illustration by V. SLAUK

Zyuzya
good сreature
HELLO, IT’s me
In Belarusian folklore I am a personification of winter frost and people call me the god of winter. In Belarusian folklore I am depicted as short, fat old man with my hair white as snow and long beard of the same color. I am completely covered in warm clothes, but my feet are bare. I hold a mace in my hand.
According to belief I summon snowstorms and frosts. When bitter colds and wood is frost-cracking, I hit my mace against the trees and logs which cause them crack as of frost.
Sometimes I visit villages to warn people of the severe winter to come next year.
