In this story of a dangerous magician from Russian folklore, you'll learn that you should maybe believe your spouse if she says you definitely don't want to know what's behind that door in the dungeon. It's the bizarre, sad, and kind of hilarious story of Koschei the Deathless, a man who seems like a much more serious and dangerous version of the Ice King from Adventure Time. Really, if you're horrible sorcerer who's a little lonely, maybe stop kidnapping princesses and just get a cat. Or a hobby. I hear podcasting is fun?
Really, though, this is exactly the type of story I love doing on this podcast. I doubt you've heard it, but it is scary, ridiculous, and a little sad, and I hope you enjoy it.
The creature of the week is the Boo Hag, a morning breath vampire, and she's a great reason for you to chew an onion before going to bed.
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Wow! I haven’t heard this story in years! Was one of my favourites as a child. Thank you :) Here is a link to some 30 plus years old beautiful illustrations for it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9MXLMoSeibw
Thank you for this wonderful podcast! I only started to listen to it, but I intend to go all the way through. It’s thrilling to learn new stuff and also find something you already new! Only a week ago I was saying to my husband that I would like to watch this movie I’ve seen years ago, about Zigfrid and Brungild and the Rind, and here it is, I listen to It in Vikings episode!
About this particular episode, it was thrilling! I am Russian and also librarian, so I know quite a lot of Russian folk tales. You did a great job on it and it almost exactly as I’ve read it when I was a kid, except they don’t mention jn children’s books that Kashey is always naked (I wonder why).
Also I think you may find interesting the following: Ivan the prince is one of the most often used characters in Russian folk tales, death and life water is very often comes to aid characters in Russian tales with no explanation where it came from!
Thank you again!
He calls her granny because “baba” is like a pet name for Grandma in Russian.
Here in Central Switzerland we have a similar tale like the Boo Hag. We call it “Toggeli”. In the night, it creeps into your bedroom and sits on your chest and drains your energy. It’s a witch that turns itself into the Toggeli, not a skinwalker. People used to protect themselves by placing a pitchfork on their chest in the night so the Toggeli stabs itself, when it’s coming to choke you.
“Marya Morevna” was one of my absolute favorites growing up. I used to love my Dad’s rendition, who would add jokes to the familiar text.
I must confess… this episode’s narration beats my Dad’s jokes by far! :) It was so cool to hear the story again after years of not thinking about it much at all (I’m 30 now, and don’t read fairy tales as much as I should).
I absolutely love the podcast, and it’s all I can do to pace myself and not binge-listen to every episode there is! Thank you so much!!
Just so you know, his name is pronounced more like “Kah-shey”. :) last part sounds like “aye”.
Haha…I’ve learned I’ve pronounced both his and Baba Yaga’s names wrong. I’ll mention it in the year-end episode. Is the stress on the first or second syllable (i.e. is it KAH-shey or kah-SHEY)? And would you say the second syllable like shea in shea butter?
The stress is on the second syllable and yeah, just like shea butter! Hehe. Love this episode. Finally a way to introduce my American husband to Russian folklore. Thank you!
This has been my favorite so far!
This one might just be my favorite, too. If I have the time, I’m going to re-record it, because the sound quality is atrocious.