Also called Bainik, Baennik.
Their story
The Russian bathhouse was a place of birth, healing and magic, and its spirit, the bannik, took his own turn in the steam after the family. Those who bathed during his time might be scalded or strangled. At midwinter girls would put their bare backs through the bathhouse door: a soft warm touch meant a kind husband, a clawed touch a harsh one. People left water, soap and a besom for him.
Best times to give to them
- after every third or fourth steaming
- Koliada (for divination)
- before a wedding bath
What they like being given
- a little clean water left in a bucket
- a piece of soap
- a birch besom
- bread with salt
How to honour them
- After a sauna or bath, leave some clean water and thank the spirit.
- Do not stay in the bath too late at night, when it is his turn.
- Keep the bathroom clean and treat it as a place of healing.
How they can help you
- healing and cleansing
- respecting heat
- fortune-telling
Symbols
- a birch besom
- steam
- a bucket of water
- the stove
Sources
- Linda J. Ivanits, Russian Folk Belief
- S. V. Maksimov, Nechistaia, nevedomaia i krestnaia sila (1903)