kikimora

thumb Kikimora or Shishimora is a usually female spirit in Slavic mythology.

Kikimora is a house spirit, sometimes said to be married to the Domovoi. She usually lives behind the stove or in the cellar. She looks after the chickens and the housework if the home is well kept. If not, she will tickle, whistle, and whine at the children at night. She comes out at night to spin; if she appears spinning to someone it is said that person will die. To appease an angry Kikimora it is said one should wash all the pots and pans in a fern tea. In some tales she has a head as small as a thimble and a body as thin as straw. In other tales she is said to look like an average woman with her hair down (Slavic women kept their heads covered).
Kikimora may live in a swamp or forest. Then she looks like a small humpbacked woman in dirty dress.

See also