Also called Hala, Ale, Aleti.
Their story
In Serbian, Bulgarian and Macedonian folklore alas are demons of bad weather who lead hail clouds over vineyards, orchards and fields to destroy the crops. They are monstrously greedy, and Serbian still says someone "eats like an ala". They were fought by dragons (zmajevi), eagles and by zduhaći and other storm-fighters. In some tales they are also blamed for eating the moon during eclipses.
Best times to give to them
- summer storm season
- harvest
What they like being given
- none; folk practice was to drive her off, often with the help of zmajevi or zduhaći
How to honour them
- Protect your garden before storms and share help with neighbours afterwards.
- Read the tales as a vivid picture of how farmers feared hail.
How they can help you
- facing destructive forces
- preparation
- understanding weather lore
Symbols
- a black storm cloud
- a serpent or raven form
- hail
Sources
- Š. Kulišić, P. Ž. Petrović and N. Pantelić, Srpski mitološki rečnik (1970)
- Veselin Čajkanović, Studies in Serbian religion and folklore
More Slavic beings
- Div The crying omen in the tree-top
- Vodyanoy The old man of the millpond
- Polevik The spirit of the fields
- Poludnitsa Lady Midday of the harvest fields
- Mavka Hollow-backed maiden of the Ukrainian woods
- Mora The night-mare who sits on the chest
- Zmey Gorynych Many-headed dragon of the byliny
- Firebird The glowing bird of the golden apples