BYM001 - Who is Baba Yaga?

Baba Yaga is the witch of Slavic folklore. We see her as a character in so many tales in Eastern Europe - always as a powerful old crone who lives deep in the forest in a hut that stands atop two chicken legs. In some stories she appears as a vicious ogre, in others she’s a magical helper who offers enchanted tools or information. Sometimes she’s a wise elder who tests the hero or heroine and rewards them with a horse that can jump over rivers or a magical skein of yarn that will lead them to their goal. Other times she appears like the witch in the story of Hansel and Gretel trying to trick children into going in the oven so she can eat them. But is she just a fairytale villain or is she something more? In this episode, we’ll explore this ancient spirit of feminine power and discover the real story behind the most famous Slavic witch.