Also called Polevoi, Polevoy, Polewik.
Their story
The polevik is the field counterpart of the domovoi and leshy. He might appear as a dwarf with grass for hair, or tall as the grain in summer and short as the stubble after harvest. He could lead wanderers astray or punish those who worked or slept in the fields at the wrong time, especially drunkards at noon. Peasants left eggs and bread for him in the furrows.
Best times to give to them
- spring sowing
- harvest (Dozhinki)
- the last sheaf
What they like being given
- bread left at the field edge
- an egg left in a furrow
- the last sheaf left standing
How to honour them
- Leave a few stalks unharvested for the field spirit.
- Do not sleep drunk in a field at noon, as tales warn.
- Thank the land at harvest with a small piece of bread.
How they can help you
- a good harvest
- respect for farmland
- working sensibly in the heat
Symbols
- a small figure with grass for hair
- white clothing
- ears of grain
Sources
- Linda J. Ivanits, Russian Folk Belief
- S. V. Maksimov, Nechistaia, nevedomaia i krestnaia sila (1903)
More Slavic beings
- Div The crying omen in the tree-top
- Vodyanoy The old man of the millpond
- 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
- Alkonost The bird of joy