When a Domovoi elf haunted our house

JJM 777 · 31st August 2009, 07:09 AM

I never heard of Domovoi elves, and probably you either, until I was introduced to the topic by my wife, who is of Slavic origin. One day she told me that she has often seen a Domovoi elf in our home. Then she called her mother, and received assurance that yes it must be a Domovoi elf, for sure. We received advice to contact a priest, preferably Russian Orthodox, so he can come and exorcise the elf from our home.

So a Domovoi elf. You always learn something new in life. I required further informatiod about the topic, and our favourite explain-this-thing-to-others source Wikipedia didn't fail us:

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%94%...B2%D0%BE%D0%B9

Right there, exactly that one is roaming somewhere in our house.

I am not very well versed in Russian language, so I clicked the link to Finnish version. The Finnish version is a very short article, which ends with a link to a medical article discussing the symptoms of "sleep paralysis".

http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domovoi

Then I clicked to the English version, which discusses the topic more extensively, and again includes a link to a medical article discussing the symptoms of "sleep paralysis".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domovoi

Out of curiosity, we clicked to the sleep paralysis article, just to see what it is talking about, and why it is linked to this article in the English and Finnish versions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

Later in the day my wife became unsure whether it was Domovoi or sleep paralysis that we are dealing with. I never heard of Domovoi after this day, and not very much of sleep paralysis either.

Cainkane1 · 31st August 2009, 07:15 AM

I used to have sleep paralysis but it was an elf called valium addiction that caused it.

quadraginta · 31st August 2009, 07:25 AM

I thought the kitties had been acting a bit oddly. Now I understand.

I hope the apartment management is going to understand about the boots hanging in the yard, though.

jasonpatterson · 31st August 2009, 08:47 AM

My wife experiences sleep paralysis fairly often, and it still freaks her out each time. It wouldn't surprise me at all if folklore had grown up around it. Thanks for the introduction to this. (It looks rather like a sasquatch, doesn't it?)

I also enjoyed the painting linked from the Wiki article, Domovoi Peeping at the Sleeping Merchant Wife, very funny.

Fiona · 31st August 2009, 08:59 AM

I don't like these. Damn housework police!!

Brownies just get on and keep the place nice without this tendency to criticise...

blue sock monkey · 31st August 2009, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Fiona

I don't like these. Damn housework police!!

Brownies just get on and keep the place nice without this tendency to criticise...

Yeah...but brownies also expect to be fed.

Fiona · 31st August 2009, 09:21 AM

I don't grudge milk and biscuits for guaranteed service: these ones want milk and biscuits on a maybe :P

HeyLeroy · 31st August 2009, 10:50 AM

When I googled "domovoi elf" the first two hits that came back were to this thread.

Spooky.

dudalb · 31st August 2009, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Fiona

I don't like these. Damn housework police!!

Brownies just get on and keep the place nice without this tendency to criticise...

Wrong. It's House-Elves who do that...as long as you don't give them clothing.

Ysidro · 31st August 2009, 12:30 PM

You sure it was a domovoi elf? If it looked like a 7 foot eurasian man it was probably Domovoi Butler, bodyguard of child genius Artemis Fowl.

bookitty · 31st August 2009, 12:31 PM

Sleep paralysis is also called 'Night Hags." While this folklore term isn't at all scientific, it does carry more of the discomfort and terror of these experiences.

My first experience with sleep paralysis came when I was about 8 years old. I awoke laying on my stomach with something kneeling over me holding me down by my shoulders. I could not move, I could barely breathe. In memory, I fainted and then woke up in the morning. This happened on and off, about once every 3-4 years.

It wasn't until I heard the same stories coming from UFO "abductees" that I looked for a scientific reason. It seems so real that it is hard to believe your own brain would do that to you. I still get them every now and again. While it is happening, I am aware that it is just a sleep disorder but the terror doesn't fade until I am fully awake.

Starthinker · 31st August 2009, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Ysidro

You sure it was a domovoi elf? If it looked like a 7 foot eurasian man it was probably Domovoi Butler, bodyguard of child genius Artemis Fowl.

I may welcome a 7 foot tall eurasian man into my house...

JJM 777 · 31st August 2009, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by jasonpatterson

It wouldn't surprise me at all if folklore had grown up around it.

Wikipedia gives quite a massive list of folklore supposedly born from this phenomenon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis#Folklore

And this list doesn't even include the Slavic Domovoi tradition, so the list is far from complete.

Apology · 31st August 2009, 02:22 PM

You should take it to a groomer. I bet it would look real cute with a couple of those little bows behind its ears.

dropzone · 1st September 2009, 05:22 PM

Does it have a tail? If so, you HAVE to put sunglasses on its butt and put the video on You Tube. I think it's an internet requirement that you do.

quixotecoyote · 2nd September 2009, 11:42 AM

I always heard that Domovoi elves were protector spirits. Are you sure you aren't buying into anti-pagan propaganda?

31st August 2009, 07:09 AM	#1
JJM 777 Muse Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Finland Posts: 779	When a Domovoi elf haunted our house I never heard of Domovoi elves, and probably you either, until I was introduced to the topic by my wife, who is of Slavic origin. One day she told me that she has often seen a Domovoi elf in our home. Then she called her mother, and received assurance that yes it must be a Domovoi elf, for sure. We received advice to contact a priest, preferably Russian Orthodox, so he can come and exorcise the elf from our home. So a Domovoi elf. You always learn something new in life. I required further informatiod about the topic, and our favourite explain-this-thing-to-others source Wikipedia didn't fail us: http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%94%...B2%D0%BE%D0%B9 Right there, exactly that one is roaming somewhere in our house. I am not very well versed in Russian language, so I clicked the link to Finnish version. The Finnish version is a very short article, which ends with a link to a medical article discussing the symptoms of "sleep paralysis". http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domovoi Then I clicked to the English version, which discusses the topic more extensively, and again includes a link to a medical article discussing the symptoms of "sleep paralysis". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domovoi Out of curiosity, we clicked to the sleep paralysis article, just to see what it is talking about, and why it is linked to this article in the English and Finnish versions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis Later in the day my wife became unsure whether it was Domovoi or sleep paralysis that we are dealing with. I never heard of Domovoi after this day, and not very much of sleep paralysis either.
	Last edited by JJM 777; 31st August 2009 at 07:11 AM.

31st August 2009, 07:15 AM	#2
Cainkane1 Master Poster Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The great American southeast Posts: 2,566	I used to have sleep paralysis but it was an elf called valium addiction that caused it.
	__________________ If at first you don't succeed try try again. Then if you fail to succeed to Hell with that. Try something else.

31st August 2009, 07:25 AM	#3
quadraginta What was the question? Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Vale of Humility Posts: 2,029	I thought the kitties had been acting a bit oddly. Now I understand. I hope the apartment management is going to understand about the boots hanging in the yard, though.
	__________________ "... you're a discredit to this Forum and deserve to be expunged - shamefully." - Southwind17 (AKA, Lord High Expunger)

31st August 2009, 08:47 AM	#4
jasonpatterson Philanthropic Misanthrope Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Macedonia, OH Posts: 908	My wife experiences sleep paralysis fairly often, and it still freaks her out each time. It wouldn't surprise me at all if folklore had grown up around it. Thanks for the introduction to this. (It looks rather like a sasquatch, doesn't it?) I also enjoyed the painting linked from the Wiki article, Domovoi Peeping at the Sleeping Merchant Wife, very funny.
	__________________ Sandra's seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins' gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susie spied an elf, But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself. - Shel Silverstein

31st August 2009, 08:59 AM	#5
Fiona Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6,104	I don't like these. Damn housework police!! Brownies just get on and keep the place nice without this tendency to criticise...
Fiona Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6,104	__________________ To see you, who you wanted to be, amongst the bastards out there. Damn you, Fiona - MattC. Damn you, Fi - SkeptikKhatt Damn you, anoiF - CriticalSock You are become Fiona, destroyer of threads! -realpaladin

31st August 2009, 09:19 AM	#6
blue sock monkey Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: beyond the looking-glass Posts: 1,000	Originally Posted by Fiona I don't like these. Damn housework police!! Brownies just get on and keep the place nice without this tendency to criticise... Yeah...but brownies also expect to be fed.
	__________________ worshipping Her Supreme Felinity Giant Sky Cat* daily at* http://bluesockmonkey.stripgenerator.com/

31st August 2009, 09:21 AM	#7
Fiona Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6,104	I don't grudge milk and biscuits for guaranteed service: these ones want milk and biscuits on a maybe :P
Fiona Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6,104	__________________ To see you, who you wanted to be, amongst the bastards out there. Damn you, Fiona - MattC. Damn you, Fi - SkeptikKhatt Damn you, anoiF - CriticalSock You are become Fiona, destroyer of threads! -realpaladin

31st August 2009, 10:50 AM	#8
HeyLeroy Vegan Cannibal Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Going off the rails on the Crazy Train. Posts: 5,434	When I googled "domovoi elf" the first two hits that came back were to this thread. Spooky.
	__________________ Cows are in large numbers, and do not serve any other purpose, other than to eat grass, and moo -- makaya325 I ♥ my kids. I ♠ my dog. I ♣ my baby Harp Seal.

31st August 2009, 12:14 PM	#9
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 14,451	Originally Posted by Fiona I don't like these. Damn housework police!! Brownies just get on and keep the place nice without this tendency to criticise... Wrong. It's House-Elves who do that...as long as you don't give them clothing.

31st August 2009, 12:30 PM	#10
Ysidro I'm watching you Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,853	You sure it was a domovoi elf? If it looked like a 7 foot eurasian man it was probably Domovoi Butler, bodyguard of child genius Artemis Fowl.
Ysidro I'm watching you Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,853	__________________ "I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

31st August 2009, 12:31 PM	#11
bookitty Muse Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 515	Sleep paralysis is also called 'Night Hags." While this folklore term isn't at all scientific, it does carry more of the discomfort and terror of these experiences. My first experience with sleep paralysis came when I was about 8 years old. I awoke laying on my stomach with something kneeling over me holding me down by my shoulders. I could not move, I could barely breathe. In memory, I fainted and then woke up in the morning. This happened on and off, about once every 3-4 years. It wasn't until I heard the same stories coming from UFO "abductees" that I looked for a scientific reason. It seems so real that it is hard to believe your own brain would do that to you. I still get them every now and again. While it is happening, I am aware that it is just a sleep disorder but the terror doesn't fade until I am fully awake.

31st August 2009, 12:45 PM	#12
Starthinker Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,834	Originally Posted by Ysidro You sure it was a domovoi elf? If it looked like a 7 foot eurasian man it was probably Domovoi Butler, bodyguard of child genius Artemis Fowl. I may welcome a 7 foot tall eurasian man into my house...
	__________________ Naked People Running on Treadmills \|¦¦\|¦ \|¦\|\|\|\|¦\|\|\|¦\|\|¦¦\|¦\|\|\|\|\|\|\|¦\|¦¦¦¦\|¦¦¦¦\|\|¦\|¦\|¦¦\|¦ \|¦¦\|¦ • Does the blue line only run on Saturday? He who doubts victory has already lost the battle.

31st August 2009, 12:48 PM	#13
JJM 777 Muse Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Finland Posts: 779	Originally Posted by jasonpatterson It wouldn't surprise me at all if folklore had grown up around it. Wikipedia gives quite a massive list of folklore supposedly born from this phenomenon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis#Folklore And this list doesn't even include the Slavic Domovoi tradition, so the list is far from complete.

31st August 2009, 02:22 PM	#14
Apology Muse Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 917	You should take it to a groomer. I bet it would look real cute with a couple of those little bows behind its ears.
Apology Muse Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 917	__________________ "When I began to talk with him, I could not help thinking that he was not really wise, although he was thought wise by many, and wiser still by himself; and I went and tried to explain to him that he thought himself wise, but was not really wise; and the consequence was that he hated me, and his enmity was shared by several who were present and heard me." Plato, Apology

1st September 2009, 05:22 PM	#15
dropzone Muse Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 684	Does it have a tail? If so, you HAVE to put sunglasses on its butt and put the video on You Tube. I think it's an internet requirement that you do.
dropzone Muse Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 684

2nd September 2009, 11:42 AM	#16
quixotecoyote Howling to glory I go Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 6,300	I always heard that Domovoi elves were protector spirits. Are you sure you aren't buying into anti-pagan propaganda?
	__________________ Ladewig: I'll start worrying about the media's liberal bias the day I hear of labor negotiations described as management demands and union concessions. Thank you for the avatar xkcd.