Karakonjul

Karakonjul (bolg. karakonjul, maked. Karakol, Serbian. karakonџula, Greek: καλλικάντζαρος) — a supernatural being, the beliefs of which are known to Turks and Greeks, as well as to Serbs, Macedonians and Bulgarians who were in contact with them.

According to the first version, the word is a Turkish loan and comes from Tur. karakoncol — "black werewolf/ghoul". The Turkish word "Karakonjul" in the Chuvash language sounds like "Hura kunçul", which translates to "Black life" - "kunçul" literally means "days of the year", i.e. "Dark days of the year".

According to the second, it comes from the Greek kalos-kentauros, which means "beautiful centaur". According to the third version, the name has a South Slavic origin: Yuletide, called by the Eastern Slavs the word "Karachun/Korochyun", the Bulgarians were called "Karakoncho", and in this sense the word was borrowed by the Greeks.

In South Slavic folklore, it is believed that they come out of the water or from caves and unclean places for the period from Christmas (sometimes from Ignatius Day, December 20 (January 2)) before Epiphany (or Babin's Day, 8 (21) January).

Serbs believe that karakondzhul appears in autumn. In the north-east of Bulgaria, he is likened to Saint Todor and the time of his malicious actions is considered the first week of Lent (see Todorov Week in Bulgaria). Everywhere karakonjul is a night spirit that disappears with the first crowing of the roosters. There is often a connection with water, especially among Serbs and Montenegrins. In terms of appearance and functions, it is likened to other mythological characters: a vampire, a wolfman, a werewolf, who, along with all the evil spirits, become active on Christmas Eve. Only people born on Saturday can see it.

In Greek folklore, there is a belief that karakondzhuli (Greek: καλλικάντζαρος — kallikantzaros) live underground and saw The world tree, so that in the end it will fall along with the whole Earth. However, when they start sawing off the last part, it comes It's Christmas, and they have a chance to go outside. They forget about the Tree and get out on earth to commit outrages and harass people. Eventually, on Epiphany (January 6), they go back underground to continue sawing, but discover that the World Tree has healed, and they have to get back to work. This happens every year.

It was believed that after midnight they attacked people, rode them until the first roosters or the first cry of a donkey, drove people around the village, fields, along the river bank. They are afraid of fire, iron, badniak ashes, bread, salt, etc.

They appear in the form of horses with a human head and two arms or wings, naked people covered with thorns, anthropomorphic shaggy red or black demons with a tail and horns, little men luring people to the ice (cf. Russian shulikunov), in the form of a dog, sheep, calf or shaggy, horned and tailed man.

It is considered mainly a seasonal, Yuletide demon.

The East Slavic analogues of the Karakondzhuls are the Shulikuns and the Kikimora.