ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Slavic creatures of folklore

Well, have you ever heard of stories about creatures in Slavic folklore? They're like make-believe monsters and animals that people in Slavic countries used to tell each other about a long, long time ago.

One of these creatures is called Baba Yaga. She's an old woman with a big nose, crooked teeth, and a hut on chicken legs. She flies around in a mortar and pestle and likes to eat little children who wander into her forest.

Another creature is a Domovoi. He's like a little brownie who lives in your house and protects your family. If you're good to him, he'll be good to you, but if you make him angry, he'll play tricks on you and cause mischief.

One very scary Slavic creature is the Rusalka. She’s like a water ghost, who comes out of the rivers and lakes to drown people. She’s very beautiful, but you have to be careful, because you don’t want to upset her or she’ll drag you down into the water.

Another strange creature is the Leshy, who lives in the forest. He's like a forest spirit who can shape-shift, so he might look like a tree or an animal to trick you. He likes to play pranks, but he's not usually very evil.

Overall, Slavic creatures of folklore are monsters, ghosts, and spirits that people used to talk about a long time ago, and they still make great stories to scare kids and grown-ups alike.