely many now have a desire to check the washing machine, but not everything is so simple. The brownie is shown only in special cases, for example, when he wants to warn the owners of the impending danger.

The brownie is a man with character!

The trust of the brownie is a serious thing, because your well-being depends on him. The brownie watches over the house, warns of the troubles of those who are dear to him.

The brownie can pinch unloved owners, and maybe even choke. There is a belief that if during sleep the brownie falls on the owner and strangles him with such force that it is impossible to move, it is worth asking for good or for better. The brownie should answer positively or negatively.

His answer is used to judge the events that will occur in the near future. If you sleep in the place of a brownie, he will do everything possible to relocate you to another place. Therefore, if the brownie is naughty or bites, you should not come up with reasons why the brownie does not like you. It is possible that he is simply not satisfied with some little things, but otherwise there are no problems. By the way, in addition to the aforementioned brownie methods to make a person understand that something does not suit him, he may appear in a dream.

How to make friends with a brownie?

When moving to another house, you should ask the brownie to move to a new place of residence. It would also be nice to sometimes feed the brownie, leaving him on a clean kitchen table overnight, oiled bread and / or red wine.

You need to hide the knives so that the patron of the house does not get hurt. It should also be remembered that the brownie will not touch someone else's food, so you need to invite him to have a meal.

If there is a brownie in the house, in the morning you, looking closely, will notice traces of his stay. After such a sign of attention to him, the brownie will be more favorable to you.

How can you see the brownie

There are ways to see the brownie, but I will not write about them, since you cannot call him unnecessarily. The brownie can get angry, change his attitude towards you, or even drive you crazy.

The brownie can also leave the house, angry with the owners. In this case, misfortune will fall on the house.

Should you be afraid of the elusive little drum?

Even if you haven’t heard about the brownie, then you couldn’t help but hear about the brownie. Barabashka is the same brownie, but not in the most pleasant mood.

So, do you believe in brownies? This is, of course, your business. Many people prefer to attribute unusual events to their own forgetfulness, and perhaps they are right.

Personally, I believe that brownies exist, but maybe only because I want to believe?

Several of my acquaintances met brownies, and I would also gladly be sure of their existence, but out of simple curiosity I am not going to touch the one who protects peace in my house (if, after all, there is one).

If necessary, he himself wishes to be seen.

Are there brownies

The estate of a peaceful invisible patron,
I pray to you, my good brownie,
Guard the village, the forest and my wild garden,
And my humble family home!

A.S. Pushkin

Are there brownies? This question is being asked only now, in modern times. And during the time of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers, no one asked him, because everyone KNEW: brownies exist. Like the fact that there is a sun, rain is dripping, or a rooster has to crow in the morning. After all, a person still says: “I'm going to my home,” even if he lives in an apartment in a multi-storey building. Not in the cottage, not in the attic, not in the penthouse, but home-oh-oh! I want to go home, I come home.
And all because there is such a wonderful word that came to us from antiquity - "home"! And its cognate root is "brownie". Is it because it arose because there is someone who is leading this house? Which was noticed by our ancestors. The concept of "brownie" probably exists among all peoples

the world. And this is not without reason!

Called them in different villages

in different ways: Boss, Nafanya, Dedushko, Shishok, Sosedushko, Kuzmich. They treated him with respect: the Boss-Batyushko, the Brownie -Batiushko. Our ancestors believed that brownies are house spirits that protect their owners from all kinds of misfortunes. The house cannot stand without the Brownie, the case will not be successful.

Brownie is the keeper of the hearth. Without it, there will be no prosperity in the house. He makes sure that there is no swearing in the house and everyone is healthy. So that evil spirits and bad people do not harm those with whom he lives together. The house is cozy, it is pleasant at heart - a good Brownie. And it’s uncomfortable, I don’t want to go home, some kind of melancholy is piling up in the house for no reason - it is possible that the Brownie is simply not in the room!
The brownie has always been appreciated and respected. They also believed that the brownie can warn of trouble, and predict happiness. Then he can “manifest”. Probably everyone has heard the "terrible" stories about how the brownie strangles. Maybe grab the arm or the leg. Here then it is necessary to ask him (unless, of course, the speech has not departed from horror): for good, or for worse.
He will definitely answer. And the questioner will understand the answer. But in reality, almost no one ever asks. No questions. Memory knocks off fear completely! Then the quality of information is determined as follows: if the Brownie left warm feelings - for good, cold - for bad. Can still knock about something. As a rule, this is for some kind of news, more often for bad news.

Brownies: communication rules

If you want, you can talk to the brownie out loud. Seek help in some household chores. Promise something to eat and / or toys.

Sometimes the Brownie gets spoiled, then one should say: “Such an adult Grandfather, but you’re a prank. A-y-yay! " - he will stop, but he wants to make amends.

Once every six months, you need to pamper him with porridge. Milk more often. Something sweet, sweets there, jam or cookies - the first of every month. Place goodies in a secluded place in a saucer. That would be away from human eyes, and that pets would not get it, if any. For example, on the refrigerator. Put on delicacies, but condemn, they say, for you, Grandfather-hostess. Peace and harmony in the house are added.

The food for the Brownie is then thrown away. Porridge with milk the next day, and sweets once a month.

Usually, the brownie finds himself a place to rest himself. Arranges it. And sometimes, he very clearly shows that he likes it, and that he would not be bothered there.

Help your brownie. It is strictly forbidden to leave uncleaned overnight: forks, knives, scissors; salt, pepper, garlic, onions - This is a big hindrance to the brownie in his work. And do not forget to "clean" the room with a candle after domestic quarrels. Better, of course, not to quarrel. But who is perfect? As far as possible, make sure that the apartment is tidied up. Dirt accumulates on the physical level and goes to the mental one. Again, it's harder for the Domovoy to work. He may start to show his displeasure. Let's say a lot of unpaired socks show up.

If the Brownie has gotten you badly, and pranks beyond any measure, then scare him with the great and mighty, three-story Russian language. From the heart so. In all Ivanovskaya turn around! Checked. It helps.

They say that the age of the Brownie is longer than the human one. We have years, and he has centuries. But they love to play that children. Fold shiny buttons, unnecessary trinkets, beads, etc. in a pretty box. You can decorate the box: stick on old postcards, shiny pieces of paper, New Year's rain, etc. Say it's a gift and put it in some secret place. You look, and things will stop disappearing. And the Brownie will start looking after the house even better.

If you move and want to pick it up from with wallpaper, then do as follows. Sweep an already empty apartment. Take a broom in your hands, and before leaving the apartment and slamming the door, say: - "My master, come with me." Three times. And having opened the door of a new home, first throw a broom forward with the words: - "My master, we are after you." The same three times. According to some beliefs, a little more garbage, taken from the previous apartment, should be scattered outside the home threshold. Then come in. And you will be happy in your new home!

Observing these simple rules, you can dramatically change life in the house for the better. A house cannot be without a Brownie. They believed that in the absence of the Brownie, evil people would settle in the house. Which bring troubles and misfortunes to the inhabitants. Therefore, they said that an evil Brownie is better than none.

In the old days, it was believed that in every dwelling there is a real "owner", whose name is brownie. He protects the owner's family from troubles, looks after the household, helps in difficult times. But this creature can do harm. This happens if he is offended. Nobody knows for sure about what a brownie looks like. But many legends and legends have survived to our time, from which we can learn a lot of interesting things about the appearance of this creature, its character and inclinations.

Who is a brownie?

The ancient Slavs believed in various mythical creatures that guarded forests, fields, swamps, reservoirs and villages. Legends have survived to this day about the existence in every house, be it in the village or in the city, brownies who took care of their owners and were the patrons of their homes. Such a creature was called in different ways: brownie, khatnik, golbeshnik, baker, grandfather-brother, master, owner, and so on. It all depends on where this mythical hero lives. The baker, of course, is found behind the stove, the barn is in the barn, the bannik is in the bathhouse, and so on. Today we are thinking: "Does the brownie exist at all?" And in the days of our great-grandmothers, absolutely everyone believed in him. It was believed that there is it in every family.

If the owners of the house move somewhere, they must certainly take their brownie with them. Otherwise, the family will not escape troubles. There were people who claimed to have seen this creature. He appears before eyewitnesses in the form of a little hairy old man. And what a brownie looks like in reality, perhaps, no one knows. Indeed, sometimes he can take the form of one of the pets. So, for example, our cat can spin at its feet for a long time when we cook in the kitchen. Entering the room, you can find that Murka is sleeping peacefully on the sofa. "Who was that?" - we are surprised. The appearance of the patron of a house can tell a lot about its owner. If the family of the spirit is good, prosperous, owns a strong household, then this creature also has a pleasant, well-groomed appearance. And if the owner is in poverty, drinks bitter, has no wealth, then his brownie looks like a sickly creature in old rags. Few people could see him. The spirit appeared only on special occasions. For example, when he was summoned with a special spell or when he himself expressed a desire to appear to someone. It is believed that seeing him is a bad sign. So the "owner" of the house warns his wards about the impending danger. In general, many legends and folk signs are associated with this creature. They will be discussed below.

Legends about the origin of the creature

The ancient Slavs believed that the brownie was none other than the firstborn of the family, its long-dead member, whom the Lord gave the opportunity to atone for his earthly sins by serving living relatives. There are other legends about how this fabulous creature appeared. Here is one of them: “The first people, Adam and Eve, had many children. One day the Lord called the whole family to visit. But Adam did not want to lead all the children to God, and took only two sons - Cain and Abel. But is it possible to hide something from the Lord? He got angry with Adam and turned the remaining children in the house into spirits. They became good, non-evil spirits. " And they also told about the origin of the brownies: “God got angry with the evil demons who rebelled against him and threw them to the ground. Some of these representatives of evil spirits found their way into people's homes. Having settled next to a person, these spirits settled down and became limp, became kind helpers to him. Unlike its other congeners: kikimor, goblin, water and others. Our ancestors tried to imagine what a brownie looks like. He was painted as a small wrinkled old man with cheerful lively eyes and a large beard.

It was believed that he lived an average of 500-600 years. Born as an old man, but dies as a baby. The younger he is, the older he is.

Golbeshnik from North Russian legends

In each area of ​​our vast homeland, the mythical master of the house was represented in its own way. Residents of the northern region of Russia believed that in every family there is a creature that no one sees. His name is Golbeshnik. Where does this strange name come from? It was believed that the spirit lives under the stove behind the partition (golbets) from the side of the underground. This creature is kind, takes care of the household of the family, often grumbles. But at the same time he does no harm to anyone. It was believed that if such a brownie is in the house, then its owners are protected from troubles and the intrigues of bad people. But if another spirit, called oppression, settled in the family, then misfortune could happen. This creature piled on a person during sleep in the form of a pet and strangled. It could end in tears: in the morning the relatives found the sleeping man dead. Therefore, they tried hard to "take" out of the house. Life stories about brownies are like fairy tales. However, eyewitnesses claim that many phenomena in our apartments, those that cannot be explained from the point of view of common sense, are due to the fault of the spirits living here. There were also other varieties of brownies in the legends of western and northern villages: lick (licked the wool of livestock and hair of small children), marshmallow (appeared in the form of a ghost on the walls of the house), and so on. Such a variety of the appearance of a home guardian is characteristic of the beliefs of this region of Russia.

On the nature and "kind of activity" of the spirit

As we have already found out, brownies are more often kind than evil. It all depends on whether the owner of the house is good or bad, and on how he relates to the spirits that live in his home. If the owners care about the cleanliness of the rooms, about the health of the livestock in the yard, about their material prosperity, then this creature helps its wards in everything. What does a brownie do? He protects the house from thieves, warns of impending danger, makes friends with the owner's dog and horses. With the latter, he likes to indulge often, for example, to braid their manes in pigtails. But if he dislikes any cattle, he will torture her to death. Therefore, a far-sighted owner, acquiring new pets, tries to please the spirit. He buys individuals of those breeds and colors that his grandfather-brother likes.

The patron does not favor only goats. It is believed that he is afraid of them. This spirit is very fond of playing pranks. A real brownie is a big joker. At night, he fiddles in the kitchen, rattling plates and cups. Sometimes it can break something, trample. The household members who have risen are unlikely to find the mischievous person at his occupation. They will only see fragments of broken dishes, dirt in the kitchen, bad writing on the wall, and so on. Or it may be that the hostess, who left the dough or milk on the stove to come up, turned away just for a minute, and the food was already on the floor. They say: "He pampers the brownie." He loves cleanliness and order in the apartment. But lazy, greedy and unfair owners are often punished. And pranks alone are not enough here. To the greedy owner he will let thieves into the house. The unfair will set a fire so that the owner will lose everything, and so on. But most of all he does not like the brownie when they forget about him. If the owner does not honor the guardian spirits of his family, then these creatures begin to be mischievous and mischievous. To appease them, it is enough to leave the treat in the corner of the house or yard. They do not differ in fastidiousness in food. Therefore, a treat can be anything edible: sweets, bread, milk, grain, and so on.

"Relatives" of the brownie

Kikimora. She is the closest relative of the patron spirit of the house. She looks like a dwarf woman with a thimble head and a straw-thin body. It can live both in the house behind the stove (home), and in the field, in the forest, swamp (swamp or forest). Refers to evil spirits. If this is a domestic creature, then it often makes noise at night, interferes with the owners' sleep, harms their livestock (more often chickens), breaks dishes.

Getting rid of it is quite difficult. But you can protect your home so that the kikimora and the brownie cannot play pranks in it. In the apartment, you need to do the following: tie the salt shaker on the table with a juniper belt. If the kikimora torments the owner's chickens, then a talisman must be hung over the perch - the neck of a broken jug with a piece of red cloth. Our ancestors believed that deceased unbaptized babies turned into these ugly females. Kikimora marsh or forest appeared before people in the form of a small dry old woman in rags, slovenly and a little eccentric. Legends circulated about her as a kidnapper of small children, instead of whom she threw an enchanted pole to her parents.

Bannik. Like the kikimora, it is the closest relative of the guardian spirit. He even looks very much like a brownie. He is often depicted as a small, dark old man with a long, mildewed beard. He lives in a bathhouse. Loves to be mischievous. It will scald someone with boiling water, then it will frighten someone with a knock on the wall. How to appease the brownie-bathhouse attendant? Leave him a piece of rye bread, sprinkled with savory salt. This is his favorite treat. And in the newly built bathhouse, a special cruel ritual is performed: they take a black chicken and, without plucking it, strangle it and bury it right there in the ground at the threshold. It is believed that in this way you can protect yourself from the intrigues of the spirit.

Goblin. This is a forest spirit. In each locality, he was called differently: the leshak, and the woodsman, and the owner of the forest, and the forest grandfather, and so on. He takes care of the forest, the animals and birds that inhabit it. Many people think that he is kind. However, this spirit applies to everyone differently. It will help a good person get out of the forest if he gets lost. But he will deliberately confuse the bad: he will start to scare, haunt, make him wander aimlessly in circles. What a goblin looks like, no one knows. It is believed to be an invisible spirit. In ancient legends, he is represented as a lonely big old man, resembling a decrepit tree. Mushroom pickers and berry pickers can sometimes walk past him and not notice. This is no wonder: only by looking closely, you can see hair that looks like twigs, arms and legs that resemble tree roots, a beard covered with lichens. Although quite often the spirit of the forest can take the guise of some plant or animal. Some people talked about meeting them in the woods. They met an inconspicuous person whose faces they could not remember. The stranger talked with them, helped them get out. And upon coming home, people could not even describe it. No one could remember what he looked like. It was believed that the goblin lived in a wooden hut in a dark dense spruce forest far from human eyes. All animals and birds, sensing the approach of death, come to the house of the spirit to find a last refuge here. He takes care of his charges. So, in a time of famine, he drives flocks of animals to feed in other forests. It was with this phenomenon that the mass migrations of animals were associated. For a long time people tried to appease the devil, since in the villages they lived by the gifts of the forest. Having got angry, the spirit could bring many troubles to the person. One of them is cattle kidnapping. For the village economy, this was a big loss. And the goblin could steal the baby from the cradle. Instead of a child, parents in the morning found a sheaf of straw, a block of wood or a log. It was believed that the spirits of the forest brought up the kidnapped children, passing them secret witchcraft knowledge. Such a person subsequently became a healer or an evil magician.

Bean goose. It is a spirit that lives in a threshing floor (a wooden extension near the house for drying hay). If you do not get along with the bean goose, he can start a fire in his possession, and the owner will be left without hay. He will have nothing to feed his pets. It is believed to be the most malevolent spirit of all of the above. It is extremely difficult to cajole him. The only way to do this is to sacrifice a black cock to him. This ritual is bloody. They proceed as follows: they bring pies and a rooster to the threshing floor. On the threshold, the bird's head is cut off and all corners of the structure are sprinkled with blood. The pies are left right there. They leave without looking back. The custom was most widespread in the Kostroma province.

Folk omens

Since ancient times, people believed that if you live according to the laws of nature, respecting its patrons, then you can not be afraid of something bad. It was believed that when you move to another house, you must definitely call the guardian spirit with you.

They did it as follows: they took an old boot or hat and, holding the thing in their left hand, walked around the whole house counterclockwise. At the same time, it was necessary to pronounce the following incantation: “Grandpa-neighbor, here's our sleigh, go live with us. There is a house, brownie, let's go live with me. Lead your mistress as well as I can, I will reward ”. You need to go around the apartment when all the furniture is taken out. You should be the last to leave, having locked the door. And this is what our ancestors did when they wanted the kind brownie to move with them to a new place: for housewarming they put one coin in the underground, and sometimes four (according to the number of corners in the house). The first loaf that was baked in the oven of the new hut was taken out, cut off from it, salted and thrown behind the stove to treat its patron. There are many other folk signs associated with this creature:

If the brownie often strangles his master at night, you need to invite a priest to the house to consecrate him three times.

If the spirit of the dwelling is often mischievous, bothers its wards, you need to put a handful of thyme in the pillow.

If the brownie does not like the owner, you need to bury the goat's head or skull in front of the house.

If in the morning the tenants find bruises on their bodies, it means that the spirit does not like them, you need to appease it.

If the creature strokes the owner with a warm and smooth hand - this is to well-being, and if with a cold and rough - unfortunately.

If any of your acquaintances is staying for the night in an apartment for the first time, you need to ask permission from the "owner" of the house. Otherwise, he will get angry and will not let the person rest at night, pushing and oppressing him. And this despite the fact that no one has ever seen him and does not know what a brownie looks like. His photo does not exist. However, many claim that they felt unreasonable anxiety and anxiety in such a situation.

Hearing the groans or howl of the patron of the house - to the death of its owner.

How to call a brownie?

It is believed that you can see the guardian spirit at home only if he himself wishes it. Since ancient times, people have wondered what a brownie looks like. And there were those who claimed that at a certain moment they noticed how a small humanoid, overgrown with thick fur creature was watching them. The villagers believed this was a bad sign. This is how the spirit warns of danger. And how to make a brownie appear to us? How to call it, knew many peasants who lived in the village. The method is pretty simple. You need to throw an unused comb into a bucket of clean water and leave it for three days. After the lapse of time, human hair was found there. He was taken out and dried. At a certain moment, the spirit of the house could appear for a few seconds.

But he did not always appear in human form. There were cases when people told that when they entered the barn or the barn, they saw a huge black cat, which, when they appeared, would rush into the corner and disappear. They talked about it like this: "The brownie showed up."

How to appease the "owner" of the house?

In the old days, people were afraid of brownies and tried in every possible way to "butter up" them. Spirits love it when people remember them, leave a treat and congratulate you on the holiday. There are several ways to appease a brownie. The simplest of them is to leave a small present in the corner of the room. Also, the "owner" of the house loves to be called affectionately. He does not like the word "brownie". He prefers the nicknames "grandfather", "hostess", "kindly", "himself" and so on. This spirit is very sensitive to a trick on the part of a person. Therefore, speaking with him, you need to put your soul into the words, pronounce them from the heart. This creature also has its own holiday - on the night of February 9-10. It is imperative to treat your brownie with something tasty that day. The ancient Slavs even had such a tradition: to cook sweet porridge especially for him and put it in the evening behind the stove. It was believed that if you forget about this day, the brownie will get angry and begin to do bad things to their owners.

Friends of children and cats

If there is a baby in the family, then he probably knows what a brownie looks like. The real patron of the home can only in exceptional cases appear to the head of the family or mistress. But children see him often, especially small ones. He loves them, protects them from dangers, suppresses their pampering with sharp objects and matches. Kids, seeing a strange creature in the house, are not afraid of him. Perhaps they perceive it as part of the interior. You can often see a child playing with someone invisible, laughing and screaming. Pets probably see the little man too. By their reaction, you can always guess whether the brownie is in the house or not. If the cat looks intently into the corner, hisses for no reason, the dog barks anxiously at this place, you can be sure that there is a guardian spirit in front of you. If an animal runs after invisibility, plays with it, it means that the brownie liked it.

But if cats, dogs and other animals do not take root in the apartment, they die or disappear, then the spirit disliked them.

Influence on culture

In Russia, the image of the guardian spirit, as they used to be very much loved, is so adored now. It doesn't matter for us whether there really are brownies. We are ready to listen to stories about them endlessly. Suffice it to recall the popular cartoon from our childhood about the brownie Kuzyu or the book by Nick Perumov "Russian sword". In 1976, a fairy tale feature film entitled "The Duck Village" was released on television. The brownie Bump was played by the legendary actor Rolan Bykov. These strange mythical men are popular not only in Russian culture, but also abroad. So, in the heptalogy of Joan Kathleen Rowling "Harry Potter" there is a mention of such creatures - house elves. According to the history of the series of books, they live in families of wealthy wizards and serve as masters. They can only get freedom if the owner gives them clothes. The theme of guardian spirits is reflected in the visual arts. The remarkable artist Boris Kustodiev has a painting "The Merchant's Wife and the Brownie". In it, the master depicted a very piquant scene: a white-bodied, dazzlingly beautiful young merchant's wife is lounging on a bed half-asleep, and a pot-bellied, overgrown with thick wool, eerie-looking "owner" of this hot Russian hut is watching her. Looking at this work, you can vividly imagine what a brownie looks like.

Many stories can be heard today about the poltergeist in apartments. What it is: are there spirits at home, or some other entity - we do not know. And does the brownie even exist? Probably, for those who believe in him, he is real. And for those who are convinced that there is no "evil", there is none.