Also called Zduhač, Stuhać, Vjedogonja (related).
Their story
In Serbia, Montenegro and Herzegovina a zduhać was an ordinary-looking person, often born with a caul, whose spirit left the body in deep sleep. When storms came, the zduhaći of different villages or clans fought each other in the clouds, each trying to drive the hail away from their own fields. Their bodies must not be moved while they slept or the spirit could not return. They were respected as guardians rather than feared.
Best times to give to them
- summer storm season
- harvest
What they like being given
- gratitude to those who protect the community
- bread shared with neighbours
How to honour them
- Thank the quiet people who protect your community without fanfare.
- Prepare your garden or home before storms.
How they can help you
- protecting community
- weathering storms
- service to others
Symbols
- a caul at birth
- storm clouds
- a sleeping man
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